The Atlantic Files #194: 2021-22 Southwest Division Preview

This week on The Atlantic Files:

In case you haven’t seen the last episode, we here at the Atlantic Files have started our annual divisional preview series. Each week we preview a different division in the NBA up until the season starts! This week, we take a look at the Southwest Division!

The Houston Rockets have been the team from this division that has been in the news lately. John Wall and the team mutually agreed to part ways and now it’s time to find a suitor for Wall’s services. Maybe Ben Simmons is on the horizon for the Rockets, or maybe just a ton of picks and young guys are instead. Either way, their next season doesn’t look too great.

Then, there’s the opposite side of the spectrum with the Dallas Mavericks. The reigning division champs look poised to win the division again as they have one of the best players in the league, a new coach, and a bunch of role players. They don’t exactly seem too ready to win a ring, but they’ll do plenty of damage.

Another young gun leading a team full of middling talent is right behind the Mavericks. Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies keep getting better each year and they look quite exciting going into this year. Morant will obviously lead the fireworks, but there could be some key growth areas in Dillon Brooks and Brandon Clarke.

Finally, we get to both the San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans. Two teams who were somewhat close in terms of record last year, but going in very opposite directions. The Spurs need to just hit the rebuild button already and send off Coach Pop with a nice little farewell tour. On the other hand, the Pelicans need to hit the ground running so that they can finally keep a generational player happy, unlike Anthony Davis.

Hear all of our that’s on each one of these teams in the latest episode!

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
1:50 – Houston Rockets preview and John Wall looking for trade
23:00 – Dallas Mavericks preview
36:10 – Memphis Grizzlies preview
46:50 – San Antonio Spurs preview
57:35 – New Orleans Pelicans preview

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