On episode 303 of The Atlantic Files, Ben Simmons finally returns to the court again after more issues with his back, Joel Embiid misses another game against Nikola Jokic in Denver, the Los Angeles Lakers are getting extreme favoritism from the refs, and the Golden State Warriors look at potential trade targets to get themselves back into title contention.
Ben Simmons has finally returned from his back issues and played his first game since November. He is on a minutes restriction but he still almost posted a triple-double against the Utah Jazz. How long will he remain on the court for the rest of the season and will his back issues keep him off of the court for most of his career?
Joel Embiid put on a masterclass in the first of two matchups against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. He was set to play in the rematch that took place in Denver but then was surprisingly downgraded to questionable and eventually was sidelined. He hasn’t played in Denver since 2019, so now fans think he’s scared and ducking Jokic. What happened to the regular season not meaning anything?
A stat has been found that proves the Los Angeles Lakers shoot the most free throws out of any team in the NBA. Not only that, but they have the biggest difference in total free throw attempts compared to their opponents. Something seems a bit fishy here, but the Lakers aren’t even turning it into wins. So, should we all be mad about it?
Finally, the Golden State Warriors are trying to salvage something out of this season after they found themselves in 12th place in the West after half of the season has gone by. The question is who they should be trading away and if it’s worth trading for what’s out there right now. We dive into some options they have and whether or not they should even mortgage their future before the trade deadline.
Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:45 WWE Royal Rumble thoughts 00:15:09 Ben Simmons first game back against Utah Jazz 00:29:46 Golden State Warriors trade targets before the deadline 00:40:59 Is Joel Embiid ducking Nikola Jokic 00:46:25 Lakers getting way more Free Throws 00:54:21 Outro and final thoughts
On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Tyrese Haliburton has been going off so is he a legit MVP candidate? Also, we talk about the in-season tournament playoffs, whether or not the Golden State Warriors are cooked, and if the Minnesota Timberwolves are legit title contenders as they sit atop the Western Conference right now.
Tyrese Haliburton has gone from a budding star to a big-time point guard who has exploded onto the scene. His run in the in-season tournament has been nothing short of outstanding and now the general public has shifted him into the MVP conversation. Does he warrant legit MVP conversation or is this too early to discuss his name on that level?
Speaking of deciding if someone is legit or not, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the top team in the West and boast the best record in the entire league. Is this team really a legitimate title contender or are we seeing a team that’s just surprising in the beginning of the season and will return to Earth later on? Time will only tell, but we give our opinions on it anyway.
Finally, we give our thoughts and opinions on the in-season tournament as a whole. Has everyone enjoyed the product and did the scheduling make sense? Also, will this stick and carry on to each new season yet to come? Let us know across social media and in the YouTube comments what you think!
Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro and Banter 00:09:49 NBA In-season tournament quarterfinals reactions 00:27:24 Is Tyrese Haliburton an MVP candidate? 00:46:15 Are the Minnesota Timberwolves for real? 00:55:15 Are the Golden State Warriors cooked? 01:04:20 Outro
The NBA has been going through a lot of issues when it comes to superstars resting or taking games off throughout the regular season. Fans complain that they’ve spent hard-earned money just for players like Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, and Kyrie Irving to sit on the bench and take a night off.
A few years back, Adam Silver and company formed a couple of rules that tried to combat resting by making sure everyone reported their injuries with better accuracy. There were some limits as to what could be listed as an injury and how many players could be on the list. On top of that, there were some minor restrictions to away games and games on national television.
Now, the NBA has revamped those rules to include some stricter guidelines in an effort to prevent their best players from not taking the regular season seriously. After putting an in-season tournament into the mix, Silver believed these rules would make fans want to tune into regular season games more often.
Two or more stars are not allowed to take the same game off now, while still not being able to take off away and nationally televised games. They have to play at least a higher amount of away games compared to home games because there are more chances at home for the fans to see their favorite players in action.
What the question turns into, is how will this all be enforced? Do you think these rules will work or is it another futile attempt at making the regular season more important? Let us know what you think on X @AtlanticFiles.
On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Doc Rivers gets fired from the Philadelphia 76ers, Jayson Tatum has a historic night as the Boston Celtics eliminated the 76ers again, both Conference Finals matchups are set, coaches are looking for jobs everywhere, the legacies of James Harden and Joel Embiid are on the line, and more!
