Hour 1: Celebrating Clyde

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast - Hour 1: Celebrating Clyde

Release Date: March 25, 2025

---

Introduction

In the inaugural hour of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Don LaGreca and Alan Hahn delve deep into the current state of the New York Knicks, examining their late-season challenges and playoff prospects. The episode culminates with a special tribute to the legendary Walt Clyde Frazier on his 80th birthday, blending insightful sports analysis with heartfelt reflections.

Knicks' Season and Playoff Implications

Back-to-Back Games and Schedule Intensities

The conversation kicks off with a discussion about the Knicks' demanding schedule, particularly the back-to-back games that have plagued the team in the final stretch of the season.

• Alan Hahn [00:35]: "On a Tuesday in New York City with Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn. Peter's off today."

• Don LaGreca [01:05]: "There's a depleted Mavericks team... Jalen Brunson without Jalen Brunson. That's going to be a real test."

Alan emphasizes the grueling nature of the remaining schedule:

• Alan Hahn [00:55]: "They'll play the Mavericks tonight, who are in the second game of a back-to-back."

• Don LaGreca [02:02]: "This is like first dozen right in March and April. Back-to-backs like a baseball team now."

Playing to Win vs. Tanking for Seeding

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around whether the Knicks should prioritize winning every game to secure the highest possible playoff seed or consider tanking some games to potentially avoid tougher matchups.

• Don LaGreca [03:14]: "I don't think you have to worry about losing tonight."

• Alan Hahn [03:35]: "You have to go into the playoffs playing your best basketball. Be careful what you wish."

• Don LaGreca [04:43]: "I don't believe that losing is ever okay."

Both hosts passionately argue against the notion of tanking, emphasizing the importance of maintaining competitive integrity and ensuring the team enters the playoffs in top form.

Injuries and Team Performance

The impact of key injuries on the Knicks' performance is another critical topic.

• Don LaGreca [05:22]: "There'll be no Mitch tonight. Robinson may not play because of the foot. I guess he was listed as questionable, right?"

• Alan Hahn [07:30]: "You're around this team every day. Can they really honestly look and say, we're good?"

The absence of players like Mitchell Robinson and Jalen Brunson is scrutinized, highlighting how these injuries could influence the team's ability to win crucial games and maintain a positive momentum.

Listener Calls and NBA Analysis

Debate on Knicks vs. Pacers and Other Teams

Listeners provide diverse perspectives on the Knicks' chances against teams like the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.

• Walt Clyde Frazier [12:59]: "The Knicks cannot beat the Pacers. They're not beating, they're not beating the Cavs or the Boston."

• Peter Rosenberg [14:05]: "The Pacers are getting healthy, the Knicks are hurting more and more."

• Walt Clyde Frazier [15:30]: "We had three guys in that game that played 45 or more minutes. We would have beaten Indiana last year full strength."

Alan and Don engage with these calls, challenging the assertions and providing statistical insights, such as the Knicks' high scoring versus the Pacers' defensive struggles:

• Alan Hahn [15:47]: "The Pacers have one of the worst defenses in the NBA. The Knicks are one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA. How is that a good match for your team?"

Special Segment: Celebrating Walt Clyde Frazier's 80th Birthday

Interview and Personal Reflections

A standout moment of the episode is the heartfelt interview with Walt Clyde Frazier, commemorating his 80th birthday. Clyde shares stories from his illustrious career, both as a player and a broadcaster.

• Alan Hahn [26:46]: "So the legend himself joining us right now. Clyde, how you doing?"

• Walt Clyde Frazier [33:07]: "Every game was 18,500 people... these people are crazy up here."

Transition from Player to Broadcaster

Clyde reflects on his transition from a celebrated Knicks player to a beloved broadcaster, highlighting the challenges and triumphs he faced along the way.

• Walt Clyde Frazier [28:18]: "Marty Glickman was the catalyst for my making it being a success at the business. Early on, I had doubts that I could do it."

Memories and Insights on the Knicks' Legacy

Clyde reminisces about his championship with the Knicks and offers insights into the team's current dynamics and future prospects.

• Walt Clyde Frazier [36:52]: "The ceiling. Right now they're probably third best team in Eastern Conference. We don't match up against the Celtics... I like our chances better against Cleveland."

• Alan Hahn [38:14]: "The 36 and 19 that Clyde is referencing is obviously game seven in 1970... What is that like?"

Clyde underscores the importance of team cohesion, health, and strategic play, drawing parallels between past triumphs and current aspirations.

Closing Remarks and Upcoming Segments

As the hour concludes, Don and Alan preview upcoming topics, including Deion Sanders' influence on the Giants and further deep dives into NBA strategies and player performances.

• Alan Hahn [41:14]: "We're gonna have a lot of fun with Clyde... celebrate his Life."

• Don LaGreca [43:02]: "Griffin, this is what we all do. Fatigue is why Julius Randall shoulder popped out, right? Fatigue."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Alan Hahn [03:35]: "You have to go into the playoffs playing your best basketball. Be careful what you wish."

• Don LaGreca [04:43]: "I don't believe that losing is ever okay."

• Walt Clyde Frazier [28:18]: "Marty Glickman was the catalyst for my making it being a success at the business."

• Walt Clyde Frazier [33:07]: "Every game was 18,500 people... these people are crazy up here."

• Alan Hahn [38:14]: "That jump is the hardest one."

Conclusion

"Hour 1: Celebrating Clyde" masterfully balances in-depth sports analysis with personal storytelling, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the New York Knicks' current challenges and the enduring legacy of Walt Clyde Frazier. Whether you're a die-hard Knicks fan or a basketball enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insights and a heartfelt celebration of one of the game's true legends.

---

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Mario's Bistro. The special tonight is the beef carpaccio.

[Don LaGreca]

With the Venmo debit card, you can turn the basketball game tickets your friends.

[Alan Hahn]

Paid you back for into a romantic.

[Don LaGreca]

Dinner that you can earn up to.

[Alan Hahn]

5% cash back on.

[Don LaGreca]

Use your Venmo balance to pay for.

[Alan Hahn]

The things you love to do.

[Don LaGreca]

Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more.

[Alan Hahn]

The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A.

[Don LaGreca]

Pursuant to license by MasterCard International Inc. Terms apply. DOSH cashback terms apply.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. All right. On a Tuesday in New York City with Don legrecom, Alan Hahn. Peter's off today. Got to take care of some business. So just a Don and Han vehicle today and. And Donnie, I'm at the Garden. As you know, the Knicks have a back to back.

[Don LaGreca]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

They'll play the Mavericks tonight, who are in the second game of a back to back.

