Hour 1: KAT's Struggles

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – “Hour 1: KAT’s Struggles”

ESPN New York | October 29, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

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Episode Overview

The hosts dive deep into the latest Knicks road loss—a game marked by tantalizing highs and frustrating lows—zeroing in on Karl-Anthony Towns’ (KAT) on-court struggles and the emerging chemistry issues in the team. The Giannis-to-New-York rumors provide further intrigue, as Hahn dissects the postgame soundbites and the plausible futures for both franchises. The hour also features classic tangents and playful banter, touching on everything from foot massages to New York sports culture.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recapping an Electric Devils Game

• Initial Banter and Recap:
  The opening segment features joking about the ESPN app followed by a recount of a wild Devils game. The hosts discuss improbable comebacks, the emotional rollercoaster, and Don’s memorable play-by-play calls.

• Notable Moment: Don’s animated call on the Devils’ surge from 5-0 down to 5-4, impressing both co-hosts.

  “Don’s call on the fourth goal, though, unreal. … I hope we do. It was incredible.”
  — Alan Hahn [01:55]

• Emotional Color: Discussion about how fans (including Hahn’s daughter) pick favorite players, and the fun of following a team through ups and downs.

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2. A Sidetrack on Self-care: Foot Massages

• Peter’s Advocacy: Rosenberg champions the virtues of foot and neck massages, especially for road-weary broadcasters. Banter leads to jokes about Pulp Fiction, Thai massage parlors, and the challenge of trying something new.
• Relation to Sports: The conversation stands as witty interlude but subtly emphasizes athlete/broadcaster self-care.

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3. Upcoming Show Structure

• Announcements:
  • Guests: Jeff Passan at 4pm, Booger McFarland at 4:30pm.
  • Live group “Jabroni Land” list segment, ranking stars in the “wrong” jerseys (a nod to Michael Jordan’s Wizard days).
• Listener Engagement: The hosts encourage call-ins and YouTube comments for the ongoing list and Knicks reactions.

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4. Knicks vs. Bucks: Game Analysis

The Collapse:

• Knicks dropped a game after a promising 45-point second quarter, only to sputter offensively after halftime.
• The offense faltered, sparking internal frustration.

“The Knicks scored 45 points in the second quarter. Then they scored 40 in the second half. That’s all you need to know.”
— Alan Hahn [16:06]

Giannis Takes Over:

• Giannis dominated with 37/8/7, including a signature move that didn’t draw a travel call—“He was gathering at the three-point line; nobody does that.” [18:08]
• Notably, Hahn highlights Giannis’ visible extra motivation in MSG.

“He makes a layup, he turns and the crowd’s going crazy, Knicks call timeout. And he said, this is my city. You could read his lips.”
— Alan Hahn [18:43]

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5. Giannis to NYC Rumors: Sifting Truth from Postgame Spin

• Report Recap: ESPN had implied Giannis’ preferred trade destination was New York.

• Giannis’ (Non-)Denial: In postgame remarks, Giannis claims ignorance about the rumors.

  “Who said that? I don't read that.”
  — Giannis Antetokounmpo (paraphrased by Hahn) [19:35]

• Media Savvy: Hahn peels back the PR veneer, calling Giannis’ remarks “well scripted … and none of it was really that true.”

• Decoding “Right Now”: Hahn stresses that Giannis repeatedly said “right now,” hinting at an open future.

  “They always leave you one little Easter egg … He added that, he kept the right now, and he said it twice … that's his little wink.”
  — Alan Hahn [21:38]

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6. Karl-Anthony Towns: Struggles and Frustration

a) On-Court Observations

• KAT was functionally uninvolved early due to team offense, rebounded well, but forced shots in the third—possibly after pressure to “get his.”
• The offense collapsed after halftime.

“It looked like Towns, like someone got in his ear and said, ‘You got to get some shots up. You're not getting any shots.’”
— Alan Hahn [31:49]

b) Coach Mike Brown’s Public Critique

• Mike Brown calls out “offensive stagnancy,” stating that one player holding the ball stifled movement, letting Milwaukee’s defense lock in.
• Brown indirectly singles out Towns, stating he had to “have it out” with him postgame.

“Our offensive stagnancy hurt our defense because … The ball wasn’t moving. … They're setting their defense, they're now realizing, okay, this is easy. …”
— Mike Brown via Alan Hahn [33:09]

c) KAT’s Accountability

• Towns admits to pressing and trying to do too much, accepting full responsibility.

  "I pressed a little bit too much today. I had more experience than to do that, but … that's on me and I take full responsibility.”
  — Karl-Anthony Towns [34:33]

• Jalen Brunson, ever the leader, tries to shield Towns, taking some blame himself.

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7. Bigger Picture: Knicks, Patience, and Pressure

• The hosts debate why there’s so much public and internal anxiety after only four games, given that the front office had tried to lower expectations due to a new coach and system.
• Hahn suggests the urgency is because the core has the talent “to be 4-0,” but the problem is visible resistance from a key star (Towns) in embracing the new structure.

“Your second best player has not bought in. … You hear the frustration from the coach thinking everything will be fine. Look at that second quarter... But it has to be for four quarters.”
— Alan Hahn [40:14]

• Don’s Insightful Theory: Don speculates that Towns, knowing he’d have to be involved in any Giannis trade, is unsettled both by the system shift and his uncertain future.

  “As he's adjusting to a new coach, there's still the possibility that he's not going to be here when it's all said and done. … You don’t think he knows that?”
  — Don LaGreca [45:17]

• Hahn agrees, noting rumors and internal uncertainty may impact KAT’s psyche and play.

• Callers echo this concern, bringing up KAT’s health and overall fit.

