Don Hahn (1:14)

What is. Is Dave actually elderly woman going through hot flashes at 63?

Peter Rosenberg (1:21)

Dava Paws.

Don Hahn (1:22)

It's. Yeah. I think the morning shows on menopause.

Peter Rosenberg (1:26)

Manopause.

Don Hahn (1:27)

Wow.

Alan Hahn (1:28)

Manopause.

Peter Rosenberg (1:29)

That's what's happening. Is that a hot flashes? Maybe. I don't know. I don't know. At 63 feels a little chilly. But my house, it's strange, my house in the summer, I like it at 68, but we. We argue between 68 and 70. Me too. In the winter, it's like 65. That's what we hit it at right there. Well, so 63 is below even, like our standard. But I wonder what. What do people set it at at your house? Like in this year?

Alan Hahn (2:00)

63 in the summer, for a lot of women that would be divorce. They would immediately file.

Peter Rosenberg (2:07)

Yes.

Alan Hahn (2:07)

Like that's.

Don Hahn (2:08)

You're trying to see your breath. Yeah.

Alan Hahn (2:09)

You're trying to kill a woman at 63. In your. Now winter is interesting. I guess. I don't. I live in a New York apartment, so, like, all they do is turn on the heat in the building. I don't get to set the heat. It just. It just turns on. And by the way, sometimes doesn't turn on. Like two nights ago when it was 30 degrees at night and the heat never kicked on.

Don Hahn (2:28)

I know in the environmental world, they try to convince everyone that you should keep your house at, like, 78. And I think that's ridiculous. That's too warm. 78. It helps out the. The ecosystem or whatever. But you know what? I care about the ecosystem, too. But 78 degrees, it's not comfortable, for God's sake. Now we keep our house at 66 just because we have central air, and for some reason we just don't. We don't feel it upstairs unless it's down. It's warm upstairs. So if you get it at 66, we'll. We'll tolerate it. The out and about downstairs. And then when you go to bed, you want to at least be comfortable. That's kind of where we're set at.

Alan Hahn (3:04)

Because it's a little bit cold down.

Don Hahn (3:06)

63 is, you know, madness. You know, somebody on the morning show needs an examination, make an appointment.

Alan Hahn (3:12)

You're concerned is what you're saying, a little bit.

Don Hahn (3:15)

I hear you.

Alan Hahn (3:16)

I'll tell you what you're not concerned about, though. Those New York Knickerbockers.

Peter Rosenberg (3:20)

See that? See what I did, and what a.

Don Hahn (3:21)

Transition we want to start, Alan, because there's been so much negative around sports in New York, and if the Knicks had gotten off to a slow start, which they kind of did. Right. They dropped, what, three of their first five games and whatever it was.

Peter Rosenberg (3:36)

Right.

Don Hahn (3:36)

You know, everybody's quick to jump them with the coaching change and not living up to the expectations. Yada, yada, yada. Well, if we were going to jump this team, if they were three and seven to start the year or whatever. Oh, then we should be able to get excited about what right now is outside of Oklahoma City, one of, if not the best teams in basketball. They're scoring a ton of points. They. You can't touch them at home, which is always the sign to me of a really good team that's special when you can make playing at the Garden uncomfortable. So I think that's a great jumping off point. You know, one football team fired his coach. The other football team is, you know, which. Which quarterback that suck is going to play on Sunday and won't tell us because he's a big, tough guy and why not celebrate? What's a really good story in New York. Yeah.

Peter Rosenberg (4:25)

Last night. You know, it's funny. Here's where, for me, it shows you that there's more to this season than, you know, hey, just be happy because you're winning is. I mean, they were rolling last night. Another 70 point half, 77 points. They've done this five, what is it now? Five times. These crazy 70 plus point halves that they're putting up where the offense is just, they overwhelm an opponent and third quarter they're up 28 and I'm like, all right, well now it's, you know, bench time. You finish the game out. The Grizzlies, you know, weren't ready to wave the white flag, but you thought it was coming pretty soon. Then they didn't close the third quarter well. They got it to 21 and then they started the fourth quarter poorly and within a, you know, like halfway through the quarter, like, wait, how is it a 10 point game? Like, that wasn't right. They ended up winning the game. And after the game on the court interviewing Brunson and you know, you get on court interviews in front of the crowd. Like that's the kind of stuff where you're just kind of asking the simple things, right? Like, hey, that's three straight 130 point performances. That's never happened in franchise history. This offense clearly, you know, looks like it's, it's gotten to, gotten into gear. And he didn't want to talk about any of that. He had a big game. He had 30, 10, five game with six threes. Like, he had a great game and he had like this look on his face that told me he's not happy. So I was waiting for it and sure enough, he delivered. He just said it like, no, the way we ended that game, no, no, that's, that's, that's not us. And he was not happy with them not finishing the game the right way. And he echoed it again in the locker room with the media. Mike Brown, first thing he talked about was which a lot of coaches always want to accentuate positives right out of the gate and tell you how great his team is. He right away was like, you know what? We thought it was going to be easy. We, we got complacent. We let off the gas. All the buzzwords of a team that is trying to do more. And so I thought that's a good sign that they weren't happy after a loss and pretended like, well, you know, it's going to happen. You know, you go up big, it's going to like, I've seen teams that do that. They didn't do that. And I find it like, okay, that makes tonight now a very interesting watch. Only because, you know, the fact that you're 24 hours later, you get to play again and see how hard they come out and how they're a little bit more on the P's and Q's, especially defensively. Like those are things that, that could show you what this team's about. That they are playing for more than, you know, just being satisfied with winning a game they were not happy after a win. Says a lot, I think about the team early. It's only 10 games, but it's a 10 game, 10 game block now to look at and say, what, what do we have here? What can we believe in and what needs to get better? And there's some things that concern me about their ability to win a championship, but they have plenty of time. They have 72 games left to fix some of those problems.