[Don LaGreca]

This is like first dozen right In March and April. Back to backs like a baseball team now.

[Alan Hahn]

It's crazy. It's true. This is. So there's four of them left. This is the first of four left in the last 13 games of the season. So basically eight of the 13 games will be part of a back to back. So when you thought the schedule was finally softening up because at least they're not traveling to the west coast every other week. Yeah, no, you still got the challenges that you have to face of this. But you watched the Indiana Pacers last night. They beat Minnesota. They won what, six in a row? They are now two and a half games back. If the Knicks lose this game tonight, that third place that we all thought was locked up, my man, it's a two, two game difference now. And so the Knicks have to be aware of this. You have to be very aware of games you need to start winning. This is going to be one of them. A depleted Mavericks team and I'm not messing around anymore. It's go time with Jalen Brunson without Jalen Brunson. And they don't have Jalen Brunson for at least another week. And we'll see how far that goes.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't think you have to worry about losing tonight. You're catching Dallas in a second of back to backs, no Davis. But you know you said the same thing about San Antonio and Charlotte, right? I mean, I was convinced they were going to just hand Charlotte their head back after what happened in San Antonio the night before. I still think you're okay. I'm of the belief that finishing fourth would not be the end of the world. But I do understand what you're saying is these things don't happen in a vacuum. It's not like I'm going to decide to finish in fourth instead of third so I can avoid Boston in the second round. You have to play poorly in order for that to happen. And I don't think you want to stumble in these final 13 games, be overtaken and limp into the playoffs, even if it means a better seating for you or better matchups in the playoffs, which is obviously debatable to begin with. As you said, Cleveland's no picnic in the second round. And maybe having to play the Pacers or the Bucks in the first round is no picnic either. Neither is Detroit if you finish third. Just play. Stop it. Just play. Well, wherever you finish, you finish. But go out there and win, what, 10 of these final 13 games, feel good about yourself going into the playoffs. That's the mission statement, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. And, Don, I'm glad you said it, because I'm hearing too much of this lately. Well, maybe they don't want third. Maybe you'd rather have fourth. Be careful what you wish, everybody. You have to go into the playoffs playing your best basketball. You have to go into the playoffs feeling good. You have to go into playoffs on a positive. You do not want to do this whole thing where it's like it's okay to lose. I still can't understand how this has gotten into the sports mindset. When you're a fan, is this whole notion that maybe it's better if we don't get third. Are you crazy? You finish as high as you can, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Because this is.

[Alan Hahn]

Once again, you finish as high as you can. You finish with the most wins you can. You are playing for every win. That's what matters. This whole notion of avoiding Boston is. It's such a ridiculous narrative. I hate it. You're going to have to beat them at some point. You might as well play them whenever the hell you're going to play them, but that's it. But you don't start figuring out, looking at the standings and ways that you could finagle yourself out of having to see them in the second round. Stop it. You got to get this team back on track where they're winning. They're four and four in their last eight games. They have to get back to a point where they're winning more than they're losing and they're not dead even. Otherwise, like you said, how are you going to feel good about yourself going into a playoff series in the first round against a hungry team that is playing well down the stretch versus how you played? No, you got to get right. These are get right games. And enough of the notion of avoiding the Celtics and maybe, maybe finishing fourth is better. No way.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't want to say there's a generation of fans because I think. I don't know if there's an age limit to this theory, but I don't know when it ever became okay to lose where losing can be a strategy, whether it's tanking for the better pick or whether it's trying to tank to get the better matchup in the first round. I'd rather be a four seed than a three seed. I never believe that losing is ever okay. And when you look at this team, they're banged up right now. So there's some excuses, I guess. There'll be no Mitch tonight. Robinson may not play because of the foot. I guess he was listed as questionable, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it's one of the other. He's a back to back. So which game is the better game to play him in? You don't need them tonight, you need him tomorrow.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

You don't need him tonight. But he's out. Obviously. It looks like McBride's out. You're playing without Brunson. There's some built in excuses there. I get it. But you want to be playing at your best. You are not one of these teams that can decide, as Peter likes to say, play with their food because you know how good you are. Boston could do that because they just proved that they won a championship. All right? You gotta go out there and be completely engaged every night. Win, play as well as you can. Going to the playoffs, that's gonna be very important for the Knicks because no matter who they match up with in the first round, to me it's not a given. You're definitely winning that series. So you don't want to limp in. You don't want losing to become a habit at the most important time of the year. So no, listen, if you get to pick and choose, then maybe if you played that game, yeah, I'd rather be the four seed than the three seed. But people don't realize in order to drop to the four, you gotta do a lot of losing. And that's never good.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, Don, if you're in game 82 at Brooklyn and one game decides third or fourth. Do you think at that point you do make that choice?

[Don LaGreca]

No, and I'll tell you why.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't even do it on the left. Like, that's the only one time I was going to give that caveat. Like, the one time I might have to think about it is what would we rather do here? Is 4th bet if we have the choice to control it here. No, not now. There's too many games left.

[Don LaGreca]

But. But again.

[Alan Hahn]

But the last game, would I sit my guys and just say, we're content with finishing?

[Don LaGreca]

All right, fine, But. But then everybody and their mother is going to know that these are the matchups you favored. So they're the. Like, maybe it's the Pacers who are sitting there going, hmm, interesting. They actually tanked the last game so they can meet us in the first round. Oh, okay. I'm gonna stick that on my bulletin board and see if that fires everybody up. And then Cleveland could sit there and go, oh, really? They thought we'd be easier in the second round than Boston. Interesting. Okay, like. Like, do you really want that hung on you that we chose you?

[Alan Hahn]

If I know I could beat you, I could care less how you feel about it.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, fine.

[Alan Hahn]

I match up better with you. I'm going to beat you. I'm not worried about it.

[Don LaGreca]

You're around this team every day.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Can they really honestly look and say, we're good. We can. We can beat anybody? Like, are they that team that they.

[Alan Hahn]

Could do, they have the fifth. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don. They have the fifth best record in the NBA and they've gone through a bad stretch, and they still have the fifth best record in the entire league. Okay, like, yes. I think there's teams they know they can beat, Indiana being one of them.

[Don LaGreca]

So they. So, all right, fine. But. But they can sit there and go, we're the fifth best team, and we know we can beat the best team. We know it. So we're gonna. We're gonna tank the last game. So we match up against the Cavs, who will be the best team in the NBA at the end of the regular season? Like, can. Are they that good that they can do that? They can pick their shot? No.