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8. Rapid Takes & Other Sports

• Quick trade news: Jets swap Michael Carter for John Metchie, seeking wide receiver help.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Don’s call on the fourth goal, though, unreal.”
  Alan Hahn [01:55]
• On Giannis rumors: “There was a non denial denial in that answer, but there was also ‘right now I’m here’. … That’s his little wink … for now.”
  Alan Hahn [21:38]
• Mike Brown (via Alan) on stagnant offense: “The ball wasn’t moving … whoever has the ball, he gonna try to take a shot or he’s gonna hold on to it till five seconds on the shot clock.” [33:13]
• Towns accepting blame: "I pressed a little bit too much today … that’s on me and I take full responsibility.”
  KAT [34:33]
• Don on KAT's mind: “You don’t think … every time they talk about Giannis, he has to be thinking, alright, I’m probably the guy that's going in that deal, right?”
  Don LaGreca [45:17]
• Brunson’s leadership: "'I didn't do a good job of that … got to be a better leader …'"
  Alan Hahn, summarizing Brunson [35:05]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:00 – 05:20]: Devils’ wild comeback and Don’s broadcast prowess.
• [06:10 – 11:30]: Sidebar on foot spas and self-care.
• [12:00 – 14:40]: Introduction of the “Jabroni Land” jersey list segment.
• [15:15 – 18:45]: Knicks vs. Bucks breakdown; scoring drought.
• [18:43 – 22:30]: Giannis’ postgame demeanor and analysis of his “right now” phrasing.
• [31:45 – 35:04]: Towns’ second-half struggles, coach’s critique, and Towns’ accountability.
• [36:06 – 40:14]: Knicks’ early frustrations; why urgency?
• [45:17 – 46:36]: Don’s theory on KAT’s mindset amid trade rumors.
• [48:04 – 49:56]: Callers weigh in on Towns’ physical/mental state.
• [51:00 – End]: Light banter about music, hosts’ camaraderie, wrap-up.

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Tone & Style

The show blends classic New York sports radio energy—direct, passionate, and witty—with in-depth basketball analysis. Hahn delivers analytical breakdowns, Don plays the affable skeptic and theorist, Rosenberg supplies pop-culture wit and self-deprecating humor. The hosts are quick to poke fun at themselves and each other, but also probe deeper emotional and structural issues affecting the New York sports scene.

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Takeaway

This episode deftly unpacks the Knicks’ early-season growing pains, provides rare behind-the-scenes perspective on superstar trade rumors, and explores the subtle psychological effects of uncertainty on star players like Towns. All the while, it remains an entertaining listen for die-hard fans and casual sports radio followers alike.

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For those who missed the episode, this summary captures both the substance and the spirit of Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg’s hour-one discussion.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

Talk about stepping up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bang, bang.

[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Level up.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

At stream.espn.com sign up now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don, you're a filth bag.

[Don LaGreca]

You're a sex star. Filth bag. Han, the guy's gonna be 41 flicking it.

[Alan Hahn]

And Rosenberg, go look at Redford in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That movie right now. You'll want to hook up with him. This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Don LaGreca]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Alan Hahn]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube 301 in the big city with Don Legreca. Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. So the streak is over, Peter. That's it. I know, but what a. I mean, you talk about a barn burner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What did it end up? It was 6, 4 when I last saw 8.

[Alan Hahn]

Was it 848484? How do you, Don. How do you have a voice after that game? That second period alone, that's 12 goals. Unreal. That's the second period. Had what? What did it have? Six goals alone in that second.

[Don LaGreca]

What was it, two nothing after one.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Then it was.

[Don LaGreca]

It was five, four. It was six, four after two.

[Alan Hahn]

Insane.

[Don LaGreca]

So it five nothing. It's over. And you've been in these situations before, Alan, where it's like, all right, you got to do the game. Gotta still call the game, Right? But, you know, it's late to begin with. It's, you know, puck drop was at 908 back in New York. It's five nothing. You know, you're on the road, you know, and then next thing you know, it's five one, five two, five, five, three. And then Jack with an amazing goal makes it five four. It's like, oh, my God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So at five. So let me. Let me.

[Alan Hahn]

Don's call on the fourth goal, though. Unreal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have it.

[Alan Hahn]

I hope we do. It was incredible. Like, I'm telling you, Don, I had. Because I was. I was obviously engaged in the Knicks game. We'll get into that in a moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the baseball wasn't.

[Alan Hahn]

And I. That once the Nick game was over, I flipped over and it was just goal after goal. You called that five, four. And Gracie's like, screaming because she's like, they're going to win this Game. She was going nuts because she loves Jack Hughes. She loves the Devils shows.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Devils specifically.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I mean, the gateway was Jack, let's be honest. But now. Now she's into gateway drug.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So do I. So I was. We have to.

[Alan Hahn]

But now she really likes that. She knows the team. She can tell me everything about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have to worry that Gracie is on her way to being a Nancy Lagra kind of fan, where her favorite teams are based on the cuteness of the best player.

[Alan Hahn]

She's not on her way. She's there. Yeah, my girl's there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who else does she. Hold on.

[Alan Hahn]

Who else is any. Any of the teenage NHL players? So Celebrini, Bedard, all of them. She knows them all. Oh, Shaffer, the kid on Long island, loves him. So that's what. That's what she's about. But the Devils are her team and she actually got it because. And look for a franchise. That's not a bad thing. You got a fan of your team. From there, she can name every player. She knew about Markstrom. She told me. Don didn't tell me Markstrom was going to come back from the injury last night. Gracie told me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Unreal.

[Alan Hahn]

Don kept up to himself.

