Trendon Watford Masterclass, Nico Harrison Disasterclass

Welcome back to The Atlantic Files! In Episode 325, Alex dives into another wild week around the NBA — including a full recap of Week 3 in the Atlantic Division, Karl-Anthony Towns’ unbelievable stat line, Trendon Watford’s first career triple-double, and the latest drama surrounding the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks front office.

This episode is packed with analysis, stats, and some hot takes you won’t want to miss.


🏀 Atlantic Division Week 3 in Review

Week 3 gave us plenty to talk about across the Atlantic Division. The Sixers continue to impress behind Tyrese Maxey’s rise, while the Knicks are proving they belong in the top half of the East. The Celtics are still trying to figure things out, the Raptors’ young core is finding its footing, and the Nets… well, they’re a whole other story this week.

Topics Discussed:

  • Updated standings and trends from the past week
  • The most impressive wins and most disappointing losses
  • Which Atlantic team looks like the biggest threat in the East so far

📈 Karl-Anthony Towns’ Historic Efficiency

Karl-Anthony Towns made NBA history this week with one of the most efficient stretches ever seen — combining elite rebounding numbers with near-perfect free throw shooting. Alex breaks down what makes Towns so unique as a big man and whether his consistency could put him in All-NBA conversation this season.


🔥 Trendon Watford’s First Career Triple-Double

Trendon Watford has officially arrived on the scene with his first career triple-double! We talk about his performance, what it means for his development, and how he’s quietly becoming an underrated bright spot this season.

Talking Points:

  • Watford’s rise as a versatile role player
  • His potential fit on a contender
  • Why his all-around game is catching attention

🤔 What Are the Nets Doing with Their Rebuild?!

The Brooklyn Nets remain one of the most puzzling teams in the league. Alex dissects what’s going wrong with their rebuild, the direction of their front office, and what the future holds for players like Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr.

Key Topics:

  • Evaluating the Nets’ long-term plan (or lack thereof)
  • Player development and coaching concerns
  • Whether the team should commit to the rookies

💼 Nico Harrison’s Job on the Line?

Reports suggest Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison’s time could be running out, with many insiders calling his firing “a matter of when, not if.” We break down the Mavericks’ struggles, the questionable roster decisions, and how front office instability could affect Luka Doncic’s future in Dallas.


Join the conversation:

  • Should the Nets play all of the rookies?
  • Is Karl-Anthony Towns finally living up to his potential?
  • What’s next for Dallas if Nico Harrison is gone?

Subscribe to The Atlantic Files on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for new episodes every Monday and Wednesday, and follow us on social media for more NBA talk and reactions.

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors, Atlantic Files

New York Knicks & Toronto Raptors Heading Opposite Ways | TAF256

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?

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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