[Alan Hahn]

You're gonna tell me, if I gave you a choice, Don, if I gave you a choice, who would you rather play, Boston or Cleveland? First. Who would you rather play first?

[Don LaGreca]

I'd rather play Cleveland, but I don't want the world to know that. I want. If that's the. No. If that's the way it works out. But don't ask me, man. I've made it very clear. I play to win. If the game has meaning, I play it out, all right? Now, if you're locked in the three, then by all means, rest your guys. The game doesn't matter. But I want to always play to win. I. I don't. I don't like flipping the switch off, because sometimes you don't know if you can flip it back on. Like, what did the Knicks accomplished, Alan? Honestly, we're all Knick guys, right? We. We love what they've done. We believe this is a fun team. We've defended them to the hilt. But who are they to choose their opponent? Who are they to dictate policy? They haven't done anything. Nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

So you're. You're saying win. And I'll tell you what. You're thinking like Tom Thibodeau, win out. Let the chips fall where they may. We're gonna have to beat whoever we have to beat on the way.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm not gonna kill Brunson, you know, just back and make him. Make him play 48 minutes to get it. I'm gonna be smart. No, I'm gonna play that game out. You know, I'm not gonna play it like it's game seven. Because I'm also not gonna play with the attitude of I'm scared of anybody, you know, So I get that. But, no, you play an honest game, Alan. Let the chips fall where they may. I don't think that they have the right or the history to sit there and start dictating policy and moving pieces around like it's chess. This is where I want everything to be. And God forbid you do that, and then you get beat by the Pacers. Doesn't it make it wor. Well, you know, we kind of. We tanked to get the four seat. Cause we thought it'd be an easier.

[Alan Hahn]

Path that we got beat.

[Don LaGreca]

You want that hung on you?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, again, and the Pacers might be the team that gets third, by the way. They're playing, right? I mean, they're playing really well. So you don't even know. It's. It's no guarantee that it would be the Pacers. It could end up being the Bucks, Mike.

[Don LaGreca]

Could be Bucks. Listen, do I. You tell me. I don't think there's.

[Alan Hahn]

And would you rather play the Bucks than the Pistons?

[Don LaGreca]

It's not.

[Alan Hahn]

How would you feel?

[Don LaGreca]

It's not that much of a difference between the Pistons, Bucks and Pacers. Right? I mean, they should win all of those matchups in the first round, but it's the second round that would concern me because that'll be the narrative. This is the team they picked. They thought they matched up better. This is why they tanked the last game to get Cleveland. You're a former player. Would you want that on you? It's tough enough to win.

[Alan Hahn]

I wouldn't care if I knew. If I felt more confident, if I felt I matched up better with a certain team, I would do it. I would let them be mad about it, and then I would beat them and tell them, you could still be mad about it. We just knew we could beat you.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. Sometimes you just have to. You have to admit it's all strategy. Right?

[Don LaGreca]

It's a strategy play.

[Alan Hahn]

But the fun is a team that's built. Built to beat you or give you a hard time because of whatever they've got going on. But. And then there's a team that is a good team also, but you just match up better with them, that you seem to have their number. And, oh, by the way, you kind of feel like you owe them. Maybe there'd be a little more spirit in your team, seeing them. Oh, they're the ones that took us out last year. Let's take them out this year. Yeah, I would much rather that mentally, but I don't think Tom Thibodeau is doing this. This is just me talking.

[Don LaGreca]

But, but, but, but, but admit it. You're. You're kind of creating a false narrative.

[Alan Hahn]

Like.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, the narrative of, I think we match up better with Cleveland. I don't think it's a matchup thing. I think it's, oh, we just don't believe in Cleveland because when have they ever done anything like Boston, the defending champions, right now, based on the regular season, you don't match up with either of them. So I don't know if you really want to pick. The only reason you're so far from Cleveland is because that's a team that. That hasn't been out of the second round either, in forever since LeBron. And nobody thought that they were going to have this kind of a regular season. So you don't believe they're as good as their record. Not that you match up better, because quite frankly, they didn't match up against either of them during the year.

[Alan Hahn]

No, not yet. Although they early. Way early. Let's see Cleveland two more times here. But these games probably won't matter to Cleveland, but the first game of the season, they were up by 14 now, they had a fourth quarter that they melted down and that was happening early in the year. They didn't have a good fourth quarter. They lost that game. But it wasn't like a blowout the second time though, right? The, the second game out of the All Star break. They were awful, awful from start to finish. Let's see who wants to sound off on this. 800-919-3776. Just so you know, Knicks fans, Walt Clyde Frazier is going to join us at the bottom of the hour, 3:30, celebrating his birthday this weekend. We have a big celebration at MSG on, on Sunday, but we wanted to bring him in to celebrate his life and legacy and, and by the way, a great storyteller. Anyway, so we'll have him on at 3:30. So let's get you into the conversation. 800-919-3776. Ryan and West Orange, you can start us off.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Hey, what's going on, guys? I'm an Indiana Pacers fan, lifelong since Reggie 93, right, from New Jersey. The Knicks cannot beat the Pacers. They're not beating, they're not beating the Cavs or the Boston.

[Alan Hahn]

Stop, stop. You stop right there. Stop right there, Ryan. Why, why can't they? Well, man, this guy's knuckling up already on me, Ryan, okay? I like it early on a day. How about that first call. We're knuckling up. Let's go, baby. You just said they can't beat him or won't beat him. Explain to me why they won't or can't when they averaged over 120 points a game against them so far in three games.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

They did well last year as well, too. But listen, this is a longevity game. It's basketball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why do you think the Pacers and all these other teams that are playing.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

In playoff form now, they're resting players.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They'Re getting healthy, The Knicks are hurting more and more. Jalen Brunson's not going to be 100%.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Cat is not a big time proven playoff guy.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't even care about the guy that got to the Western Conference finals last year. Okay, go ahead. Not proven. But no, listen, you're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I, I'm, I'm a Pacers fan. I'm, I'm, I'm gonna be biased.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I expect this out of you. I would expect you to feel good about your team, but you haven't given me tangible reason why the Knicks can't beat the Pacers or think they can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll tell you why. I'll Tell you why, Han. We have an explosive off. I'll just talk about the paces. Explosive offense, high pace, high pace that the Knicks are not designed and built to play with.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

That's why they lost last year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Guys kept getting hurt, guys heart, then Brunson.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

It's a fatigue thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a fatigue thing. That's why. And we have a bench that puts out.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, wait. Brunson sprained his ankle stepping on another player's foot. That's fatigue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, wait. Last year or this year?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

You talk about last year?