Alan Hahn (7:29)

And you know, and certainly, Alan, it's an. You also want to see that you turn around and get another win on national TV on, you know, second half of a back to back. Orlando's not a bad basketball team.

Peter Rosenberg (7:41)

Yeah, they play, they had a bad start, but. But yeah, we know that that's a feisty, aggressive.

Alan Hahn (7:45)

That's a, that's a feisty team that's on the come.

Peter Rosenberg (7:47)

Yep.

Alan Hahn (7:48)

So they turn around and win back to back games too. That, that's what big boy teams do. Right. You, you win back to backs, particularly at home, and you beat teams that you're supposed to be better than. When you do that, if you could beat the teams you're supposed to be better than and split with the ones who are at the same level, that's called a really good basketball team.

Don Hahn (8:08)

Now, is defense the thing you're the most concerned about, Allen?

Peter Rosenberg (8:10)

Yes, I am. Especially three point defense. See, they place, they play a style where they'll overwhelm a team where they'll go through a stretch of like 19 straight points and it just looks like they're going to run away with it. But they also, because they play fast and score fast, they give you extra possessions. They remind me, Peter, you're a Celtics fan. They remind me a lot of what the Celtics were the last couple of years. Put up a ton of threes. They put up 55 threes. Last night they hit 20, I think 22. So they'll overwhelm you with the three because they're really good at getting to the corner threes. And even when one guy's having a bad night, there's always somebody that's going to be hot. And so there's all of that that you look at and then you see the other team, though, they Just keep going because it's up and down. So the possessions start happening. They don't close out threes well. They get lost in transition. So like the Thunder play in transition really well. It's a great team. They get up and down the floor. You can't get lost in transition. It's a Thunder. You're gonna get killed. The Bulls, you know, give them a hard time because the Bulls play fast. Now that's not a great team, but still it's an example of teams that play fast. Denver, see the best teams in the league are in the west as always, Oklahoma City. Denver, Houston plays fast, they're good. Miami, they're going to have a two game set with Miami coming up. A home and home. They'll finish the home stand Friday against the Heat and then they'll go to Miami Monday and they'll play the Heat. The Heat play fast and you can't get lost in transition against teams like that. You'll lose if you are not hitting shots and putting, you know, the way they're hitting a clip right now if you're struggling with your shot and your defense is that loose, you can, you're going to lose to the good teams. So that's what I want to see is can they tighten it up? Because that has been a bit of a problem for this team that you know, getting, getting lost transition and getting out and taking away three point shots that other teams bad three point shooting teams have good three point shooting nights. Against the Knicks it's a bad sign.

Don Hahn (10:17)

But we're getting ahead of ourselves as far as can they beat the Thunder, can they beat Denver?

Peter Rosenberg (10:21)

Well, you want to know, right?

Don Hahn (10:24)

But I don't know if you need to know in November right now you want to make sure that you come out of the east and the only team better than them right now to start the season is Detroit, which is interesting because Detroit's a team. We saw him last year in the playoffs. We thought that they and Orlando might be one of those teams that would take the season next step. Orlando has not as of yet, but it looks like Detroit has. So as we fantasize about how they would match up against the best in the west and the best teams seem to be coming out of the West. How do they match up to you in the east and is Detroit a concern?

Peter Rosenberg (10:59)

I think they're the best team in the East.

Don Hahn (11:01)

The Knicks.

Peter Rosenberg (11:02)

Yeah, Detroit play, they're very good, they're tough. They have Cade Cunningham, who we saw him last year in the playoffs. Obviously he just keeps Taking it up a notch. He's really strong, very difficult to guard. One on one. He's the engine to that team. They've got a couple of guys in that team that have taken a step since last year that you can see they are well coached in J.B. bickerstaff. So they're, you know, they're better. Like they're the team that you look at and worry about. Remember last year I was telling you I was watching the Pacers like Mickey and Rocky III watching Clubber language.

Don Hahn (11:36)

Mm.

Peter Rosenberg (11:37)

It's like the same thing now with, with the Pistons. It's like I'm kind of just watching them because, you know they're hungry and you know, they feel away about losing to the Knicks. So the first time these two teams meet, you know, that's going to have a little something extra to it so that, you know, I'm not, I'm not saying that the Knicks are unbeatable, but when you look at the landscape of the East, Philly is getting a lot out of a couple of young players. They got a really good, obviously Maxey's terrific, but they play different now, but they play fast too. Miami plays fast. They're a different looking team, but none of them look to me like in a seven game series, I don't know how they're going to match up. Right. I don't know how they're going to beat them. The Knicks just have way too much depth and a lot of talent. I just like, to me it's more about this is the year. If you're going to win a championship, this is the time to do it right now. And that's why I'm also keeping my eye on the west and what I'm seeing over there. And Jokic in Denver, oh, man, that team, they look good too.

Don Hahn (12:38)

No, there's a lot of good teams out.

Peter Rosenberg (12:39)

Like you don't want to go to the finals and lose and just say, well, that was, that was your show. Like you gotta, you gotta win the whole thing.

Don Hahn (12:44)

No, you gotta. But, but you also don't want to just assume that you're getting out of the east. And you know, we're talking up the Knicks, but there is a team ahead of them in the Pistons.

Peter Rosenberg (12:54)

Yep.

Don Hahn (12:54)

They are owing three on the road. You want to correct that as well. As you said, they need to shore up a little bit more on defense. And to your point, talking about the players, you know, feeling they could be better. Mike Brown also agrees they could be better.

Peter Rosenberg (13:06)

We played good basketball offensively.

Alan Hahn (13:08)

Played some Decent basketball in spurts tonight.

Peter Rosenberg (13:11)

You know, you talk about 47 field.

Alan Hahn (13:13)

Goals made and 35 of those were assisted. So we did do some things right.

Peter Rosenberg (13:18)

But I know and I think the guys in the locker room feel that.