[Don LaGreca]

I thought I mentioned it, but.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you did not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So Don, at five three, once the third one gets in, well, five, four, but once it gets to three, is that when you go, okay, we got a game again?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah. But yeah, once you get within two goals with this firepower and the way the game was feeling like, because remember, they scored when by the time the Jack scored, make a five, four, they had scored four goals in just over four minutes. So you figured it's just gonna be one of those games and maybe they'll just get the last shot. I'm. I'm just hoping at that point, you know, give me a game. Because at 5, nothing, I'm like, we don't have a game. He's going to, you know, get out of dodge and just take the loss. But now you got a game. And then Meyer takes the penalty at the end of the second period.

[Alan Hahn]

Brutal.

[Don LaGreca]

And. And Colorado ends up scoring four. Power play goes. Devils allowed two all season. Colorado scored four in one game. And then Devils had a power play late in that second, carried over into the third once they didn't score there. And then Colorado scores again on the power play at 7 4. But at least we had a game. And it was fun. It was back and forth.

[Alan Hahn]

It was so entertaining. And Dano's great because Dano goes from just. You could Hear it. And it's like he, he wears the wins and losses like. Salvador is very professional. He calls it as it is, you know, like that. But Dano is at 5 nothing. You hear me? He's just like, well, you know, you can't do that and this can't happen and that. But then by the third goal, you, he's. He was literally. He didn't say it, but you could hear it in his voice. We're going to win this game. Like he had that kind of emotion. But then at 5 4, we had Don at his best.

[Don LaGreca]

Don't look now, it's now a 5, 3 game still here in the second period and the devil's looking for more. Here comes Hughes with palat.

[Alan Hahn]

And Bret. Bret Hughes. Score.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's found it.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, Don, he's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's finding it, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Pitch perfect. And then you hear Dano, right? Just. He couldn't not contain himself. He's so into it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're doing a hell of a job.

[Alan Hahn]

Really, man. Like, even in a loss like that was still fun. That was still a fun, a fun broadcast, a fun game. And that team is. I told you, that team is fun to watch regardless of the score and the frustration, everything else. So that's, that's the good part. So we're happy for Don. You are now in San Jose, correct? Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like you dream of.

[Don LaGreca]

At about 2:00am oh, beauty. Which is 5:00am New York time. So I'm still all messed up. You're feeling it two hours behind. Now it's three.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So it's, it's, it's just afternoon here.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep. That's how it works with the three hour.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, the Beauty, they play tomorrow. Tonight.

[Don LaGreca]

Sorry, tomorrow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh. So the beauty is you get off the air today at 4 o' clock like you dream about. You're gonna go enjoy the town.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, it's 80 degrees in San Jose today.

[Alan Hahn]

He could actually catch a nap.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know.

[Alan Hahn]

I want. Then enjoy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want to add something to Don's life because I don't know if it's a part of his life and I think. I think it should be.

[Alan Hahn]

What's that?

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I could be wrong. Maybe it is a part of your life, but I didn't really get into this until Natalie sort of put me on to it. How often are you stopping by? Just like a, A foot spa and getting a nice foot massage?

[Don LaGreca]

No, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Great call.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead. Not interested or never have or just have never done.

[Don LaGreca]

I never have. That's not something I think of now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have you literally ever done it? Have you ever sat back, throw on your headphones, listen to something or caught up on a game you needed to watch while a trained professional goes to town on those tired piggies. Piggies of yours?

[Don LaGreca]

The only thing I know about foot massages is what was mentioned in Pulp Fiction. That's it. That's all I got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've given a thousand women a thousand foot massages, and every one of them meant something. You know what? I'm the bleeping foot master. No, well, listen, I'm telling you, Don.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't tickle or nothing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That scene is such a. It's such perfect work, the writing, but.

[Don LaGreca]

And also enjoyed the analogy too, that they came up.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I may.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I may look in San Jose for you and see if I find. Well, I'm gonna find out what hotel you're bo.

[Alan Hahn]

Warning. Yeah, just warning. Don should probably. First time with Nancy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, at least. No. At least mention it to her. You gotta. You gotta give her the.

[Alan Hahn]

But I wouldn't. I don't think his maiden voice should be without her.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on, for a massage. It's not a full body.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, man, he's not getting nude. How often does Nancy go?

[Don LaGreca]

Never.

[Alan Hahn]

That's what I mean. But let them together.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You think she'd feel away.

[Alan Hahn]

Because she'll then know how great it is that. That if he's on a long road trip and he's tired, it's like, you know what, Don, why don't you go ahead and get. Just get a. Get a pedicure real quick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now. Can I just say this, though? And I think Don will agree.

[Alan Hahn]

Or the head and neck. You do the head and neck is unreal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, sometimes. And Don, they'll do a deal where it's like you do an hour, 40 minute foot, 15, 20 minute head and neck, and you just sit in a chair and they just work out real. None of this is like taking your clothes off. This is. No, you know, it's nothing. That's weak. Because I admit, if you've never done regular massages, the first time you go take it all off and get under a thing, it's a.

[Alan Hahn]

It's an experience.

[Peter Rosenberg]

New thing.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But yeah, this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is though, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, this is not gonna be like, yeah, you don't have to worry about me long love you long time or any of that. Don't worry about that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're talking about orchids of Asia.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm not swinging by the orchids of Asia.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is not by orchids of Asia. And the beauty is, like, the other night, the other day, Natalie and I just had a day. Just not a good. Not a. Not a good. And when I say that, I don't mean good. And I was like, do you mind if I get a foot massage? And she said, no. Now, on my way out the door, a little birdie jumped on my shoulder and said, hey, maybe ask the postpartum woman if she wants to be the one to go get the massage. I call her. I go, babe, are you sure you don't want to get the massage tonight? I'm good. And she was like, no, I want to watch Top Chef. Enjoy yourself. And I went in there. Have my headphones. There was a wwe, an NXT show on. I watched nxt. I had my headphones on. Oh, Don, I'm telling you.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm telling you, we're getting older. We need it, too.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it is. It's. Yeah, you got. It's you. It's self care.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Self, self care, Donnie.