[Alan Hahn]

Both times. Oh, you want to do last year when he, when he broke his hand swiping down on a ball? That's fatigue.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Did you see. Did you see his.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Did you see his face running down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The turnover that he had to try to swipe off?

[Alan Hahn]

He can't.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

He.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's too much on Brunson. It's too much on one player to.

[Alan Hahn]

Do all of that. That was last year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This year you have Chad, but Brunson is not going to be 100%. And even with Brunson. 100%, what are you going to do when the Indiana brings in a fresh three on the off the bench and your guys are almost gassed and you have nobody on the bench to go to?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know. Because here, I'll ask you this. All right. No, no, no. That's good, Ryan. I love it. This. We're going to probably do this for the next couple of weeks, so please keep calling back, but thank you for calling in. I get the last laugh. I get the last word because it's our show. I'm just going to say this. The Pacers have one of the worst defenses in the NBA. The Knicks are one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA. How is that a good match for your team? Anyways, moving on, let's go to Griffin in Connecticut. Hey, Griffin.

[Don LaGreca]

Griff.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Hey, guys. By the way, fatigue, apparently that's, that's, that's what happened. Juju. Yeah, I don't think so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's tragic what happened to her.

[Alan Hahn]

But that's not juju. Watkins was not fatigued. That was, that was just an awful, awful injury. Yes.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Yeah, but apparently this dude's saying fatigue is when you play. I love injured.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, Griffin, this is what we all do. Fatigue is why Julius Randall shoulder popped out, right? Fatigue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, come on. Like, like, I get it. You want it. Like, fatigue is why you want to find reason.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Judge ran into the wall.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I'm sure it was fatigue. Yeah, I'm sure It was fatigue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I get it. Jason Tatum, by the way, twisted his ankle last night, went out of the game, it looked pretty bad. Was that fatigue? Was that fatigue? Or maybe it's just injuries happen. Yep.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Yeah. Anyways, Alan, Donna's right. You. You can't go into these games just.

[Don LaGreca]

Just saying.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Okay, well, I feel like we can beat that team. The Bucks did it last year, and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That didn't work out for them in the first round, so I don't think.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

We need to play that type of game. And then it could backfire on you.

[Alan Hahn]

So you're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Play your game.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Trust who you are and just play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who you play your basketball.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

And your basketball should be good enough to beat the Indiana Pacers and should beat the Pistons and should beat the Magic.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, Griffin, I think you're right. I think you're right. The reason why I was playing the other side. Thank you for the call because Don was saying what he was saying, and I agree with don, and he's 100. Right. But don, I'm giving you what a lot of Nick fans, at least I'm seeing on my timeline. I'm hearing from other, you know, from fans that I run into. Hey, maybe four. You think it's better if we just finish in the fourth seed? Hey, I always say that. Well, be. Be careful what you wish. No, yeah, actually, you said it yesterday, I believe.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I. I think it's a complication what you wish. I. I think. I think you can have a conversation about that. And if it does happen, I don't think it's necessarily the end of the world, other than the fact that how you played to get there, that would be my concern. Now, if you play that way, well, then you played that way. Right. And I guess if you're going to play that way, you'd rather finish third than fourth. I guess just because you at least finished a little high or I should reverse that. If you play poorly, I guess finish fourth and third because it might be the better matchup. But let's face it, if this team goes 3 and 10 the rest of the way, I don't care about the injuries and they get overtaken. Are you going to feel anything where no matter where they finish, about. About this team turning it on and becoming a juggernaut, no problem.

[Alan Hahn]

And I don't think they'll feel good about themselves either. I think you need to get things on track. Their home, the rest thing now can go out the window. There's not a ton of travel. Yes. There's back to backs. But even this one is a. Is a home. Back to back. You're in your own bed, you're not traveling. So, you know, I, I just think they. That's why I'm saying it. Two and a half games. This team's putting pressure on you. Now, there is no complacency. They've got to feel urgency and I want to see if they're feeling it. And maybe it's a good thing what the Pacers are doing to apply that pressure that they need to wake them back up again. Spike in St. Pete. What's up, Spike?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Well, I got a totally different take because I. When. When this only happened one time, guys, during the 90s, the Knicks used to jockey around to avoid playing the Bulls until the later rounds. You remember that, Alan? That was a different scenario. Right now, if Douche McBrides out tonight, the Knicks could lose tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One thing I got to ask you, Alan. From a technical standpoint, you're right there.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Your courtside.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I noticed that Mitchell Robinson is winded.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Okay. And I'm also noticing that Robinson and Cat. I'm not overreacting. They still got some time, but they're not working well together. Am I wrong?

[Alan Hahn]

I. I haven't seen evidence of that. And the, the Robinson looking tired is a real thing because he's still working his way into Ken game shape. He. He does get tired. He's always been like that.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Well, no one's more winded than OG Anunoby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's like his lungs are short and.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

He plays great between the circles.

[Alan Hahn]

Spike, he's been working his ass off since the All Star break. He's been one of their best players.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

All I could tell you is this. I go through this with my best friend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've told you the story 100 times.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

That we've gone over every Nick game for 65 years. And he says, don't sell Indiana short.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said that Brad made a shot, that he's a 28 shooter. Rebound came right out there last night.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

We had three guys in that game that played 45 or more minutes. We would have beaten Indiana last year full strength.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, I think they. Everybody believes that. Everybody believes. No, no, I think you can't. You got to get healthy. It's. It's what it's about. They got to get healthy. But I'll say this, and thanks for the call, Spike, that the fact that Rick Carlisle after game two had to play the small market card and start whining about calls. That's right there. What told you what they really Thought about their chances in that series. Like Don. Yeah, Coach doesn't go to that card that early in a series. Now it was two. Oh. So I guess early. It was getting late to be early. But he saw on the verge of a sweep. And they almost think about this. It would have been 3, 0. That guy hits a shot out of his ass in the late night game. If you remember, in game three, that game was there to be had. So they knew that they were on the ropes. They knew they had no chance in that series. What worked for them is that Anunoby had the, the hamstring that Hart started having the, the abdominal thing. He got kicked or he got hit. Something happened and that hurt him. And then they lost Brunson, obviously, in game seven. So they knew that they really didn't match up well. And that's why, you know, you can have confidence as a fan, I give it to you. But if you think they're going to meet in a playoff series. I don't. I don't think they're going to match up. I think the Pacers are going to probably be either the fourth or the third seed, depending on how this finishes. And I don't. I think the first round for the Knicks, it's looking like Detroit or Milwaukee. That's what it's looking like for me. And we all know what Giannis can do. We all know what Dame Lillard can do. And as bad as they've been this year, I don't know, I wouldn't want to see them.