Alan Hahn (13:21)

We could have done, done better.

Don Hahn (13:23)

And it's a great place to be, Alan, when you're playing well. And the coach and the players all know they can play even better.

Peter Rosenberg (13:29)

Yeah.

Don Hahn (13:30)

Not resting on their laurels at all.

Peter Rosenberg (13:32)

Right. He said, when he said learning while winning. And that's, you know, Town said the same thing too about that. Like, you know, that it's better to, it's better to learn from your mistakes while also winning games because at least you're still winning games. You know, they were learning stuff. And losing three in a row on the road, that wasn't great. And you know, again, the, the warts are always, what is it? Winning is the best deodorant. Right. Some of the things that you watch that you're like, yeah, like all right. Like all right. So they're, they were able to build a big lead. They still can do this. They're beating teams. And, you know, some people might point out the schedule. Grizzlies aren't very good this year. Jaw is not the same guy. The Nets obviously are not good, but you killed them. I mean, what you're supposed to do, and I point out they were up 28 on the Grizzlies. You were doing what you were supposed to do. Smoked them. You put 77 on them and a half like you're doing what you're supposed to. They didn't close the deal against the Grizzlies, which bothered them. The Nets, they just, you know, again they went, they took them out in the third quarter, put them out of their misery, ran them out of the gym. What you're supposed to do. Chicago is a better team than people think because you're used to them not being good from the past couple years. They're actually a good team. The Timberwolves win is a quality win. That's a good win. So this, this home stand, they're on, by the way.

Don Hahn (14:45)

It's.

Peter Rosenberg (14:45)

It's five straight now. It's a seven game home stand. They have two left. At worst, they're going to be five and two. They have a very good chance to be at least six and one. That's a hell of a home stand. So this home stands actually, actually been helpful as well for them because it's, it's better early in the season to play at home because it Kind of helps you get some momentum. You're not on the road, wearing down too early. They're all gonna have to make it up at some point, playing a lot of road games. But this might have been. This schedule might have been a blessing for this team. And how they finish this home stand is going to be really interesting because these are probably the two hardest games. Orlando in the second game of back to back. And then obviously Miami, which is playing really well on a Friday night at the garden.

Don Hahn (15:23)

All right. 1-800-919-3776, Nick fans, how do you feel? You're 10 games in. You're seven and three. You're undefeated at home. So how you feeling about your team? Before we get to the calls, Allen.

Peter Rosenberg (15:35)

Yeah.

Don Hahn (15:35)

How would this look, record wise, if they stuck with Tibbs?

Peter Rosenberg (15:43)

I can't. I don't know if I can answer that, because I got to know what, like, how players would have been when camp opened and he was still the head coach. You know what I mean? Like, how. What would the mood be? What would the feeling be? Would there be an enthusiasm or sort of like, well, we got to do this again. You know, clearly in those exit meetings at the end of the season after the playoff loss, clearly there were players who were expressing enough things about, you know, what, they weren't happy about that if they were told, well, that's it, he's our guy. I think you still might have had some guys that, you know, weren't all in. And that's. You don't want that now. I don't know if everybody's completely bought in, even now with Mike Brown, but.

Alan Hahn (16:29)

It'S going the right direction.

Peter Rosenberg (16:31)

It just seemed like, I mean, I. Look, I hate doing this because it's Tom Thibodeau, somebody I have a high regard for and a great respect for, but I'm sorry, you're. My eyes are watching something that I'm like, all right, this team is unreal offensively. Like, it's fun to watch offensively. It's. It's exciting to watch when they really are clicking and it looks like a team that has taken it to another level, which is what the next coach's job was supposed to be. Right? Obviously, the first priority of the next coach's job can come in June. You got to get there. But the next thing was is you got to make it look like, hey, this team's different than the past couple of years that you've seen. And I think when you watch them, it's definitely different. And I cover it I have to see it every day. I talk to the players, I'm on the broadcast. So it's. I see a lot that tells me this stuff. But what about fans watching from home? Are you seeing it different too? That's what I want to know. I'm curious because I'm so deep how it is you're so deep in the weeds. Like I'm so deep into it that I feel like I might not have the best view because it's almost like you know too much and you see too much. What do people who just simply watch and aren't as embedded as I am. What do you see it? Because it looks to me like a much, much different looking team.

Don Hahn (17:51)

No, It's a great point. 1-800-919-3776 how you feeling? How are you seeing the changeover from the coach? Just a general kind of take the temperature time. Ten games in, they got a game tonight against Orlando. Excellent chance to go 8 and 3. Another home game on top of this as well. So a lot of home cooking. 7 of the first 10 and I guess 8 of 9 of the first 12 will be on home court. So certainly taking advantage of that before they hit the road a little bit later on in the month. Let's start it off with Javier in Queens. Ronnie, espn New York. What's up, Javi?

Caller/Listener (18:26)

What's up, fellas? Thanks for taking the call. Listen, I, I got really lucky this weekend. I got to go to the Sun Sunday. I saw them play tremendous. I got to pick up a biggie bobblehead at the Nets game last night and I got home in time to watch the end of the Knicks game. Knicks are playing great. All right. And I call. I was one of the first callers to call in asking if you guys thought they could win 60 games. And I think across the board with everyone that I got on, on the radio, you know, it's not because they didn't think the Knicks were a good team. They just thought the Knicks would be gearing up for the playoffs and they wouldn't be focused on winning as many regular season games as they could. But I think they're playing great. I don't, I don't want to call it too early, but, but if the question is how would fibs be right or Tibbs would be right now, historically Tibbs with the knicks, the first 10 to 15 games, he was a.500 coach and he always picked it up after that. So at this point, Brown is, is already doing a better job than him. What that means for the rest of the season. I don't know. The one thing I will point out is like them shooting 50% from three against some of these really bad teams. I think it's a little bit of fool's gold if they can do that against the top teams. The Knicks. The Knicks are going to be trouble for the league. But I don't see them shooting at the clip that they have been against better defenses. Like they, they looked incredible against the Nets. They looked incredible against Washington, so.

