Tag / james harden

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.

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

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!

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

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

by Alex Fischbein

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Win The NBA Championship | TAF275

In episode 275 of The Atlantic Files, the Denver Nuggets win the NBA Championship in 5 while Nikola Jokic wins Finals MVP, the weird road that was the NBA Playoffs, early predictions and feelings about the offseason, where Chris Paul could land, Fred VanVleet will decline his player option, the Toronto Raptors hire a new head coach and much more!

Mike’s prediction from three or four years ago has finally come true as Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets get their first ring. Jokic brought the dominant form that he’s shown all year and even got himself a Finals MVP trophy to show for it. Can we expect more of the same from Denver as they potentially form a dynasty, or will the rest of the league catch on and end their run at one championship?

Then, on the very opposite of the spectrum of basketball events, Zion Williamson has gotten into quite a sticky situation. He welcomed his first child but that just dug out some skeletons in his closet that he was not hoping to reveal any time soon. There are now some scorned women cursing his name, so we break it all down tweet by tweet and text by text.

Moving back to actual basketball topics, Doc Rivers appeared on Bill Simmons podcast to talk about the Sixers, Celtics, and everything in between. He had some words about coaching James Harden and Joel Embiid, neither of them being that great. He was also asked the age-old question about the “losing culture” that the process has left behind. Oh boy!

Finally, we take a look at all the rumors going around the league. Bradley Beal is back in trade rumors for multiple teams, Chris Paul is most likely going to see a change of scenery, Jonathan Kuminga could be dealt for the right price, Fred VanVleet opted out of his option so that he could check out free agency, and more!

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

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:06:38 Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets win a ring
00:21:07 Jokic better than Shaq all-time?!
00:28:57 Zion Williamson’s women situation
00:57:10 Doc Rivers comments on Bill Simmons pod
01:09:16 Rumors around Beal, Chris Paul, VanVleet, and more
01:24:09 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.

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

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?

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

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!

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

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

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

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, NBA All-Star, Atlantic Files
by Alex Fischbein

Joel Embiid Snubbed From NBA All-Star Start | TAF260

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Joel Embiid was snubbed from becoming a starter in the 2023 NBA All-Star game, the Philadelphia 76ers are streaking as they took down the Brooklyn Nets and Nikola Jokic, a weird scorekeeper conspiracy surrounding Jaren Jackson Jr., Nets fans now asking for Ben Simmons to be traded, and more!

The starters for the 2023 NBA All-Star game have been announced! Joel Embiid, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Tyrese Haliburton were some notable names left off of the list, but others have been debated as snubs as well. Who do you think the biggest starting snub is this year?

Once on a seven-game win streak, the Philadelphia 76ers were looking like serious championship contenders. They had everything clicking and their big three was firing on all cylinders despite Tyrese Maxey moving to a bench role. During rivals week, they took down the Brooklyn Nets and Nikola Jokic in convincing fashion, so is it time to dub them as legit contenders?

Jaren Jackson Jr. has been at the center of one of the weirdest conspiracies in the NBA. If you had scorekeeper conspiracy on your NBA bingo card, then you must have known something that no one else knew. Stemming from Reddit, people found that his stats at home are bolstered way over the ones on the road despite playing the same amount of games for each.

Finally, should Ben Simmons get traded again? Brooklyn Nets fans are fed up with his lack of scoring and aggressiveness. There are memes and tweets galore asking for him to be traded for someone that is actually going to help them come playoff time.

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

Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
06:49 Sixers win streak, games against Brooklyn and Nikola Jokic
17:02 Should the Nets trade Ben Simmons?
29:18 LeBron James throws a tantrum after no foul call against Celtics
37:34 Jaren Jackson Jr. and the scorekeeper conspiracy
43:32 Joel Embiid, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and NBA All-Star snubs
53:03 Mike’s favorite sports teams, choose one
58:07 Outro

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

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?

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

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

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors, The Atlantic Files
by Alex Fischbein

Scottie Barnes’ Sophomore Slump | TAF254

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.

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

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