[Don LaGreca]

There's a heart of a champion in there somewhere. I know it's got a bunch of debris and dirt over it, but if they were to dust that off for one round, it's not impossible.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Lillard hitches on the logo and what's.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, my God. It's all you need. Again, that's a guy like that. Right. When you have stars like that.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Anything can happen in a playoff series. You worry about that. So I'm with you. I was being facetious before I was playing the. What a lot of Nick fans were saying to me about how, oh, it's better to finish fourth and why not? And what about if you just give up a game? No, you play to win. You have to do that. You do not tempt fate. And you let the cards fall where they may. That's what you do if you're this team. But they got to get right. And I'm telling you what, what Indiana is doing should sound the alarm and make sure that this organization that everybody on this team understands what tonight came about and a Dallas team is depleted and off in the second game of a back to back on the road. You have to look at these games now and you cannot have a San Antonio or Charlotte happen again. That is what I'm going to be watching for tonight. Meanwhile, coming up at 800 now 193776 the Legend the two time hall of Famer Walt Clyde Frazier is going to join us to not only talk about the Knicks today, but tell us some stories from the past and of course celebrate his Life. He turns 80 guys this weekend. Incredible. So we'll have fun with him. But first Don a message.

[Don LaGreca]

You want to get the most for your money. That's why Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda lease a new 2025 Mazda CX5 all wheel drive just 229amonth or buy and get 0.9% APR financing for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com or at Ramsey Mazda Route 17 north and Ramsey. Choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax, title, registration, zero security deposit fin S0555242, MSRP 29990 and 331 25. Your data is like gold to hackers. They're selling your passwords, bank details and private messages. McAfee helps stop them. Secure VPN keeps your online activity private, AI powered text scam detector spots phishing attempts instantly and with award winning antivirus you get top tier hacker protection. Plus you'll get up to $2 million in identity theft coverage, all for just $39.99 for your first year. Visit McAfee.com, cancel anytime terms apply. Some people just know they could save hundreds in car insurance by checking Allstate first. Like you know to check the Jumbotron.

[Alan Hahn]

First before attempting to eat a stack.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Of Supreme Nachos in one bite.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now you're just a meme that everyone.

[Alan Hahn]

Shares on game day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Checking first is smart, so check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds.

[Alan Hahn]

You're in good hands with Allstate.

[Don LaGreca]

Savings vary subject to terms, conditions and availability.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates Northbrook, Illinois.

[Alan Hahn]

Pro Savings days are back at Lowe's with limited time savings on the supplies pros need. Get up to 40% off select major appliances plus save an additional $100 on every $1,000 you spend on select major appliances. And don't miss your chance to activate and earn three times the points on select, DeWalt and Klein tools Lowe's. We help you save valid. The 328 selection varies by location while supplies last. See associate or lowe's.com for more details on qualifying items. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podc. All right. Welcome back to the show with Don Lagra. I'm Alan Hahn. 880 ESPN, ESPN New York app. So MSG Network celebrating Clyde's 80th birthday. All week long, special programming. And we're gonna have complete coverage of Clyde's Special Day at MSG. That is Sunday, March 30th. The Knicks take on the Portland Trailblazers. At 6:00, we'll have the coverage on MSG Networks. We'll have a lot of fun with Clyde. We're all going to try to dress as fancy as he does, but we're not going to come anywhere close. But we're all going to give it a shot. Clyde turns 80 on Saturday, so it's a big celebration weekend. We thought, let's get him on the show. Let's talk with him. So the legend himself joining us right now. Clyde, how you doing?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Hey, Alan, what's up?

[Alan Hahn]

What's going on? And Don Legrecka here with you.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

So first and foremost, you guys cut it into my beauty dress. Man. What are you doing, man?

[Alan Hahn]

I thought you chose this time. Yeah, we could have done this later. I'm actually at the Garden now.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Oh, yeah?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Well, I used to have that energy when I was a young man. So keep it up. Keep it up. It's good.

[Alan Hahn]

I tell you what, I, I heard Mike say something. Mike. Briana say something on a broadcast recently that, that really blew my mind. But when you think about it, it does certainly make sense. So you guys recently celebrated 25 years as broadcast partners. Right. And he said that you have actually spent more time in your life as a broadcaster than you did as a basketball player. Doesn't that blow your mind?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

I know, I, you know, 30 years, 10. Well, 12 years with the Knicks as a player. 30 years as a broadcaster and counting.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right. Well, that's the most important part. Is there, is there, is there one moment for you that stands out the most in your broadcasting career where you felt like, you know, like, because as a player, I'm going to ask about your playing career, but as a broadcast, you know, that's the transition that not everybody can do. A lot of guys try. It was there one point, one moment, whatever, when you just said to yourself, I got this.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Well, you know, Marty Glickman used to critique me. The great Marty Glickman.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, yeah.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

So after every. Well, I started out doing pre game, halftime, post game. So pre game, I used to be with Greg Gumbo. We'd be up in a suite, you know, it's controlled. And then at halftime, I had to go down on the court. It was like a three ring circus, you know, they playing all the loud music and people yelling, clyde, give me an autograph. Clyde. Clyde. By the time I started to talk, they're playing the music real loud. You got to try to project your voice and then trying to find the monitor. So the first time I went to Marty, he goes, look at you. You look like a pickpocket, you know, because my head was looking around, I was trying to find a monitor. I'm looking up and down. So at that point, man, I go, man, I don't know if this is for me. You know, I can't. I was having so much trouble. And early on, they didn't even give him my own mic. Al used to hold a mic for me. So then Marty just told me, man, you know, keep at it. You know, I think you could be good at this. You just gotta practice, you know, do all the practice you can. You know what I used to do? I used to go into bars, into the crowd at the bar, and learn how to project my voice over the crowd when people are talking, you know, talking back and forth to learn how to project my voice up and down. Then he told me to read the paper up. You know, when you're watching the game, just read the paper different ways. So Marty Glickman was the catalyst for my make it being a success at the business, because early on I had. I had doubts that I could do it.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, you're obviously a basketball player. Ten years as a Knick, two championships with the Knicks. But because of the time that you've invested as a broadcaster and how much time has gone by since the last time the Knicks have won a championship, do you think if this team were to win one while you were the broadcaster, would it measure up to the two that you got as a player?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

