Tag / draymond green

by Alex Fischbein

Tim Duncan vs Nikola Jokic, Fight! | TAF305

This week, on episode 305 of The Atlantic Files, Tom Deasey joins the show, the latest debate around the interwebs is Tim Duncan versus Nikola Jokic, JJ Redick makes some strong comments about Doc Rivers and it ruffles some feathers, is there any hope for the NBA All-Star game and weekend to return to glory, and we take a look at the MVP race and whether or not Jayson Tatum is unfairly criticized.

Around social media and blogs everywhere, the latest hot debate has been Tim Duncan versus Nikola Jokic. Everyone is trying to figure out which player they would take for the entirety of their career. New-generation fans have no idea the type of player that Duncan was, but Jokic has been a freak of nature so far in his career. Who do you take?

JJ Redick was on First Take and went nuclear when it came to Doc Rivers throwing all of the accountability at everyone but himself. He roasted Rivers for never taking accountability while Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe sat there and agreed with every word. Austin Rivers and Patrick Beverley took offense, but they’re in the minority when it comes to this opinion.

The NBA All-Star Game and the entire weekend as a whole were a disappointment yet again. Who would have guessed? Just about everyone who has watched the last handful of years would have. So, is there any hope at all for it to get better in the future?

Finally, we take a look at the MVP race after Draymond Green talked about Jayson Tatum being unfairly criticized. He thinks that Tatum is being held to a higher standard than the rest of the candidates, but we think the rest of them are just flat-out better.

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:00 AI, VR, and weird stuff
00:30:08 Is there any hope for NBA All-Star
00:44:52 MVP Race and where Jayson Tatum fits
01:03:29 JJ Redick’s Comments on Doc Rivers
01:27:47 Nikola Jokic vs Tim Duncan debate
01:38:12 NBA looking into helping defensive players
01:59:32 Outro and closing thoughts

by Alex Fischbein

Dennis Schroder, Buddy Hield, NBA Trade Reviews | TAF304

On episode 304 of The Atlantic Files, Dmitry Bergen of the Plan C Podcast joins the show again! We review the trades that went down at the NBA Trade Deadline, Dennis Schroder’s first action with the Brooklyn Nets, Buddy Hield and Cam Payne’s abilities for the Philadelphia 76ers, Deandre Ayton crumbling in Portland, and the Jusuf Nurkic versus Draymond Green beef continues!

The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers both made some moves right before the trade deadline. The Sixers made some head-scratching ones but also brought in the likes of Buddy Hield who provides the type of shooting and scoring that they’ve needed for a long time. The Nets, on the other hand, got rid of an underperforming Spencer Dinwiddie and brought in a better shooter in Dennis Schroder.

Then, there were all of the other trades that took place before the deadline. The New York Knicks were the hands-down winners of the trade deadline and they have improved their team greatly. Now, they have to put all of the pieces together on the court. Did the deadline help or hurt the top teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Minnesota Timberwolves though?

Finally, we look at some of the “background” things happening in the NBA. Jusuf Nurkic and Draymond Green are still beefing and it doesn’t look like that’s going to end any time soon. It does make for great television! Then, there have been some bad reports coming out of Portland on the mentality of Deandre Ayton. He was once regarded as a top big man, but has fallen off that podium a long time ago.

Follow Dmitry Bergen and the Plan C Podcast!
Threads – https://www.threads.net/@theycallmedmitry
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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:09:26 Food service industry and tipping practices
00:15:13 Buddy Hield trade and 76ers rookies
00:30:01 Chicago Bulls and trade deadline reviews
00:35:05 Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics are opposites
00:58:48 Brooklyn Nets trades and Dennis Schroder
01:19:06 Jusuf Nurkic vs Draymond Green beef
01:32:37 Bad reports about Deandre Ayton
02:01:16 Origins of the Plan C F1 Podcast
02:18:30 Outro and closing thoughts

by Alex Fischbein

Ben Simmons Returns Again! | TAF303

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

by Alex Fischbein

Ja Morant Returns, Steve Kerr On Hot Seat | TAF298

On episode 298 of The Atlantic Files, Ja Morant returns after his 25-game suspension, we discuss if Steve Kerr should be on the hot seat while watching the Golden State Warriors crumble, we give an update on the state of the Atlantic Division, and Giannis Antetokounmpo ready to fight over a game ball.

