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Don Hahn
This episode is brought to you by Starbucks. That is fire. Whoa, that's good.
Caller 1
This might be the drink of the summer.
Don Hahn
Okay, I like this one too.
Alan Hahn
I'm rocking with it.
Don Hahn
Okay, try it for yourself. Starbucks refreshers concentrates are coming home. Find them in the coffee aisle and
Alan Hahn
make it yours, Don.
Don Hahn
She fell in love with the sex.
Peter Rosenberg
Don.
Alan Hahn
Sauce was everywhere.
Peter Rosenberg
And Rosenberg, if you want to stay up, he's got the energy that matters. This isn't North Dakota.
Don Hahn
This is New York.
Alan Hahn
This is D. Don Hahn and Rosenberg.
Caller 1
The best threesome I've ever heard on
Alan Hahn
ESPN New York and streaming live on
Don Hahn
YouTube 3:01 in the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg on an absolutely hot but amazing day in Nickland. What a pleasure it's going to be to do this show. Four hours full frontal. You couldn't ask for anything better than that. What an unbelievable night at Madison Square Garden. And my guy, Alan Hahn was there for it. I couldn't believe my eyes. Nobody could. So never mind the fact the knicks are up 3:1. That's the most important thing. But Allen, that play that OG put back out of nowhere, flying through the air following the Brunson miss will go down as one of. And we can debate it, greatest plays in the history of New York sports. And it's given the Knicks a chance to win a championship on Saturday night.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, it. It was one of the greatest moments. It has to be. I wasn't at Shea Stadium in 1986 in game six. I wasn't there for that. But it was bedlam there. And I can tell you that the Garden had a sound to it. And I remember, I remember I text you early in the chat. Yeah, and I told you that it already sounded different than Monday night. That crowd was a real crowd. And that crowd didn't give up on the team, despite how bad that first half was and how, you know, despondent the emotions were about this thing going back to San Antonio. 2 2. And yet early in the third quarter, that crowd didn't give up cheering. And I found that to be an amazing thing because I was almost laughing to myself, like, listen to these people. They're cheering a three pointer that cut the lead to 25 or 22. Like, you know, like, come on, they're excited about this. They just want something to cheer for. But that Wembanyama, man, that flagrant. That I told you they were gonna. The minute he did something, they were gonna bang him for it. And he did something that, you know, didn't look deliberate but did make Contact with Carthage Towns, his chin. And it was enough for them to say, all right, you got away with one in the previous game, but you're not getting away with this one. And the knicks ran off 13 straight points. And all of a sudden when you looked up, it was a 16 point game. And now you're saying there's still a ways to go in this game. I've seen this team come back from worse than this.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
And I think everybody in the building just suddenly started saying, keep chipping away. Like, take the body, take the body, take the body. Right? Like that's what it became. Wear it down, wear it down. And you saw in that fourth quarter when my Nyama gassed again shot and you saw a nick team with a coach that found. He always said, I gotta find five guys that can make this work. And he did with Jose Alvarado. And then of course, you saw Jalen Brunson do what Jalen Brunson does, which is never let go of the rope. Never stop. And OG Anunoby, the unsung hero that nobody ever talks enough about making two of the greatest plays in franchise history with the chase down block and then the hand of God tip off of the Brunson miss with 1.2 seconds to go. It'll be a moment talked about about where were you when that happened? Let's not forget the car. Anthony Towns tips that inbounds pass that could have turned into a disaster if he doesn't. But because the spurs ran a perfect play that could have ended up with an easy two to win the game at the buzzer. But Towns tips the ball. And all I kept thinking now, and when I saw the replay of that is I said game 694. Hakeem Olajuwon just gets a fingertip on that stark shot that could have been for the win and for the championship. And so the town's fingertips to knock that ball up just enough to mess up that play. Don't think it was lost on me. So it was an incredible night. But it was. It's one of those nights that I say only at the Garden could you
Don Hahn
get a night like, yeah, just unbelievable. And listen, I. I was on with my brother earlier today. I'm busted open, you know, kind of just arguing the whole it's Danhausen is the reason why all these great things are happening. I had, I had to, I had to get my say in on there. So I don't believe all that garbage. But what I do believe in is do. And you think of all the things that have gone wrong for the Knicks all these years, all these 53 years, you know, Charles Smith should have been fouled, right? And he goes to the line instead of all those misses that, you know, lead to losing to the Bulls or the Ewing finger roll that just rolls out all the near misses that could have changed everything. And you just wonder if somebody really is looking down and saying, you know what? Maybe it's the next time. Because that play, as great as it was, there's just something to it, right? There is something magical to that moment. He puts his hand on the ball, it can go anywhere, right? It could rim out, roll out. The Knicks history would tell you, just short. No, it goes in and they win the game. And you just say to yourself this. And it's unfortunate because not everybody is still with us that went through all the pain. But for the people that did go through the pain, it's about blank in time that they catch a break, and they deserve the breaks because they don't go away. It's so easy to just say, it's not our night. You know, we're 29 points down. This is despicable. But if you look at the NBA with the three threes and all that, you can come back from deficits, even though nobody ever came back from that kind of deficit in the NBA Finals. We've seen comebacks before. The Knicks proved it last year, twice coming back from 20 points down against Boston. They did it against Cleveland in Game 1amonth ago. But you got to be engaged, you got to want to do it. You got to want to stick around. And the Knicks prove that. So, yeah, the fans who probably paid thousands of dollars for the tickets are like, I'm going to get mine. I'm going to cheer. Maybe not really believing, but why wouldn't you believe in this team? They've proven time and time again, if you don't kill them, they're going to come back like a zombie. And they came back. And now, for the first time since 1994, Peter, they are one win away from that elusive championship.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm sorry, guys. I was. I don't know what's going on in the world. I think the Knicks have sent the entire planet into, like, haywire. So getting back from Stamford ride WWE work today was insane. But truly, I couldn't be more excited to be on the air with you both today. I could. Guys, when they were down 30, Anthony and I were texting about what our Friday at Plot Deutsch is going to look like. You know, Heading into this game five, which would have been terrifying. And Alan, I had the thought last night when, when things got close, I thought, you know, even if they lose now, at least they've shown enough heart that we don't have to feel like going into game five. Like momentum is completely lost. But then to of course see what happened, it was just there aren't enough superlatives to talk about it and have you guys mentioned this yet? Alan, I watched a little bit of postgame last night. You were terrific, by the way. Really enjoyed your spot with Mellow right there at the top of the show. Did you guys talk about to me one of the underrated plays of the day that least I would I would pinpoint as that was the moment I started to believe because Alan, you and I texted about that 15 point hump.
