Hour 1: All-Time Knick: 5/13/25

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary

Episode: Hour 1: All-Time Knick
Release Date: May 13, 2025

---

Overview

In this episode of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into the New York Knicks' thrilling playoff series against the Boston Celtics. With the Knicks on the brink of advancing to the conference finals for the first time since 2000, the discussion navigates through pivotal game moments, standout player performances, the significant impact of Jayson Tatum's injury, and the fervent reactions from the passionate Knicks fanbase.

---

Knicks vs. Celtics Series Update

The conversation kicks off with Alan Hahn highlighting the Knicks' impressive position in the series. [00:30]

Alan Hahn: "If last night was the game of the century, then I would... the Nick fans have not been this happy in, like, 25 years. You're on the verge of going to the conference final for the first time since 2000. Up 3:1 on the Boston Celtics. How you living?"

The Knicks hold a commanding 3-1 lead, setting the stage for what could be a historic advancement.

---

Key Game Highlights

Peter Rosenberg recounts the chaotic atmosphere on 7th Avenue post-game, painting a vivid picture of the fans' exuberance and the ensuing street festivities. [00:54]

Peter Rosenberg: "I walked out after the post-game, walking out onto the sidewalk, and 7th Avenue was starting to finally dissipate... there was a couple of young traffic cops just trying to restore order."

---

Jalen Brunson's Stellar Performance

A focal point of the discussion revolves around Jalen Brunson's exceptional play. Peter Rosenberg emphasizes Brunson's pivotal role in turning the series around. [05:00]

Peter Rosenberg: "This was vintage Jalen Brunson... he's becoming the next great Nick."

Don LaGreca adds depth to Brunson's impact, noting his ability to carry the team in crucial moments. [05:30]

Don LaGreca: "Jalen Brunson has truly finally entered the chat in this series... you cannot stop this guy, Alan."

---

Impact of Jayson Tatum's Injury

A significant portion of the episode addresses the devastating injury to Celtics' star Jayson Tatum. The hosts deliberate on the implications of his injury on the series narrative and the overall competitiveness of the Celtics. [02:56]

Don LaGreca: "But don't make it. There should be no narrative that the Knicks won that game because Tatum got hurt."

Peter Rosenberg elaborates on how Tatum's injury altered game dynamics without undermining the Knicks' performance. [03:07]

Peter Rosenberg: "The Knicks had done so much... but Jayson Tatum, he was unreal in this game. 42 points, nine threes. He was insane."

The hosts agree that while Tatum's injury is a pivotal moment, attributing the Knicks' success solely to it would be unfair.

---

Historical Context & Rivalries

Alan Hahn reminisces about classic Knicks rivalries, drawing parallels to iconic matchups like the Michael Jordan-era Bulls vs. Knicks. [08:14]

Alan Hahn: "Do you realize if the Pacers and the Knicks win their respective series and they're both up 3:1, this will be the fourth time that they would meet in the conference final."

Peter Rosenberg adds historical weight by comparing the current series to past battles, emphasizing the rarity and significance of the Knicks facing a defending champion. [36:49]

Peter Rosenberg: "This is the first time since '94 the Knicks have faced a defending champ."

---

Betting Odds & Future Outlook

The discussion shifts to the broader implications of the series on playoff odds. Peter Rosenberg highlights the fluctuating betting lines, underlining the unpredictability of the postseason. [10:16]

Peter Rosenberg: "The Knicks are plus 125. That's the favorites... championship OKC is minus 105. Clearly runaway favorites."

Alan Hahn underscores the rapid changes in team fortunes, pointing out how injuries and performances can swiftly alter betting landscapes. [11:14]

Alan Hahn: "Things turn so fast."

---

Fan Reactions

Engaging with fan sentiments, the hosts reflect on social media backlash and support. Don LaGreca shares his experience of receiving criticism on Twitter for his nuanced take on the series, particularly regarding Brunson's emergence. [04:49]

Don LaGreca: "I get roasted by a lot of Knicks fans who were angry at me on Twitter... I'll take the blame for it."

Listeners’ perspectives are further explored through caller interactions, where fans express their exhilaration and cautious optimism about the Knicks’ postseason journey.

---

Elbowing Out the Narratives

A recurring theme is the delicate balance between celebrating the Knicks' achievements and acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances of Tatum's injury. The hosts emphasize maintaining respect without diminishing the team's hard-fought victories. [12:44]

Peter Rosenberg: "It's a moment to be embraced by the Knicks and their fans. But there's a dark cloud hanging over this."

Don LaGreca and Alan Hahn agree on the importance of savoring the Knicks' successes while avoiding attributing their wins solely to adversities faced by the Celtics. [13:00]

Alan Hahn: "Say this guy's an all time great. By the way he's playing."

---

Final Thoughts

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts express their unbridled enthusiasm for the Knicks' prospects, urging fans to stay grounded yet hopeful. Don LaGreca underscores the remarkable turnaround and the potential for a historic conference final appearance. [23:00]

Don LaGreca: "That's what matters. That's the attitude that everybody's got to have."

Alan Hahn reiterates the significance of the upcoming Game 5 in Boston, emphasizing the need for the Knicks to maintain their momentum and secure their spot in the conference finals. [23:19]

Alan Hahn: "Get it done tomorrow and then rest up and get ready for, believe it or not, a conference final appearance for the first time since 2000."

---

Conclusion

This episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" offers a comprehensive analysis of the Knicks' playoff run, celebrating their potential breakthrough while thoughtfully addressing the complexities introduced by injuries and high-stakes competition. Listeners are left with a sense of anticipation and optimism for the Knicks' journey towards a possible conference final appearance, bolstered by strong performances and unwavering fan support.

---

Note: Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the substantive discussions of the podcast.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

Don, there's no tush push if you're not pushing the tush.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Han, I want you protecting my blind side and Rosenberg.

[Don LaGreca]

When I was seven, I was riding shotgun and smoking cigarettes.

[Alan Hahn]

This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Don Hahn]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Don Hahn]

880 ESPN and the ESPN New York app.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, you bet this is New York. We are the New York Knicks.

