Tag / boston celtics

by Alex Fischbein

James Harden Fined, France Eliminated Early | TAF283

On episode 283 of The Atlantic Files, James Harden gets fined for his comments about Daryl Morey, we continue our divisional previews with the Northwest Division, France gets ousted in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Evan Turner hints at the refs being biased in the NBA Playoffs, and we go through the second half of Dennis’ fantasy basketball rankings.

James Harden was fined $100k for saying that he would never play for the Sixers as long as Daryl Morey is employed there. While his plan to tell the audience that in China was genius, he still looks like an idiot after the dust has pretty much settled from everything.

Rudy Gobert and Team France get eliminated after just two pool play games. They lost to both Canada and Latvia without Kristaps Porzingis in back to back games and they’ll head home after being one of the top teams in the tournament. Sad day for France fans.

Evan Turner made an appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast and talked about their 2012 Playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics. He said that Elton Brand told him they would have to win by 15 just to win by one which meant they needed to make sure the refs had no say in who won. Confirming a lot of beliefs that people had about the officiating.

Finally, we previewed the Northwest Division with the reigning NBA Champs. Do you think they’ll repeat? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:11:35 James Harden fined 100k
00:20:39 France eliminated from 2023 FIBA World Cup
00:31:25 Evan Turner on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast
00:44:30 NBA Northwest Division preview
00:58:54 outro

by Alex Fischbein

Jaylen Brown Gets The Bag! | TAF280

On episode 280 of The Atlantic Files, Jaylen Brown gets a supermax extension from the Boston Celtics, Mikal Bridges hypes up Ben Simmons like many have done before, Donovan Mitchell apparently won’t stay in Cleveland, we discuss the top rookies for redraft and fantasy basketball leagues, and we play the NBA grid game!

Jaylen Brown gets a whole boatload of money from the Celtics to go with a five-year extension. Now, the debate is whether or not he can produce enough to match the amount of money he’s making. Some don’t even think he’s the second-best player on his team!

Mikal Bridges went on Paul George‘s podcast and talked about Ben Simmons and where the team’s mindset is at in regard to getting him back on the court. Bridges hyped up Simmons’ attitude and his work ethic heading into this season while he said that Simmons was actually the one talking the most in their team group chat. Will this turn into yet another hype reel that doesn’t turn into any real production?

Now, there are reports flying around that Donovan Mitchell won’t be staying in Cleveland longer than his current contract. His eyes are already set on another city apparently and the team would be smart to just trade him away to get something for him. Should they keep him and try to convince him to stay instead?

Finally, we discuss the top rookies heading into this season for fantasy basketball. We talk about both redraft and dynasty leagues and the best rookies to look out for if you happen to be participating in either one this year!

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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:07 Jaylen Brown gets the Supermax from the Boston Celtics
00:11:58 Mikal Bridges hypes up Ben Simmons
00:24:18 Donovan Mitchell won’t stay in Cleveland?
00:33:31 Top fantasy basketball rookies for redraft leagues
00:47:28 Top fantasy basketball rookies for dynasty leagues
00:59:28 The NBA Grid game!
01:14:22 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

2023 NBA Free Agency Roundup | TAF278

On episode 278 of The Atlantic Files: 2023 NBA Free Agency was shaping up to be crazy and so far it hasn’t really been that amazing. Players like Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Kyle Kuzma, and Khris Middleton all stayed put. Fred VanVleet got paid, Dillon Brooks headed to a different team, and Grant Williams and Max Strus went through a sign-and-trade. We give all of our thoughts and reactions on the signings and trades so far and the ones that are yet to come like Damian Lillard and James Harden.

The free agency period has been a little lackluster compared to all the hype and rumors thrown around before it officially opened. Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks both got a good bit of money to switch teams, but outside of them a lot of the more significant contracts went to guys that just stayed with their same squad. Draymond Green, Kyle Kuzma, and Jerami Grant are just a few names that didn’t switch teams. So, which teams had the best free agency?

We also take a closer look at the Atlantic Division teams and how they fared throughout the free agency period so far. The 76ers and Nets seem to be sitting back and waiting for bigger moves while the Raptors and Celtics decided to make a few moves and bring in some new faces. We’re still waiting to see if the Knicks have anything else up their sleeve as well.

Finally, there are the annoying situations of both Damian Lillard and James Harden. Lillard decided to wait until the last possible minute to request a trade and he’s acting like a child when he says he will only play for the Miami Heat and absolutely no one else. Harden, also acting like a child, received a huge ego check and will sit around waiting for Daryl Morey to trade him because he didn’t like the fact that he didn’t receive a ton of money this offseason.

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:07:16 Atlantic Division free agency roundup
00:47:01 Can Damian Lillard replicate Stephen Curry and Isiah Thomas?
00:55:51 What’s going on with Dame and James Harden?
01:04:17 Houston lands Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks
01:07:13 We love meatloaf
01:10:11 Back to Houston’s free agency
01:15:46 Kyle Kuzma stays in Washington??
01:21:36 Phoenix Suns have a good free agency
01:25:03 Early NBA Summer League thoughts
01:31:52 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

Kristaps Porzingis, Jordan Poole, John Collins, NBA Offseason | TAF277

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Kristaps Porzingis gets traded to the Boston Celtics while Marcus Smart is shipped to Memphis, Jordan Poole heads to Washington in exchange for Chris Paul joining the Warriors, John Collins is also on the move to Utah, there are tons of rumors flying around, the 2023 NBA Draft took place as Victor Wembanyama goes first overall, and more!

The Boston Celtics landed a big-time center in Kristaps Porzingis, but it took the heart and soul of their team to bring him in. Marcus Smart had to be shipped off to Memphis as the Grizzlies sent Tyus Jones over to the Washington Wizards in this three-team deal. Porzingis brings in a good amount of offense, but how limited will the defense be now that their former Defensive Player of the Year is gone?

In more trade news, John Collins is on his way to Utah for the puny price of Rudy Gay and a second-round pick. While Collins is set to make a decent bit of money, the fact that Atlanta had to make this deal says a lot about the skill level of Collins and how far he has fallen. Will he regain his former self with the Jazz?

In even more trade news, Jordan Poole finally escapes the bully that is Draymond Green. He’s on his way to Washington as Chris Paul heads to Golden State to join the splash brothers and maybe even Green if they can work out his contract. Now, Poole can lead his own backcourt along with Jones and try to lead the Wizards into relevance.

Finally, we give our thoughts and reactions to the 2023 NBA Draft. The top three picks went the way that everyone expected, but the rest of it was a little enticing. Especially Cam Whitmore dropping all the way to 20.

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:11:47 John Collins traded for a bag of chips
00:29:13 Kristaps Porzingis to Boston, Marcus Smart To Memphis
00:48:20 Jordan Poole for Chris Paul trade
01:12:47 2023 NBA Draft reactions
01:30:00 Outro

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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Doc Rivers fired, Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid, James Harden, Boston Celtics, NBA, The Atlantic Files
by Alex Fischbein

Doc Rivers Fired, The Boston Celtics Survive | TAF272

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?

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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

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!

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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