Don Hahn (19:45)

Well, you don't have to score 130 points to win every night in the NBA. I mean, you don't have to have 70 point halves. The way that they've had helps, but. No, it does. And we know that's not going to happen against the best teams in the league. He's right. But it's nice to know that you have that in your arsenal that you can do that.

Peter Rosenberg (20:04)

Well, think about it. Last year's offense, Don, was top three in the league for most of the season.

Don Hahn (20:08)

Right.

Peter Rosenberg (20:08)

Offensive efficiency and all that stuff. I believe they had like 14. What was it like? They already, I think they already have five. Right. Five. I said that five. 70.5. I think they had like 12 or 12 or 12 to 14 of them last year.

Don Hahn (20:24)

Yeah. So you're almost halfway there.

Peter Rosenberg (20:25)

And we're, and you're 10 games in.

Alan Hahn (20:26)

I mean, they've broken 130 and three straight.

Peter Rosenberg (20:30)

Yeah, they have never done that in franchise.

Alan Hahn (20:31)

And then the four and then the fourth one before that against the Bulls was 128.

Peter Rosenberg (20:35)

Oh, wow. I didn't realize that they're putting up numbers. Yeah. So, but, but what Javi said though, is, is interesting because we do look at it as getting off to that good start and setting the tone for the season. Right. Like, and so is seven and three enough of a. Okay, that's, that's the good start. You needed to, to, you know, you didn't want to be 500. You didn't want to be 5 and 5.

Alan Hahn (21:01)

I'm not. You don't want to do that, but I don't. You got to do a little bit more.

Peter Rosenberg (21:04)

Oh, I, I, I think 20 games is when you really start to get a feel. Right?

Alan Hahn (21:08)

Well, yeah. And if it's 20 games, you're 14 and 6, 15 and 5.

Peter Rosenberg (21:14)

Right.

Alan Hahn (21:14)

Then we're having this. Because you could easily end up where you are now. And if you're sitting at 12 and 8, 20 in, you feel good, but it's not the same feeling.

Peter Rosenberg (21:21)

I agree. Yeah, I agree.

Alan Hahn (21:24)

This message is sponsored by BetterHelp. Shorter days don't have to be so dismal. It's time to reach out and check in with those you care. And to remind ourselves that we're not alone. This month, don't wait to reach out. Whether you're checking in on a friend or reaching out to a therapist yourself, BetterHelp makes it easier to take that first step. Our listeners get 10% off their first month. Just call pound250 and say the keyword timeout. That's keyword timeout after calling pound2.50.

Don Hahn (21:54)

As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by thanks.

Peter Rosenberg (22:27)

For listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

Alan Hahn (22:30)

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

Peter Rosenberg (22:32)

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

Don Hahn (22:40)

Having fun on a Wednesday? Talking a little NBA. Is the Knicks off to a 7 and 3 start? Let's dive back into the phones and talk to Darren in Newark. You're on. Don Hanna Roseberg. What's up, Darren?

Caller/Listener (22:51)

Hey, guys. How you doing?

Don Hahn (22:53)

Good.

Caller/Listener (22:54)

First time. Long time.

Alan Hahn (22:55)

Awesome. Hey, what up?

Peter Rosenberg (22:57)

Last time.

Caller/Listener (22:58)

Oh, man. One quick thing I want to just say to Peter, I just want to say I look forward to our competitiveness for the next few years because I'm a Bears fan, you're a Washington fan. You know they're going to build up that rivalry for those two young quarterbacks because they came in at the same time. As long as they both keep on that same trajectory, we're going to battle every year. I think they're going to make that arrival.

Alan Hahn (23:24)

No, I think so far, if you look at the first two, it's been.

Don Hahn (23:27)

A lot of fun.

Alan Hahn (23:28)

I just, you know, I currently don't have a football team. You guys are actually playing football, so that's nice.

Peter Rosenberg (23:32)

Good for you.

Alan Hahn (23:33)

But yeah, I agree, man. Appreciate that.

Caller/Listener (23:35)

Yeah, I think they're going to make that a rivalry.

Peter Rosenberg (23:36)

So.

Caller/Listener (23:37)

And I'm a Celtics fan like you.

Peter Rosenberg (23:39)

Hey.

Alan Hahn (23:40)

Or as Don and Alan might say, Celtics fan of Jays. But what do you got?

Caller/Listener (23:43)

Thank you so I want to say to Alan, Knicks fans, they need to taper it down a little bit. You guys, you got a few nice pieces. You added on to what you already had, but I don't think you went and got that superstar that Brunson needs to put you over the top. Like the regular season, you guys are gonna blow through it like you're gonna 55, 60 win, no doubt. But it's playoff time. You need that extra. That guy. I'm a Celtics fan. Like I said, I know how to taper the enthusiasm. When we got Garnett, I knew we were going to win the second year after we lost the championship to Golden State. I knew we were going to win after that because we had those pieces. We needed that second superstar. I don't think the Knicks went and got that second superstar. Allen.

Peter Rosenberg (24:33)

Darren wasn't. The thing about Tatum was. Was he good enough to be. Was he a good enough or a big enough player to carry a team to a championship?

Caller/Listener (24:43)

Yeah, that was the thing. And you know what happened?

Peter Rosenberg (24:45)

Hang on.

Caller/Listener (24:46)

They realized that they had, they realized they had Brown.

Peter Rosenberg (24:49)

Right.

Caller/Listener (24:50)

So it didn't matter if Tatum stepped up.

Peter Rosenberg (24:52)

Right. So another Brown, Right? Yeah. So I don't understand why, when you're saying Brunson doesn't have another superstar, why isn't Brunson?