Alan Hahn
Yep.
Peter Rosenberg
That they could not get over. And lo and behold, they finally get over it when Cat hits a falling down three pointer in the fourth quarter to cut it to 12. And finally really showed his value in the fourth. I thought that was a critical moment
Don Hahn
in the whole thing.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, he shot that with confidence as well. He kind of got fouled, but whatever at this point. Yeah, that's why when there's been so much conversation about the last couple of moments when you look. Because a comeback like that has a great performance by one team and an epically bad performance by another. Right. So everybody's involved when you have a comeback like that. So there's a lot of little plays that everybody wants to talk about late in the game, but you don't get there without other plays along the way that tell you that was, you know, a phenomenal play. That if that goes a different way, who knows what happens. And so yeah, that, that's definitely one of them. And I just keep saying it. I like they as much as we talked about how weird the atmosphere was at Madison Square Garden on Monday night for game three with the president in town and sections of fans where that were right by where he was in his suite spent most of the game with their backs to the court just videoing everything that he was doing. And you had that. Plus a lot of celebrities around the building that weren't really Nick fans but just were there to be seen. It killed what used what is normally a typical good vibe. Right. And then last night, no, that was a real Nick crowd. That roar was not only up in the 2002 and 3002, that roar was from top to bottom. And there was something special about how that. How the fans never once gave up on the game. And at halftime, those guys went to that locker room with probably the worst half they've played since Martin Luther King day when they were getting smoked by the Dallas Mavericks. And that was the low point of the season. I don't know if you guys remember, that was the end of that 11 game stretch where they only won twice and there was a lot of concern about the direction they were going in. They went into the locker room. Mike Brown didn't show any film. There was nothing to talk about. And the common theme of the conversations the players were having with each other was one word, believe. And that's been Brunson's whole thing since he started here was the, you know, find a way mentality. And they never let go of their open. I've said this right, they, they are hard to kill, this team. It's hard to beat them. Even in the years they've lost in the past, the opponent has had to just pummel them into the ground to finally put them away. They have never gone away easy. And so they weren't going to make it easy in this game either.
Peter Rosenberg
Didn't you have that feeling too? Like in one sense, when I was doing my DC radio hit in the car earlier, I said, guys, don't get me wrong, it's an absolutely shocking comeback. But if you've followed this team closely, you're not surprised. It was shocking.
Alan Hahn
A jace they've done it. This is the fifth time in the playoffs in the last two years that they have come back from a 20 point deficit in a playoff game. And you remember they did twice against Boston. They did it in the fourth quarter against the Cavs and then they did it here. They also did against Indiana in game three. But that was a first half, 20 point deficit. But second half, 20 point deficits, it's something that they've done.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
So it's why that they have that confidence, like they have that belief of if we just keep chipping away, you know, we can make this thing a game. And if we make it a game, as I've told you guys, apply pressure. This is a young team. Apply pressure, See how they respond. And you saw Fox, who isn't one of the young guys, made a mental error when Benyama missed two free throws, clutched.
Peter Rosenberg
Can I throw something else out there too?
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
Wemby had a stupid half. I mean, yes, there were possessions where he was just chucking threes like he was on the playground, like completely thoughtless. Remember the one possession where he shot back to back threes?
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
You're just like he was mentally. He showed yesterday in many ways, he is not there yet. You saw him yesterday.
Alan Hahn
Of course, the ironic moment of the game was when Mitchell Robinson decided, I'm going to forearm you in the chest and you know, just get a little retribution. And he's laughing and pointing at his head like, I'm in your head. And it's funny how he gets his flagrant off something stupid.
Peter Rosenberg
Yep.
Alan Hahn
And then it sparks the Knicks on a run. So who's in whose head now?
Peter Rosenberg
By the way, what was the number when, when the Wemby flagrant happened?
Alan Hahn
I got it right.
Peter Rosenberg
It was still in the 20s, right?
Alan Hahn
Oh, no. Well, it was 8152.
Don Hahn
Oh, it was.
Peter Rosenberg
It was as bad as it could be. It was 29.
Alan Hahn
It was 29. Nine, 27 to go.
Peter Rosenberg
Wow.
Alan Hahn
I wrote it down. WEMBY Flagrant 1 elbows Towns and the score was 8152. And then four minutes later, a 130 run cut it to 1681, 65.
Don Hahn
That's all it takes.
Alan Hahn
And then, and now, you know, like now we got a game because the second half, tons of time still to go and it's a 16 point game for the Knicks. That's light work.
Don Hahn
Well, it takes two to tango, right? Usually when you have a comeback like that, you're going to need help. You talked about the Wemby misses, some of the turnovers, some of the tough decisions that they make, and of course the comparison, considering the level of play and how epic the comeback was, was the Falcons being up at the Patriots 23.
