Can we just take a moment to realize that the East has four of the most explosive and exciting players left in the post-season right now? The NBA Eastern Conference playoffs have been a roller coaster ride of sweeps, good games, offensive showcases, and even some defensive battles. That’s no different when it comes to the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets so far.

Before we get to the playoff updates, we have to take note that both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons ended up getting second place in the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards respectively. One due to missed games the other due advanced statistics. Philly just gained an even bigger chip on their shoulder if it wasn’t enough to already be considered an Eastern underdog as a first seed.

Then we get to the playoffs and the Brooklyn Nets have been dominating throughout both of their series so far. This isn’t far from what everyone expected, but still pretty impressive nonetheless. Even though this podcast was recorded before the game started, we also have to point out that it was crazy that Game Three of this series ended at only 86-83. What is this, the ‘90s?!

Moving on to Philly. Game Two was more of what the Sixers have looked like all season. They controlled the tempo and the game right from the tip-off and Atlanta just could not fully catch up and take a lead. Then, all of a sudden, BAM, Shake Milton happens! His resurgence couldn’t have come at a better time and couldn’t be a better definition of ‘stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.’

We’re here for all the excitement and all the drama as the Nets try to win Game Four and the Sixers go to Atlanta and try to take back their home court advantage!

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:10 Milwaukee vs Brooklyn Series

1:45 Nets stats with Kevin Durant On/Off court

4:45 Nets stats with Kyrie Irving On/Off court

6:40 Nets stats with James Harden on/off court

10:50 Ben Simmons getting 2nd in DPoY to Rudy Gobert

16:05 Ben Simmons defensive Stats against Trae Young

19:00 Joel Embiid scoring stats and Sixers series vs Hawks

We now move on to the second round of the NBA Playoffs! Joel Embiid has injury concerns, yet again, and the Brooklyn Nets have to take on the Milwaukee Bucks. 

The Philadelphia 76ers played a great series against the Washington Wizards, but they move on from the series wounded and taking a huge hit. Joel Embiid has a small lateral tear in his meniscus and it could mean trouble for him and the team. 

Trae Young kept on playing his new villain role and took over New York City. He gashed the New York Knicks and took the Hawks to a 4-1 series win that left the Knicks wondering what happened. 

Finally, the Nets took out the battered and bruised Boston Celtics in five games. Their offense was high-powered, but the defense left a lot to be desired. Now, they have to take on the Milwaukee Bucks, who not only scored a ton on the Miami Heat but also shut them down defensively on top of it. 

In the East, this second round is going to provide a lot of drama and two very good series depending on player health. Let's all hope they both go seven so we get even more excitement!

Listen to the full episode below!

Timestamps:

2:10 - Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets series

3:45 - Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets series preview

9:30 - Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks series

16:05 - Philadelphia 76ers vs Washington Wizards series

17:15 - Philadelphia 76ers vs Atlanta Hawks series preview

The most wonderful time of the year is really here and it's been great so far. NBA Playoffs heading into the great summer weather are something that just can uplift any basketball fan. Even ones that would be watching to see if George Hill is an x-factor.

In this week's episode of the Atlantic Files, we dive into the first round of the playoffs as four Atlantic teams are all currently in the midst of some battles and even some easy series.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been breezing through the Washington Wizards so far. Bradley Beal sure has been cooking, but the rest of the team, even Russell Westbrook, has not quite gotten up to his level just yet. 

Brooklyn and Boston are going through a series that really looks like an easy sweep, especially if Jayson Tatum isn't 100% healthy for the rest of this. Kevin Durant is in playoff mode right now and has just been ridiculously efficient!

Finally, we have the New York Knicks in a tough battle against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. After dropping a game at home, the Knicks are going to have to dig deep and get at least one win in Atlanta now to keep the home-court advantage. 

This week, we also introduce a new segment! We call this one Rant of the Week as we talk about the crazy fans that all made the news for some disgusting and disrespectful acts this week.

Timestamps:

2:05 - Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics Series

9:35 - Philadelphia 76ers vs Washington Wizards series and George Hill being an x-factor

17:10 - New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks series

25:20 - Rant of the Week: Dumb Fans at NBA Games

The NBA Playoffs are here, everyone can rejoice! It does mark the end of the season, which is saddening, but at least the crazy schedule is done. Next season will bring a more normal type of season and hopefully fewer injuries as well.

A lot of people are lamenting the play-in tournament, but we love it! These extra games make the regular season more important to those playoff teams and it even makes it more exciting to the ones who may have slipped due to whatever reasons. The fact that they introduced it during one of the tightest packed schedules is the main issue, but with a regular type of schedule, this would work beautifully.

Either way, four Atlantic teams have moved on to the postseason, but two of them have to face off during the first round.

The Boston Celtics vs the Brooklyn Nets should be somewhat interesting of a series, but especially with Jaylen Brown out we all know the outcome of this one. Then, the Sixers and Knicks could be on a crash course if they both win their own first-round matchups.

You read that headline correctly, don't act like you haven't heard about it either! The New York Knicks are back, baby! Oh, they're here to stay too!