Doc Rivers is officially out as the 76ers head coach even though Joel Embiid isn’t quite happy about it. The team choked another lead away and couldn’t get out of the second round for a third year in a row. Daryl Morey decided that the first domino to fall was Rivers as they try to appease to James Harden.
Jayson Tatum cashed in a historic Game 7 to beat down the 76ers and now sets his sights on Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. Can the Celtics finally end this Cinderella run or will Butler lead them back to the Finals just like the Disney Bubble year? Joe Mazzulla has had some shaky moments in the first two rounds, so he’ll need to tighten up against one of the best coaches in the league.
On the other side of the bracket, there are the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. It’s another story of the powerhouse favorite against the play-in underdog team. Nikola Jokic has been absolutely amazing this postseason, but Anthony Davis and LeBron James have made their own noise after taking down the Grizzlies and Warriors.
Finally, there are tons of coaches looking for jobs now. Which coach would fit better with each team that has an opening? Plus, how are the legacies of some of the eliminated players affected?
Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro 00:07:40 Doc Rivers fired as 76ers choke again 00:51:44 Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics Eastern Conference Finals 01:07:56 Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference Finals 01:13:12 Ja Morant and the Coaching Carousel 01:18:17 Talking with Mario from NBA A LA CHILENA 01:29:26 Outro
The NBA Playoffs and Play-In Games are in full swing, and fans across the world are excited to see their favorite teams compete for the championship. Two of the teams in the spotlight this year are the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers. In this episode, we’ll take a look at the past and present of the Atlanta Hawks, recap the NBA Playoffs and Play-In Games, provide predictions for the postseason, and discuss some of the off-court drama involving NBA players.
I. Atlanta Hawks: Past and Present
The Atlanta Hawks franchise has a rich history that dates back to the 1940s, but they have yet to win an NBA championship. Despite this, the Hawks have made several playoff appearances in recent years, including this year’s Playoffs. The Hawks are led by Trae Young, who is widely regarded as one of the best young players in the league. Young has been instrumental in the Hawks’ success this season, averaging 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per game.
II. NBA Playoffs and Play-In Games: Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers
The Play-In Games were introduced to the NBA this year, and they have already provided some thrilling matchups. In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks faced off against the Miami Heat in a tense battle. The Hawks emerged victorious, thanks in part to Trae Young’s 25-point performance. The Hawks will now face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Lakers have also had an eventful season, with several injuries and lineup changes. Despite this, the Lakers managed to secure the seventh seed in the Western Conference and earned a spot in the Playoffs. In their recent game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers came out on top, with LeBron James leading the charge with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
LeBron James has been a force to be reckoned with in the NBA Playoffs throughout his career, with four championships to his name. James has won a total of 172 playoff games, which is the most in NBA history. The Lakers will face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the Playoffs, and fans are eagerly anticipating another dominant performance from James and the Lakers.
As for predictions, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top this year. The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Milwaukee Bucks are all strong contenders, but the playoffs are known for producing unexpected upsets and breakout performances. One player to keep an eye on is Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, who has been making waves with his electrifying play.
III. Off-Court Drama: Kyle Kuzma and Spencer Dinwiddie
In addition to the on-court action, there has been some drama brewing off the court involving NBA players Kyle Kuzma and Spencer Dinwiddie. The two players have been engaged in a feud on social media, with Dinwiddie calling out Kuzma for his lackluster performance on the court. It’s unclear what sparked the feud, but some speculate that it may have to do with Kuzma’s recent breakup with model Winnie Harlow.
IV. Coaching Changes in the NBA
This year has also seen several coaching changes in the NBA. The most high-profile of these changes was the firing of Nate McMillan from the Atlanta Hawks. Other coaches who were let go include Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons and Stephen Silas of the Houston Rockets.
There has been some discussion about whether there is discrimination among NBA coaches based on their race. In the 2020-21 season, only seven out of 30 NBA head coaches were Black. This has led to some criticism of the NBA and calls for more diversity and inclusion in coaching positions. Now, head coaches seem to be trending toward fewer white candidates as more and more coaches get their first shot with teams at all different points of competition level.