Alan Hahn
That's a great example.
Don Hahn
And what it is is that, hey, you've got a team. It's a little bit of a different situation that the Patriots and the Knicks in the sense that Brady's been there, done that, and so there's going to be no panic from him and there's going to be panic from the Falcons because they know who the opponent is. And now they start making mistakes, the Patriots take advantage of them and the Falcons end up losing the game. It's similar in the sense that the Knicks are so composed, they're so used to coming back from these deficits, they're not going to give up, they're going to stay engaged and they know how to take advantage of it. And a young spurs team, the Boulder, is rolling down the hill and they can't stop it. But you know, it still came down to an amazing bucket by OG that's going to go down in history. And you talk about the plays In New York. And we've been privy to a lot of them. We're around the same age, Alan.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Don Hahn
And we grew up in New York our whole life. You brought up the Buckner play. That's the signature moment of the Mets championship. Of all the things that happen, that's the moment that everybody will always remember.
Alan Hahn
And so many things. Right. It's because it was even in that game 6 and 86. Donnie. A lot of things happened to lead up to that. But that's the signature moment of all the other things that happened.
Don Hahn
The Mitchell hit and the.
Alan Hahn
The.
Don Hahn
The Stanley wild pitch. There's a lot of things that led up to that. But what you're going to remember is the Buckner play. Even though there was this whole game seven and coming back from three, nothing down to win that game, it's still the Buckner play. With everything that goes on in the Giants championship against the Patriots In Super Bowl 42, it is the helmet catch. It's not the Burris touchdown. Think about it. It's a touchdown to win the Super Bowl. That's not nearly as remembered as the helmet catch. Even to a certain extent. The Giants super bowl championship in 25. It's the Ingram first down making people miss, dragging Bill's defenders to get the first down. There's those moments. It. For the 94 Rangers, forget about the Matteo because that was in the conference final. But in the Stanley cup final, it's the Richter save on bore on the penalty shot in game four. They're down 2:1. They're down 3:1. If he doesn't make the save and maybe that series is tied to two, and since it went seven, who knows? It might have cost them. It's. That's this will. If they can close this out whenever they do, heck, it can go 7. That's the play that's always going to be remembered and we're so fortunate. With all the teams and championships that we've seen, there is that moment that is going to resonate. Resonate over all the others.
Peter Rosenberg
Can we take a moment also to appreciate that Jalen Brunson is so good. I know this sounds silly. I'm not being silly. He's so good. It has such touch that when he misses a shot from like 38ft, he doesn't clang it off the front rim. Because that's literally not what Jalen Brunson does, Alan. He misses it by a quarter of an inch and instead it pops up six feet in the air. The soft. Do you know how hard it Is the soft bounce from that distance, by the way, they had several soft bounces. They had. OG had a three early McBride had a three. Or Shaman had a three. Absolutely, they had.
Alan Hahn
But.
Peter Rosenberg
But. But for Brunson on that shot, because you think it's sort of a rush shot, pops it straight up. And he said that. He said, I wanted to put it up on the rim.
Alan Hahn
He did.
Peter Rosenberg
And then OG's able to do the rest.
Alan Hahn
You want to hear something funny about that play, too? In the morning, Mike Brown had talked to OG Anunoby and was talking to him about how, like, you know, he's big, strong guy, very athletic, you know, you know, you. I need you to focus more on offensive rebounding. Like, if there's no one near you, you should attack the rim. You know, you're a great leaper and all that stuff. You know, just think about attacking the rim for rebounds on the offensive glass. OG that night had one offensive rebound with 1.2 seconds to go.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
Off a conversation in the morning, think about that.
Don Hahn
This is OG on what Allen just said.
Peter Rosenberg
He just told me I need to get on the glass. You know, offensive glass, especially, just use
Alan Hahn
my ability, my size, strength, athleticism, to
Peter Rosenberg
make an impact on the glass.
Alan Hahn
And it happened in the end, and
Don Hahn
you inbound the ball, you get lost.
Alan Hahn
I waited 48 minutes, and then.
Don Hahn
Well, the best part of the Brunson shot, Peter's right. It had the right touch and the right bounce, and sometimes those are the breaks that you need. But still, tremendous athletic play. To me, it's when he shot, because the intent there is. It's not the greatest of looks. I might be able to buy a little bit of a better look with the couple of seconds that I had. What was it, like 5? How much time when he took the shot? What was our four or five seconds? But I think he realized, I want to leave some time, that if I miss, we could get a rebound and it's not over.
Alan Hahn
Right.
Don Hahn
And I think the timing of the shot, because when I first saw it, I'm like, boy, I think he could have got a better shot. But look back on it. That's the big way.
Alan Hahn
You're right. And I think also he knew with wembanyama on him, I have to get it off, because if I wait another beat, he's gonna. He'll block it.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
In the previous possession, if we remember, he. He found himself in no man's land. He couldn't get a shot off. That's how they got the steal.
Peter Rosenberg
That's exactly Right now. Did we. Did you guys spend any time yet? I know it crossed all of your minds on just how bad the moment could have been if it went the other way. The Josh Hart miss layup.
Alan Hahn
Well, you heard. Do we have Josh Hart? Because that could have been a devastating moment for him in his career. Those two moments. Layup and then a guy who's one of the best rebounders on the team gets caught like frozen in a moment and not attacking the glass castle gets in behind him.
Peter Rosenberg
Exactly. And that could have gets the rebound.
Alan Hahn
They got a foul. I mean, Castle, 22, 21 years old, cools a cucumber. Just drilling two free throws in that building. What? And OG saved Hart.