[Don LaGreca]

We are the New York Knicks.

[Alan Hahn]

How about that, guys? If last night was the game of the century, then I would. I guess it's fair to say the Nick fans have not been this happy in, like, 25 years. You're on the verge of going to the conference final for the first time since 2000. Up 3:1 on the Boston Celtics. How you living?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Guys, did you see 7th Avenue last night?

[Alan Hahn]

Now that's legit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The answer's no. You know why? Because it was filled with people. You couldn't actually see the street. It was. I told the story this morning. This is so New York. I walked out of after the post game, walking out onto the sidewalk, and 7th Avenue was starting to finally dissipate. But there was. You just could tell a parade had just gone by or something, because it was a mess everywhere. There were. There were a couple of young traffic cops who were just trying to restore order and get the. Get the flow of traffic moving. But, you know, it's New York, so people are any way they can to cut around and cut through. Nobody actually follows the rules on the streets of New York. We know this. So there was this one car that was, like, halfway turned, but in the middle of the intersection, but because it was red, he just stopped there. And it was filled with a bunch of fans and the guys. The one female cop was yelling at somebody who was trying to turn, and she's like, no, you can't go this way. And she's yelling at him. And the other cop looks at the guy going, where are you going? He's like, yelling, where are you going? And the guys are just screaming, go, New York, go. And he goes, fine. Yes. Yes. Go. Nick's. Now you just go. Go, Nick's. You go. And the guy drives away. And he turns. He looks at me, goes, oh, my God. Like, he was just exhausted from it. But even he had to laugh at just the party that was going on up past midnight in Penn Plaza where we just were doing our show.

[Alan Hahn]

And. And. And that's legit. That's why I was kind of joking, Peter, about how I thought it Was corny after game one, you know, to take to the streets. I'm like, dude, save it, man, because.

[Don LaGreca]

This one's worth it. But.

[Alan Hahn]

And even, even to certain franchises, then I look at it and go, dude, you haven't won yet. But I can understand it, you know, especially after the Tatum injury and can we put the rest? And I win. Horse was talking about it this morning that we were robbed of a great finish. The Knicks were up nine. They were not losing that game.

[Don LaGreca]

Maybe a great series finish.

[Alan Hahn]

Maybe a great series finish. Maybe. But. But don't make it. There should be no narrative that the Knicks won that game because Tatum got hurt.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

No nine point lead with less free to play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The only thing that I said this morning was that the game wasn't done because we just saw him in the first quarter, that he detonated. They scored 12 points in 90 seconds. So to say that the Anunoby dunk was the dagger. No, I wouldn't call it that because there was still two. I'm sorry, three minutes to go in three. Yeah, it was 259. So like, I'm not saying that Tatum's injury is the. Is why the Knicks won, because the Knicks did all they had had to do to win that game. But I am saying that I would not say the game was settled by then. I would say that it was still. You still had three minutes to take care of business and not let a superstar who by the way, Tatum was unreal in this game. 42 points, nine threes. He was insane. So you. You can say that there was still work to do for three minutes, but the Knicks had done so much. And Jalen Brunson, Mikhail Bridges, just the. The what they did in that second half, they finally fed off the crowd. And it's another one of these stories, another chapter in the book of Jalen Brunson, New York Nick and heroics and things that he has done.

[Don LaGreca]

It is. It's just hard to. Even yesterday was an incredible game. I hate that I ended it with that feeling of like my heart in my stomach, right. Seeing that happen at Tatum, you know, like, because I was truly enjoying it. You guys know where I've been at with the series? Like, I'm just enjoying a great series here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And so that was the first best game, right?

[Don LaGreca]

That was we yesterday. And I got roasted by a lot of Knicks fans who were angry at me on Twitter. And I get it because nuance isn't in tweets. So I'll take the blame for it. At some point during the like third quarter, maybe, or second quarter. Whenever Brunson first was going off, I said something like, jalen Brunson has truly finally entered the chat in this series. And people took that as like, I don't know how good Jalen Brunson is. And what of course I was trying to say was, and I'll take the blame for it. It being a tweet. That's clumsy. That was the first true Brunson burner game. That was a true. Yes, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He stepped 18 point quarter. Yeah, I would say so.

[Don LaGreca]

That was it. Like. And that's all I meant. Like, we, of course, he. He put things away in one and two and had big moments, but a beginning to end. You cannot stop this guy, Alan. There was a point in the second half when him and Tatum were dueling. I was like, this is absolutely classic stuff. This is. This is rebuild a true rivalry kind of stuff between Tatum and Brunson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, I will agree with you on that. And I. Actually, your tweet wasn't that far off as far as that guy entered the chat.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Brunson gave you buckets in the first and second games, like, late when it mattered. But it wasn't to the effect of Derek White couldn't do anything. Drew Holiday couldn't do anything. And if he got Al Horford or Christoph Porzingis on the island, oh, my God. Like, he was exploiting everything that they thought they had as a defense against him. He sped up the game. He played fast. This was vintage Jalen Brunson.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it was phenomenal basketball by a player who clearly, to me, has become the next great Nick. And I don't think this series or anything he did, but it just. It's another reason for you to say it with your chest instead of, yeah, is he an all time great? No, no, no, no. Say this guy's an all time great. By the way he's playing. And what did I say he. Yesterday afternoon about what he said after game three? Did this guy not back up his own words in that third quarter with the force, intensity, Right. Urgency, all those things that he said we need to play with. That's what I saw in that third quarter. That's his Mark Messier moment. That's all the things that you look for in a leader. Special, special quarter of basketball by Jalen Brown.