Ja Morant has finally returned to the court after his 25-game suspension for multiple gun-related incidents. Right now, the Memphis Grizzlies are one of the worst teams in the league record-wise. We discuss whether or not Morant’s return is a little too late for them to get in the top six, or if they have a shot at making some noise come playoff time.

The Golden State Warriors have been in shambles for the most part this season. They haven’t sunk to the bottom of the West, but Draymond Green has been suspended indefinitely and both Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins have seemed to forget how to play basketball. Is this going to put Steve Kerr on the hot seat or has he been so good for so long that he has a lot of slack before they think about replacing him?

Giannis Antetokounmpo once got into a fight with Montrezl Harrell over a ladder and that seemed like it was going to be the most ridiculous argument he would get into. Then came the game ball discussion after Antetokounmpo scored the franchise record for most points in a single game. He was ready to sprint into the Indiana Pacers locker room just to fight someone to get his game ball back. What is going on in the NBA?!

Last but not least, we check in on the Atlantic Division and give some updates to each team. The Boston Celtics look primed to win the division again but where does everyone else fall? Do the Brooklyn Nets just need to bring in one big-time star or do they need a series of moves?

Subscribe to the podcast HERE.

Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
06:11 Steve Kerr on the hot seat
17:57 Giannis Antetokounmpo gets mad over the game ball
21:51 Ja Morant is back shooting game winners
37:39 Atlantic division update
46:34 Outro

by Alex Fischbein

Draymond Green Strikes Again | TAF297

On episode 297 of The Atlantic Files, Draymond Green gets ejected yet again for hitting someone, the Los Angeles Lakers are the first champions of the in-season tournament, Patrick Beverley asking the real questions on ESPN, and more ejections across the league.

Draymond Green threw his limbs all over the place, yet again, and was ejected after hitting Jusuf Nurkic in the face. He says that it wasn’t on purpose which is why he apologized, but at this rate, there’s no benefit of the doubt. Green has hit enough opposing players to believe that this was no accident by any means. So, does he deserve the indefinite suspension that he received?

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have officially won the inaugural in-season tournament championship. We’re going to call it the NBA Cup because it’s a lot easier to say. Either way, some have asked if it was fixed to get the Lakers as the very first champion. Now the debate is whether or not the IST ring counts towards a player’s resume and if teams should raise banners.

Even though Green deserved to be ejected, there have been a ton of ejections this season and the number keeps increasing. Players are getting thrown out just for disagreeing with foul calls instead of actual hard fouls or wrongdoing. If this trend continues, fans are going to get more and more upset with referees which is something the league does not want.

Finally, Patrick Beverley went on ESPN during the in-season tournament finals and had a conversation with Kevin Hart that ruffled some feathers. He asked about the Josh Giddey news and demanded some answers and opinions instead of political correctness. It was a great move and he’s now become famous for drinking a victory beer after every win.

Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
03:12 LeBron and the Lakers win the In-Season Tournament
15:30 Draymond Green strikes again
24:10 Ejections run rampant in the NBA
39:53 Patrick Beverley gets kicked off of ESPN
47:13 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

Bradley Beal Finally Traded To The Phoenix Suns | TAF276

In episode 276 of The Atlantic Files, Bradley Beal finally waives his no-trade clause to go to the Phoenix Suns, Chris Paul heads to Washington with a possibility of another trade or free agency, Draymond Green heads to free agency after declining his option, James Harden may be coming back to Philadelphia now, and much more!

Bradley Beal is finally free of the clutches of mediocrity and on his way to create a superteam in Phoenix with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The Wizards didn’t get much in return, but they cleared up a ton of cap space for years to come. The biggest question mark will be whether or not the Suns can stay healthy enough to actually make the NBA Finals let alone win it all.

Now, with Chris Paul heading to Washington, the next step is to figure out where they’re going to ship him next. The leading odds seem to be either of the two teams in Los Angeles, but no one is sure if that’s going to be after getting waived or in a trade.

Then, there’s James Harden still floating around after his unsuccessful leverage play with the Houston Rockets. So he’s likely to return to Philadelphia with the hope that he still gets what he wanted in terms of more money and the freedom to play basketball as he wants. It doesn’t seem like his style of basketball is going to win anything important anytime soon though.

Finally, we go over all of the rumors and happenings across the league ahead of the NBA Draft and free agency. Draymond Green declined his option, Jonathan Kuminga could be traded, Fred VanVleet is seeking $30 million from a team in free agency, the Raptors still don’t want to trade OG Anunoby, and more!