You know, I would want it for the fans more than me, since, as you alluded to, as a player, I've been to the mountaintop. But the current fans, they've suffered again for a long time. So 94 94, I thought was our year, man. We had Riley and the guys and, you know, home court. I thought we had the best team. But my thing would be for the fans to really enjoy that again, man. To be able to celebrate and have the best team in the NBA.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, obviously, your birthday, March 29th, that's this Saturday, March 18th. Though it almost feel. Felt. Does it feel like a birthday as well? If you know what I'm referencing, of course, the NIT championship at the Old Garden, which feels like the beginning of your Knick career. Like, did you have, did you have any inclination about the Knicks and had you played before at the Garden before that championship game where you, you were the most outstanding player. You beat Marquette. And the legend has it that the, the Knicks and their brass saw you in that game and said, we're drafting him.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Yeah, you know, the Knicks never talked to me. I had another year of eligibility to play because I was ineligible one year. So in essence, I was like a junior. So I could have gone back to college. And the Knicks never called me in. The day of the draft, I went to class thinking that Seattle, this is a true story. I was talking with Seattle on the phone. They said they were going to draft me. So we had worked out a three year deal and I went to class and came back and my attorney had this baffling look on his face. He goes, you've been drafted by the Knicks. I say the Knicks because they had Dick Barnett and Cassie Russell. Bill Bradley was coming from Rose Scholar, Howard Comage, Thready Crawford, Emmett Bryant. So they had all these backcourt guys. I never thought they would draft me or what they would do with me. So I was upset. I thought they drafted me just to trade me, but I was really surprised when they did that. But, you know, I played at a small college. Southern Illinois is considered a small college. So I read about all the guys that I was playing against in the NIT, the guys at St. Pete, Rutgers, Duke, Marquette. And I really never thought, you know, I had full potential until that time. This is my first time ever in New York City. So when they started writing about me that this guy Frazier might be a first round draft charge, you know, I was flabbergasted. I couldn't believe it.

[Don LaGreca]

So what was it like?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

I was just overwhelmed.

[Don LaGreca]

What was it like stepping in to New York City for the first time?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

You know, when I played, I was wondering how great it would be because I never saw basketball fans like that. You know, coming from the south, football is king. So we don't have the crowds, and they used to have three papers, and you could read five or six pages, seven pages about basketball. Every game was 18,500 people, man. And I was going, these people are crazy up here, man. I used to call home and tell my parents, these people are crazy, you know, man, on our team, no one knew what a point spread was. Nobody had ever heard of a point spread. So we were beating St. Pete's by a record number. And the crowd started yelling, you know, we were like, what is. You know, because we had covered the point spread or something, man. It was hilarious when we were talking about New York people, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Is that. Is that a true story, by the way, that. That I have heard about that when you guys were playing back then, that guys sitting behind the bench would let your coach, Red Holzman know what the spread was. And if. If it was like, either don't go, don't score too many points or make sure you score this many points. Is that a true story that back in the day that used to happen?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Well, I guess people were yelling it out, you know, about what the points were and different things. So, you know, at the game, there were no mobile phones then. So at the timeout, halftime, everybody would be on. On the phone, in the phone line.

[Alan Hahn]

Second half spread, right. It was hilarious.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

And check this out. The crowd, there were no kids and there are hardly any women. It's all Wall street guys in black suits and ties. That. That was the audience early on, when I first came in 1967, different kind of mood.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Now that's why Josh Hart, I don't know if you ever see Josh Hart will make jokes with people on Twitter who get on his case about their parlay, and he's like, I don't care about your parlay. Like, don't tell me about your parlay. I don't care, you know, because that now, because of social media, the same people that might have been yelling behind the bench to players and to coaches, they're now going after him on Twitter. Clyde, can you imagine a world that you lived in back then, especially during the heyday, I mean, the early 70s, you were one of the. The biggest stars in the city. You and obviously Pearl and some of the other athletes, Joe Namath, I mean, what a time that was. Can you imagine if there was social media back then and people catching you out?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Yeah, I wouldn't be. Clyde Olsen would know that I was out at 4am in the morning, 5am in the morning.

[Alan Hahn]

What was that group like? Like, I've Heard from people like Rusty Staub and Roger, like, that must have been something to run and just to go out and there's other stars from other sports out and you guys, from what I understand, kind of gravitated towards each other a lot of times. That true?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Yeah, yeah, we were very close. Like, I was close with Cleon Jones, Tommy Agee or Shamsky. So, you know, Namath was very friendly. He was always out too. So that was a close bond between the guys. Especially 1970 when we all won the championship. You know, Cleon and Tommy were like, clyde, you gotta do it, man. And Joe was saying, clyde, come on, you guys gotta pull it off, man. So we were able to pull it off. And three teams won the championship that year.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, it was pretty incredible time for sure. The city and how electric the superstars were. Clyde, what's the ceiling for this team this year?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

The ceiling. Right now they're probably third best team in Eastern Conference. I. We don't match up against the Celtics, man. There's every matchup is terrible for us. I like our chances better against Cleveland also, I think psychological. We dominated them a couple of years ago, albeit they're a better team now, but I think still that might weigh on them in the playoffs. But the Celtics, if we get them first, is going to be difficult because of the matchups. When you look at the matchups and they try to exploit us with Brunson and, and. And Cat, they want to look for that mismatch to pick and roll where they can kind of isolate those guys and then if KP is healthy, you know, that matchup. So the Celtics, probably, we all tough as a matchup, but if we get healthy, you know, Robinson look like he's coming back. I like what I'm seeing out of him right now. Obviously, our bench has to step up and play better, assuming Brunson can get back to his former grandeur. You know, I still like our chances. It's New York, you know, I always remember my 36 and 19 when Willis limped out there. We know the grand duo, the Nick crowd, they can catapult the team in the playoffs. So, you know, I'm still optimistic.

[Alan Hahn]

The 36 and 19 that Clyde is referencing is obviously game seven in 1970, which is known as the Willis Reed game. But in NBA history, it's one of the great performances in Game 7 against that Lakers team. And, you know, before you guys won that championship, you've always talked about and a lot of the guys from that team that I've talked to over the years, they always point to. And it's so, I guess, coincidental that it's the Celtics again. The Knicks are chasing this time around. An old friend in 69. When you guys lost to them, you left that series with this feeling of, we're gonna get them one of these days. Right? Like, you knew that you had a window of years. It wasn't that if we don't win this year, you know we're never gonna win. There wasn't that pressure you guys had to have felt that year that you were on the rise, like, what is that like? And how important is that for a team that maybe sometimes as much you don't want to lose, but losing like that can fuel the next season.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Yeah. Dealing with that adversity, we thought we were on a par because I was injured the last few games, so I didn't really play up to expectation because of my injury. But coming back that season, Alan, we said, man, we, you know, this is our year. Every day in practice, we used to go out together, the starting team, everybody, we talk about it. You know, this is our year. We're going to do it, man. We got to make the sacrifice fights. You know, thank God Bill Russell retired.