[Alan Hahn]

And now just a win away from getting on that grand stage, because at the end of the day, it's all nice. It's the second round, but this has been their Achilles heel 25 years of not being able to get beyond this point, and the work still needs to get done. They've got to go to Boston tomorrow for game five. And I know no Tatum, but still, you wouldn't be shocked if there's a game six, but knowing you've got three cracks to get it done and the pacers are up 3:1. And just how juicy is that? I mean, you don't think of. When you. When you're a Nick fan and you think of rivalries depending on your age, you think about all those wars. What, Michael Jordan and Chicago. If you go back in the day, the wars with the Boston Celtics. The Pacers have always been there. Guys, do you realize if the Pacers and the Knicks win their respective series and they're both up 3:1, this will be the fourth time that they would meet in the conference final. The fourth time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And for the Knicks, the fourth straight time.

[Alan Hahn]

Fourth straight time for the Knicks, fourth time overall. And the crazy thing is. And the reason why it doesn't. Isn't as attractive, I guess, a rivalry, Allen, is because the four times, the previous three times that they've met in the conference final, neither team has won the championship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, so it hasn't resulted in a championship, just a trip to the final where the Pacers or the Knicks eventually lose. But, God, to have the Pacers sitting there. Now. Be careful. Again, it's not over yet. You still got to finish off the Celtics. But, you know, I don't want that whole feeling. Peter, Remember on the Case show is when Michael was like, oh, they're beating the Heat, they're going to the conference final. And that didn't age well. Be careful. But the point is, relish this. You won a game at Madison Square garden. You're up 31 against the Boston Celtics. You hate to see it, but, you know, they've lost their best player. I mean, it's all there, guys. It's all right there. I mean, how are you just not just in heaven right now if you're a Knick fan?

[Don LaGreca]

And you have to imagine, Alan, that there's. Listen, 100% the Celtics do have enough. Enough depth on that team to win a home game. They absolutely do. But, Alan, you have to think that emotionally, the way that game was going. And then I assume in the next hour we'll find out, or next couple hours that it's an Achilles.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think we want to hear it by five, I believe.

[Don LaGreca]

And. And assuming that's what it is, and I can't see How. It wouldn't be. It would be an absolute miracle if it's not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

That. That means you've lost him for a year, Right. It means it's definitively the end of Porzingis. They're moving on from him because they have to break up that salary.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This. This is resonating with that Celtic team, which also will resonate in the east like that. There's a. There's. There's a lot to peel for.

[Don LaGreca]

But emotionally.

[Alan Hahn]

But.

[Don LaGreca]

But emotionally, assuming that's the news they get, how could they not be super affected tomorrow night? How can they not come out? Like, just kind of two.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's two ways. It's. Now, here's the thing that really blows my mind when you think about what a difference a couple of days make. Remember, the Celtics went into this series and they were, I believe, minus 900, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They now, to win the east are plus 900. The Knicks are plus 125. That's the favorites. Now, according to ESPN bet they're the favorites to get to the finals. And by the way, championship OKC is minus 105. Clearly runaway favorites.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The next team Next, the Knicks. Plus 500. Now, plus 500 is a huge number. They like Oklahoma City, but plus 500 right now, when we're seeing the injuries we're seeing in the postseason, like, would you put, like. Because Minnesota's plus 550 and the patients are plus 900. Like, it's. It's. Things turn so fast.

[Alan Hahn]

They do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And for anybody also, like, understand something. Again, I need to repeat. I'm not saying that the Tatum injury is why the Knicks won. The Knicks were rolling. They were on their way, but nothing was. Nothing felt certain until they. I saw him get carried off the floor, and that's when I was like, oh, they're gonna win. They're gonna. They're not only gonna win this game, they're gonna win the series. Like, that was a turning point moment in so many ways. And no one should sit here and, you know, like, the Knicks were very deferential. I thought Jalen Brunson right away got everybody off the court. No celebrating. Get off the court. We didn't do anything yet. Like, he didn't want any of that stuff because they were all aware of this injury. And as players, they all. The first thing at everybody's mouth was thoughts and prayers to Jayson Tatum. Like, that was something to be respectful. But let's remember what happened last year in the. In the same round against the Pacers. The Knicks were up two. Oh, then an OBI hurts the hamstring. Then Josh Hart gets hurt. Then, then he tries to play. You could tell he's, he's. There's no Mitchell Robinson, and an OBI can't play till game seven. He barely can. Can move. And then Brunson gets hurt at the end in the second half of game seven, they had nobody left and they lost a game seven at home because of all these injuries that happen all at the same time. So this is not something where you're supposed to put an asterisk on anything. This is what happens in the playoffs.

[Alan Hahn]

No, of course it does. And that's why you can't, you know, be a jerk and celebrate what happened to Tatum. Because you don't celebrate, the other thing can happen to you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

At any moment, God forbid, you lose a key player and change everything. But I don't want the narrative apologize either, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't apologize.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, you don' apologize. That's just. Hey, that's what happens. Okay? And now you got to go out and take advantage of it. And we'll see how the Celtics respond. They do have a heart of a champion. But I also wonder, the fact that they won last year, does that almost make them feel like, all right, well, listen, guys, it's just not our year. You know, we won last year, we'll go get them next year. It's just not happening? Or does it galvanize them and say, all right, let's go win for our guy? It's very interesting. They haven't won the fourth game. Fourth game. I know it's cliche, but it's always the toughest to get. You've got to go to Boston tomorrow and you don't want to come back to the Garden. As celebratory as I think Nick fans want to be, having not clinched a series in 25 years in their building, you don't want to have to deal with that, especially if the Pacers win tonight. You want to make sure you're on even keel with Indiana going in and not having to get have to play an extra possible couple of games, even if you do win the series. But the one narrative I don't want to hear if the Knicks do win is that they won because Tatum got hurt.

[Don LaGreca]

Honestly, you'd have to be a fool.

[Alan Hahn]

But foolish things are said. We've already got people saying that it cost the Celtics the game last night. No, but nine point lead. You could paint scenarios. Hey, it's never over. We're all so Reggie Miller did I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Haven'T seen that said you'd have to.

[Don LaGreca]

Be a complete yo yo in Boston.

[Alan Hahn]

Where do we have the wind horse cut. He said we got robbed of a great finish last night but I don't think he was talking about the series. He's talking about the game. But.

[Don LaGreca]

But even so that can be true and he and not say not be saying that they were going to lose.