Don Hahn
And here's Hart after the game. This game was crazy.
Peter Rosenberg
I got a special shout out, you
Don Hahn
know, for OG man, because he saved
Alan Hahn
me, at least for this game.
Don Hahn
A lifetime of regret. Yeah, man. Shout out to him.
Alan Hahn
So Brunson took the three with 4.4 seconds left.
Don Hahn
Okay.
Peter Rosenberg
And the fact that Wemby's out there on him is also part of why the touch on it was so beautiful because he had to put it up over Wemby, which requires such arc and on the. And on the. On the Hart foul on that. You know, Mitch does the job, completely boxes out Wemby on that board. And then Hart ends up letting Castle get by. Who's that kid's special, by the way.
Alan Hahn
But yes, they're. By the way. Spurs are going to be nasty in a couple. Like they're going to be really good.
Don Hahn
Harper Castle.
Alan Hahn
Yes, Don that if you. You got. You better get them by the way.
Peter Rosenberg
And it's barely the time. Let's look up again. It's barely the time. They've beaten them. They've beaten them three times. They very easily, especially last night, could have lost all three games.
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
And they're up 3:1.
Don Hahn
But it's amazing and really we've got calls out to literally everybody and people are traveling, going back to San Antonio on about their day.
Peter Rosenberg
We locked in Mark Ronson 5:30. He was in the building.
Don Hahn
Okay.
Alan Hahn
I'm got some special guests that are all trying to make something work for us too. I don't want to name any names because I'm only naming names.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm good on. I'm locking in Raekwon from the Wu Tang Clan. Oh, that experience. So we're gonna. We're gonna try to bring as many people who were in the building last night and were part of it. I love it to come on.
Don Hahn
And there'll be many other surprises for sure, but really, it's about you and just what your experience was. What were you doing? What did you do once the shot went down? What were you feeling late in that game? What were you feeling afterward? Did you get any sleep avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start? Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte, paint, finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the Thumbtack app. Download today. 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.
Peter Rosenberg
The Stanley Cup Final on ABC is more than a quest for the Cup. It's 134 years of putting it all on the line and the heaviest 35 pounds ever lifted its broken curses and broken hearts. But for those chasing it, it's everything. The only question is who will take it? You just have to watch the Stanley Cup Final, presented by Geico on ABC and the ESPN app.
Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
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.
Don Hahn
The ESPN New York Beach Bash is coming Thursday, July 2nd at Bar A in Lake Como, New Jersey. Head down to the Jersey Shore and join the Michael K Show and US Live starting at 1pm and an appearance by D. Pietro Rothenberg, Bart Carlin and more. You'll have plenty of giveaways for fans in attendance, a soccer watch party and a chance to test your skills by trying to kick a soccer ball past Rick DiPietro, plus music from Surfin for Daisy, who will be playing an hour before and an hour after the show. It's all brought to you by Spiked Aid Boost Mobile, Miller lite Fanatics Fest NYC and the New Jersey Lottery. You must be 21 years of age or older to enter. I Gotta tell you before we go to the calls, we had a meeting earlier today and Rick and Dave were like shot. Because that came into later than usual. I'd say that ended at 11:45 ish, which is a good like half hour, I think longer. There was a lot of replays and certainly way commercials and all that. And then because Dave and Rick are professionals, they watched all the post game, all the sound. So I talked to Dave. Dave said he went to bed at like 1:30. They both look shot.
Peter Rosenberg
I was texting with Dave very late last night.
Don Hahn
Yeah, it's tough because those guys. I think Dave says he gets up like 3:30 in the morning. So if he went to bed at 1:30, do the math, right? And then they had to be here because of the meeting. So. But you know what? Nobody dozed off. They were all in.
Peter Rosenberg
What video games did you play?
Don Hahn
What mean what video game?
Peter Rosenberg
Like Snood?
Don Hahn
Or are you saying during the meeting. I'm not disrespectful, man. I was complete. Jacob got my back. I was completely engaged. I was even. I was even called out of the meeting.
Alan Hahn
Don was all that you're called out?
Don Hahn
Well, there's been something that I've kind of come complained about. So.
Peter Rosenberg
And it was brought up.
Don Hahn
Our boss Greg's like. Well Don, you know, like. So just to acknowledge that I was there.
Peter Rosenberg
I can't wait to talk to you.
Don Hahn
No, it wasn't anything bad. I mean, I think we all kind of agree where I stand on it.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm just curious to hear about it.
Don Hahn
It was. But it was. It was an engaging meeting. Obviously Peter and Alan had other things. Alan was given all kinds of love during the meeting as well.
Peter Rosenberg
So it was.
Don Hahn
But I bring it up to just say there was a lot of exhausted puppies. Ray, Santiago's on fumes. Oh yeah, okay.
Alan Hahn
I saw him. I saw him earlier. So what? So you said that Dave. Dave Woke up at 3:30?
Don Hahn
Yeah, he gets up at 3:30.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, that's when I went. That's when I went to bed.
Don Hahn
And what was your. What was your call for? Get up.
Alan Hahn
I Woke up at 5:30 for a 6:00 call.
Don Hahn
I. You know what? I. Again, I can't speak for you guys because you have to do it all the time in a moment like that, like what Dave was in where it's just very rare to get that little sleep. I think it'd be better not to sleep the two hours.
Alan Hahn
No, that's. You need the two hours.
Don Hahn
Because I think the two hours would Just make it worse.
Peter Rosenberg
As a morning guy, for a long time, you can't. Your brain's too fried. You need the actual nap. Like, you'll end up just saying stupid stuff, which Dave struggles with already. Let's talk to these people for God.