Caller/Listener (25:00)

I don't think nobody on that, on that team is at the level of Brown. I don't. None. I don't think none of them. As far as the second, second best player, I don't think the Knicks have it on Brown's level.

Alan Hahn (25:15)

Thanks for the comment.

Peter Rosenberg (25:15)

I hear that the second player on the Thunder.

Alan Hahn (25:19)

Yeah, exactly. That's at that level.

Peter Rosenberg (25:21)

I mean, who's the second player on the Thunder? Is it Jalen Williams?

Alan Hahn (25:24)

Yeah.

Peter Rosenberg (25:25)

Is he that, though? Nobody knew he was that.

Alan Hahn (25:28)

No, he became that.

Peter Rosenberg (25:29)

He'd be. Yeah, you gotta, you gotta get there. But listen, nobody's. First of all telling Knicks fans to tamp anything down is hilarious because we all know that doesn't happen and which is fine, but all we're trying to do is. It's 10 games, it's a short block, and it's seven out of the 10 were wins. They're on a streak. They look good. They have a high, high powered offense and it's just. Hey, let's just take a quick assessment. What do we got? What do we got here? As it, as it continues on, there's no final statements being made right now. It's. But it's like, you know, you got to assess early in the season. This is off to a start that you would hope for, which is, you know, again, 7 out of 10 is pretty good to get off to the start. Can they keep rolling forward and keep building it up is what you want.

Don Hahn (26:18)

To see, but I don't know.

Peter Rosenberg (26:20)

Nobody's making any final statements.

Don Hahn (26:22)

I don't. Listen, Alan, you sound very optimistic. Why wouldn't you? They're seven and three. They've got the second best record in the conference. A conference that the odds makers had them as the favorites along with Cleveland to come out of this conference. And they're better than Cleveland right now, even though Detroit's got a better record. The feeling is the Knicks are better than the Pistons. All right? And admittedly, if they do get to the NBA Finals, it'll be for the first time since 1999 if they do it, that they're going to go up against a team that's going to be the clear cut favorite. In all. In all likelihood, yeah.

Peter Rosenberg (26:58)

Whether it's the under or the Nuggets, those two will be the favorites.

Don Hahn (27:01)

But for a team that went into this season as the favorites to come out of the east off to a 7 and 3 start, why can't you be optimistic? And if you're telling me not to be optimistic, then who should I be scared of in the Eastern Conference? Is it the Pistons? We've been sold a bill of goods on The Magic, they're under.500. The Cavaliers, they're banged up. We know Indiana is cooked because of their injuries and certainly, you know, Boston losing Tatum. I mean, there's a reason why they were the favorites going in, but what.

Peter Rosenberg (27:31)

Are you supposed to be, right? If you're not optimistic, then what are you? Like, the opposite's pessimistic. How could you possibly be pessimistic?

Don Hahn (27:40)

Can't be pessimist.

Peter Rosenberg (27:41)

Watch if you are, to quote a great man. Are you watching? Like, if you, if you just simply watch, you're like, okay, this team's, this team's gonna give a lot of people problems. It's a good team. Really good team. Yeah, there's room for improvement. And they also talk about how, yeah, you know what? We're not even close to where we can be. That's what makes me go, whoa, you guys think you could be even better than this? Normally you don't hear players say stuff like, yeah, this is good. We really could be a lot better.

Don Hahn (28:11)

And that's what you love because last night they beat a team pretty much pillar to post. And after the game they're talking about how they should have won by more, shouldn't have the let down to the end of the third quarter. This needs to be better. That needs to be better. Now, sometimes that happens in sports and you're talking out of you know what. But this is coming from a place of, hey, we're good. But we, we expect to be better. We think we will be better. We believe there's more of a ceiling here. So when you hear that with all the expectations and meeting those expectations, we, why not be excited? Let's go to Merv and Queens. You're on espn.

Caller/Listener (28:45)

Don Allen. Peter, turn the volume up.

Peter Rosenberg (28:49)

That's right.

Caller/Listener (28:50)

Making final statements. The Knicks are going to the championship. What's with all the negativity? Allen, don't be so humble. What you're talking about seeing the game from the weeds. The Knicks look great. Okay? Health is the only thing I'm afraid of. I love what Tom Thibodeau did, but I'm telling you, the group is playing looser. What I saw last year, every play, Bridges massaging the lane, last second shot, Brunson getting beat up. You see there's some sort of little symphony now and we're getting the bench guys in. There's not going to be deleon Wright or Shamma taking shots. The bench guys are getting their stuff in. I love what I see. All I want is the Knicks to not get comfortable and bored during the midseason. And health, man, I miss talking to you guys and I don't see anybody in the east as a threat. Love talking to you guys. Thank you for taking a call.

Don Hahn (29:42)

Well, we appreciate the phone call.

Peter Rosenberg (29:44)

Every team worries about health, right? Like everybody worries about that. So we all. I get. No matter who you are, no matter what team it is, that's your major. It's always your first concern. Which is why they handle Mitchell Robinson the way they do. He didn't play last night, but I would expect he's going to play tonight. But yeah, like, it's, it's that and then it's obviously the complacency thing that Merv's talking about. When you are still like, figuring things out as the season goes along and adding things because it's a new playbook. It's almost like, how could you. Because you're going to keep learning stuff. The road had takes its toll. Players go through slumps, injuries happen. You got to, you got to play through all that stuff and figure it out. But you know, again, when you look, when you see this team at full health and you watch it go. It's hard to not say to yourself, that's a good team. And I understand in New York we're really afraid to just make a statement like that because most of our teams stink and we're not used to this. But I look at the Knicks and I'm like, that's a damn good team. That's easily one of the best teams in the NBA. And that's what you can say about the Knicks affirmatively. You could say it with your chest. The Knicks are one of the best teams in the NBA, and they're going to have a chance to win a championship. And if everything goes the way it's supposed to go, from what we've seen already in just simply 10 games, what's.