[Alan Hahn]

But no, you're suggesting that the game was still up for grabs and watching that game I didn't get that sound. I know Tatum was going off but he was going off at a game you were still down nine with less than three minutes left.

[Don LaGreca]

The momentum clearly felt like it was ending. That is true. But to Alan's point it felt like the game was even with a few minutes left in the first half. And then the Celtics are up 12.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When I I just know what they are what they and especially him on that night were capable of. So there was no, there was no sitting back. I don't a single fan. There's no way you're putting your feet up and thinking okay this is in the bag. There's no chance. You're feeling that with three minutes still on the clock and it's a single digit lead. You're feeling great about the momentum but you're not sitting there going this is a lock. You're hoping it is but once he's carried off the court you just knew it was over.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That did you know it.

[Don LaGreca]

It did. It did. Once and for all ended. That's for sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. Yeah. That. That much I will say no of course. But. But I agree with you Don. No chance. Do you want to mess around, you know, call Anthony Townsend. The hardest game to is to eliminate to end someone's season. That's the hardest win. They've already had to go through that and they did it on the road in Detroit. But this is, you know, this is that kind of situation where as much fun as it might be on a Friday night in Madison Square Garden have 7th Avenue filled again with fans because they had an elimination game at home. Don't even bother like like it. It's take care of the business right away. Get that win. It would be amazing. Six road wins by the way, if they do pull that off and see if you catch Boston kind of licking their wounds. Porzingis is still not right. Holiday, you could tell the hamstring. He's not 100% there. They were relying so much on Tatum in this game. Brown was A mess in that game. Brown's gonna try to be, you know, the inspirational leader for this game in Game 5. But if you can eliminate the threes, boy, it shows you when you press up on them, their whole game changes. So, like, this could be, this could be an opportunity. And you're talking about if both series end in five, Monday would be your game one. That's a couple of days off, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Now let's, let's hear what Wendy said about the Tatum injury.

[Brian Windhorst]

The Knicks were brilliant in this second half especially. They got contributions up and down their lineup. They got the game to clutch time, which is their mission. Mikhail Bridges was amazing. Jalen Brunson carried them home. But the pit in the stomach is what we have in the defending champ and Jayson Tatum, because Tatum was having an elite game, he was having a big fourth quarter. This was going to be potentially an iconic finish. And now the whole thing just feels deflating because, you know, I'm sure 7th Avenue right now in New York, I'm sure it's wild outside the Garden. I'm sure the fans are embracing this moment and it is a moment to be embraced by the Knicks and their fans. But there's a dark cloud hanging over this and that's what you can't get away from right now.

[Don LaGreca]

That's fair. I mean, from an objective non Knicks standpoint, if you're just a basketball fan, Don, the biggest thing about that game ending was Jason Tatum, of course.

[Alan Hahn]

But it does give that air of, boy, if Tatum didn't get hurt, things.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You never know different. He, well, he said, he said, you never know.

[Alan Hahn]

I know you never know because again, the Reggie Miller thing happened, right? I mean, crazy things happen.

[Don LaGreca]

Three minutes and this is eternity.

[Alan Hahn]

I know it's an eternity, but. But honestly, the way that it does kind of take away. I'm sorry. From what the Knicks had accomplished, Tatum's going off in the game. And yet the Knicks were in control. They had an amazing third quarter and they have a nine point lead with less than three minutes to play. Yes, things can happen. Tatum is going off, but again, it just gives that little air of, hey, maybe if Tatum's healthy, they. It's a two, two game. And now if the Knicks, especially if the Knicks were to lose game five and then it goes six or even if we're to go seven and the Knicks wouldn't go well, if Tatum didn't get hurt, you know, the Knicks probably lose this series. I think that's so unfair. You had a healthy tatum the first two games. Celtics blew a 20 point lead. Knicks win in iconic fashion. You know, they get off the mat after being completely humiliated in game three. And also, you know, down several points in the first half where it looked like we might be on our way to seeing a repeat of Saturday, all with Tatum healthy, all with Tatum going off. So I don't want to see this be, oh, what might have been, or, boy, the Knicks were lucky Tatum got hurt. Because I do think if that's the narrative when this is over, that would be unfair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is very similar to when KD went down in the finals in 2019. And the story was more about the warriors losing, not getting the third straight, not, not, you know, maybe, maybe Durant was now leaving. And meanwhile, the Raptors won the, won the NBA championship. So it was always about the perspective. What is the bigger story? And the bigger story is one of the stars in the league had something that looks like an Achilles pop in a, in a big playoff game as a defending champs, and now they're against the ropes. So that's why you're going to get that. You know, the dark cloud hanging over the series, which I don't think there's any dark clouds in New York about this series. There is a, you left the door open for us in games one and two and we took it, we stole it. Yes, we did. But you left the door open. That's on you. And we were good enough to recognize it and take advantage of the opportunity instead of waste it. Which good teams do that, bad teams don't do that.

[Alan Hahn]

That's true now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And, and by the way, and then when you, all right, so fine, you come in and you smack us in game three, we respond as you try to smack us again in the first quarter, you keep punching back. And after that first quarter and the water turned off because all of a sudden the three stopped going down. We got back into this series and then our guy had a quarter of the ages to flip the building, get the place on our side, put you on your heels, and we were three minutes from sending you back to Boston. Down three one, then your guy gets hurt. But we still won the game, and that's what matters. That's the attitude that everybody's got to have. But the story nationally, not locally nationally, is that one of the game's stars had a devastating injury on the court in the midst of himself having a great.

[Don LaGreca]

Hard not to have that be the national story.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just a reality that people have to understand.