[Don LaGreca]

I will think about that.

[Alan Hahn]

I like it.

[Don LaGreca]

And I do get per diem. It's for food, but I guess I can.

[Alan Hahn]

It's really for everything, let's be honest. Plus, when you're with a team, how much do you really pay to eat?

[Don LaGreca]

I don't want to say exactly where I am.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't.

[Don LaGreca]

The hotel, but I'm on Santana row. The vibe in San Jose is very, very cool. Yes, it's a very cool vibe here. Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm texting you right now. I've been. I've been there. What hotel? I'm texting you right now. Don't respond to my.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm curious to the answer as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I want to see what hotel you're at. No, I was there for Wrestlemania. I think it's underrated. San Jose.

[Alan Hahn]

It is. It's great town.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Lovely, lovely little place. Home of the great Bailey of WWE fame.

[Don LaGreca]

So while that's. If that's a. That's a cool spot. What?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll tell you when it comes through. Huh? You know, with Don's green phone, it could take days. You never.

[Don LaGreca]

Traveling 3,000 miles.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's. You didn't see it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Oh, he sent it to the group.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

Ooh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds nice.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it does. I have never been.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm looking that up right now. By the way, I bet they have a spa.

[Alan Hahn]

They might. If it's. If it's the amount of stars it should be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm just telling you right now, there's a chance. And there are People out there listening. I know some are listening and they're going, oh, Rosenberg. Typical snowflake weirdo wants a massage. Whatever. I would never. Blah, blah, blah. No pedicures.

[Alan Hahn]

Those.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're lame.

[Alan Hahn]

Those who know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Once you know.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's if you know, you know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's called enjoying life.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's an if you know, you know, conversation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My wife, when she so in Thailand, apparently they're like literally 10 bucks for an hour or whatever. Because the exchange rate, what My wife on her trips to Thailand, which she's done several times. She's a psycho. I want you to know. My wife is a psycho.

[Don LaGreca]

She would stop.

[Alan Hahn]

She married you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly. So just keep that in mind.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

On. On a day where she's out shooting and, you know, doing her thing, she would stop two or three times and get.

[Alan Hahn]

And go again bucks. Why not?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's $10. Why not throw him a nice tip, too? Here you go.

[Don LaGreca]

Stop it for a cup of coffee.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, right.

[Don LaGreca]

That's a Starbucks run, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It really is. And if you're at the airport. If you're at the airport, it's half a Starbucks run.

[Alan Hahn]

Exactly. It's the tip from your Starbucks run.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, enjoy yourself, Don. You're killing it out there. In spite of the loss, this is. This is going fast. Swimmingly so far.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. I'm making sure everybody at ESPN can hear this stuff too. Cause it's really good. In the meantime, again, 800-919-3776. Again. As if I said it once before, but I'm saying it now to begin the show. So please be part of the conversation as you always are. Hi to everybody on YouTube watching in the comments. Peter's always monitoring as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, this is beautiful.

[Alan Hahn]

Ask questions there. As well as part of everything that we're going to talk about. A couple of guests today, correct? We have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We do.

[Alan Hahn]

Jeff Passion, who right now. Yes. Yeah, that's true. It could always change.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He could change his mind.

[Alan Hahn]

He. He did have to push yesterday's interview to today, so we got him at four. And as usual, Booger McFarland. First time today. Booger McFarlane hits every side. 4:30. We have a list, don't we?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, we do.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, that's right.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got it.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no, no, said the man. Well, we were.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We were going to collab on it. We should. We should talk during the break.

[Alan Hahn]

We'll discuss. Yeah, well, we're going to definitely discuss.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We could almost talk it throughout. Loud and make the list as A family.

[Alan Hahn]

You want to do it that way? Like, how do you feel about this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It could be fun, though, as a.

[Alan Hahn]

If we just do a kitchen table conversation. And in the end, that's our list.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And, like, people can call up during the segment and make their case. Because it's a fun list.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. We'll curate it live, and then at the end of the segment, we will deliver.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's do it.

[Alan Hahn]

You like that?

[Don LaGreca]

So what's the topic?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The topic? It came up yesterday when who were we talking about going there?

[Alan Hahn]

I forget. Travis Kelsey. Travis Kelsey ending up somewhere else.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said, what if Travis Kelce, you know, he can't. I said, he can't leave the Chiefs and end up in Jabroni land.

[Alan Hahn]

And I asked, what is Jabroni?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he said. And then we realized, I just say words. I don't know what they mean when I say them. But as we talked through it, what we realized, Jabroni land is, is when you have a career somewhere spectacular, and then you end up in a jersey that no one's ever gonna picture you in. It's just. It's just not right. It's just like, why is that guy. And the obvious one to give everyone. The example would be obviously Jordan in the Wizard's jersey.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Respectfully, to my hometown. It's just not right.

[Alan Hahn]

That's. That is probably the. The.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The mascot version.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah. That would be the example given in the dictionary.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But there are a lot of good ones.

[Don LaGreca]

I've got my list because I did. You already have early in Covid.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You did the same.

[Don LaGreca]

I definitely have five. And the other thing that I used to do, especially when I was growing up, whenever there'd be a trade rumor, I would say to myself, whether it's going to happen or not, based on, can I picture that player in that jersey?

[Alan Hahn]

Right. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm like, I can't do it. It's not that the trade's not going to happen, and then if it does happen, you're just kind of floored. So to me, it's not just. I can't believe he's there. I just. That look of. Of that player wearing that jersey, there's a bunch of them that are really good. And I can't wait, because when we're done, guys, to put the pictures up when. When. When Jake puts it together.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, great.