Alan Hahn (31:00)

The realistic number that they're actually in right now, overall? I mean, assuming. I assume, guys, we believe they're. They are better than the Pistons, who have the hot start at 9 and 2. So are you willing to say that they're the best team in the east out.

Peter Rosenberg (31:13)

I just did. Yeah.

Alan Hahn (31:14)

So best team in the East?

Peter Rosenberg (31:15)

Yeah, I think they're the best team in the East.

Alan Hahn (31:16)

So then that. So that means Thunder definitively better than them. After that, I've got maybe the Nuggets.

Peter Rosenberg (31:24)

Thunder, Denver, and then I would put the Rockets and the Knicks. Right. Right there. With each, I have to see more out of the Houston Rockets. They're good, but I'd put them right there. Like. Like they're right in that. In that realm.

Don Hahn (31:39)

And I know it's early, but with the west being as tough as it is.

Peter Rosenberg (31:43)

Right.

Don Hahn (31:44)

Is it possible if the Knicks continue to play this way? And I know it's odd because The Thunder are 11 and one that they could end up having a better record than whoever comes out of the West.

Peter Rosenberg (31:55)

Very possible. Because of the fact that you have to, you know, in the west, you're playing teams three or four times. In the east, you play the west twice. And I don't think.

Don Hahn (32:03)

I don't think the Thunder, coming off a championship, are going to kill themselves to get the best record in the NBA.

Peter Rosenberg (32:09)

Yeah, they might. They might do some things during the season. You have no idea.

Don Hahn (32:13)

Right.

Peter Rosenberg (32:13)

Because they had such a long year.

Don Hahn (32:15)

That's right.

Peter Rosenberg (32:15)

And they didn't have much of an off season. So how do they manage? Guys? It's a good point. It's a good point. But that's why win totals are nice. You know, Mike Brown once won 60 games in Cleveland and lost in the conference finals.

Don Hahn (32:27)

Right.

Peter Rosenberg (32:27)

So it doesn't ever. It's not a great indicator of what you're, what you're going to do. It's what it looks like. And I'm big on what does it look like. And I know what I'm looking at because I've seen a lot of basketball, I've seen a lot of, a lot of Nick teams and I'm telling you, and last year's team was really good team. This team's better.

Alan Hahn (32:46)

Yeah.

Peter Rosenberg (32:46)

And it's the same, it's the same people adding one significant bench player in Jordan Clarkson, who's really been a huge addition to the rotation. But this team's better.

Don Hahn (32:57)

And the reason I bring it up is because if they're going to play at an 850 clip, say at home, you're damn right. You want to get home court advantage if you can.

Peter Rosenberg (33:05)

Oh yeah.

Don Hahn (33:05)

If you're going to make it that tough of a place to go out there and play. And why not? They're seven and oh, and if they can beat it under 500. Magic's team tonight, which is tough because the Magic still are a decent team and you are playing the second to back to backs that you've got a chance to, you know, be eight no on home court. Let's go to Wesley in Riverdale. You're on ESPN New York.

Caller/Listener (33:26)

Hello.

Don Hahn (33:27)

What's up?

Caller/Listener (33:28)

Yeah, I got one quick question about the backup guard to Brunson who retired Brunt.

Peter Rosenberg (33:36)

Malcolm Brogdon.

Don Hahn (33:38)

Yeah.

Caller/Listener (33:39)

Are they going to get somebody of that caliber to on the team? Because the team is the way it was last year without somebody like that. Are they going to get someone? Because that, I think that's a missing piece.

Peter Rosenberg (33:53)

I think that's one of them. I've got two missing pieces. I, I, yeah, that's, that's an area that I kept an eye on too. It's a great question because when Brunson comes out of the game, who's running the offense now? Again, he comes out of the game. Now the offense definitely does go down, but you haven't noticed it yet. But I do wonder if they'll be in the market for somebody that can handle the basketball and be, be a lead guard off the bench to help them run their offense. They have gotten away with it right now, but it is, you know, it's something I would probably watch as, you know, when you're setting up, when you get to the trade deadline, you're setting your team up. I think that's definitely something to one of the things I would put on the checklist of things you'd like to have before you get into the playoffs, Whether it's a trade or whether it's, you sign, you know, a guy who gets waived, that happens all the time. Guy gets waived and then you can add a veteran and you, you add them to your, your roster before the playoffs. We see that all the time. That's something that I think might be on the list of priorities before the postseason.

Don Hahn (34:57)

Yeah, it's always a work in progress roster, but the fact that that could be a nitpick tells you exactly where this Knick team is. Phones always blow up when we talk Knicks. 1-800-919-3776. Our weekly spot with Booker McFarlane coming up at 4:00', clock, our list at 4:30. ENN at 6, Don Han and Rosenberg till 6:30.

Alan Hahn (35:17)

Wait, slow down, Don.

Don Hahn (35:17)

It's the Knicks. The Knicks are playing against the Orlando Magic. Peter.

Alan Hahn (35:21)

Well, I'm very aware of that, but before you go anywhere, I want to help you with something.

Don Hahn (35:24)

Help me, please.

Alan Hahn (35:25)

I've been looking at you all day and I'm thinking, what's up with Don't? Does he need help? And if he needs help, does he need better help? See what you did there?

Peter Rosenberg (35:33)

Nicely, see?

Alan Hahn (35:34)

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now guys, this is an ad by BetterHelp. November. BetterHelp is encouraging everyone this whole month to reach out and check in on friends like I just checked in on Don. You see what I did there? Don, how are you?

Don Hahn (35:46)

I'm good, thank you for asking.

Alan Hahn (35:47)

How's the back of your belly for a sleigh, Rod?

Don Hahn (35:49)

Oh yeah.

