Tag / lebron james

by Alex Fischbein

Knicks Sizzle, Nuggets Fizzle, Reactions To NBA Exit Interviews | TAF311

Welcome back to The Atlantic Files! In episode 311, we’re diving deep into the latest buzz from the NBA playoffs, draft speculations, and insightful exit interviews. From red-hot teams like the New York Knicks to three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and future prospects like Bronny James, we’ve got all the must-know highlights from the world of basketball. Let’s jump right into the action!

Knicks’ Playoff Dominance and Jalen Brunson’s Leadership: We kick off the show with a spotlight on the New York Knicks’ impressive playoff performance, led by the stellar play of Jalen Brunson. With Brunson leading the charge, the Knicks are blazing a trail through the postseason, and we analyze their key to success and prospects for the championship.

Nuggets’ Struggles Against the Timberwolves: Shifting our focus to the Western Conference, we discuss the Denver Nuggets’ uphill battle against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs. Despite their regular-season success, the Nuggets find themselves in trouble against a resilient Timberwolves team, and we examine the factors contributing to their postseason struggles.

Nikola Jokic’s MVP Triumph: Next up, we celebrate Nikola Jokic’s well-deserved third NBA MVP award. As one of the league’s most dominant players, Jokic’s exceptional talent and leadership have propelled him to the top of the MVP race once again, and we reflect on his remarkable achievements and impact on the game.

Draft Speculations: Who Will Draft Bronny James?: Turning our attention to the upcoming NBA draft, we delve into the speculation surrounding Bronny James, son of basketball icon LeBron James. With the draft approaching, teams are vying for the opportunity to draft the highly touted prospect, and we explore potential landing spots for Bronny in the NBA.

Boston Celtics’ Path to a Championship: In a fascinating discussion, we ponder whether the current playoff landscape presents the Boston Celtics with their easiest path to a championship in the Jayson Tatum era. With the Celtics eyeing postseason success, we analyze their roster strengths, playoff matchups, and chances of hoisting the championship trophy.

Reacting to NBA Exit Interviews: We conclude the episode by reacting to insightful exit interviews from notable NBA players, GMs, and owners, including Daryl Morey, Joel Embiid, Matt Ishbia, and James Jones. From reflections on the season to future plans and aspirations, we provide our analysis and reactions to the candid interviews.

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:54 The Celtics best chance for a ring
00:13:39 Can the Knicks make it to the NBA Finals?
00:25:06 Do the Nuggets have any hope now?
00:38:25 NBA Exit Interview reactions, best fits, and Bronny James
00:59:19 Outro

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

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

Tyrese Haliburton For MVP and The IST Playoffs | TAF296

On this week’s episode of The Atlantic Files, Tyrese Haliburton has been going off so is he a legit MVP candidate? Also, we talk about the in-season tournament playoffs, whether or not the Golden State Warriors are cooked, and if the Minnesota Timberwolves are legit title contenders as they sit atop the Western Conference right now.

Tyrese Haliburton has gone from a budding star to a big-time point guard who has exploded onto the scene. His run in the in-season tournament has been nothing short of outstanding and now the general public has shifted him into the MVP conversation. Does he warrant legit MVP conversation or is this too early to discuss his name on that level?

Speaking of deciding if someone is legit or not, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the top team in the West and boast the best record in the entire league. Is this team really a legitimate title contender or are we seeing a team that’s just surprising in the beginning of the season and will return to Earth later on? Time will only tell, but we give our opinions on it anyway.

Finally, we give our thoughts and opinions on the in-season tournament as a whole. Has everyone enjoyed the product and did the scheduling make sense? Also, will this stick and carry on to each new season yet to come? Let us know across social media and in the YouTube comments what you think!

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Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro and Banter
00:09:49 NBA In-season tournament quarterfinals reactions
00:27:24 Is Tyrese Haliburton an MVP candidate?
00:46:15 Are the Minnesota Timberwolves for real?
00:55:15 Are the Golden State Warriors cooked?
01:04:20 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?