[Alan Hahn]

But there's also reality of where the healthy Tatum with less than three minutes to go in game four. Oh yeah, the Knicks were in a position to take a 31 series lead. This didn't happen with the game tied. All right, this didn't happen with the, with the, the, the Celtics up 10 and then the Knicks came back. No, this happened. The Knicks put themselves in a position to completely take advantage of this and now have three cracks. Now, could there be a narrative, guys, that if the Knicks lose the next two and then win on a last second shot in game seven, you go, hmm, I wonder how that would have gone had Tatum played in those three games. But listen, history always kind of looks back at things and I could totally see, especially in Boston, the narrative being we lost Tatum. If we had healthy Tatum, we would have won the series. Yada, yada yada. I don't want to take away from what happened in the three plus games before that injury. And that's the Knicks winning two games in Boston and putting themselves in a position to win last night with a nine point lead when Tatum went down. Do not take away from the Knicks shine here.

[Don LaGreca]

No, the Knicks, Allen. And we'll get into more of this as the day goes on. If I had told you just one of the things that happened, I think you would have felt good about the likelihood of it being a Knicks win. Like for example, if I were to tell you Jalen Brunson is going to go off, he's going to have his 39 point game, you'd feel good. If I were to tell you Carl Anthony Towns is going to have 23 and 11, you'd feel good if I was going to tell you OG or bridges had 20 plus. You feel good they got all of those things. And Allen, after all the conversation we had, not one free throw attempt for Mitchell Robinson, Celtics completely get away from it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So yeah, they were never in the bonus.

[Don LaGreca]

It went completely the way you would have hoped it would go. We said yesterday, can we just get, if you're a Knicks fan, can you just get one pure victory not pulling it out of your, you know what, in the fourth quarter, one real win, now's the time to get it. They got it last night. Legit.

[Alan Hahn]

That's what I'm saying. So many good things happened. So for the conversation to be. Yeah, but Tatum got hurt and that's why. No, that's not why, but we'll see. Get it, get it done tomorrow and then rest up and get ready for, believe it or not, a conference final appearance for the first time since 2000.

[Don LaGreca]

One went away.

[Unknown]

This episode is brought to you by Lifelock. Not everyone is careful with your personal information, which might explain why there's a victim of identity theft every five seconds in the U.S. fortunately, there's LifeLock. LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats to your identity. If your identity is stolen, a US based restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed, or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year by visiting lifelock.com podcast terms apply.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

It's so interesting to walk in or actually have two people come into a room in the middle of a conversation. And you only get a piece of the conversation and then left to wonder because who's the comedian that. That screams and gets angry a lot? Very funny. Older comedian. Bobcat Girls White. No, no, no. It's gonna bother me. He's Lewis Black. Lewis Black.

[Don LaGreca]

This is you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Basically, he's.

[Alan Hahn]

He's got this bit where he said, it's like he's standing in line and somebody's on the phone and you only get part of the conversation. And all he heard was a woman go, if it wasn't for that horse, I would have graduated college. So I'm just minding my own business, Alan, just sitting here, ready to do a show. John Winthrop, our program director, walks in with Peter and I hear cows get a bad rap. What does that mean?

[Don LaGreca]

You don't even know.

[Alan Hahn]

What does it mean? I need to know the context why cows get a bad rap. And then it was followed up by, you know, whole milk's actually better for you. It's like, what are you talking about? The Knicks are a game away from going to the conference final, and you're talking to our program director about the cow's reputation in whole milk. What's going on, Peter?

[Don LaGreca]

We were having a coffee conversation. I got oat milk, he had some almond milk. And then all of a sudden he's like, well, but you know, the cow gets a bad rap. And I said, I want to hear what you're saying on the other side.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a very Kramer esque thing to say.

[Alan Hahn]

The cow gets a bad rap. That's interesting. But you know the things that go on at radio stations, right? You know what? WKRP in Cincinnati wasn't that far off. They got a lot, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That feels like that's like Donovan, like you've worked in radio your whole life. Wouldn't that be a station that you would have loved to have worked at? I would have loved to work with.

[Alan Hahn]

My God, being Flytrap and playing all kinds of that. Oh, tremendous. And then when I got into radio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And they all seemed to be there all day, like nobody went home.

[Alan Hahn]

And working here for 25. Going on 24 years. September.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

No, Lonnie, it's a documentary. It's how the way Aerosmith felt about Spinal Tap is the kind of way I feel when I watch WKRP in Cincinnati. It's that deep. But let's hear from you, man, because that's who I'm happy for are the fans. And we got a chance to be with them yesterday. And these fans deserve these moments. They haven't had a lot of them. And if you're of a certain age and you go back to the heyday, even the heyday was coming up short. Right. And now that. Just see what could be on the horizon for this team. I want to hear from the fans at 1-800-919-3776. And we're going to start it off with Rob and Nyak. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Rob?

[Rob]

Walking away from the daycare, looking at my little girl run to the car and, man, just thinking, she has no idea how long we've been waiting. I am as excited as excited can be. Go, you know, light up the streets last night. I'm so glad to see it. What a happy day. I've been buzzing all day, but the thing I keep telling myself, I put on Barton Carlin earlier for a couple moments, all right? And there it's. It's wrapped up, the series is over as far as they're concerned. And I just can't help but think of the Kobe interview. You know, job finished, jobs not finished. Like, let's go one more and then onto the conference.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Rob, you must have missed when they had me on and they kept trying to get me to say that, and.

[Rob]

I. Yeah, I only caught him for a few moments.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I review. Well, you missed the best part of the show. Like, I refuse to say it, because it's. Yeah, it's. Obviously, it's. It's not that. And I think we've learned enough here in New York with all the teams we had and all. All the teams that we have seen go through the playoffs, and it's never like that. And especially when you're honestly.

[Rob]

Shout out to Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, sorry.

[Rob]

Shout out to Peter. Because for not. For not sugarcoating the Tatum thing at the end because I'm with Don. Like, the Knicks have been finishing, man. They really have been finishing. So, yes, nine points, three minutes is plenty of time to make that happen. But we've shown the grit in those last three minutes. So I appreciate Peter's take and don't take on that part of it.

[Don LaGreca]

I. You know what? First of all, thank you. And I also appreciate the love I've been getting from our listeners actually complimenting me for how I've been discussing the series every day instead of, like, going straight fanboy status. I actually truly appreciate that. I feel like we have smart. Well, I just think we have smart listeners who know. Like, who. I'm sorry it's not a fun. It would not have been fun for me. Let's have a war. No, let's talk. I live in New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Man, you're adulting. I'm very proud of you.

