Who Wins the NBA’s LOADED Atlantic Division?

October 5, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Knicks won the championship last year and are returning most of their core, yet none of the three analysts on Locked On NBA Daily picked them to win their own division. That was the central tension of this episode, which kicked off a series of division-by-division previews by zooming in on the Atlantic — perhaps the most competitive grouping in the NBA, featuring the Knicks, Celtics, 76ers, Raptors, and the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets.

Who wins the Atlantic? A three-way split

The panel was fractured. Hayes picked the Philadelphia 76ers, calling it a "boring" but safe choice: "Philly may have the best starting five in the entire East if everybody's healthy." Matt Moore went contrarian, taking the Toronto Raptors on the strength of a projected top-10 defense and a considerably improved offense. Wes Goldberg had the Boston Celtics winning mathematically, forecasting them at 55 wins while predicting no other team in the division would crack 50.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:17) **Division War Room Intro** - The hosts kick off Atlantic Division preview week, naming the Knicks, Celtics, Sixers, Raptors, and Nets as the teams in the NBA's most competitive division.
2 (02:05) **Who Wins the Division? Hayes Picks the Sixers** - Hayes chooses Philadelphia, calling them a "boring" but safe pick due to potentially the best starting five in the East if healthy.
3 (02:38) **Matt's Contrarian Pick: Toronto Raptors** - Matt selects the Raptors, betting on a top-10 defense and a considerably improved offense to put them in the conversation.
4 (03:51) **Spacing Concerns for the Sixers** - The panel debates how Philadelphia's stars—Jalen Brown, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James—will fit together offensively.
5 (06:44) **Are We Overlooking the Knicks?** - The defending champions are debated, with Hayes arguing they have fewer questions than Philly or Toronto.
6 (08:57) **Championship Hangover and Knicks' Challenges** - The panel explores why the Knicks might regress despite their talent.
7 (11:05) **Matt's Final Prediction: Celtics at 55 Wins** - Matt reveals his mathematical pick: the Celtics win the division with 55 wins, while no other team cracks 50.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Who wins the Atlantic Division this season? Division Preview Week begins on Locked On NBA Daily with Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize entering the Atlantic Division War Room to break down the Knicks, Celtics, 76ers, Raptors and Nets.

First, which team deserves to enter the season as the favorite in what could be the NBA’s most competitive division? The guys debate which team improved the most, which offseason addition will have the biggest impact and what separates the contenders at the top.

Then, Brooklyn might be the obvious pick to finish last — but what’s the nightmare scenario that could derail each of the Atlantic’s contenders? And which disaster is actually the most realistic?

Finally, forget predictions: What are we most excited to watch from each team as the season gets underway?

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