Tag / 2023 NBA playoffs

by Alex Fischbein

Boston Celtics Crumble, Nick Nurse Joins The Philadelphia 76ers | TAF274

On the latest episode of The Atlantic Files, we delve into the dramatic turn of events in the NBA playoffs. In episode 274, we analyze the Boston Celtics’ heartbreaking defeat against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, with a focus on Jayson Tatum’s ankle injury and Jaylen Brown’s struggles. We also discuss Derrick White’s heroic performance for the Celtics and evaluate the implications it had on their playoff run.

But that’s not all—our attention shifts to an intriguing coaching update in the league. Get the inside scoop on the recent news of Nick Nurse, the renowned head coach of the Toronto Raptors, joining the Philadelphia 76ers. We dissect the pros and cons of Nurse coaching Joel Embiid and explore his remarkable postseason success.

Additionally, we explore the potential moves of the Toronto Raptors, questioning whether they should make a trade for the #3 pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft. Plus, we touch upon Bob Myers stepping down from his position with the Golden State Warriors, bringing further excitement to the NBA offseason.

Whether you’re a dedicated fan of the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers, or simply an NBA enthusiast, this episode has something for everyone. Join our engaging discussion and stay up-to-date with all the latest basketball news and insights.

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:15:10 Boston Celtics lose Game 7 in embarrassing fashion
00:42:45 2023 NBA Finals preview, Nuggets vs Heat
01:00:00 Nick Nurse joins the Philadelphia 76ers
01:14:40 Should the Raptors trade for the third pick?
01:20:15 Bob Myers steps down from Golden State
01:34:28 – Outro

Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Retirement, NBA Playoffs, Atlantic Files, Podcast
by Alex Fischbein

Nikola Jokic’s Dominance, LeBron James Retiring, And Jimmy Butler vs The World | TAF273

This week on the Atlantic Files, Nikola Jokic is producing at a historic level this postseason, LeBron James talks about retirement after getting swept by the Nuggets, Jimmy Butler is still wreaking havoc on the world, James Harden is trying to strong hand the Sixers into a max deal, rumors are swirling around a Mikal Bridges to Portland deal, and Monty Williams turns down the job in Detroit.

Nikola Jokic is producing triple-doubles left and right this postseason and is fresh off of averaging one during the sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets beat the Lakers so badly that it had LeBron James talking about retirement just to get the narrative off of the fact that he got swept.

On the other side of the bracket, Jimmy Butler led the Miami Heat to a 3-0 start in the Eastern Conference Finals before the Boston Celtics finally won a game. Butler has won over many NBA fans as he keeps walking the walk at the same time as talking the talk.

James Harden is now seeking a max deal after feeling like he sacrificed enough for one whole season that ended in a second-round exit at the hands of Jayson Tatum. The 76ers, on the other hand, don’t seem very interested in giving him all that money so we might see him go to Houston after all.

Finally, the rumor mills are turning as Mikal Bridges is the latest name swirling around. His name was mentioned in a trade that sent the number three pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and one or both of Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. The bigger question is whether or not the Nets want to compete or rebuild from the ground up.

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Joel Embiid, NBA MVP, Philadelphia 76ers, NBA playoffs, Atlantic Files
by Alex Fischbein

Joel Embiid Wins MVP, Celtics and Knicks On The Brink | TAF271

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Joel Embiid finally wins his first MVP over Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Philadelphia 76ers have pushed the Boston Celtics to the brink of elimination, the New York Knicks are also trying to fend off elimination in their series, and more NBA Playoffs observations!

Joel Embiid has been a part of the highly debated MVP conversation over the last 2-to-3 seasons and it was finally his time to shine. With a substantial portion of the vote, he won his first MVP award over Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. This doesn’t exactly end the debate as people will likely talk about it for years to come, but no one can take away the MVP honors.

After a surprising Game 5 win, the Philadelphia 76ers pushed the Boston Celtics to the brink of elimination. Doc Rivers doesn’t have a great track record in series-clinching games and the Celtics are not a team that will go down without a fight. Can Joel Embiid and company actually push through the second round or will it be a Game 7 and maybe even a similar fate to the last few seasons?

The New York Knicks are in the same boat as the Celtics as they find themselves down 2-3 to the Miami Heat. A big Game 5 propelled them into at least one more game with Jalen Brunson leading the way as usual. The rest of the team just needs to step up so that Brunson doesn’t have to do everything the rest of the way.

Then, there are the two Western Conference semifinals, which have been entertaining in their own right. Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets have been pushing the Suns around for the most part and LeBron James is determined to make father time look like a joke. Who do you have coming out of the West?

Finally, a surprising name popped up in the Toronto Raptors head coaching search. JJ Redick apparently was interviewed for the opening despite never openly showing any interest in actually being a coach. This could be something to watch closely moving forward!

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:35 Joel Embiid wins 2023 NBA MVP
00:11:13 Sixers win Game 5, could eliminate Celtics
00:31:36 Knicks down 2-3 to Miami
00:36:39 Nuggets vs Suns and Lakers vs Warriors series
00:46:49 JJ Redick interviewed for head coach of Toronto
00:48:42 outro

Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Josh Hart, New York Knicks, NBA Playoffs, Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, Atlantic Files, Podcast
by Alex Fischbein

The New York Knicks And Playoff Jimmy Butler Are Real | TAF270

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, the New York Knicks are shutting down the Cleveland Cavaliers with ease, Jimmy Butler flipped his playoff switch against Milwaukee, the Philadelphia 76ers swept the Brooklyn Nets so what do they need to do this off-season, Ime Udoka got the job with the Houston Rockets, and more!

