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

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Ben Simmons gets robbed | The Atlantic Files Ep181

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

Joel Embiid's injury and impact | The Atlantic Files Ep180

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

George Hill the X-Factor | The Atlantic Files Ep179

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.

NBA Playoffs are back! | The Atlantic Files Ep178

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.

The New York Knicks are back! | The Atlantic Files Ep177

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?

The Boston Celtics need help | The Atlantic Files Ep176

Anyone who's been watching basketball for the last decade has heard the name Xavier Silas. Whether it's college basketball, NBA, professionally overseas, the Big 3, or even The Basketball Tournament, Xavier Silas' name has come up. If you haven't heard the name, then you haven't been paying attention. Silas had a long playing career that took him to many places all over the world. Even played in the G League where he got the chance to play for Team USA too. Now that he's only making playing appearances in The Basketball Tournament over the summer, he's shifted his attention to coaching and running AAU or high school programs.  An AAU program is where it all started. After developing the program based out of Colorado, he then went through a coaching program with the NBA and landed a job as an assistant coach for the Delaware Blue Coats of the G League.  Last season, the Blue Coats had one of the best defenses in the league while still showcasing a high-powered offense. Silas had a big hand in this as he was helping with both sides of the ball at different parts of the season. Fast forward to this season that just started in the Disney bubble, and the Blue Coats are playing at one of the fastest paces in the G League while also placing in the top five in assist percentage, assists, points scored, and turnovers on both sides of the ball.  They're now the only undefeated team left after the G League Ignite team fell on Wednesday night.  Xavier Silas credits a lot of people for the inspiration to coach and the guidance to get him where he is. Everyone from people he's played with, against, for, and coached with. Now, he continues to make his own stepping stones towards a head coaching gig. The G League coaching job helps with the X's and O's, but the creation of the Colorado Prep school gives him all the surrounding experience that a college coach would experience. Hear about all of this and more in the latest episode below! Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro and Atlantic Division standings update 3:25 - Interview with Xavier Silas

Xavier Silas' Coaching Journey | The Atlantic Files Ep175

The Atlantic Division has had a couple of notable situations take place in just the last week. Derrick Rose has been traded to the New York Knicks and Ben Simmons said he's the best defender in the NBA. Neither of these things really has changed the landscape of the league nor the Atlantic Division itself. Some people might be enthralled with Rose going to New York, but in reality, it isn't moving the needle in either way. Derrick Rose has one of the most inspiring stories in NBA history and he has worked incredibly hard to still be a meaningful contributor on a team. While his experience and skill set will be useful in New York, it's not going to push them any further than they were already projected. Then, we have Ben Simmons catching a lot of flack for what he said in a post-game presser. Confidence is key in any sport, especially on the defensive side of the ball in the NBA. His defense has been noted by a lot of people across the league, but fans keep letting his jump shot overshadow anything else he does. Finally, we have gotten a second round of NBA All-Star voting returns. The top vote-getters are not surprising at all. We've seen them there before and they probably will continue to be the top voted players for years to come. The fringe players are the ones that are surprising though. Alex Caruso, Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook getting the same or more votes as someone like Fred VanVleet? Make it make sense! All of that and more on the latest episode below! Timestamps: 2:00 - Derrick Rose traded to the New York Knicks 7:20 - Ben Simmons says he's the best defender in the NBA 11:30 - 2021 NBA All-Star voting returns

Ben Simmons is DPoY worthy | Atlantic Files Ep174

Founded in 2014, Basketball Society is a lifestyle brand and multimedia network that provides diverse and insightful basketball coverage, hosts/sponsors basketball events and experiences, and offers skills training and development resources for players and teams. Our mission is to help people utilize basketball knowledge, skill sets, and resources to create opportunities for themselves and others in society.

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