[Don LaGreca]

And listen, now, I will say this, though. So last night, my Natalie's giving me a hard time. She. Come on. You're rooting for the Knicks. Come on, come on. I'm rooting for the Knicks. Baby's rooting for the Knicks. You're rooting for the Knicks. I said, natalie, I'm not rooting for the Knicks, but I'm good with whatever happens. It is what it is, right? But I will say that's fair because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You win either way. Think about it.

[Don LaGreca]

That's how I felt about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I'm winning either way.

[Don LaGreca]

But my heart, I was reminded of where my heart is deep down. When Tatum went down, of course, that was a legitimate, like, I lump in my throat, like to see him writhing that way, especially because earlier in the game, when he. When he got tripped up and landed on his wrist, I was like, oh, my God, this is going to be the moment. He's not going to be able to shoot the free throws. Stays in the game. And then, of course, you see this happen. And now it's going to bring about all the conversation about, is this going to be the end of the Celtics team? I firmly believe they are. Jalen Brown's contract is going nowhere. Jayson Tatum's contract, especially with this injury, that's not going anywhere.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's the others.

[Don LaGreca]

It's the others.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's, again, that's for. That's for when the series finally is over and. And all that other discussion, because it does affect the Knicks going forward and how they can build what they're building and all that. It is something that, like Brian Windhorst last week when we were on together, he said, like the Knicks building what they're building was almost to like, wait out the Celtics.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, we'll build this while you're still great. And then when you guys have to break that up because of the luxury deck, then we'll be able to go past you. But the cause has been advanced because of, you know, the way the Knicks have played and also, you know, what the Celtics look like right now. Down, down three. One and done. I also want to give you credit for something you said yesterday. And it's something that, as you said it, I kind of nodded along, like, you know what? That is true, that game four was the more important game of the series, not game three. We made a big deal about game three, but you said the game four felt like the more important game before we even got into the weekend. And, boy, did that prove to be true.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I just didn't understand all these people. Like you seeing people paying six figures for floor seats. I understood that you had a chance to go up three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, but right.

[Alan Hahn]

Game four was the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Especially the way game three ended up going down. That. That was me know people are going to remember, especially if they win tomorrow, being in that building and how special that was. But I think both could be true as well. Where you want to. I can understand Nick fans being apprehensive to start celebrating a victory when it isn't over yet. That fourth one is still tough to get. But you also have to accept the situation that you're in now. You're the clear favorite. I mean, Vegas is looking at. You're the favorite to come out of the east now. I mean, so you got to embrace that, too. So take care of business, but also embrace this madness, man. It's real, all right. It is. It is so real. And I'm just so happy for the fans. You could hear how excited they are. Andreas in Lindenhurst, you're. Or Lindenhurst, you're on espn. New York, what's up, baby?

[Andreas]

Hey, how you doing, guys? Just first and foremost from every Knicks fan, our prayers go out to JT Heck of a player. But one thing about me, I don't like to count my eggs before they hatch, but this is my first time. I'm excited since 1999, man. And right now, the Knicks have a unique window opening up. A two to three year window with Jrue Holiday possibly being moved by the Celtics, KP being moved, Giannis possibly being moved. We have a chance to Run the East. But my question would be here. You know, cuddle, marry trash. Who do you want to face in the NBA Finals if we were to make it that far? I don't want to jinx the team, but would you want to face Denver, the Wolves or OKC for you guys?

[Alan Hahn]

Well what. What's the better path or who would you want? I mean how dead sex.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's doing. He's doing the. The. The. The dnr.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I. I get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But three of them you have to discuss because we're taking the warriors out of the conversation because no Steph Curry. They look like they're dead in the water.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But is it. Who would you rather face it as far as the easier path or. Cause Minnesota Knicks is dead sexy considering the trey. Right. I mean that would just be the storyline I want. Even though they've struggled at times, I think OKC is the best team in basketball. So I. I am going to trash okc.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. No chance. You want to see them?

[Alan Hahn]

No chance. So then I would probably.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm cuddling Denver I'm marrying.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. That's probably the way I go because Denver's one cuddle.

[Don LaGreca]

I'd. I'd cuddle Golden State with Steph Curry out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't count them.

[Alan Hahn]

But we're not putting. We're just taking. Because there's only cuddle, marriage, rest. Only three. The logical thing is to take the.

[Don LaGreca]

Warriors out assuming they're gone.

[Alan Hahn]

So. So, so Minnesota, Denver, okc.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Alan and I are in agreement that we would. It would be Mary, Minnesota, cuddle Denver and trash okc. What about you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean what like if you. Anthony Edwards and what he does like now you come to the Garden and give you that old Jordan s kind.

[Don LaGreca]

Of feel you got to marry them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Randall coming back playing in New York and you know with the. With the crowd like melt make him melt down Towns back in Minnesota divincenzo. Imagine him. I guess all the warfare he's going.

[Don LaGreca]

To want to have the only argument. The only argument because I think to have it so we're not all picking the same thing would be. Do you reverse OKC on the strength of it's cool. Sga. Right. A new. A new star player. Their big moment. And the Knicks if they were to win it would be such an awesome upset again. Like there is something sexy.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I know. I know what I was going to say.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you think I'm going to.

[Alan Hahn]

Say, don that 99.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. It would feel like the spurs all over again. The franchise that never Won that just is building something that is going to turn into a dynasty that we didn't know. But when 99, you walked into that series, you were like, oh, my God, this team is unbelievable. Like, they were. They had size at every position. They had depth. They had guys you'd never heard of international. But you're like, who are. Who are these dudes? But they were nasty. And they had this kid, Tim Duncan, who was great.

[Don LaGreca]

He turned out all right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

David Robinson.