Don Hahn
Yeah. 1-800-919-3776. Ron in the truck. You get us started off here on Don Allen Rosenberg.
Caller 2
What's up, gentlemen? What a day, What a game. I just want to say what a feeling. I have never felt something like this before, and 39 years old, lifelong Knicks fan. I mean, been through the worst Knicks stretch in my life, the mid to late 2000s. I never thought, man, that my team would be like this good. I mean, the closest team I saw like this was the spurs in 2012, 2013. I just thought they played beautiful basketball. They weren't flashy. They just played the right way. And this team reminds me of that. And the adjustments that Mike Brown made putting Alvarado take the pressure off of Brunson. So. Because Brunson was tired the whole game, Game three, because they're hounding him. So that adjustment, I really liked, and I just wanted the Knicks to attack the basket if they wanted more fouls. My thing was, hey, stop complaining about the fouls and just attack the basket, because you guys are making U turns every time you go inside. So they didn't do that yesterday. They attacked the basket, so they got the calls, so everything went the right way. And I just want to say I feel so blessed that I got to be. I mean, I witnessed a game that I will never watch again. I'm just, I'm just ecstatic. I'm, that's the best I've ever seen.
Don Hahn
I feel so happy for you and all the Nick fans to go through that. I'm gonna, I'm kind of curious, too. In your calling, if you root for multiple teams, is there anything with that another team gave you, that gave you that feeling you had last night? If you're like a Giant fan, we just gave a couple. Alan, you're a Yankee fan. Would it be the Laritz home run?
Alan Hahn
Yes. I, I, we were talking this morning on get up about moments. You know, obviously, the, the Falcons, Patriots, super bowl, you know, was, was one when it comes to blown lead or comebacks, but moments. And that's one of the first things I brought up was that that layer at home went backtrack, right backtrack, wall gone. Great call by, by Joe Buck. That, that, that's when you believe, like, all right, they can do this. They can come back for this.
Don Hahn
It just meant to be.
Alan Hahn
Yep.
Don Hahn
Patrick. Patrick in Maine, you're on. Don Hanna. Roseberg.
Alan Hahn
Hey, fellas.
Caller 1
How you doing?
Don Hahn
Good. What's happening?
Caller 1
Oh, my God, man, what a, what a night. Pretty cool. 36, been a Knicks fan my whole life. My grandfather, as the one I, you know, he's the reason I'm a knicks fan. He's 95. He is, he's 9. And get this right, he was at every game in the garden. That's in 70, 72, and 73. For the.
Don Hahn
Wow.
Caller 1
And, and one of the things he said, he kept saying is like this. I've never seen basketball like this, but she's seen a lot of basketball. He watches every Knicks game and you know, I got to, I got to watch it with him. I mean, I mean, those are the types of moments this team just, just gives us. It's, it's, it's unbelievable. And it's just, it's just joy, man. It really, it really is.
Don Hahn
So where did this measure up for your grandfather?
Caller 1
I'm going to be honest with you. I asked him, I said, you ever seen him play like this? He goes, no. He looks me in the eye, goes, no, he's still with it. His is, you know, his favorite players, Walt Clyde Frazier. And I'm, I'm saying, I'm, it's hard to argue with the guy. I mean, he looks at me, they're down there, they get it within seven. He looks at me, he's like, are you absolutely kidding me? You know, it's like he was 30. It was, it was like, are they really only down by something? He was like, he was 30 years younger.
Peter Rosenberg
That is so cool.
Don Hahn
I'm sure I don't have to tell you this.
Caller 1
I was a 15 year old kid, man.
Don Hahn
Appreciate this, man. The fact that you have that's forever knowledge and still him still being, you know, with you mentally to be able to remember those things and, and have conversations with you about that, cherish that, man. Because, you know, it's very rare. It's. It's very rare to have somebody in your life that's 95 years old and also with it enough at that age to be. Remember things from 50 plus years ago and do that.
Peter Rosenberg
And then this happened.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, right.
Peter Rosenberg
So Natalie went up in a helicopter last night.
Alan Hahn
Okay, I saw.
Peter Rosenberg
So it's, it's posted on my Instagram and it's Rosenberg radio and Ms. Hatton. Sorry, more importantly, her Instagram, Ms. Hatton. And she went up there, she wore Timberlands. She wore her Timberlands, went up on the helicopter and has her Timberlands hanging out. Out of the helicopter over Madison Square Garden. And she wanted to do it in this moment.
Alan Hahn
I love it.
Peter Rosenberg
She texts me when the chopper lands. What's the score? I said, it's not good, babe. They're down 27. You're not posting anything tonight. This is. She's like, damn it. Because when she went up, it was bad, and when she got back, it was worse. And then from the moment she got in the apartment, they just. They just went on this run. And I have to tell you guys, you know, the Knicks are not my team, but this is still a forever moment. Like, I will. This was still one of my favorite sports moments of my entire life.
Don Hahn
I think that's fair. I mean, like, I'm never going to forget the Patriots coming back from 28 to three. I've got no love for either team or rooting interest for either team. But you see something that you say, like, that's not going to talk about forever.
Peter Rosenberg
But I was, you know, obviously enjoy this. I mean, my wife screamed at the top of her lips. I thought she woke up the baby.
Caller 2
She.
Peter Rosenberg
It's just fun. I haven't gotten to see my wife be this big of sports fans. Basketball's her favorite sport. She's not a true sports fan in the way we are, of course, but she loves basketball. She loves the Knicks. She played basketball in college. She enjoys the game. Just getting to be a part of it and see New Yorkers go through this, it's been. It's been unbelievable. We've never seen anything like it before.