[Don LaGreca]

Out. It's just because a lot of. A lot of people may not remember certain players playing on teams. Football is really big with this baseball, too, where it's just like, oh, my.

[Alan Hahn]

God, I forgot the NBA in the last 10 years has suddenly become that as well where there are players in like one we're actually going to talk about today who happens to be in the, in the old headlines that we'll get to. But I love this list. I think it'll be fun and we'll get everybody part of it. Now since we have guests at 4 and 4:30, right. Are we doing this list at 4:45? Are we going to move this into the 5 o' clock hour 5:30 list? Jacob suggests.

[Don LaGreca]

I think it could be fun at 5:30, 5:30. A lot of fun at 5:30, everybody time.

[Alan Hahn]

And you can also be part of that conversation. Take it off. Take it 800 now. 193776 and of course on the YouTube channel as well. We say hi to everybody there and we'll, we'll see some of the suggestions that'll be in the comments. In the meantime, the Knicks lose again last night. That, that was a but ugly game, especially that second half. It was not a good game and you know, the suggestion during preseason was that there were going to be days like this and what it, what it looked like for one quarter that, that second quarter. Now Don, I know you're working Peter, I'm not sure how much you were able to take in the game, but if I told you that I really.

[Don LaGreca]

Appreciate though the, the, the being able to feel it through the text thread.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I was a little poorly they.

[Don LaGreca]

Were shooting what's going on with Cats.

[Alan Hahn]

I was a little, I did get.

[Don LaGreca]

A sense and then I read up and watched all the highlights after the game.

[Alan Hahn]

This is what happens when I'm not on the broadcast and I'm, I have to watch someone else talk about it. It makes me, you know that I need to get it out somehow some way. So you guys had to deal with it. The Knicks scored 45 points in the second quarter. Then they scored 40 in the second half. That's all you need to know. That was the best and the worst of what it looks like when it comes to the offense. But there's two takeaways from this game. The Giannis stuff. I almost feel like I want to save. Like I'm going to give you guys. This is, I'm going to give you door one, Door two. Do you want my take on the car Anthony Towns of it all. That basically all, all fingers pointed at him after the game, including Mike Brown, who didn't even hesitate to call him out publicly. Or do you want what Giannis said after the Game about all the rumors and what I would love to tell you about the reality and the truth behind what he said. Pick one. Which one do you want? We'll do them both.

[Don LaGreca]

Sexier.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Give us the sexy.

[Alan Hahn]

You want the sexy?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, so obvious. First of all, he played great. No surprise. He's been. He's. Come on. He's started the season off unreal. He had 37 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks. He. He was phenomenal. He had one drive to the basket that he took seven steps. Did not. No one called the travel. But this is.

[Don LaGreca]

God, that was ridiculous.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. You saw the replay of that, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that was. That was pretty Jamaican.

[Alan Hahn]

Also.

[Don LaGreca]

How many trying to explain why it's legal.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, because of the ball in the head, like.

[Don LaGreca]

But that whole thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Word that he used, the gather. Yes. It's like, I get that's what they're trying to say, but we all know that's a bunch of crap. He, like, Jamal Crawford just looked at Reggie Miller. You could hear, Reg, how many steps, Reg. Like, they know that it's bogus, but it's the way it's officiated. But when he's in a Nick jersey next season, we're going to say it's great, so don't worry about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he was.

[Don LaGreca]

He was gathering.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, he wasn't. He was gathering at the three point line. Nobody does that. So during the game, he makes a big bucket. You could see the momentum swinging. The Knick offense was awful. They couldn't make a shot. They were. They were 13 of 40 from 3 point range. There were a bunch of guys that couldn't shoot. It was really bad in the second half. And then Towns had his own thing we'll talk about, but you could feel momentum had turned and they were going to win the game. He makes a layup, he turns and the crowd's going crazy. Nick's called timeout. And he said, this is my city. You can read his lips. And then he's like, I'm built for that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whatever he was saying, he was saying.

[Alan Hahn]

Some kind of like, I'm built for this. I want, like, whatever it is. And so, like, he was really being demonstrative. So after the game, the right thing to do by the media is to let the local media ask about the game, which they did and then came talking about. Okay, well, there's a relationship now with you and the Knicks pretty clearly. So let's get to the point. And I give credit to Ian Begley and Steph Bondi. Who both right away went to him with the ESPN report that said that you, if you were going to be traded, the only place you wanted to go was to the Knicks. His response was well scripted and well delivered, and none of it was really that true. You know, going back to the ESPN report from earlier this month, part of it was that if you were traded, you'd prefer to go to the Knicks. Who said that? It was in ESPN Report that shit. I don't read that. I was wondering if that is true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And if it is or it's not.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. I don't remember that right now. I'm like, I'm here representing my team and that's it. We beat the Knicks, you know, so it doesn't really matter what. What matters right now? We have a game two days against Golden State. Try to stay locked in and get two in a row. But I didn't read that article. Try to stay away from all that rumors and I don't know, you call it speculations and trade and all this. It doesn't concern me one bit. I try to involve my. Myself and try to help my team win games. Okay, so everything he said there is scripted. This is what all of the superstars who are in trade rumors when we all know, like, Giannis knows that we know, and we know that Giannis knows. So you play this game back in. Back in November. You want to drop? Go ahead. November of 2010, the Knicks went to Denver. I was covering the team. I was a beat writer, and I knew from talking to Carmelo Anthony that morning, like, there's. There's, like, knicks didn't get LeBron. I told him, you're next. And he laughed. He's like, you think so? I'm like, yeah, you're next. You're. You're gonna be the guy. So it started to become a thing. And so after the game, he was asked all the stuff about the Knicks and speculators. He's like, I don't. I don't know what's going on with that. Like, he was saying all the right things, but we all knew his contract was coming up and he wanted to leave Denver. So Giannis is in the same place as I explained yesterday. So he had to say things like, you know what Rafael Palmeiro said? I misremember. I don't. I don't know what you're talking about. Right. I don't remember any of that stuff. It was a month ago. But you told us you remembered that the Knicks swept your team last year, but you don't remember a major story about you and a team that you want to be traded to. Okay, so we're not buying that, but he's got to say it. But the key phrase, they always leave you one little Easter egg, these guys, whenever they talk. There was a non denial denial in that answer, but there was also right now I'm here. He added that he kept the right now, and he said it twice in his response right now. So that's his little wink that tells you. Yeah, for now. Remember I told you he said, in seven months I'm allowed to change my mind. Seven months is a summer. So he's telling everybody right now, this is where I am. But he's not saying he's here for good. And he knows it. We know it, but he can't say it. And that's why he gave the answer he gave after the game. And it's going to continue all season.