[Don LaGreca]

Like, they feel that here. The head coach was decent as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were tough. Yeah. A guy named. They called him Pop.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that Finals, like, the Knicks had no chance in that Finals. Like, they got there. They played game one and went, damn. Nope. Not without Patrick Ewing. Healthy. No chance.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's. But it's fun to fantasize about it. Right? And I think it's legit. Now. You. You don't want to count your chickens, but three. One would hate them out. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me warn everybody, though. Watch the Pacers tonight. Pay attention. I put a tweet out this morning where I was like. Or yesterday morning. I said, we need to acknowledge something. That Pacer team is a wagon. Like, oh, my God, they are a handful now. They're not very likable.

[Don LaGreca]

But that's even better, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They are what they've become in the second half of the season. I think they have the third best record in the NBA since January 1st. Like, they have played out of their minds. And don't think for a minute that they're all, you can handle them. No, that's. That that in itself is going to be a fun old school. You know, the Indy, you know, Hicks versus Knicks and all that stuff. Like, we even had a little bit of it last year. They're going to treat Tyrese Halliburton like they treated Reggie, like they treat, you know, Trey Young. All that stuff's going to go on. That'll be theater just unto itself. But all the things that everybody wants to look forward to. I still think you got to stay in the moment. About the hardest thing to do is put away a defending champ. And I. I'm trying to remember, this is the first time since 94 the Knicks have faced a defending champ. So. Yeah. So the last time the Knicks eliminated a defending champ was the bulls in 94. And that bulls team didn't have Michael Jordan.

[Alan Hahn]

Nope. And, you know, 31 years ago. My God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is a long time since. Since the Knicks have. Have dealt with this.

[Alan Hahn]

This is a pretty cool.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for Listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How far we've come in in less really. Just shy of three years.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This was on June 28th of 2022. My good friend Fuch sent me this.

[Alan Hahn]

Soft foods last night. Love him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he's the best. So Woes, who was once the the only source of NBA news, tweeted this that day. This is June 28, 2022. The Knicks are trading center Nerlen's Noel and guard Alec Burks to the Pistons. The knicks will unload $19 million more in salary, clearing the way for cap space to try to sign free agent Jalen Brunson. Mm. Just think about this. Three years.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And not received well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, absolutely. Not received well. I could.

[Alan Hahn]

You're on the. Here are some.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here are some of the comments just to that. For what though, Woj is what one person said another. All that for Brunson.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, I remember it well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And then they have like these. The weird memes of, you know, what they look like before and after signing Brunson. And it's the same face, just in different angles.

[Don LaGreca]

By the way, I can't even be mad at the people who at the time. Who at the time were like, this is it. Because I didn't know one person who said, that's it. We found our superstar. I didn't know one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who do Knicks think this Brunson guy is? See, exactly like. It's just unreal.

[Don LaGreca]

And I get it. I do get it. But what a pleasant surprise.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How about this one? Knicks really backing up the Brinks truck for Gen Z Jameer Nelson.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, that just. That's just really all Jameer Nelson. That's just really aging bad.

[Alan Hahn]

Talking about freezing cold takes. That's. It's a whole cottage industry that you got just off of that Woj tweet. But I just remember being on the air and like, yeah, we. We like it, but they could do better. This is not the star, you know, and it just didn't feel like it was going to be anything that would lead to what it might end up leading to. Nevermind the fact that he might be the most beloved athlete in New York. It's between him and Judge, Right? But God forbid, if I even compare Judge to Jeter, I get ripped by Yankee fans. He hasn't won a championship yet. So when we talk about beloved, like his own fan base seems to pick him apart.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fair point. I got. I'll give you one more and then I'll get off this because I'm down the rabbit hole now. Here's one. Knicks fans, after they traded half their roster for a man who will average 18 points.

[Alan Hahn]

Just. Where are these people now? This is so. I'd love to get a phone call from anybody who tweeted.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want. I really like. This is all about the receipts, right? This is all about the receipts. The same, by the way of the. The Tom Thibodeau receipts. Now, I was listening to, you know, our good friend Frank Isola. He and Brian Scalabrini have their show on Sirius XM NBA Radio. And, man, I'll tell you what. Frank went on a tirade about the minutes thing and how it's funny how the teams that, you know, load like the Cavaliers have fallen to pieces. What about their depth? I thought they were. Had great depth and all this stuff about that. And they got. Their guys can't play through anything. And, you know, and. And look at the Knicks and look at other teams that are breaking down. He's. He's pointing out guys like Mikhail Bridges were built up so when fourth quarters come around, they aren't tired that they can recover. Like, he. He had this tirade for a good 10 minutes that I just was laughing listening to it because it was one point after another point after another point, going after the minutes police and all the people that are calling out Tom Thibodeau and saying that his job should be, you know, up for. He should be on the hot seat and all these things. And Peter, I guess you were the first to confirm it, right? Was it after game two when you said, that's it, it's a lock?

[Don LaGreca]

Did I say that was after two?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was it after two?

[Don LaGreca]

Thank you.

[Alan Hahn]

By the penthouse.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, that's it. It was after two.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Because once they were up two zero, the. The possibility that he would lose his job.

[Alan Hahn]

All I'll say.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So it's just.

[Don LaGreca]

But now it's double law, say.

[Alan Hahn]

I will just say that those people, they just put the gun back in the holster. They're ready to pull it back out again if they got swept by the Pacers. You don't think if they look tired or banged up, they'll be back? They don't go away quietly, these people, they get reduced in size, but they still. They'll be heard from again. Don't worry about it. That's not the last we've heard of it. They'll be back.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, Yeah, I mean, I'd say if they won the Finals, but even then, it would be a year later. And the people who are.

[Alan Hahn]

This may be a championship. I'll say they might go quietly into that good night. But if there's a loss in the future that has anything to do with injury, believe me, the minute police, they'll be back. Reuben in New Haven. You're on espn, New York.

[Don LaGreca]

What's up, Ruben?

[Alan Hahn]

Ruben.

