Roundup
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers
Toronto Raptors
Paul George leans into pressure in Boston, Atlantic Division roundup
No Atlantic Division games were played, but the Celtics, 76ers and Knicks still made news with comments and contract decisions.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
There were no Atlantic Division games on the schedule, but the news cycle didn’t take a night off. The Boston Celtics (4-0), Philadelphia 76ers (1-3) and New York Knicks (1-4) drove the conversation, with storylines ranging from how stars handle pressure to how teams approach contracts and locker-room roles.
Celtics: Paul George aims to turn pressure into fuel
In Boston, Paul George is fully aware of the expectations around him. As relayed by Hoops Rumors from a Gary Washburn piece in The Boston Globe, the forward admits that the pressure and criticism he has faced over the years, especially from former players, has gotten to him at times. Now, as he joins a Celtics team off to a 4-0 start, George is said to be embracing the opportunity in front of him rather than viewing that scrutiny as a burden. How he channels that environment could quickly become a central theme in Boston’s season.
76ers: Embiid pushes back on “sacrifice” idea
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid has offered a clear stance on how he sees roles on a talent-heavy roster. According to Hoops Rumors, citing reporting from Kris Rhim of ESPN.com, Embiid rejects the notion that anyone on the 76ers’ star-studded team needs to sacrifice for Philadelphia to reach its goals. After Friday’s preseason finale, he said he’s against the concept of sacrificing. Those comments set an early tone for how possessions and responsibilities might be shared between Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the rest of a group trying to dig out from a 1-3 start.
Knicks: McBride’s extension talks on hold
For the New York Knicks, who have stumbled to a 1-4 record, the focus was on roster management rather than on-court action. Hoops Rumors reports that Miles McBride is one of four Knicks affected by the organization’s decision to table extension negotiations until later in the season. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, told the New York Post that the 26-year-old guard is open to revisiting those talks down the line. For a player trying to solidify his place in the rotation, that adds another layer of intrigue to an already challenging start.
Elsewhere in the division, the Brooklyn Nets (3-1) and Toronto Raptors (2-3) stayed out of the spotlight for the day, but remain very much in the mix in an Atlantic race where every comment from a star can help shape the narrative.