Alan Hahn (35:50)

See, hopefully you can do better than that. When you check in with your friends and loved ones. And, and certainly if you're considering therapy and you find someone at BetterHelp, you will get a much better and more in depth conversation than we just had. See, your therapy goals can be met. You fill out a short questionnaire, you identify the needs you have your preferences and they take their experience, their industry leading match fulfillment rate and they set it all up for you. Get a therapist, they have 30,000 to choose from. Believe me, they will find the right one. And guess what? If it turns out not to be the right one, you, you can switch for free at any time. They've served over 5 million people globally. And how about this? With over 1.7 million client reviews, there's a rating of 4.9 out of 5. That is an incredible success rate. So this month, don't wait to reach out whether you're checking in on a Friend or reaching out to a therapist yourself. Betterhelp makes it easier to take that first step. Our listeners get 10% off their first month. Just call 250 and say the keyword timeout. That's keyword timeout. After calling pound two five zero.

Peter Rosenberg (36:51)

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

Alan Hahn (36:54)

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

Peter Rosenberg (36:56)

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right, before you get back to the calls on the Knicks, love the conversation that we have going on here right now. As we getting closer to the holiday season. Everybody who's hosting, who's hosting Thanksgiving, who's got everybody come home for Christmas, who's having a New Year's party, Everybody's staying over that night. You have a guest room. You have a bathroom that everybody's using. Take a look at the shower.

Don Hahn (37:23)

And you need a bathroom that can handle the day after Thanksgiving.

Peter Rosenberg (37:26)

Oh, yes, you do. Yes, you do. That's a great call, Donnie, but just. Just stop for a minute, take a look in your bathroom and say, do I really want people using that shower? Like, it's disgusting. And do you really want to clean it the way you're gonna have to clean it to get people to want to use it? You don't want people talking about you, your family going, like, you know, you see his bathroom, it's like, old and decrepit. So I'm going to help you out, and this is the best time to do it. I have friends at Bath Fitter. They remodeled the bath in my house. They ripped out an old tub that we hated and no one wanted to use, and they put in a gorgeous shower. Now everybody wants to use that bathroom, and we can't wait to have everybody over to use that bathroom and take showers in that beautiful new shower. My sister was so jealous, she called Bathford and said, if he gets to have that, I want to have one too, because she's always got to one up me. So she had her bathroom done as well. Bath Fitter offers all types of custom bath renovations. They have the unique permafit solution. It's a watertight fit. So when you're asking me about Bath Fitter and you're saying, like, I've heard about these things. Just covers it up, right? No, it doesn't just cover it up. Like I said, watertight fit. It is durable. It is easy to clean. There's no demolition. It's done in one day. And it's a lower cost and a Full replacement. And most of all, the lifetime guarantee I'm telling you about means they trust it so much they will guarantee it for life. Now, holiday season is why I'm talking to you about this. Because this is the time to get it done. No money down, no pay, no payments, no interest for 18 months. No interest till April of 2027. You'll be paying, you'll pay off the Christmas presents before you have to pay this thing off. Take advantage of their biggest sale of the year. Right now you can save up to $800 on a complete bat fitter system. Just go to their website or call for details on this Black Friday savings. You can trust the bath fitter team like we did. Start designing your bath today and let all your relatives come over for the holidays and don't be embarrassed anymore. Go to batfitter.com because there's only one bat fitter.

Don Hahn (39:29)

Outstanding job.

Peter Rosenberg (39:31)

I mean, I put every effort I.

Don Hahn (39:32)

Can into and it's so important this time of year to have that kind of bathroom. Especially people are going to be coming over and they've done a tremendous, tremendous job. Blanderson, Hooper, welcome to the show.

Caller/Listener (39:45)

How's it going, guys? So first of all, I don't think there's much you can nitpick about the beginning of the season except for maybe the three losses on the road. But I wanted to talk specifically about Bridges. I think a common theme last year was that he had an aversion to going to the hoop. It was like time after time, he dribble in and either pass the ball back out or dribble back out and take like a fade away jump shot from inside the paint. But he was three or four from the line last night. He was 17 of 20 through 10 games. Do you guys have any idea how many games it took him last year to get to 20 foul shots?

Peter Rosenberg (40:25)

Oh, he was never getting to the free throw line. I would, I might go to 30 games.

Caller/Listener (40:30)

It was game 22, game 22 just to get there. And so he took 118 all of last year. He's on a pace for more than 160 now. Obviously, obviously he's not going to hit all of those, but that's like an extra 40 something points that, you know, that could be a huge difference or make a huge difference between, you know, where they end up at the end of the season. I just really like his tenacity. I really just like the way that he's taken it to the hoop. I mean, if anybody has really taken to Mike Brown's offense, it's Bridges.

Peter Rosenberg (41:05)

Very clear. Yeah, he's one of those guys that looks exponentially happier this year guys than he did last year. Now, he was new to the team last year. He took a lot of criticism early in the season. There were fans that were like five first round picks. They expect more, right? All that kind of stuff. So, you know, maybe he was listening to all the criticism, I don't know. But he looks, I can't tell you how much more comfortable confident he looks this year just talking to him than he did last season. So it says a lot.

Don Hahn (41:41)

Spike and St. Pete, how are you, buddy?

Caller/Listener (41:44)

I'm doing pretty good, boys, thanks. I got one observation and aesthetically it's much more pleasing to watch, obviously, but this goes to you, Alan, more directly because your color commentary has been spot on. The differential on three point shooting is a little troubling me a little bit now. Last year when okc, I thought they were going to win it this year, not last year, but they took them seven games. Indiana, who I underestimated quite a bit and the Pistons I certainly underestimated. And tonight's game is the litmus test. I want to see this huge backcourt that Orlando has. You possibly have the two starting forwards for the east playing the Wings and obviously Wendell Carter's playing really good. You got 60 points on that backcourt almost every night.

Peter Rosenberg (42:29)

But my front court.