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

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

Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Playoffs, NBA Play-In Tournament, Trae Young, Atlantic Files
by Alex Fischbein

Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, And Coaches Fired | TAF268

The NBA Playoffs and Play-In Games are in full swing, and fans across the world are excited to see their favorite teams compete for the championship. Two of the teams in the spotlight this year are the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers. In this episode, we’ll take a look at the past and present of the Atlanta Hawks, recap the NBA Playoffs and Play-In Games, provide predictions for the postseason, and discuss some of the off-court drama involving NBA players.

I. Atlanta Hawks: Past and Present

The Atlanta Hawks franchise has a rich history that dates back to the 1940s, but they have yet to win an NBA championship. Despite this, the Hawks have made several playoff appearances in recent years, including this year’s Playoffs. The Hawks are led by Trae Young, who is widely regarded as one of the best young players in the league. Young has been instrumental in the Hawks’ success this season, averaging 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per game.

II. NBA Playoffs and Play-In Games: Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers

The Play-In Games were introduced to the NBA this year, and they have already provided some thrilling matchups. In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks faced off against the Miami Heat in a tense battle. The Hawks emerged victorious, thanks in part to Trae Young’s 25-point performance. The Hawks will now face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

The Los Angeles Lakers have also had an eventful season, with several injuries and lineup changes. Despite this, the Lakers managed to secure the seventh seed in the Western Conference and earned a spot in the Playoffs. In their recent game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers came out on top, with LeBron James leading the charge with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

LeBron James has been a force to be reckoned with in the NBA Playoffs throughout his career, with four championships to his name. James has won a total of 172 playoff games, which is the most in NBA history. The Lakers will face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the Playoffs, and fans are eagerly anticipating another dominant performance from James and the Lakers.

As for predictions, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top this year. The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Milwaukee Bucks are all strong contenders, but the playoffs are known for producing unexpected upsets and breakout performances. One player to keep an eye on is Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, who has been making waves with his electrifying play.

III. Off-Court Drama: Kyle Kuzma and Spencer Dinwiddie

In addition to the on-court action, there has been some drama brewing off the court involving NBA players Kyle Kuzma and Spencer Dinwiddie. The two players have been engaged in a feud on social media, with Dinwiddie calling out Kuzma for his lackluster performance on the court. It’s unclear what sparked the feud, but some speculate that it may have to do with Kuzma’s recent breakup with model Winnie Harlow.

IV. Coaching Changes in the NBA

This year has also seen several coaching changes in the NBA. The most high-profile of these changes was the firing of Nate McMillan from the Atlanta Hawks. Other coaches who were let go include Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons and Stephen Silas of the Houston Rockets.

There has been some discussion about whether there is discrimination among NBA coaches based on their race. In the 2020-21 season, only seven out of 30 NBA head coaches were Black. This has led to some criticism of the NBA and calls for more diversity and inclusion in coaching positions. Now, head coaches seem to be trending toward fewer white candidates as more and more coaches get their first shot with teams at all different points of competition level.

The NBA Playoffs and Play-In Games have provided fans with plenty of excitement and drama this year. The Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers are both in the mix, with the Hawks looking to make a deep playoff run and the Lakers hoping to defend their championship title. Off the court, there have been some interesting developments, including the feud between Kyle Kuzma and Spencer Dinwiddie and the coaching changes across the league. Regardless of what happens, fans can look forward to a thrilling postseason full of surprises and standout performances.

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

Timecodes:
00:00:00 Intro
00:06:44 Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat play-in game
00:29:49 Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves play-in game
00:42:28 Toronto Raptor vs Chicago Bulls Play-In game preview
00:49:43 Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans play-in game preview
00:50:18 Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyle Kuzma beef
01:07:14 Dwane Casey and Stephen Silas no longer head coaches
01:09:08 Are NBA coaches getting fired due to race?
01:28:14 Lakers or Hawks, who is more likely to pull off an upset
01:30:01 Remember this guy?
01:36:03 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