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:15:54 Bradley Beal traded to Phoenix
00:30:49 Where Will Chris Paul go?
00:36:35 James Harden back to Philadelphia now
00:42:01 NBA Trade, free agency, and Draft rumors
01:04:16 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

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlantic Files
by Alex Fischbein

Ja Morant And New York Knicks Stock Watch | TAF265

This week, on The Atlantic Files, Ja Morant is watching a lot of his money and opportunities disappear, the New York Knicks are hitting a hot stretch at the right time, the new CBA could use games played to qualify for major awards, Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks are in a big time beef, Kyrie Irving says gambling is taking away from basketball, and Fred VanVleet opens up the referee can of worms!

The hottest news and memes on the block are all related to Ja Morant. That’s not good news or memes either. Morant is now away from the team as he seeks counseling after losing a sponsorship or two due to more and more allegations coming out about fights, guns, and all sorts of things. He needs some help making decisions and navigating the world as a young man with tons of money.

Once again, on a hot streak, the New York Knicks are making people believe that they’re a dangerous team again. Knicks fans are revving up their engines to match the levels they were on when they ended up playing the Atlanta Hawks in the first round a couple of seasons ago. Can the world handle that?

There are rumors swirling around the new CBA that could entail a game played minimum for major awards like MVP in the future. This is something that a lot of people would love to see, but are there players and teams that are going to game the system and still get their guys rest days by playing them for a minute? This could be another sad attempt at getting people to stop with load management.

The beef of the ages is happening between Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks. Two people who aren’t very relevant this season when it comes to outstanding play and winning awards. They sure know how to keep their names in the news and everyone’s mind though!

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Kyrie Irving went on another rant. This time it was about how gambling and sports betting are ruining the sport of basketball and how he doesn’t feel free right now. Yikes.

Finally, Fred VanVleet has finally spoken up about some unfair officiating and other players around the league are starting to agree with him. Could this launch some sort of investigation? Probably not, but it makes everyone wonder.

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

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:24 Ja Morant’s off-court drama
00:26:24 Draymond Green vs Dillon Brooks beef
00:36:03 New CBA and games played minimum for awards
00:45:49 American White guys are not good at basketball
00:55:38 Kyrie Irving rants about gambling and basketball
01:04:58 New York Knicks are getting hot at the right time
01:09:55 Fred VanVleet vs the NBA Referees
01:17:58 Remember this guy?
01:20:56 Outro

Kevin Durant, Injury, Brooklyn Nets, 2023 NBA All-Star, Atlantic Files
by Alex Fischbein

Kevin Durant Injured, NBA All-Star Voting Returns | TAF258

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files Podcast, Kevin Durant sprains his MCL and will be out for at least a couple weeks, he also does an interview and says NBA fans are entitled, the first round of NBA All-Star voting returns came out, Gregg Popovich talks about the terrible defense of today’s game, Joe Lacob hints at maybe trading one of the Golden State Warriors big three, and more!

Kevin Durant will have to spend some time on the sidelines as he sprained his MCL and has been reported out for at least a few weeks. He will be re-evaluated after that time just in case the healing process doesn’t go as planned. The scare comes from the fact that he missed six weeks with this same injury in seasons prior, but reports have said it’s not as serious as before. Can the Nets stay afloat without their top player?

Durant also gave an interview where he compared today’s game with eras before and how the fans perceive the game today. He said that fans today are entitled because they consume it way more than the generations before them and they have started to take the game for granted. Do you agree with what he had to say?

Then, the first round of NBA All-Star voting returns came out! There were a few surprises but the big names prevailed as usual when it came to the top vote-getters. The biggest issues came from the names that didn’t appear on the list at all!

Finally, there were quotes from Gregg Popovich and Joe Lacob. Coach Pop sarcastically talked about adding a four and five-point shot because nobody wants to play defense anyway. Then, Lacob hinted at trading away one of the original big three before it was too late. Who do you think will be the odd man out?

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

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:09:51 Kevin Durant sprained his MCL, out for a couple weeks
00:24:14 Kevin Durant says fans are more entitled these days
00:52:04 NBA All Star 2023 first round voting returns
01:10:42 Joe Lacob hints at trading one of the Golden State Warriors big three
01:15:08 Gregg Popovich jokes about 4 and 5-point shots
01:17:01 Outro