The NBA Playoffs and Play-In Games have provided fans with plenty of excitement and drama this year. The Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers are both in the mix, with the Hawks looking to make a deep playoff run and the Lakers hoping to defend their championship title. Off the court, there have been some interesting developments, including the feud between Kyle Kuzma and Spencer Dinwiddie and the coaching changes across the league. Regardless of what happens, fans can look forward to a thrilling postseason full of surprises and standout performances.
Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro 00:06:44 Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat play-in game 00:29:49 Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves play-in game 00:42:28 Toronto Raptor vs Chicago Bulls Play-In game preview 00:49:43 Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans play-in game preview 00:50:18 Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyle Kuzma beef 01:07:14 Dwane Casey and Stephen Silas no longer head coaches 01:09:08 Are NBA coaches getting fired due to race? 01:28:14 Lakers or Hawks, who is more likely to pull off an upset 01:30:01 Remember this guy? 01:36:03 Outro
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!
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
On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics put away the Philadelphia 76ers yet again, the Brooklyn Nets start to struggle, Russell Westbrook’s first game with the Los Angeles Clippers, historic games since the All-Star break, Jimmy Butler frustrated with Miami’s record, and much more!
In case anyone missed it, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics had an instant classic type of game against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers last weekend. The game was ultimately decided by a game-winning shot by Tatum and even though Embiid made a three-quarter-court shot, it didn’t count and the Celtics won. Why can’t the Sixers ever beat the Celtics and what will it take for them to actually have playoff success?
To nobody’s surprise, the Brooklyn Nets are starting to struggle after trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. While they found a gem in Mikal Bridges, he hasn’t exactly been enough to stay afloat and keep this team in the top half of the Eastern Conference. So, where do they go from here?
Ever since the worst NBA All-Star Game of all time, we’ve now seen some of the greatest regular season games of all time. The double overtime contest between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Sacramento Kings was an instant all-timer while there have been even more close games, buzzer-beaters, and overtimes. Russell Westbrook contributed right away to the Clippers in their starting lineup and we’ve seen some more interesting performances from other additions around the league.
Load management is a hot topic yet again across the league and across all the national media outlets. There was a big debate on First Take and everyone else has followed suit across other podcasts and shows everywhere. Where do you stand on the load management debate and why is it on the side that players need to be available more often?
Finally, Jimmy Butler let his frustrations get out during a post-game interview and now it calls the Miami Heat to question as they continue to underperform down the stretch. They haven’t had a fully healthy team all season and while the addition of Kevin Love has been great, it doesn’t seem to be enough right now. Can they actually make any noise come playoff time?
Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:54 Jayson Tatum’s game winner over the Philadelphia 76ers 00:15:28 Doc Rivers needs to make more adjustments 00:31:52 Brooklyn Nets are struggling now 00:40:20 Load Management in the NBA is a hot topic again 01:04:57 Double overtime games and excitement so far after the break 01:13:16 Jimmy Butler is fed up with losing 01:22:44 Remember this guy? 01:27:25 Outro
On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Kevin Durant was finally moved to the Phoenix Suns while the madness of the NBA Trade Deadline was one to remember, we go over every big deal from the deadline, how the Brooklyn Nets will hit the restart button, Durant’s frustrations with Ben Simmons, the hit pieces surround Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis not celebrating LeBron James making history, and more!
Kevin Durantrequested a trade so fast after Kyrie Irving was shipped out that everyone wasn’t even prepared to fathom the team without him. The only possible team he could play for happened to be one of the Western favorites in the Phoenix Suns because he just couldn’t see himself playing for any other team in the league. So, do the Suns automatically become title favorites, or do the Boston Celtics still have an argument?
One report coming out of the Nets camp is that Durant was also fed up with Ben Simmons and the number of people that seem to coddle him throughout all of his mistakes and shortcomings on the court. This sounds eerily familiar as if something like this happened before with another superstar named Jimmy Butler. Simmons is now seeing his minutes disappear before his very eyes in every game.
Finally, there are a couple of stories stemming from the Los Angeles Lakers dealing with both Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. Davis looked like he was really hating life as LeBron James made history while there were hit pieces galore coming out about Westbrook just because he was finally traded. Ah, don’t you just love media stories that really don’t mean anything and could even be made up for views?