Both the Knicks and Jimmy Butler have flipped the playoff switch lately. New York is on a high right now as they took a 3-1 lead over the Cavaliers as the series goes back to Cleveland for Game 5. Many analysts, including us on this podcast, didn’t believe in the Knicks winning a series against a Donovan Mitchell-led Cavs team. Yet, here they are on the cusp of advancing to the second round! Then, there’s the tale as old as time in playoff Jimmy. Butler has taken the Heat to the edge of a huge upset over the first-seed Milwaukee Bucks after he put up a historic performance in Game 4.

Now that the Brooklyn Nets have been swept for the second time in two years, what do they need to avoid the same fate for a third consecutive season? How do they build after moving on from the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving experiment? Well, a good start is having players like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, that’s for sure! It’s time to talk about the pieces they need around those two.

Ime Udoka’s name has been thrown around rumor mills for every single team that needed a head coach. Finally, two teams fired their coaches and then it became a contest of which one could hire him quicker. Reportedly, he didn’t want the Toronto job, so he ended up taking the Houston opening. Does he immediately make them a playoff contender, or is there still a long way to go for this squad?

Finally, we go over the other playoff series around the league and talk about the hottest topics. Dillon Brooks is regretting poking the bear, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally won a game, the Los Angeles Clippers are injured again, and more!

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:56 2023 NBA Playoffs observations
00:46:32 New York Knicks making the ECF
01:03:31 Joel Embiid sprains his LCL
01:16:58 Brooklyn Nets changes they need to make in the off-season
01:30:08 Ime Udoka heading to Houston
01:34:15 Outro

Joel Embiid, Mikal Bridges, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, NBA Playoffs, Atlantic Files
by Alex Fischbein

Joel Embiid vs Mikal Bridges, NBA Playoffs Heat Up | TAF269

In the latest episode of The Atlantic Files, hosts Alex Fischbein discussed the latest happenings in the NBA playoffs. As always, the podcast focused on the Atlantic Division but also covered some broader observations about the playoffs as a whole. Here are some of the highlights from the episode:

Philadelphia 76ers vs Brooklyn Nets playoffs series

Alex broke down the first-round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, two of the most talented teams in the Eastern Conference. Mikal Bridges has proven to be a top-notch player that deserves to be the number-one option on a playoff team. On the other side, Joel Embiid has grown in his playmaking abilities as he’s been consistently finding his teammates out of double teams.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks playoffs series

He also talked about the matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, which had been an unexpected and exciting series. They highlighted the impressive play of Cavaliers’ guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, as well as the toughness and grit of Knicks’ star Julius Randle.

2023 NBA Playoffs observations

In addition to discussing specific matchups, Alex also shared some broader observations about the playoffs. He talked about the dominance of Western Conference teams, the rise of younger teams like the Sacramento Kings and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the importance of coaching in the postseason.

Draymond Green stomping on Domantas Sabonis

One controversial moment in the playoffs was Draymond Green’s stomp on Domantas Sabonis during the Golden State Warriors’ series against the Sacramento Kings. Alex weighed in on the incident and its potential consequences, both for Green and for the Warriors’ playoff hopes.

Jaren Jackson Jr. winning Defensive Player of the Year

Another topic of discussion was Jaren Jackson Jr. winning the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. The host praised Jackson’s ability to guard multiple positions and impact the game on both ends of the court.

De’Aaron Fox winning clutch player of the year

Finally, De’Aaron Fox won the Clutch Player of the Year award, which recognizes players who perform best in high-pressure situations. They talked about Fox’s ability to take over games in the fourth quarter and his importance to the Sacramento Kings’ success.

The Atlantic Files continues to be the go-to podcast for fans of the Atlantic Division and the NBA as a whole. With expert analysis, engaging conversation, and a focus on the latest news and trends in the league, it’s no wonder the podcast has become such a hit among basketball fans. Be sure to tune in to the next episode for even more great content!

SUBSCRIBE to Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss a new episode!

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:10 Joel Embiid, Mikal Bridges, Sixers vs Nets
00:22:11 Knicks vs Cavs tied 1-1
00:38:20 NBA Playoffs observations from around the league
00:53:17 Draymond Green suspended for stomp
00:57:55 Jaren Jackson Jr and De’Aaron Fox win awards
01:00:29 Outro

Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, 2023 NBA Playoffs, Atlantic Files, Podcast
by Alex Fischbein

The NBA Playoffs Are Coming! | TAF267

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, we welcome BJ Boyer back to the show as we preview the 2022-23 NBA Playoffs, go over the scenarios some teams need to still make the playoffs or play-in tournament, talk about the crazy rollercoaster of a season that the Los Angeles Lakers have had, go over some things in the new CBA, talk about the downfall of the Dallas Mavericks, and more!

A friend of the show and local Los Angeles Lakers fan, BJ Boyer, joined this week’s episode to explain his feelings on the current iteration of the team and how much of a rollercoaster ride this season was. He even predicted how long this core will last until they finally have to blow it up again.

Then, we got into some of the specifics that have reportedly been included in the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. The CBA has included things from game limits to qualify for regular season awards to some very interesting salary cap rules that will force general managers to play some crazy cap gymnastics. We gave our thoughts on some of the changes and dove into a lot of details.

Finally, we talked about the downfall of the Dallas Mavericks and started to preview the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Which top teams in each conference are more likely to lose in an upset and which ones will actually make the Conference Finals? Should the Philadelphia 76ers want to play against the Milwaukee Bucks instead of the Boston Celtics, or should they just jump in against either one of them? We go in-depth into those questions and more!

SUBSCRIBE to Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss a new episode!

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:49 Los Angeles Lakers season explained
00:34:34 The NBA’s new CBA, salary cap, and more
00:57:16 2023 NBA Playoffs predictions and preview
01:39:18 Remember this guy?
01:41:53 Outro