[Alan Hahn]

That helped.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Yeah, but we were confident that, man, you know, we were there. We were flying on the par with the Celtics, and we were going to do it, and we were able to pull it off.

[Alan Hahn]

It is, again, it's. It's a great story. It's amazing that it's only five years after your. Your first game at Madison Square Garden. Five years later, you were a champion at the Garden. And all these years later, it's the Celtics again that the Knicks are trying to measure up to. Clyde, I'll be seeing you, obviously, tonight and throughout the rest of this week wishing you happy birthday probably every day. And we're going to try to match your style on Sunday. You got to see some of the stuff. We're going to try to pull out. I don't know if it's going to work, but, you know, it'll be all in honor of you. Thank you so much for joining us. I'll see you later.

[Don LaGreca]

Happy birthday.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

No, man. I appreciate you guys making me feel special. I can't believe I'm going to be 80 years old. Man, what a blessing. Praise God. Praise God for whom all blessings flow.

[Alan Hahn]

All the best.

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

All right, thanks, guys.

[Alan Hahn]

Awesome. 80. Never looks so good, Donnie.

[Don LaGreca]

I know.

[Alan Hahn]

Never looks so good.

[Don LaGreca]

It does not.

[Alan Hahn]

So we will celebrate Clyde's 80th birthday all week long. Special prayer programming, complete coverage of Clyde Special day at MSG on Sunday. That's this Sunday, March 30th. So his birthday's the 29th, the Saturday. There's no game that day. But on the 30th, the Knicks play the Portland Trailblazers. The game is at 6:00. We'll have full coverage on MSG. And yes, we're gonna have a lot of fun. I'm trying to do something a little extra on Sunday. I see if I could pull it off.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's going to take I'm, it's going to take some help. No question about it. So always good to talk with Clyde. 800 now at 93776. We'll get back to your calls. We got a lot more to get into, including Deion Sanders putting a stop to a lot of rumors about his son and the Giants that include the cleats and this notion that he said he wants to play for the Giants. What does it all mean? We'll discuss that and more coming up. And your calls as well. Stay with us. Don Han, Rosenberg 880 ESPN brackets busted.

[Don LaGreca]

New customers at FanDuel can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. That's 200 extra bucks to bet on everything from clutch shots to last second heartbreaks and even who's cutting down the nets. If you've been waiting to join, there's no better time. There's tourney action almost every day and FanDuel has amazing bet types like spreads, totals, game props and so much more. You know I'm pulling for my terps this weekend and against Duke always as long as they're playing. So visit fanduel.com/peter and get in on the college hoops action. All Torny Long, 21 and over and physically present in New York. First online real money wager only $5. First deposit required. Bonus issued is non withdrawable bonus bets which expire seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See [e-mail] for help with a gambling problem. Call 877-8-HOPE NY or text openy467369. The kids are still at practice and I have no idea what's for dinner.

[Alan Hahn]

You can get a rotisserie chicken and two sides for just $15 in as.

[Don LaGreca]

Fast as an hour with Walmart Express delivery.

[Alan Hahn]

Who said that?

[Don LaGreca]

Who's in my house? Don't play with me because I'm not the one. It's just your friendly Walmart announcer.

[Alan Hahn]

This is a Commercial. Oh, okay.

[Don LaGreca]

You were saying dinner for a family was just $15? Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

It'll be at your door by the time you get the kids home from practice. Order now. Welcome to your Walmart.

[Don LaGreca]

Subject to availability restrictions and fees apply.

[Alan Hahn]

Now that was a helpful commercial. Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not just for celebrities. Some so do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate, first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee, full [e-mail] does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the boy? Well, with LinkedIn ads, you can know you're reaching the right decision makers. You can even target buyers by job title, industry, company seniority skills. Wait, did I say job title yet? Get started today and see how you.

[Don LaGreca]

Can avoid the void and reach the.

[Alan Hahn]

Right buyers with LinkedIn ads.

[Don LaGreca]

We'll even give you a $100 credit.

[Alan Hahn]

On your next campaign. Get started at LinkedIn.com results, terms and conditions apply. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. I didn't see this till after the interview, Donnie, but did you see what the, the, the post that Clyde's social media team put up?

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a, it's a, a illustrated version because he has a, a children's book out. An illustrated children's book that was. That's been out for a little while. It's very well. And so it's Clyde in illustration form and you, myself and Peter also in the same illustration form. You should see how you look.

[Don LaGreca]

I did see it.

[Alan Hahn]

Do you see it?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I'm all gray. I don't know how to feel about it.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's like the beard though, the whole thing. It looks cool.

[Don LaGreca]

If I wasn't gray, but I'll still take it. It wasn't bad. I think they did a good job.

[Alan Hahn]

I think it's very cool. I didn't see it. I would have definitely asked him about that in the book and everything like that because, you know, again, like, he was big with that book and the rhyming and everything else. So it's always good to talk with him. Let's talk with some Nick fans here before we move on to other things. We've got. We've got a Yankee story. It's not just Yankees, Yankees met story, the Juan Soto story that Tom Verducci wrote for Sports Illustrated. It I. I run the gamut of emotions while reading that thing. We have got to break that down. Okay. 5:00 hour. I'm looking forward to Door Sanders, Deion Sanders and the Giants and that whole thing to get to also in the 4 o'clock hour. ENN at 6, in case anybody's wondering. So a lot to get to. But your calls. 800-937-7,6. Javier in Queens. Javi.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's up, guys? How's it going?

[Walt Clyde Frazier]

Good.

