November 10, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Kyrie Irving suspended, Jacque Vaughn hired | TAF251

This week on the Atlantic Files podcast, Kyrie Irving was suspended after last week’s episode and then was given a list of initiatives to finish before he can even come back to the Brooklyn Nets, Jacque Vaughn gets upgraded from interim to head coach instead of Ime Udoka, James Harden and Pascal Siakam are both out for an extended time, and Kawhi Leonard has a cloudy path back to playing.

Some of the biggest non-basketball news has been unfolding before us and all of Brooklyn. After Kyrie Irving promoted a controversial video that had anti-semetic tropes, he was suspended from the Brooklyn Nets and now he has a laundry list of items to fulfill before he’s allowed back to the team. The NBPA is expected to appeal the suspension, but Irving has also been meeting with front-office members of the team as well as the NBA’s commissioner. This whole sideshow drags on as Nets fans have to watch their team try to finally live up to expectations.

In a smarter move from the Nets, they ended up not going with Ime Udoka as their next head coach. Former assistant coach, Jacque Vaughn, received the promotion to head coach for at least the rest of the season. Since he’s been there for the last five-to-six seasons, the players all know him and he can connect the pieces of the roster. His last tenure as a head coach in Orlando didn’t go too well though.

Kawhi Leonard continues to sit out more games than he plays since getting to Los Angeles. Now, he’s out indefinitely yet again while the recovery process doesn’t go as planned. What exactly is happening with all of this? Did something happen that caused a setback? Nobody seems to have any answers.

Finally, James Harden and Pascal Siakam both suffered injuries that are going to keep them out for an extended period of time. Can both of their teams stay afloat until they come back? Will this missed time set them back into a hole? We discuss this as well.

Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
01:12 Kyrie Irving suspended, given list of things to do to be allowed back
17:32 Jacque Vaughn officially head coach of the Brooklyn Nets
28:56 What’s up with Kawhi Leonard?
35:56 Pascal Siakam and James Harden to miss some time
43:12 Outro

November 6, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

James Harden Out, Doc Rivers On The Hot Seat | Sixers Saturday Ep2

To nobody’s surprise, the Philadelphia 76ers are still going through a bit of a rough patch and it looks like it’s getting a little more difficult. James Harden is now injured, the jury is still out on Doc Rivers’ coaching schemes, Joel Embiid is missing games, and the defense looks quite terrible. Did you hit Sixers bingo yet?

James Harden strained his foot during the team’s game against the Toronto Raptors. Despite the team losing their first three games, Harden was having a tremendous start to the season. He looked re-energized and fully healthy. Now, the Sixers will be without him for a month and the floor general duties will fall on Tyrese Maxey.

Speaking of Sixers losses this season, there are already six of them in 10 games. At least a few of them can be attributed to some questionable rotations, substitutions, and game plans. Doc Rivers is firmly on the hot seat during this rocky start and I’m not sure if he really even knows it. The defense looks atrocious and his reluctance to play both Matisse Thybulle and Paul Reed isn’t helping turn that around at all.

Joel Embiid has already been missing a big chunk of games and no one seems to know how many he’s actually going to miss with the non-COVID illness and plantar fasciitis that he’s dealing with. For a team that’s trying to right the ship and get back on track toward the playoff race, this is somewhat alarming. That’s not to mention that Embiid hasn’t played all that well to start the season.

Check out what we had to say on the latest episode of Sixers Saturday!

SUBSCRIBE HERE to see the live streams of Sixers Saturday, every week at 10 AM ET on Saturdays during the NBA season.

Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets, Jayson Tatum, Boston celtics, Atlantic Files

October 27, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Jayson Tatum for MVP, Ben Simmons keeps fouling | TAF249

This week on The Atlantic Files, we have regular season basketball to talk about! With that being said, we dove into each Atlantic division team to see how they’re doing three-to-four games into the season. Then, we gave our biggest takeaways from the rest of the league so far into this first week or so.

First, we have to bring up the Philadelphia 76ers due to how much hype they were receiving coming into the season. So far, they’ve delivered the exact opposite of the expectations that were bestowed upon them. Joel Embiid has looked pretty awful, James Harden has actually looked phenomenal, and the rest of the team can’t play defense.

The Boston Celtics, on the other hand, are looking like the team that made the NBA Finals last season. Jayson Tatum is looking like an MVP candidate while the rest of the team is seemingly coming together with some great chemistry. Once their schedule ramps up, we’ll find out a lot about this team.

