Hawks fans finally have a pivot point for the upcoming season: Kristaps Porzingis should space the floor and protect the rim, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels add two-way versatility. If Jaylen Johnson can stay healthy, Atlanta’s defensive identity could finally lead the way, turning last year’s near-miss into a playoff surge in a wide-open East. Porzingis’s health is the wild card, but even 50-60 games unlocks a higher ceiling and more lineups Trey Young can thrive behind.

Beyond Atlanta, the pod recaps two other playoff pivots. Dallas bets on frontcourt defense and Cooper Flagg’s ascent to supplement Kyrie Irving and a healthier Anthony Davis–D’Angelo Russell pairing in L.A., with Porzingis watching from ATL as a contrasting path. Philadelphia’s path hinges on Tyrese Maxi’s growth supplementing Embiid and Paul George’s fit if healthy. San Antonio leans into Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper to push back toward the postseason, making the West’s chase even more crowded.

Boston hosts a home‑and‑home weekend as Drew Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis return to the Garden, where tribute videos honor past champions. Portland and Atlanta loom in the back‑to‑back, turning the night into a tangible reminder of, and celebration for, playoff pedigree. Fantasy managers should watch every minute as Boston leans on Holiday’s two‑wayiro and Porzingis’ floor‑spreading scoring to drive nightly upside.

Holiday’s 2024 playoff stretch, where he elevated the Celtics to the brink of major series awards, pairs with Porzingis’ expressive, high‑upside play. The talk underscores how Boston’s depth and the emotional resonance of a homecoming can translate into sustained fantasy value, especially in back‑to‑back situations where minutes and usage spike for top guys in a championship‑caliber system.

The Celtics front office rolls have arrived with a loaded, eye-popping 2024-25 schedule that tees up a Knicks showdown on opening night and a season path thick with marquee tests. Maxi and Edgecomb emerge as the speed-weapon duo in Boston’s backcourt, while Embiid’s injury status lingers as the season’s first big question. Boston’s optimism centers on a younger, deeper guard corps and steady veteran glue, with Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser primed for bigger roles as the rotation tightens.

The season also features the Emirates NBA Cup and a Christmas-to-New-Year grind that will test endurance on the road. An early test at MSG raises the stakes of the rivalry with New York, and then comes a string of cross-conference tests that will expose everyone’s depth. On the horizon: the return of familiar faces like Drew Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, plus a potential Al Horford landing in Golden State that could reshape the West’s chemistry.

On the broader stage, the conversation touches Luca’s weight-cut season, LeBron’s cap-space calculus, and Kyrie’s whispers of a March cameo around Boston. The balance between star ramp-up and strategic rest dominates the chatter, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum positioned to carry heavier load while the rest of the roster feeds off improved spacing, ball movement, and a more versatile bench as Boston navigates a brutal, star-driven league.

Fantasy angles glow brightest on the Celtics’ guard depth, the upside of Pritchard and Hauser, and the potential breakout seasons from the likes of Derek White and Sam Hauser. Every road trip becomes a value play, and every marquee date—Curry in Boston, Doncic in Dallas, or a West Coast swing—turns into must-watch, must-bet material for fantasy rosters and season-long plans.

Atlanta’s playoff-edge push looks markedly different after a bustling offseason and an eye-popping win total at FanDuel of 46.5. The Kristaps Porzingis trade injects scoring, shot-blocking and floor spacing into a lineup that already leans heavily on high-motor guard play. The Hawks’ 40-42 finish last season now sits against a backdrop of improved depth and a healthier, more balanced rotation. Analysts expect Porzingis to anchor the frontcourt when healthy, while Dyson Daniels brings savvy on both ends, and Onyeka Okongwu remains a defensive linchpin. Trey Young remains the engine, but the supporting cast could redefine his fantasy ceiling. For fantasy managers, the questions are about minutes, health and which nights Atlanta goes small or big, especially when Porzingis and Okongwu share floor space. The rotation appears five-deep with Young, Daniels, Johnson, Porzingis, and a frontline battle between Okongwu and the remaining big, with later-game decisions hinging on back-to-back skews and rest days. The Hawks look poised to be a focal point for late-draft rosters and weekly-tinkering strategists.