Currently, the Knicks are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and they even are third in the Atlantic Division only behind the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. Before this season began, we did not think the Knicks would be anywhere close to where they are right now. 

The defense is brand new and very good. Coach Thibodeau has the entire culture and energy flipped upside down compared to last season. Guys are standing up and off the bench throughout the whole game cheering their teammates on at all times. Everyone has a tremendous amount of respect for each other and the coaching staff. 

On top of that, you have Julius Randle playing like the Most Improved Player of the Year and Immanuel Quickley playing like the Rookie of the Year if only he got some more minutes. At this point of the season, if you don't have either of these guys on your radar or ladders for the awards, you're sadly mistaken.

PLUS, RJ Barrett is really playing like a future All-Star and maybe even an All-NBA level. 

Throw all of that together and you have a recipe for a very dangerous team to face in the playoffs. We would not be surprised at all if they won a first-round matchup and even pushed their second-round opponent to the brink of elimination. This is a serious worst-to-first type of story, and the state of the NBA is just better when the Knicks are better.

March Madness is in full swing, the second half of the NBA season is here, and the weather is getting warmer for those in the northern hemisphere! Always the best time of the year and we're here for all of the basketball fun. 

This week we need to catch up with some of the big news and the standings in the Atlantic. It has been a while and a lot of moving, so we're glad we get to catch up with everyone again!

Something very mediocre is brewing in Boston right now. The Boston Celtics are nowhere near as big of a championship threat as they were originally predicted to be. Yes, the season has been crazy with covid and all sorts of schedule changes, but the roster makeup is starting to show holes. 

So this begs the question, what does Boston need to really be a true contender this year? Well, we bring THREE main bullet points that the Celtics are going to have to address if they truly want to win a ring during this crazy season.

Then, it's time to talk about the Toronto Raptors. This season seems more of a lost cause when it comes to winning a championship. They definitely can make the playoffs, but they also could get some valuable assets for some of the pieces they have that won't necessarily be there long term. 

Kyle Lowry, Norman Powell, and Chris Boucher are all names that could be heard on the trade block. Maybe they need to be shopped a little more aggressively and maybe they should be thinking for next season instead of trying to salvage a first or second-round exit this season.

All of this and more on the latest episode below!

Timestamps:

4:50 - Three things the Boston Celtics need to be championship contenders

21:10 - What pieces should the Toronto Raptors trade away?

2020 was a year like no other. However, one thing that is familiar is the Lakers winning an NBA Championship at the beginning of a decade (Lakers have won a ring to start four of the last five decades). That is exactly what they did as the defeated the Miami Heat in six games. In this episode of the Lakers Lair, host Randy King and guest Matt Semione discuss what this Championship means in terms of 'Legacy' for all members of the Lakers organization. Also, don't miss the Lakers-Celtics title count discussion that King and Semione have. All this and more in a celebratory episode. So sit back, smoke a championship cigar, pop some champagne, and enjoy a golden evening inside of the Lakers Lair.

Doc Rivers is headed to the opposite coast! After leaving Los Angeles he has found a landing spot in Philadelphia. I'm sure no one in Philadelphia was imagining that turn of events, but here we are.

The hire of Rivers was a quality one by the Sixers front office. That doesn't exactly mean that Rivers is going to be able to turn around this team and all of a sudden win a championship though. Hiring a quality and experienced head coach was a good starting point, but there are way more issues to this team. What else needs to be done?

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are one game away from being crowned the champs. They've been destroying every team in their wake and now they have to fend off a determined Jimmy Butler and underdog Miami Heat. Other than the first two games, this series hasn't been easy. Closing it out won't be either.

Finally, we have Kyrie Irving making some outlandish statements yet again. He talked about how Kevin Durant is the first one he's played with where he thought he could pass the ball to him during crunch time. If we're being honest, does Kyrie really pass that much in general? You guys let me know! 

All of that and more on the latest episode below!

Timestamps:

1:15 - NBA Finals

10:30 - Doc Rivers hired by Philadelphia 76ers

20:00 - Kyrie Irving making some crazy statements

In the latest installment of the Lakers Lair, host Randy King is joined by guest and Laker diehard fan Matt Semione. Together, they to discuss the purple and gold back in the NBA Finals and what can be taken away from games one through three. King and Semione then assess what both the Miami Heat as well as the Los Angeles Lakers need to do to take Game 4. Also discussed in the episode is what NBA teams may be in the mix for a finals run next season and if the Heat and the Lakers have enough to get back to this spot come next season. So sit back relax for another evening inside the Lakers Lair. Enjoy!

In the latest installment of the Lakers Lair, hosts Randy King and Justin Kirkland are joined by Lakers Carpool Podcast host James Brooks to discuss: the Lakers Game 1 performance in the Western Conference Finals, mapping out the remainder of the WCF, taking a peek at the Eastern Conference Finals, and what adjustments need to be made for Denver in Game 2. More topics discussed further in the episode. So as always sit back and welcome inside another evening inside the Lakers Lair. Enjoy!