[Don LaGreca]

How are you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good. I have a Knicks call, but before, before I get into the Knicks, like, I'm a huge Clyde fan. Like, I'm not that old. I'm in my 40s. I never saw him play. But I'm a proud owner of his book the Guide to Being Cool, which helped me become just a little bit cooler in my life. But in addition to that, like, everyone was talking, like, the talk of the town was like, Rick Pitino and how, you know, he has more basketball knowledge in his pinky than most people have in their whole body. Right. I just want to extend that same, like, appreciation and just admiration for Clyde, like, how. How long he's been a part of the game. Like, I remember, I think, in a broadcast, and he alluded to it, he's from the South. I think whoever he was announcing with was like, why'd you go to Southern Illinois? You know, why did you go to University of Georgia or Alabama? And he, like, with such grace, he expressed how he couldn't go to those schools, like, in those times he had to go up north to play basketball. Right? So, like, to see where he came from.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, from his college career to watching Jordan and LeBron become billionaires. Like, Walt's story is incredible. Like, I just want to give him flowers and just give him an early happy birthday, like, such. Like, people only know him now because of his broadcasting, but, like, his whole career is, like, it's super duper impressive with the Knicks. Like, I've been very optimistic about them all season. I, you know, my thought was, like, you know, they have another gear to get into in the playoffs, like a true contender does, because I think that they've always been kind of like, the Little engine that could. And now they're transitioning to not being that. My. My concern is that I. I don't believe in that second gear as much as I did earlier in the year. And another concern is just, like, I feel like there's a lack of aggression from them. And I know Brunson being out is a big part of it, but, like, something's up with Hart. Like, last year in the playoffs, he would put his head down and he would get to the hoop with ease. And this year, he's just, like, not doing that on a consistent basis. I don't know if you've also noticed that Allen, but, like, Hart is just not driving the way that he did last year. He's doing a lot of other little things, but, like, I just need to see a little more aggression from them. And the people who are calling in saying, like, fibs is the problem and he's going to go 1. Fibs is going nowhere. Like, the untouchables are fibs. Brunson and Brunson's dad on this team. And the whole minutes thing, like, my only argument is, you look at Boston, they won the title last year, four of their five starters, they played over 37 minutes a game. And, you know, the whole minutes thing, like, you need to sacrifice. Like, if you're going to win the finals, you got to have guys that can put those minutes in. Like, Memphis has a great bench right now. Memphis is also going nowhere. So stop with the. With the minutes and the bench. Like, they're not going to. You know, I don't think that they're a championship team, but it's not because of those reasons. It's not because if it's too much minutes or, like, you know, they don't have enough of a bench. Like, you know, with the right mix, they could. They could do special things. It's just not in the cards this year, but I think this year's them playing with house money. And why talk about the second round? Look, Tatum's hurt right now. Like, Boston may be a weakened team, so let's just see how it goes. And obviously, how Brunson comes back is going to be the key to all of this.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the biggest part. Javi, thanks for the call, as always. I mean, you know, I don't. I don't want to go too deep into the Celtics, but Tatum, that they say he's all right at the ankles, just sore, but it is something to worry about. And then Porzingis, you never know when he's Healthy. That's the problem. Like, if you ask anybody up there, Donnie, they roll their eyes all the time about him, where it's like, oh, well, when he plays, you know, but he doesn't always play. He's not always available. So who knows in the second round what they'll have on the court. You have no idea.

[Don LaGreca]

It's got to play it out. But as far as the aggression, I. I don't know. You're closer to it than I am day in, day out, but you do get to a point where you haven't been healthy. How much do these games really mean when it felt like at least up until recently, you were locked in? I feel like, just as a fan, let's just get to the damn playoffs. I mean, can the players start to feel that, too? It's like, we know we can't check any boxes till we get to the playoffs. There's nothing left to do in the regular season. You said they got games coming up against Boston and Cleveland, but that's late in the year. I don't know if that's really going to signify that they've closed the gap at all.

[Alan Hahn]

Boston's four games back of Cleveland. Cleveland has gone through their own little spell lately. And so Boston's four games back now. Is it too late for them to catch them? It might be, but it's all little things to keep an eye on. You never know.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

So I. I'm with you, though. Like, I'm glad you said it. I. I just think there have been a lot of fans that have come to me about, maybe it's better if the Knicks finish fourth, and maybe you want to avoid this and avoid. And I. And I just keep warning, no, what you want to do is be playing your best going into the postseason. That's what you want. You want to get your guys healthy, and you want to be playing your best. That's where they have to get. They. They have gone through what I think every team goes through during the season. They have gone through a rough patch right now. They have gone through a stretch of games, really, since the All Star break. I think they might be a game under.500. Whatever it is, they have not played well out of the All Star break. Some of it has to do with injuries. Some of it has to do with assimilating another player and giving him minutes. Some of it has to do with you're not getting enough out of your bench when you do play them. So these are all things that are all part of the process of what do we have? And if it's not enough in the playoffs this year, you go into the off season like every team does and you assess what you have and say, what's it going to take to get us from this level to the very next level? And they're at right now, as I said, the fifth best record in the entire league. That's a pretty high level, but it's a major difference from fifth best to third best in this league. It's amazing, but it's true. That jump is the hardest one. And so this off season, if it's not enough in the playoffs this year, that'll be the biggest topic of conversation. How do they get there in the meantime? Don how do the Giants get to where they finally solve a quarterback situation that they have been trying to figure out since Eli Manning walked out the door? There's a name that has been connected to them in the draft and Shador Sanders that not everybody is in love with. But everybody felt like Shador Sanders wants to be a giant. But Deion Sanders wanted to address this and maybe what he had to say about it will change how we think about their approach to this draft and that position. We'll discuss that coming up next. We got your calls to get to as well. Don Hahn and Rosenberg 880 ESPN friends.

[Don LaGreca]

Go see Dr. Jay Shah. He's a double board certified Ivy League trained pain specialist. Don't let neck, back, sciatica or nerve pain slow you down from doing all the work and the things that you love. It's time to reclaim your active lifestyle. Call our friend Dr. Jay Shah today at Sam Wall Pain. Dr. Jay Shah treats joint, neck, back, sciatica, nerve pain. Dr. Shah is also a migraine and headache specialist. Procedures involve no cuts, scars, incisions or downtime. Call Dr. Jay Shah to take a non surgical approach with precise image guided procedures without pain medications. Enjoy life pain free. Same day and next day appointments available. Go to samwellpain.com to book online. Put an end to your pain and suffering today. Why wait any longer? Make your appointment with Dr. Jay Shaw. Go to samwellpain.com now. Regain your active lifestyle and enjoy all of your favorite activities pain free. Samuel Payne now has three convenient locations in Woodbridge, Livingston and a brand new office in Englewood to serve Bergen County. Visit samwellpain.com to text online or book online. You Wish you met Dr. Shah sooner. Most major insurance are accepted.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. I don't want to know how the 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.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In case you didn't know, these young men are driven. They are prodigies, the savants, the ones we've been waiting for. Like Damian Lillard, for instance. He doesn't seek guidance or mentorship.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a leader. He isn't waiting for the baton to be passed to him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's taking it for himself. He's relentless in a pursuit of greatness, always pushing to one up himself. He is accomplished but far from satisfied. He embodies what it means to have an unstoppable drive and are shaking up the status quo in their community and beyond. And Damian Lillard drives a Toyota. A new generation of Toyota drivers are here and they want you to know one thing. You can't stop my drive.