[Rob]

I'd like to address the Knicks fan base, you know, myself included. A lot of apologies are over to Spike Lee. Spike Lee was our super fan when this team was just trash. It was an embarrassment.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, we lost a bad connection. But I'm glad. The reason I went to him is Jake Aspen was nice. He happened to see that. My conversation with Spike.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

From afar. Sure. He took a picture of it. And if you look at it, Spike's got a drink and there's a straw. So it looks like a pen. It looks like he's signing an autograph for me or I'm signing an autograph for him. No, it was just a conversation. And I was walking by, walking the court before the game, and I just wanted to thank him for coming on the other day.

[Don LaGreca]

Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

And he said, I got a question, man.

[Don LaGreca]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

I was like, sure. He's like, who the blank. Are these people on your show saying that I shouldn't go to the game because they lose when I come now, before I could say, well, it was me.

[Don LaGreca]

But it really. But then on our show, Alan really became Don.

[Alan Hahn]

But then. But then he just stopped. And just like he said when you asked the Greenberg thing about how he used in the building when they won in 70.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

So he started showing me. He's got a necklace around his neck that's got the championship ring from 1970 on it. That was Red Holtzman's ring that he. I guess he got somewhere, bought at an auction or something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

And he's showing it to me about how he was in the building in 1970. So it just became that kind of conversation. So he was. He's listening and he was pretty ticked off just to be suggesting people being you, that he shouldn't go. I was saying, these people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The guy has been sitting in that seat forever. He's seen all of the games. And he went after that again. The epic Reggie Miller Game 5. He was front and center. John Starks told us the story yesterday. He sat there in Indianapolis hoping and praying that that wouldn't be the last game of the season because he knew he was on the back page of every tabloid. And Starks said he came out, saw Spike, and went, okay, we're winning this game. And had a great game, and they won that series. So anybody. You cannot associate Spike Lee with bad luck. You can't.

[Don LaGreca]

I know he's been there for all.

[Alan Hahn]

That he has accomplished in his life. It's still bothered because that's how big a fan he is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, he cares. Wouldn't that bother you? I'm sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

That he's not a prop. He's not somebody that should be used as a good luck charm, you know, like, he. I think that's what offends him, is that it's. It's more important than that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Give me an example of, of, like, in sports recently, a team at a championship run, there was just like a celebrity or somebody that became like a. A. Like this. They're super fan. But it wasn't really a fan. Just ended up having to go to a ton of games.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, how, like, how big we see this. How big a fan was Drake of the Raptors? I know he's from Toronto, but he's a huge fan.

[Don LaGreca]

Huge fan.

[Alan Hahn]

They're all the time, so he wouldn't count. Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's there. He's there all time. The time. But it's like this. Like, you tend to sometimes see fans that show up and you're like, not legit, but you can't claim that Spike Lee is part of the fabric.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know what's funny with fans?

[Don LaGreca]

Sorry, real quick, Dom. But that's why I kept pushing back when even Dom was bringing up the question rhetorically. I was saying, no, of course Spike isn't the guy who doesn't. He goes, every. You can't include someone who's always there. Like, I have been a legitimate mushroom where it's like I keep going to games and the team I'm there for keeps losing, but I don't go all the time. Spike is the furniture. It would be like saying, don't play in the Garden, but.

[Alan Hahn]

But I will.

[Don LaGreca]

He is the Garden.

[Alan Hahn]

But I will say this, much like you with other teams besides the Commanders, I don't look at him as, as a Yankee fan that way.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no, no. It's.

[Alan Hahn]

It's, you know, or Giants or Jets or what? Like, no, like, he'll show up to other New York events and I'm like, you know what?

[Don LaGreca]

No, it's an exact. By the way, Spike and the Knicks, maybe not quite as famous for me, but as a human being, it's me and my commanders exact cop the other people. You're into it.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not. You're into it, but it's not the same level. But I got to tell you, there's a ton of celebrity fans. I think most of them are really, really fans.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, no, the Knicks have really like.

[Alan Hahn]

Timothee Chalamet is a die hard fan. Did you see what he tweeted out yesterday?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's a kid.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, he took a picture when he was 12 with Latrell Sprewell. Latrell Sprewell was there last night and he took a picture with Latrell. And like you can.

[Don LaGreca]

These are real fans.

[Alan Hahn]

These are real fans. Tracy Morgan is a real fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He is.

[Don LaGreca]

Stiller's real.

[Alan Hahn]

Ben Stiller's a real fan. Like that major celebrity.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm a real fan. You know what I'm saying? Same thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, keep going. The die hard. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

I am a real things that you would give up. I know. Listen, I'm a real. I saw her last night. I'm a real fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You are a fan. That is. That's a different kind of fan. Yeah, it's a little bit different.

[Alan Hahn]

Woody Allen, It's a little awkward to bring up, but he's a huge fan.

[Don LaGreca]

He's a real fan too.

[Alan Hahn]

So when you go back in the history, there's a few frauds. I'm sure the celebrity row is full of them. But when they show on the jumbotron, the celebrities that are there, believe me, most of them are actually die hard fans of the team that are there. More often than not, very rarely, do I predict the future.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

But I nailed something last night.

[Don LaGreca]

Excuse me.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Excuse me.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Does Nancy know?

[Alan Hahn]

She wasn't there when I said it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh.

[Don LaGreca]

Or did it.

[Alan Hahn]

But she knows.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, boy.

[Alan Hahn]

Way the filth up was a very proud moment for me on Don Hahn and Rosenberg on ESPN New York and.

[Don LaGreca]

The ESPN New York Now May is mental health awareness month. So let's encourage everyone to take care of their mentals, man your well being and break the stigma. Because the world is better when people are healthy and happy. Mental health awareness is growing, but there's still progress to be made. 26% of Americans who participated in a recent survey say they've avoided seeking mental health support due to fear of judgment. I totally get that. And I've heard that from many people. But it's really, really something you gotta push through. And BetterHelp has over 10 years of experience matching people with the right therapists from their diverse network of more than 30,000 licensed therapists with a wide range of specialties. We're all better with help. Visit betterhelp.com timeout to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelp.com timeout.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good.

[Don Hahn]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.