[Don LaGreca]

And I also don't appreciate the whole wall, all the media, as if, like, this is all being made up.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't pay attention to speculation. I just created.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, we just. This is all just made up by the media. And poor Giannis has to now deal with it. When the media gets used to send out the message and it's all, listen, maybe he'll stay there, maybe he'll go someplace else, who the heck knows? But it's a story when they want it to be a story, and then everybody's a bad guy when they don't want it to be a story anymore. So I'm glad it's over, but I did want to get at least the sense of it now. Now let's get to the offensive side of things for the Knicks.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well, that's coming up. 800 now and nine three, seven, seven six. Right. Because currently the team is going through what a lot of those inside the organization expected was going to take some time, but what you didn't expect was going to be resistance from one of the star players. You saw that last night. There was a bit of a, like, I'm not going to say rebellion, but in the second half, Mike Brown suddenly had a problem and he had to handle it, and he handled it after the game. So that is something to discuss. But I am curious again, for Nick fans, when you watch Giannis last night, he looked a little extra motivated. He looked like he wanted to put on a show. He looked like a guy that said, oh, you didn't want to trade for me? Let me show you what you miss. He definitely had something Going on personal on that court. And when he comes to the Garden in another month, he's going to face these questions again, and he's going to face a lot of more of the scrutiny again. But he's. This time, he's going to do it in the Garden, where fans he's going to hear from as well. There are Nick fans that told me, I don't want to trade for Giannis. I don't want to do that. I don't want to blow up the Roger. I don't. When you watched him last night, you.

[Don LaGreca]

Have to look at it.

[Alan Hahn]

Was there any part of you that said, I don't want this guy?

[Don LaGreca]

I like Mike Tannenbaum, but, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I didn't want his.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not on this, though.

[Alan Hahn]

That was not on this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, no, you cannot watch that guy play and think, I don't want in on this. Now, that may be a separate thought from, well, I'm not willing to give up X Player. X Player. X Player. Who knows? But how do you watch this guy?

[Alan Hahn]

It's a complicated trade, but if you know, and we all know again, wink, wink, this is where he wants to be, and this is the one place he wants to be when he's finally done in Milwaukee, which is probably the end of the season, this is where he wants to be. Do you say to yourself, yeah, by the end of the year, if this team doesn't win a championship now, the championship changes everything. I think if you don't win a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Title or fighting for a title, you know, they go six in the finals, it's. It's hard. You blow it up. Okay, that would be crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's what I want to know. Like, what is it that tell you they shouldn't do this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got to see it.

[Alan Hahn]

Unfortunately, like I said, his words last night were not of a man that said, I don't want to be traded, and I don't want to go there. No, his words were, right now, here I am. And so, in the meantime, I. I really can't talk about it, but you can.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[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 this show on demand when you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. There you go Donnie Little Bird Bacharach, right?

[Don LaGreca]

So funny. When I called the kids earlier, there Was like they said to me, do you know the way, Daddy? I was like, do I know the way where? Do you know the way to San Jose? I'm like, my Nancy obviously got to them because they're not going to stumble upon this song that Dion Warwick, but I wonder how San Jose feels about that. That's the song they're known for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What song is it again? Do you know the way to San Jose by Burt Bacharach?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, he. He wrote it, I believe. Wrote it. That's performed by Dion Warwick.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. You've heard of Peter?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have I. I heard. I just heard it.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, here's what you need to hear.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you know the way to San Jose? Dion Warwick. Yeah, I don't think I do.

[Alan Hahn]

I thought it wasn't it in Forrest Gump. Might have been.

[Don LaGreca]

It might have been.

[Alan Hahn]

Might have been. There was a lot of songs in there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a double. Double disc soundtrack, right?

[Don LaGreca]

It's when.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's a double disc.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, it is. Correct.

[Don LaGreca]

Peter won't know this station. I don't think maybe you will, Alan. There was a station, it might still be exist on a wpat. Oh, yeah, it was. It was a. Was a light station. Yep. You know, before Light FM and I worked at a pharmacy forever, basically my. From high school through college all the way into my career from 85 to 96. And they'd always have WPAT on. So there's some songs from back in the day that are just embedded that. Yeah, I assume everybody knows, but I only know because I was listening to WPAAT for like eight hours a day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. It's like that.

[Don LaGreca]

And then you get that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That record, for example. I can totally see being one that just like. Yeah. If you don't have a particular station like that, you listen to it slip. It could easily slip through your childhood.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now you. You mentioned the soundtrack. The only thing I see that you.