Don Hahn
It's a cute thing that only hockey fans would get, but. Elliot Friedman covers the NHL for Hockey Night in Canada. He's been at it for a while, and I guess he had a podcast where he had John Tortorella on. And like, Tort's like, you see that game last night?
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Don Hahn
Like, people are gonna be talking about this for years. So rooting interest, obviously, that's easy. But I think even people that aren't Knick fans or not necessarily basketball fans, there's probably somebody that, like, 11 o', clock, you know, turning it on to watch the game end so they can watch the news that all of a sudden saw something they may not ever forget in their lifetime.
Peter Rosenberg
Right.
Don Hahn
You know, it was that crazy Robbie in Lenox, Massachusetts. You're on Donhand Rosenberg.
Caller 3
Hey, guys, thanks so much for taking my call. You know, you just mentioned the labor at some of the places in my Life. And it's funny, Don, because I went downstairs because I was driving my fiance crazy. I was working for WSBA down the home of the Orioles at the time. And I went downstairs to listen to John and to Michael and then called and have John call that great home run by Laritz. But, you know, I wish my dad was still alive. He loved basketball. And I saw the Last championship in 1973. Watching the game with my father on tape delay as a kid. And I'm so proud of the way the team played. I gotta ask you, though, about the three point shot. I mean, sometimes it's a weapon and sometimes. Sometimes it's just you stupidly. And I thought San Antonio did a terrible job last night overshooting threes. I mean, they shot eight straight threes at one time. I thought it was absolutely ridiculous. But I'm so glad that that gentleman that's called for sharing with his grandfather. But my grandfather was more of a baseball fan. But I have to ask you guys about game five. What do you see happening in game five? Obviously, you know, we always talk about momentum in sports and so forth, but, you know, every game is different. So I want to get your thoughts on that. And Don, congratulations, by the way. I think I mentioned it to you about the Devils announcing job. You really deserve it. And you know what? The series has been unbelievable. You know, it's probably a very underrated, you know, very rated, highly on television. But what great hockey series this has been.
Don Hahn
Well, it's been good. I mean, 5. 5 million people watching it. So for. For Vegas and Carolina, that's pretty good. They said it right after the game was over. Can't remember if it was Legs or Richard Jefferson who said, hey, the spurs have shown resiliency to these playoffs. They were down 32 to the defending champions and 12 straight games, including game seven on the road. They'll play. They may not play well. They may not win the game. I don't think they're gonna give up. I don't think they're gonna quit. Momentum sometimes can be very, very overrated. They get a couple of days off here. Venue changes. So I don't think the spurs guys are gonna give up and come back with their tail between their legs. I think that they're gonna give it their best shot, you know, and not go away and not quit. And we'll see if they can force a Game six. Be careful. For all those fans out there that are hoping for game six, you got a chance to bury him. As much as you Want this win at the Garden, how special that would be? You got a chance to finish and finish him, right? Don't even mess because then you get back to a game six and you're away from a game seven.
Alan Hahn
Donna, you, you just described the 94 series for the Rangers, right?
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
And you remember when they had, they came home with an opportunity to win and what happened?
Don Hahn
It was a coronation for game five, Right. It was an afterthought that the Canucks could win. Rangers played awful, came back, but they still lost the game. And then they go to Vancouver and they get blown on game six. Now they were coming home for game seven, but they were up three. One fait accompli. Right. They're going to win the series and all of a sudden you're in a one goal game in game seven. So there is a, there is a history in sports where you just, you got your foot on their neck. And as much as you'd love to have it happen here, I wouldn't take any chances. So I expect the spurs to be fully engaged and not give up. May not win the game, but I think you're going to. You know, I don't think the spurs are going to go away.
Peter Rosenberg
I think this thing ends next week. I do. I think they hold court.
Don Hahn
Are you saying that just because you want us to be right and said, you know, Nixon 7.
Peter Rosenberg
No, no, I want it 6.
Don Hahn
But.
Peter Rosenberg
But I just, I have a hunch that they're going to go very hard. They're not going to lose all three games in San Antonio this series. I think they win this one. I think it ends in msg and I think it's, I think it's still going to require after all of this high. And that's the nice part about having this gap because it gives you another day to come back to earth. I think, guys, it's still going to require another bit of a battle at MSG for the Knicks win this season.
Don Hahn
And you know what? I did not know that it was going to go the way that it went. But I did say yesterday this would be a classic, that game four would be a classic. And boy, was I right about that.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, you did.
Don Hahn
It wasn't overtime, but maybe even better than that. Yeah, a regulation win for the ages.
Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
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.
Don Hahn
Mets are an out away from salvaging their three game series with The Cardinals, they've got a five, four lead and that game's in the top of the ninth inning. Two outs, nobody on. Devin Williams is on. As soon as they wrap up things there, we will be on 8:80 and we'll take you up until 7 o'. Clock. But Anthony Pusick needs to tell you something.
Caller 4
Oh, very important. Don't.
Alan Hahn
Alan.
Caller 4
Peter. New York. You're going to want to hear this one. Thank you, Peter. All lines lead to Champs Sports Fan Central Station. A soccer pop up shop open right in the heart of the city. 125 West 33rd Street. This is the soccer destination in New York. Jerseys for every national team you ride with. Usa, Mexico, maybe by jersey for them. They just scored the first goal of this year's World Cup.
Peter Rosenberg
I almost interrupted to tell everyone, but I didn't feel like having Don scoff.
Caller 4
I don't think. I don't think Don knows it's happening.
Peter Rosenberg
He sees it. He says he's aware I see it there.
Caller 4
I think he might have thought it was a replay.
Peter Rosenberg
But by the way, I want you to know, Don, they're not playing Russia.
Don Hahn
No, it says live. I mean, I'm not a moron.