Caller/Listener (42:31)

Yeah, the differential on the threes is troublesome to me. It's dead even. It's 0.05 and they haven't addressed that issue. Now again, it's aesthetically pleasing. There's been more bounce passes in the first 10 games than there were in the first 30 last year. I watched some of that crap and like I said, it's aesthetically pleasing. But closing out on the three bothered me. And last night, can you run some time off the clock when you have a 20 point lead, 15 point lead, instead of chucking them up right away? That's, that's the stuff that bothers me and that's going to separate the week in the chaff in the playoffs. What do you think by.

Peter Rosenberg (43:07)

You're right on those observations and I think that's why when you're 10 games in with 72 to go, you can say these are tweaks and things that you can fix. The hardest part to me was the continuity, right. Understanding cuts in timing and rhythm and reading each other and the willingness to pass, which you could say, it's easy, right? We all say just pass the basketball, but I'm telling you from 25 years covering the NBA, there are literally guys who count their FGAs and during a game will say, I ain't passing it because I got to get my shots. Instead of saying, this isn't my game. They're doubling me. Or the defense is allowing that guy to get open. So that's his game. He'll get the shot. There are guys that literally don't care about that. We can win with me shooting. I don't have to do that. So you have guys willing to do it. That was all important to get to that point. And, you know, it looks like they're getting to that point now. The rest of it is all fine tuning and reminding. You know, it's as simple as that. I just don't know if they're tall enough. Still with Mitchell Robinson. Yes. But the problem is he's playing 16 minutes a game. He's not playing every game if it's back to backs and stuff. And I just worry Yavicelli was somebody they added and he's barely playing. And he's. When he's out there, he's not really a center. He's 6, 8. He doesn't look big enough. So I wonder do they still need also. And somebody called about a backup point guard. I also feel like they could really use another bouncy 6, 11, 7 footer off the bench.

Alan Hahn (44:34)

Donnie, were you familiar in recent history with the was saying fgas?

Don Hahn (44:39)

No, he dropped it last week.

Alan Hahn (44:40)

I never heard it before, though. FGAs.

Peter Rosenberg (44:43)

I figured you want me to say shots. Is that a better for you? I'm sorry. It's just a thing.

Don Hahn (44:47)

I don't think he's being critical.

Alan Hahn (44:48)

Have you ever met a more sensitive person?

Don Hahn (44:50)

If anything, he might have been complimentary. I just didn't know it opened this door for us.

Alan Hahn (44:53)

You're a basketball guy.

Don Hahn (44:54)

I didn't know it needed to be open. And you opened it. That's it. And I kind of like it. The room I haven't been in before, so I'm just getting a feel for it.

Alan Hahn (45:01)

Well, I'm just taking a look around and going, hey, am I the only person am I the only person who didn't know that they served FJs here?

Peter Rosenberg (45:07)

I, I, I, I love to bring you in this room and be. Be my guest in this room. It's a fun room to be in.

Alan Hahn (45:12)

Listen, I have. We have a basketball man on the show now. He's dropping FGAs. I know. SGA. I didn't know FGA.

Don Hahn (45:18)

Yeah.

Peter Rosenberg (45:19)

Now I. And now you can you can talk.

Alan Hahn (45:21)

SGA's FGAs all day long.

Don Hahn (45:23)

Right.

Alan Hahn (45:25)

How common is FGA? Are people dropping this a lot? Should I be hip to this?

Peter Rosenberg (45:28)

I don't, I don't know if it's like a common thing. I. It stuck with me one time when I won't name players, but when one I was in the locker room and one player, Nick Player, said to another Nick player, who was a new guy, who in his first game was just jacking him up. Yeah, he walks up to him and he's just like. He's. He introduced himself and he was like, I already know what you're about, man. You're really about. You're all about them FGAs.

Alan Hahn (45:54)

And that was it.

Peter Rosenberg (45:55)

And then he walked away from him. But that was a tense moment because you. Because it was almost like. It was almost like, you know, the alpha thing. Like, like, yeah, okay, you. You put up shots. I didn't play in that game, but let's not forget whose team this is. It was pretty.

Alan Hahn (46:09)

And my fingers hovering over the name drop button right now.

Peter Rosenberg (46:12)

But I'm not doing it. I'm not giving you a name.

Don Hahn (46:13)

Not giving you a name. Sitting right. But he was so impressed with it. Now he wants to make it his own.

Peter Rosenberg (46:17)

Stuck with me. It's like when Canti said blood in the ground, then I say it all the time now.

Don Hahn (46:22)

You're blood.

Alan Hahn (46:22)

No, you're blood in the ground.

Don Hahn (46:23)

I always gave you credit for that. That.

Peter Rosenberg (46:24)

No, no, it's a canny ism, you know?

Alan Hahn (46:27)

Yeah, I've heard. Can he do it? That is, that is.

Don Hahn (46:29)

And I was hoping that after the, the Kiki and back on Monday, that Urine in the ground would actually.

Alan Hahn (46:34)

Urine in the ground.

Don Hahn (46:34)

Make a run.

Peter Rosenberg (46:36)

You know, that actually is an all time low.

Don Hahn (46:38)

I. I gotta, I gotta find where that fits. Because blood in the ground suggests that you're somebody that's invested in maybe somebody that's not all that in.

Peter Rosenberg (46:46)

You played there, but you really.

Don Hahn (46:48)

Not all that in. You know, he's got urine in the ground. That's why it's just like working there.

Alan Hahn (46:54)

You just live in filth.

Peter Rosenberg (46:56)

He was there. He didn't really. He didn't like being here, but he was there.

Don Hahn (46:59)

Yeah, it's like Shaq in Boston. Like. Yeah, it was more urine in the ground. Yeah. It wasn't blood.

Alan Hahn (47:05)

That's too serious.

Peter Rosenberg (47:07)

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

Alan Hahn (47:11)

I don't want to know how the.

Peter Rosenberg (47:12)

Sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. 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.