[Alan Hahn]

Could be thinking of is what is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Raindrops keep falling on my head?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Burt Bacharach.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Was. Are you going to San Francisco on that one?

[Don LaGreca]

Flower in your hair?

[Alan Hahn]

That's probably what I was thinking of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. I don't see.

[Don LaGreca]

Similar track, similar vibe.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a.

[Don LaGreca]

Because it was in the movie doesn't mean it ended.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, there it is. San Francisco. Be sure to wear flowers in your hair by John Phillips.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's the one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There it is. Turn, turn, turn. You know that's on there.

[Alan Hahn]

Tell you what, the soundtrack's not terrible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not terrible. I mean, it's just one smash Hit.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, it's got a lot, but it's very. It's. It's. It goes through the timeline just like the movie does. So it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God, can we just be honest? Let's just have a conversation. You know, who doesn't get talked about enough? I'm gonna go to the calls. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. If you're Robert Zemeckis and you've made Back to the Future and Forrest Gump, that's sort of a drop my. Sort of a drop your mic, walk out like, hey, I. I just. I did what I did.

[Alan Hahn]

How did we somehow get back to Back to the Future? It's really amazing how you pull that off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, we're in. We're living in the moment right now, of course. 28th to November 5th. We're in it, right?

[Alan Hahn]

I know. It's. It's. We need the. The flux capacitor now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now. Anthony makes a great point. If I'm going to completely derail the.

[Alan Hahn]

Show, might as well.

[Don LaGreca]

Let me just say it's already off the track. Let me just say it's a matter. What. What end of the train. Is it the roof or how do we get back upright?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, we might as well have a transmission.

[Alan Hahn]

Impossible. We're hanging off the train. It's all hanging off the bridge if.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We'Re on the train. Let's get a drink, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Let's get one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go to the snack car. Bud Light and ESPN New York are sending you to UFC at msg, baby. Tap the Bud Light tile on the ESPN New York app and enter for your chance to win a pair of tickets in the ESPN suite alongside me, Peter Rosenberg. You have the chance to win through the 7th of November. That's like another week. Listen and enter through the Bud Light tile to score your shot at the Ultimate Fight Night. Bud Light is the official beer of the UFC, so make your move now on the ESPN New York app. You got to be 21 and over. No purchase, necessary, void, or prohibited rules on the ESPN New York app. Please enjoy Bud Light responsibly.

[Alan Hahn]

Bud Light Fight Night. That's just feels right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's going to be a night, all right.

[Alan Hahn]

It didn't feel right last night for Carl Anthony Towns.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it didn't look right.

[Alan Hahn]

He took, what, one shot in the first half? But the team, as I mentioned, at 45 points in the second quarter, the offense started to really click. It was beautiful basketball. He just wasn't involved when it comes to scoring. He was rebounding he was, you know, he was drawing defense that was allowing other people to get open. It's the way it was supposed to go. Then the third quarter started. The Knicks had a 12 point lead. And it looked like Towns like someone got in his ear and said, you got to get some shots up. You're not getting any shots. You got to get. You got to be aggressive, you got to look for your shot. Because that's what you hear all the time from people who don't care about team basketball. And I think Towns got in his own head about how I'm not involved and I gotta get involved. And he forced some things and everything went to hell and the offense fell apart. And then suddenly the Knicks saw a big lead that turned into nothing, that turned into a fight that turned into a loss that shouldn't have been. And Mike Brown, after the game, was not happy. We're still trying to find our way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A little bit and maybe we need to get hit in the mouth a few times to really respect, understand it.

[Alan Hahn]

See, he was started with that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you say exactly?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, like I said, you got to get hit in the mouth to really start to respect and understand the way we have to play. Right. We got away from what the way we want to play, our standard. But then he went on, he went a little deeper and while he did, he made sure to point out who he felt was the culprit.

[Don LaGreca]

Our offensive stagnancy hurt our defense because.

[Alan Hahn]

The ball wasn't moving. And so as a group are doing this because everybody's just standing and watching, they're setting their defense, they're now realizing, okay, this is easy. I don't have to worry about anything else because whoever has the ball, he gonna try to take a shot or he's gonna hold on to it till five seconds on the shot clock. Now he may pass. We don't have to move now. We're gonna get a stop, we're gonna get out and run. Because everybody's like this. There's no energy and we're going to punch him in the mouth. Oh, okay. We don't have him actually saying Towns who? He said Towns played great in the first half. And then he made it clear that he had to talk with Towns about the way he played in the second half, that he had to have it out with them and that they have to keep working with him. So Towns, after the game, when he met with the media, clearly had already talked to the coach, clearly also realized what he was doing or what he did in that second Half and he felt bad. I gotta do whatever's needed to win. You know, first half I played how.

[Don LaGreca]

We needed me to play, and, you.

[Alan Hahn]

Know, the game I felt switched up and I tried to get going just in case we needed me, and I just didn't make a shot. So I pressed a little bit too much today. I had more experience than to do that, but I didn't do what we needed to do to win tonight.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's on me.

[Alan Hahn]

And I take full responsibility on my accountability. Something big in this locker room. And I always will do that. So he owned it. He did own it. Now. Now, Don, the Mike Brown talking about Towns directly is almost a minute long. I know how you feel about these long cuts. Yeah, I didn't think the audio was very good either. So you want to just take my word for it that he called them out?