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:24 Kevin Durant traded to Phoenix reactions and thoughts 00:29:33 Takeaways from 2023 NBA Trade Deadline 00:58:58 Anthony Davis hating life while LeBon makes history 01:03:30 Russell Westbrook hit pieces need to stop 01:10:50 KD frustrated with Ben Simmons and people coddling him 01:22:47 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend predictions 01:30:40 Outro
On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors are headed in separate directions as the Knicks are on a hot streak and the Raptors are sinking fast, Anthony Davis and Stephen Curry both get hurt while Joe Ingles is set to return, James Harden reveals a lot in his interview about why he left Brooklyn, would Mexico City be a good expansion city for the NBA, and more!
The Toronto Raptors were on a big losing skid before a 52-point game by Pascal Siakam finally allowed them to break it. As of right now, they’re barely hanging on to a play-in spot at the 10th seed. Is it time for this team to finally hit the panic button and look toward the trade market, or do they still have what it takes to make a deep playoff run?
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the New York Knicks are on a big win streak right now. They’ve shot all the way up to the sixth seed in the East. Their core guys are all contributing in big ways and Tom Thibodeau’s job looks secure for now. There’s always plenty of time for the Knicks to pull a Knicks-ish move before the season ends.
James Harden sat down for an interview to give some insight on why he decided to ask for a trade to get out of Brooklyn. He brought to light a lot of things that people were speculating about and a couple of surprising facts about the rest of the team. He ended everything by asking if he was still a quitter if the main superstar on the team also asked to get out of there.
There have been a few major injuries and some returns that have taken place recently. Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, and Brandon Ingram have all either been out or are out now for an extended period of time. Joe Ingles is making his return to his new team after his torn ACL and Markelle Fultz has returned too. What type of impact do all of these things have?
Finally, Adam Silver talked about how Mexico City was putting in a lot of work to get an NBA expansion team in their city. Should Mexico City even be near the top of the list to get a team, or are they a few more American cities that need a team before they start looking internationally?
Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro 00:09:46 Time for the Toronto Raptors to hit the panic button? 00:27:47 Are the New York Knicks a playoff team? 00:44:06 NBA creating a Mexico City expansion team 00:53:50 Why James Harden really wanted out of Brooklyn 01:09:29 Major injuries and returns: Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, and Joe Ingles 01:14:33 Outro
On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files Podcast, Scottie Barnes continues to have a rough sophomore season for the Toronto Raptors, James Harden struggles in his return from injury, Anthony Davis is dominating the league and staying healthy, Bradley Beal admits that no winning teams gave him an offer, Trae Young and Nate McMillan aren’t seeing eye-to-eye, and more!
Many basketball pundits and Twitter basketball “experts” have been commenting on Scottie Barnes’s lackluster season so far. He was expected to take a huge leap in his sophomore year but has struggled from time to time as he gets used to teams writing up game plans against him. He’s going to be just as fine as he has shown improvement in other areas of his game whether his scoring is down or not.
James Harden returned to the court with the Philadelphia 76ers after around a month of sitting out. Against his former team, the Houston Rockets, he certainly showed a lot of rust. He didn’t shoot well and turned the ball over in crucial moments during a double-overtime loss.
Anthony Davis caught a lot of flack from us on this podcast. His health was always in question and he was missing more games than he was playing. This season, however, he’s been playing through almost anything and he’s returned to a dominant force. Seeing him dominate again has been a great sight for the Los Angeles Lakers fans.
In a surprising quote, Bradley Beal admitted to not getting any offers from winning teams in the off-season. Usually, players of his status don’t admit something like that. There’s not much surprise to go with that statement though. Winning teams often don’t have the money to sign a star player to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Finally, there was some fighting between Trae Young and Nate McMillan. The two of them aren’t in agreement in terms of the ways that Young was treating the team and the coach. Some analysts have compared the situation to Zach Wilson with the New York Jets which is very alarming.
Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro 00:04:27 Scottie Barnes Sophomore Slump, concerned or not 00:16:16 James Harden returns and plays like crap, Philadelphia 76ers lose 00:37:54 Anthony Davis is out here dominating 00:47:29 Bradley Beal didn’t get any offers from winning teams 01:04:51 Trae Young and Nate McMillan have beef now 01:17:20 Mike calls into the show from the road 01:23:27 Outro
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