Caller 4
Well, it could be in your backyard.
Don Hahn
No, I turn a hose on right in the corner. I'm sorry, it says 26.
Caller 4
I wasn't trying to Fox anyway.
Peter Rosenberg
All right, keep going. Anthony. I'm sorry.
Caller 4
Argentina, Brazil and way, way more. All under one roof. But this is important, Nick. Fans now fan. Central Station just got even bigger through the finals. Champs has brought Knicks gear into the space. You take a look at their Instagram. They've got hats, they've got shirts, final shirts, jerseys, everything. Anything you could possibly want, they have there. Turning it into the ultimate soccer and Knicks destination. Just steps from Madison Square Garden. If you want to gear up, rep your country, rep your city and feel the energy of New York Champs Sports fan Central Station. 125 West 33rd Street. That is where you need to be
Don Hahn
and we need to hear from you. 1-800-919-3776. Allen, Brooklyn, you're on. Don Hunter Rosenberg.
Caller 1
Gentlemen, thank you for taking my call. I'm a really big fan of all three of you.
Peter Rosenberg
Thank you, man.
Caller 1
I'm gonna be. Oh, yeah, by the way, Peter, I'm a subscriber to the Patreon to Ellis.
Caller 3
Go.
Peter Rosenberg
There you go.
Caller 1
I'm gonna be. I'm gonna be quick. I am a little bit petty. I'm a 37 year old man. I've been a Knick fan for 32 years. I'm five years old, and it means so much to me to know that after Wemby trolled Mitchell Robinson yesterday in the Knicks, that that tipping will live rent free in his head for the rest of his life. So thank you for taking my call. Gentlemen, have a good day.
Don Hahn
I listen, it'd be nice for you to be right, but this is a team, potentially, they could rattle off like three of the next four championships, and I don't think it'll live in his head for the rest of his life. But if he never wins.
Peter Rosenberg
But for the rest, for sure. For a little while. For sure.
Don Hahn
Oh, for all season. As he's sitting on a beach someplace in San Tropez.
Peter Rosenberg
Guys, am I crazy? By the way, speaking of Mitch and Wemby, I understand they tried to. They tried to do something else. Get the ball to Castle and use Wemby as a decoy. Am I nuts? I understand a second is definitely enough to catch and shoot. I know all the things. But, Alan, there is a part of me that thought, if they try to throw this ball up high to Wemby, Mitch may very likely end up fouling him. Am I crazy for having that thought?
Alan Hahn
My prediction on the play that they were going to run was a lob to the rim. And then Wemby.
Peter Rosenberg
And then Wemby just goes up and panic and foul or catches.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, either he catches it high above everyone or he gets fouled. Now, he just missed two free throws, so there was no guarantee he was going to make two, but that was my feeling.
Peter Rosenberg
He only needed one.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, the force overtime. But like, I was standing there and that's all I was saying to myself is like, they're. They're going to run something for Wemby where they're going to throw it up at the rim. And he's. Because he had scored a couple of times in the game, but basically just like tapping the ball to himself with his hands above everyone else because he's just, you know, he's standing reaches and is almost at the rim. So I was surprised that they didn't run it for him. But it's still almost like if Cat doesn't touch that, if Cat doesn't tip that pass, that. That could be a catch and dunk at the buzzer.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm sorry, I just. I just. I can't understand a world as great as Castle has been. I can't understand a world in which you have one of the most dominant players in a sport.
Alan Hahn
Right.
Peter Rosenberg
And you don't Put the ball in his hands. I don't care. Doesn't make sense.
Don Hahn
Sorry, sorry. A lot of crazy things last night. Jimmy in la, you're on. Don Han and Rosenberg.
Caller 1
Thanks, Don.
Caller 5
Hi guys. Thank you for taking my call. You really appreciate the work that you do. Just one. Before I get to my points, I want to give you a historical reference one. I'm 71 years old. I was 15 when the Knicks won their. When their title in 70 and then I was 18 when they won in, you know, in, in 73 in that season, the regular season. I was at a game at the Garden when they played the Milwaukee bucks in November. 72. The Knicks were down 18 points against the Bucks scored the next 19, won the game. Score was 87, 86. And that was a time there was no three point lane. And I remember the, you know, the euphoria from that game. I'm in still in a state of euphoria from last night. It didn't get a lot of sleep. Some points about last night's game getting the lead down to 15 at the start of end of quarter three, beginning of quarter four. I felt they had a chance because you could keep wood. And that's what they end. They kept whittling it down. The Alvarado three point shot when the, when the spurs got it to 107, 104, 97 and he hits the three pointer to get it back down to a four point. That was huge.
Alan Hahn
Huge.
Caller 5
And then, and then, you know, Wilbon made. Michael Wilbourne made a point on. Get up this morning. Alan, you may remember of the 17 attempts that, that the spurs attempted in the second half, most of those of, you know, 14 of those misses or 14 shots that they took, they. Or 12 of the 14 that they missed were like 12 seconds or more on the clock.
Alan Hahn
Right.
Caller 5
They were not milking the clock.
Alan Hahn
Yes. Yeah, that's the recipe for disaster. That's, that's. The whole thing is playing too fast, taking bad shots, settling for threes. It sounds a lot like what the Boston Celtics did to melt down against the Knicks twice. And what the Celtics did this year to melt down in a game seven at home to the Sixers.
Don Hahn
But you wonder, were the Celtics just overconfident? Defending champions? We got this.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, appropriate arrogance.
Don Hahn
Yeah, the arrogance. I just think it's just overwhelming. And we talk about a young team. These are the things that young teams do. You know, they rush things, they panic. And that's what happened to the spurs again. I think they're resilient. I think they could fight back. It'd be dangerous come Saturday. But that's what happens to teams that are maybe just not used to being in that situation. And as it starts to, to fall apart, they begin to fall apart.