Then, we get to Brooklyn where the Nets are also underachieving just like the Sixers. Ben Simmons has fouled out twice already, Kyrie has already yelled at him to shoot the ball, and they also have only won one game so far.

Let’s look up to the north at the Toronto Raptors next. Their defense is looking as good as ever and Nick Nurse has them playing well together yet again. This team is going to make some big noise when it comes to playoff time.

Finally, even the New York Knicks are looking more scrappy and energetic than the Sixers and Nets. What world are we living in right now?!

Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
02:54 Sixers look like butt, James Harden has done well though
17:05 Jayson Tatum is looking like an MVP
23:23 Brooklyn Nets still figuring things out with Ben Simmons
31:33 Toronto Raptors are looking good to start the season
35:12 New York Knicks are getting somewhere!
47:11 Observations around the NBA
55:37 Thanks for watching!

October 18, 2022October 17, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

2022-23 NBA Season Predictions, Previews, and More | TAF248

This week on the Atlantic Files Podcast, we give our 2022-23 NBA season and award predictions, finish off our divisional preview series with none other than the Atlantic Division, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole get extensions, Russell Westbrook is coming off of the bench, Ben Simmons admits that he and Joel Embiid aren’t friends, plus we debut our new fantasy basketball segment!

As we record this episode we are on the cusp of a new NBA season! We finally made it to the 2022-23 season and we couldn’t more excited! So, you know that that means, predictions and previews galore.

We finished our divisional preview series with the Atlantic Division and then gave all of our predictions for the new season. Awards, playoffs, the eventual winners, we’re giving our thoughts on everything.

In case you haven’t heard yet, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole both got big-time paid! They inked extensions with the Golden State Warriors despite all of the drama surrounding Poole and Draymond Green. That should set up some very interesting drama with what the Warriors will end up doing with Green.

Then, the Russell Westbrook and Los Angeles Lakers saga continues! Westbrook is shunning the team huddle these days. On top of that, coach Darvin Ham has been experimenting with bringing Westbrook off the bench for the first time in his career. There’s no possible way this could end badly, right?

In an interview, Ben Simmons talked about how he and Joel Embiid were never really friends. Finally, it confirms something that everyone suspected based on body language and on-court chemistry. They don’t have to fake since they’re not teammates anymore.

Finally, we have our weekly ‘Whatchu Got’ segment as well as a new fantasy basketball segment! Hopefully, we can help some of you out there with your fantasy basketball leagues!

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

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:13:17 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year predictions
00:26:09 2022-23 NBA Sixth Man of the Year predictions
00:34:34 2022-23 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year predictions
00:38:50 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year predictions
00:43:55 2022-23 NBA MVP predictions
00:49:36 2022-23 NBA Champion predictions
00:58:06 2022-23 NBA Atlantic Division Preview
01:16:07 Ben Simmons admits he’s not friends with Joel Embiid
01:17:57 Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins sign extensions
01:22:25 Russell Westbrook not joining Lakers huddles
01:25:43 Who will rebuild better, Thunder vs Rockets vs Pacers
01:32:09 2022-23 fantasy basketball advice
01:40:32 Outro

Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets, JJ Redick, Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics, Atlantic Files

September 29, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Ben Simmons, Ime Udoka, and Southwest Division | TAF245

This week on the Atlantic Files, we give our thoughts on the Ben Simmons interview on JJ Redick’s podcast, Ime Udoka’s suspension from the Boston Celtics, the biggest quotes and takeaways from NBA Media Day, and we continue our division preview series with the Southwest Division.

Ben Simmons finally came forward and gave his thoughts and explanations on all of the topics that Philadelphia 76ers fans and NBA fans alike wanted to hear. The topics ranged from the passed-up dunk against Trae Young, to what went wrong in Philly, to working on his shooting in Brooklyn after the debacle in the last 5 seasons. We reacted to our favorite quotes and soundbites of the interview.

The other biggest news coming out of the Atlantic Division was the suspension of Ime Udoka. Boston’s head coach was caught in a relationship with a female staffer and allegedly made unwanted comments toward women in the organization. Everyone who reported on the matter before anything was official, made the situation even messier. Reports said the relationship was consensual but then as more information came out, it sounded like the opposite was true. Now, the Boston Celtics start their training camp in turmoil instead of a team fresh off of a great Finals run with their eyes set on another.

Speaking of training camp and the start of the new season, teams around the league held their annual media day! Fans got to hear their favorite players talk about the upcoming season and any storylines still lingering. Also, we got to see any new players on their new teams. Media day is always exciting as it marks the coming days of a new season with a lot in store! We reacted to our favorite interviews, quotes, and more from this year’s media day.

