The Atlantic Files is back! After a brief break, we’re kicking off the 2025-26 NBA season with a new format — episodes every Monday and Wednesday, each running around 30–40 minutes so you can stay up to date without missing a beat.
In this return episode, we dive straight into what we do best: breaking down the entire Atlantic Division heading into the new NBA season. From roster shake-ups to offseason signings, we analyze how each team stacks up and what to expect once the games tip off.
In this episode:
📅 The Return: What’s new with the show, the updated schedule, and how the shorter format will keep things fresh and focused.
🏀 Boston Celtics: Can they defend their title, or is there a championship hangover coming?
đź—˝ New York Knicks: Did their offseason moves finally make them legit contenders in the East?
🇨🇦 Toronto Raptors: What’s next for this rebuilding squad and their young core?
🦅 Philadelphia 76ers: Will Embiid finally get the help he needs after another deep playoff run?
🍀 Brooklyn Nets: Assessing their retooling strategy and whether it’s a step forward or another false start.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Atlantic Division or just love in-depth NBA talk, this episode is the perfect season opener to get you ready for tipoff.
🎧 Listen now to Episode 320 of The Atlantic Files — and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a Monday or Wednesday drop!
In episode 307 of The Atlantic Files, Jontay Porter is under investigation for gambling on NBA games that he was involved in, the Brooklyn Nets turn down one of the best trade offers they’ve ever received, we check in on the Atlantic Division after our three-week hiatus, and we take a look at the playoff picture in the East and West and predict how it will shake out!
Topics covered this week:
Life Updates and Injury Setbacks: We start with a personal update, sharing the challenges we’ve faced in the past few weeks, including a broken pinky and the demands of everyday life that have temporarily kept us away from the podcast. Despite the setbacks, we’re back and ready to dive into the exciting world of basketball.
NBA Investigation: Jontay Porter and Sports Betting: Delve into the recent controversy surrounding Jontay Porter as the NBA launches an investigation into allegations of sports betting. We discuss the implications of such accusations on Porter’s career and the NBA’s stance on integrity in sports.
Brooklyn Nets Trade Rumors: Explore the trade talks between the Brooklyn Nets and the Houston Rockets, revealing the details of a trade offer involving promising young talents Jalen Green and Mikal Bridges. We analyze the Nets’ decision to turn down the offer and the potential impact on both teams.
Atlantic Division Update: Get an in-depth look at the NBA’s Atlantic Division standings for the 2023-24 season. We review the performance of teams such as the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks, highlighting standout players and key matchups.
2024 NBA Playoff Race: As the regular season heats up, we shift our focus to the thrilling race for the 2024 NBA Playoffs. From top contenders to underdogs fighting for a spot, we break down the current playoff picture, playoff seeding scenarios, and teams to watch as the postseason approaches.
Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:43 Flomax and broken pinkies 00:19:05 Jontay Porter under investigation 00:29:48 Nets turn down Jalen Green for Mikal Bridges 00:42:35 Atlantic Division update 00:50:05 NBA Playoff picture 01:01:06 Outro
On episode 280 of The Atlantic Files, Jaylen Brown gets a supermax extension from the Boston Celtics, Mikal Bridges hypes up Ben Simmons like many have done before, Donovan Mitchell apparently won’t stay in Cleveland, we discuss the top rookies for redraft and fantasy basketball leagues, and we play the NBA grid game!
Jaylen Brown gets a whole boatload of money from the Celtics to go with a five-year extension. Now, the debate is whether or not he can produce enough to match the amount of money he’s making. Some don’t even think he’s the second-best player on his team!
Mikal Bridges went on Paul George‘s podcast and talked about Ben Simmons and where the team’s mindset is at in regard to getting him back on the court. Bridges hyped up Simmons’ attitude and his work ethic heading into this season while he said that Simmons was actually the one talking the most in their team group chat. Will this turn into yet another hype reel that doesn’t turn into any real production?
Now, there are reports flying around that Donovan Mitchell won’t be staying in Cleveland longer than his current contract. His eyes are already set on another city apparently and the team would be smart to just trade him away to get something for him. Should they keep him and try to convince him to stay instead?
Finally, we discuss the top rookies heading into this season for fantasy basketball. We talk about both redraft and dynasty leagues and the best rookies to look out for if you happen to be participating in either one this year!
Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:07 Jaylen Brown gets the Supermax from the Boston Celtics 00:11:58 Mikal Bridges hypes up Ben Simmons 00:24:18 Donovan Mitchell won’t stay in Cleveland? 00:33:31 Top fantasy basketball rookies for redraft leagues 00:47:28 Top fantasy basketball rookies for dynasty leagues 00:59:28 The NBA Grid game! 01:14:22 Outro
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.
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!
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
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
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!
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