Alan Hahn
Are these the painful losses you learned from that you've been talking about with teams?
Don Hahn
Oh, yeah. This is the scar tissue.
Alan Hahn
The scar tissue for the spurs that they hadn't really felt yet, but they are feeling in this series. It's the second game they've given away.
Don Hahn
This is why you wanted to play the spurs over the Thunder. Like would the Thunder being defending champions allow that to happen? Or maybe would it happen because for a different reason they'd be arrogant like the Celtics were. Oh, we're the champions. We'll be fine. You know, again, I don't want to take anything away from what the Knicks did, but you need, like I said earlier, it takes two to tango.
Alan Hahn
Right?
Don Hahn
You're going to need a partner in this dance to make it happen. And spurs certainly contributed to that, to that fall apart historically that they went through blowing a 29 point lead. But give the Knicks tremendous credit for taking advantage of it and just having that will to win.
Peter Rosenberg
I would like to say in closing,
Alan Hahn
will to win is key.
Peter Rosenberg
The thing that offended me most about last night's game is that Taylor Swift was able to get plus two on, on, on the floor. And number two, I'm not. She's not a fake Knicks fan. She's maybe an annoying Knicks fan if you're not a Taylor Swift fan, but she's not a fake Knicks fan. But why, why the stupid shirts that said Stevie Nicks and Nicole Kidman and Nickelback but with a K. Like I just want to say you may be very famous and very rich. Those were three of the lamest shirts.
Don Hahn
All I'm going to say is and I've seen what happened to Monica Man McNutt for just claiming that Taylor Swift was not real Nick fan. And when the heat she's getting with the Swifties I'm sure laying out. Listen, they, they looked gorgeous. The shirts were brilliant.
Peter Rosenberg
So cool. I want a Stevie Nick shirt with a K on it.
Don Hahn
I'm a big Stevie Nicks fan so I'm not going to kill it.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, but, but it's, it's, it makes no sense.
Don Hahn
I'm sure there's some brilliance that we don't get.
Peter Rosenberg
It must be because it was. What about Nickelback with a K? Can you understand that one didn't love
Alan Hahn
that Stevie Nicks look. Women wearing Stevie Nicks and her name, Nicks, is kind of cool. You know what I mean? Like, that's a cool. Like, I actually had an opportunity. I total. Like, I was so caught up in the game, you know? Like, I could just get too focused on the game that life happens around me, and I'm oblivious. I happen to be around them at the half as I was. Came down after doing halftime, and not everybody gets their seats yet. You have to wait. And I'm just standing there. So I'm watching the game, and I'm standing over, and I just see three women. They have these shirts on. I saw the Stevie Nicks shirt, and I was like, that's a cool shirt. I wonder where they got. I should ask, because I think it'd be a cool thing, like, for my wife. And I'm like, yeah, I'm not gonna be this creepy guy that comes over and is like, hey, where'd you get that shirt? So I just said nothing.
Peter Rosenberg
You didn't realize it was Taylor Swift?
Alan Hahn
No, because they're back switching me, and
Peter Rosenberg
she had her hair in a drop.
Alan Hahn
She had her hair in a ponytail, man. Like, I wasn't thinking anything other than I don't want to be the creepy dude.
Peter Rosenberg
I mean, even Don knew it was Taylor Swift. I mean, that's. You know what I mean?
Alan Hahn
She wasn't facing me.
Peter Rosenberg
But how do you see the shirt?
Don Hahn
If you're any kind of human, you should be able to tell I had
Alan Hahn
seen it, so I knew that there was a shirt. So I just saw it. And then I.
Peter Rosenberg
Then you were just looking at her back.
Don Hahn
So was it Stevie Nicks, Dickleback, and what else?
Peter Rosenberg
And Nicole Kidman.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. Yeah. So I just went too hard.
Peter Rosenberg
No, that's. That is so tough. Give me Hakeem Nicks. I mean, please, Nicole Kidman. It doesn't work.
Alan Hahn
St. Nick's say something.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, but, you know, you didn't ask her.
Caller 3
I didn't.
Alan Hahn
Until I thought I go wandering away and whatever, and I just turned and I'm like, oh. Oh, my God. Like, I just felt like such an idiot, because that would have been a pretty good, you know, conversation starter, don't you think?
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
Also, are we moving past Hargitay and the Lakers thing now?
Don Hahn
We already moved.
Peter Rosenberg
I mean, she was on the court
Alan Hahn
screaming like she interrupted the interview that I think that. That Jalen was doing with whomever I got.
Don Hahn
I got a question about that one with. We come back.
Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't want to know how the
Alan Hahn
sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don, Alan and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Overview This electric episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg dives deep into one of the greatest nights in New York Knicks history: their epic Game 4 comeback win at Madison Square Garden for a commanding 3-1 NBA Finals lead. Hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg (with appearances by passionate fans) relive every unforgettable moment—most notably OG Anunoby’s last-second putback and the relentless heart shown by the Knicks, team and crowd alike. The mood is joyous, grateful, and slightly disbelieving, as decades of Knicks suffering and hope are unpacked through storytelling, crowd recollections, and energetic debate.
On the OG Anunoby putback:
On the Garden crowd:
On sports miracles/comparisons:
On resiliency and belief:
Fans on what this means:
On living in Wembanyama’s head:
Cultural footnote:
This hour of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg is a vibrant document of New York sports euphoria—a sports talk masterclass packed with gritty analysis, emotion, and cultural flavor. For Knick fans (and non-fans), it’s both a time capsule and an invitation to believe.