Then, we continued our annual divisional preview series. This week, the Southwest division is on the docket. Will Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks take the division throne, or will the Memphis Grizzlies stay on top?

Finally, we had our “Whatchu Got” segment that ranged from pumpkin spice to Marcus Jordan getting spotted with Larsa Pippen!

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:06:19 Reaction to Ben Simmons on JJ Redick’s podcast
00:33:52 Reactions and takeaways from NBA Media day
00:59:34 Ime Udoka suspended, situation got messy!
01:12:05 2022-23 NBA Southwest division preview
01:27:49 Marcus Jordan with Larsa Pippen now??
01:30:23 New Redeem team doc teaser with Kobe Bryant
01:36:41 Matisse Thybulle vs Ben Simmons in threes
01:37:38 Are you a pumpkin flavor fan?
01:39:33 Thank you for 200 subscribers!

August 29, 2022August 29, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Brooklyn Nets vs Philadelphia 76ers, who has the better roster?

By now, everyone knows that Kevin Durant has decided to stay with the Brooklyn Nets. The dramatic, reality show type of situation is finally over and nothing even happened. That leaves three teams fighting for the top of the Atlantic Division the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Toronto Raptors.

No offense to any Raptors fans, but Toronto is still one of the up-and-coming teams especially compared to the Sixers and Nets. So we’re going to revisit them another time.

This comes down to the Nets roster vs the Sixers roster. Which one is better from top to bottom?

In Philadelphia, the bench got better through their off-season additions this year. James Harden has been working twice as hard as he finally doesn’t have to rehab an injury and Tyrese Maxey is getting ready to show even more growth in his third season.

On the other side, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are both coming back to Brooklyn. Ben Simmons is looking like he’ll finally be ready to go and the supporting pieces are getting healthier as well. Joe Harris wasn’t a factor at all last season, and he’s been one of the most consistent three-point shooters in the league.

So, which team are you taking? Are you taking the duo of Joel Embiid and Harden or Durant and Irving? Then, are you going to take the Sixers supporting cast or the Nets? This conversation is closer than people think, and it’s also fun for non-Sixers and non-Nets fans.

August 22, 2022August 20, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Is Tracy McGrady in the NBA top ten all-time?

Two basketball debates are ongoing amongst every generation of players, coaches, and fans alike. The GOAT debate and the top ten debate. We’re not that bold to say Tracy McGrady is the GOAT, but we did talk about whether he is a top ten talent of all time.

Stemming from a ‘would you rather’ starring Tracy McGrady, we pondered whether or not McGrady belongs in the top ten. His talent and skill are undeniable. He’s easily one of the best offensive players that the game has ever seen.

What happens when you bring up players from every era though?

In his own era, McGrady had to go up against the likes of players such as Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Vince Carter, and many others. Offensive abilities were abundant, but that doesn’t even include a couple of players in the GOAT debate like Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

All of a sudden, the top ten seems to get very crowded. Centers that were completely unstoppable enter the conversation like Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon. Power Forwards like Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett show up to give their case. Current era players like Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Stephen Curry all make sure that you can’t forget about them.

None of these players’ resumes diminish what McGrady did during his tenure in the NBA. They just prove how hard it is to truly be on that top ten list at the end of the day.

Where would you rank Tracy McGrady on your all-time list?

August 21, 2022August 20, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

The Philadelphia 76ers don’t need a Kevin Durant trade

Kevin Durant has been one of the hottest news topics of the NBA Off-season so far. After he requested a trade, rumors started popping up everywhere. Tons of teams want a top-five player on their team, that’s not rocket science. As of right now though, the two teams considered landing spots are the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.

We believe the Sixers don’t need Kevin Durant, and it would actually set them back if they made the trade. Time and time again we’ve seen a team mortgage their whole future just for one player, but it hasn’t turned out well for them in the end.

Take the Brooklyn Nets, for example, they put together one of the best trios we’ve ever seen on paper. James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving should have been a surefire championship team. Any supporting cast would be able to help those three win a ring.

Obviously, that was quite far from the truth. The furthest they got was a second-round exit against the Milwaukee Bucks. Injury reports were always filled, Kyrie Irving was barely playing due to every excuse under the sun, and now it has all imploded.

That’s exactly what brings us to this topic in the first place. Brooklyn’s front office made every move they could to bring the roster together, and that wasn’t enough.

So, Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers think that trading their future and depth away for Kevin Durant is going to bring rings? Injury history with their current stars on top of Durant’s iffy injury status these days does not mix well. Neither does a big three with a terrible supporting cast and bench.

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant, Summer League, Atlantic Files

July 18, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Jalen Brunson, Brooklyn Nets, & Summer League | The Atlantic Files Ep236

This week on the Atlantic Files, we’re talking Jalen Brunson to the New York Knicks and the potential tampering charge, the continuing drama surrounding the Brooklyn Nets, all of our NBA Summer League takeaways and observations, Bobby Marks suggesting the Philadelphia 76ers should be investigated, and the Phoenix Suns matching Deandre Ayton’s offer sheet.

To start everything off, it was more than necessary to talk about the NBA Summer League and all the prospects trying to show why they deserve a shot in the NBA. Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero had such a great showing that the teams felt comfortable shutting them down early. Outside of the top three, there were a lot of surprises both good and bad.

Brigining it back to the players who are already established, the New York Knicks seem to have a tampering charge on the way. If the whole hiring of his father to the coaching staff didn’t raise a red flag in the first place, then I’m not sure what else to say. The Knicks seem to have a need to tamper to really get bigger names to come there, so it was only inevitable!

Then, the Philadelphia 76ers get roped into all the tampering talk. Mark Stein wrote about how the Sixers will likely be investigated for the PJ Tucker signing, and Bobby Marks proclaimed that they should be investigated for James Harden taking less money on his contract. If this is really all about just the Tucker signing… Well, there should be better ways to waste the NBA’s time and money. As far as the Harden paycut goes, it sounds as though Marks is more salty than anything else.

Switching back to New York, we have the Brooklyn Nets drama series continuing with a looming future of running it back with the same core. Kevin Durant’s trade options are drying out, Kyrie Irving’s only option so far has been the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Nets haven’t seen anything that they actually like. I guess it comes down to playing with whatever they already have on the team.

Finally, the Phoenix Suns matched the offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers to keep Deandre Ayton around for much longer and for much more money than previously expected. This is part of the reason why it looks like Durant isn’t going to be traded, but now the Suns have some decisions to make. Where do they go now to try to get back to the NBA Finals?

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:11 2022 NBA Summer League analysis
00:27:42 Sixers and PJ Tucker investigated for tampering
00:34:50 New York Knicks and Jalen Brunson also tampering
00:43:36 Brooklyn Nets running it back now?
00:55:13 Phoenix Suns match Deandre Ayton’s offer sheet
01:00:27 NBA Play-in games are here to stay
01:04:05 What’s for dinner?

May 26, 2022June 27, 2022 by Alex Fischbein

Kyrie Irving admits LeGM is true | The Atlantic Files Ep229

This week on the Atlantic Files Podcast, Kyrie Irving admits to the fact that LeBron James was acting as GM, our thoughts on the All-NBA teams for this season, the terrible Los Angeles Lakers coaching search, all the blowouts in the NBA Playoffs, and whether or not DeAndre Ayton deserves a max contract.

Kyrie Irving, on a podcast, talked about the fact that LeBron James was essentially acting as the General Manager when he put together their championship roster. Kyrie even said he wasn’t mad at him for doing so as it helped him get the only ring that he’s won so far. On top of that, he talked about how he had to mature when he played with LeBron, but now we’re wondering where all of that maturity has gone because it hasn’t shown itself in a long time.

Speaking of LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the hunt for a new head coach. Another coach has been driven out of town with LeBron on the team and they have to find a replacement that will last more than one season. For some reason, they keep coming back to Doc Rivers as long as Philly would part ways with him. We’re just wondering why they think that Rivers would all of a sudden lead that team to a ring.

The NBA released all three of the All-NBA teams. The First Team left a lot to be desired with players like Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker making it over Joel Embiid, Ja Morant, and Stephen Curry. Tatum even said that the All-NBA teams should be positionless and we agree. Positions in the NBA have been as meaningless as ever before, so why not make it that way throughout the awards too.

Finally, Deandre Ayton is looking for a new contract from the Phoenix Suns. He and his agent were hoping for a max contract, but the Suns hoped he’d take a pay cut. His talent level definitely isn’t max contract worthy, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he did end up receiving one in his situation.

Timecodes:

0:00 – Intro
3:46 – Los Angeles Lakers head coach search is trash
26:15 – Kyrie Irving admits to LeBron James playing GM
42:19 – Does Deandre Ayton deserve a max contract
46:37 – Our thoughts on the 2022 All-NBA teams

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