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. But you hear Towns turning around saying, yeah, right away. Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Clearly had a conversation.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And then. So Jalen Brunson then also talked about, you know, Towns did have a tough time, that he's adjusting and all. But of course, typical captain. What did he say? He said it was his fault. At the end of the day, Cat was playing great. And then he had a lot of gravity in the first half. It is on us to make sure that, you know, where everyone's eating, everyone's feeding off each other. I didn't do a good job of that. Part of the reason why we lost. I got contained, obviously. Be a better leader and be better at that part of my game, and we would have came out to win. Typical Brunson, making sure that Towns isn't the only one that's taking the blame. But what do we read of this? To me, it's four games in of a new system that everybody's still trying to figure out. And for Towns especially, who's more comfortable at the 5 they're asking to play 4. He's got to figure out different roles. And sometimes they're saying to him, you know, there's going to be games where the other team's just trying to take you out of the game. And guess what? You're probably not going to get to 25 points. You're probably going to just be the guy that's going to draw defense and open up for everybody else. But all we care about is winning now, right? Not stats. And that's easier said than done, especially early in the season.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, it's. I'm confused. Alan, help me out with this. I told you this was all going to Happen, Right. What's wrong with the Knicks? Even though everybody and their mother understood there was going to be an adjustment and even the Knicks kind of tamped down expectations all, you know, summer long and even going into the season by having Mitchell Robinson have a load management day on opening night.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

That in this market there people are going to not, they're not, they're not going to be patient even though they're told to be patient, that there's going to be growing pains. You've got a new coach, you've got a new system to learn. We're four games in, couple of losses in a row and already what's wrong with the Knicks? But the thing that confuses me, Alan, it's coming from the Knicks. Why can't the Knicks just say hey, it's early, camp is short, we're only four games in. We grabbed the first two games were 2, 0. We took on two tough teams. They hadn't, you know, they haven't lost to Milwaukee in forever. So that, that was due to change. And they got a world class player, Miami, that's a tough spot. Why did they lose? The offense disappeared in both games. Why? Because you're adjusting to a new system. So why are we calling players out? Why are we sounding frustrated, frustration from the coach and the captain and the star player of the team when all they did was tell you all summer long it's going to take time. So why are they the ones seeming so upset with the way they're playing when this just flat out makes sense? Just say it's early, we're making adjustments. So what's the truth, Alan? Is it a slow burn or do they want to win right away? Like what exactly is, is the mission statement? Because it sounds like coming off that loss that they should be doing better, they should be winning right away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

When all summer long we were told.

[Alan Hahn]

The opposite, Don, they should be four. No, they should be four. No. Because in both games they had the ability to win. The problem wasn't simply missing shot like Miami game. They missed a lot of open shots. They did. But what you were seeing though, I think why Mike Brown's annoyed is because he's looking at a star player and he's seeing resistance and he's like, listen, you gotta buy in. And look, Towns had, you know, he was at the podium before the season opener and somebody asked him how he's adjusting. He's like, yeah, you know, I'm still figuring out. But he had the body language of someone that wasn't all in he had the body language. Someone that was like, I guess I'll try. He is the one I think they're trying to drag in and buy in because I think he's looking at whatever they want him to do and saying, I don't know if I'm. I don't know if I like this. Like, look, they moved on from Tom Thibodeau. The entire locker room didn't want to have Tom Thibodeau fired. There was a, there were some players who certainly expressed an opinion and it was enough to make everyone feel like they got to make a change. But you've heard Jalen Brunson, he's very careful not to make comparisons to the past. He's very careful not to say, oh, this is so awesome. This is so much better.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When you could hear how much he cared when it, when it went down.

[Alan Hahn]

Absolutely.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was not thrilled.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So he's careful. Towns, though. Towns seems like he misses Tibbs more than anybody does, which is, which is amazing. You know, like guys like OG guys like Bridges, like they look thrilled. Right. With this system and those styles, everybody.

[Don LaGreca]

Is going to be but on board, whatever the move is.

[Alan Hahn]

But Towns is really the one resistance. Towns, I'm sorry. Towns is the one struggling the most here. Clearly Brunson's already figured it out. The guy's averaging 30 every night. It's insane what he's doing.

[Don LaGreca]

That game turned when he got hurt.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

That seems to be the turning point in the game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Wiped out.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank God he stayed in though. And then he said he's fine and.

[Don LaGreca]

He said he's fine. But that left. He still had 36. No, he was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he still shot right from the floor.

[Don LaGreca]

The vibe changed after he wiped out. And they got points off that and everything else. And remember the, the loss to Miami? They sat on a tarmac till 2 o' clock in the morning. There's some excuses here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, also real quick, we don't know where they're going to land by the end of the year, but let's not act like losing in a hard fought game. Losing to Milwaukee and Milwaukee is like a nightmare situation.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no, no, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is, this is not.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I, what I think is the concern is that your second best player has not bought it. And you hear the frustration from the coach thinking everything will be fine. Look at that second quarter. That's what it's going to look like when everybody buys in. But it has to be for four quarters. I haven't gotten a shot yet. I want the ball and that's going to be a fight early in the season right now that he's got to win. Is he going to win it, though?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, we can talk about this with the people 1-800-919-3776 but I just, I don't want it's not even someone not buying in earlier. I've seen other yo yos in media in the market losing their mind after four games. Like these moments for players can take time to gel. There are stories there are in the NBA of head coaches and players who the first half of a season did not like each other and they're the main ones hugging, smoking cigars when the championship gets won that it's a, it's a long time in an adjustment for a player like Karl Anthony Towns.

[Don LaGreca]

But I'm not surprised New York overreacting. I'm just surprised that the Knicks seem to be reacting this way. But I'm wondering, and I'll answer this coming up or tell you coming up, is there something else Cat's going through? There might be something else, guys, really, that goes beyond making an adjustment to a new coach.

[Alan Hahn]

Interesting. I need to know what this is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought it was a setup for BetterHelp, but it's not.

[Alan Hahn]

It sounds like a setup, but I'll take it. That's coming up next. But first, Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't have anything.

[Alan Hahn]

I thought you did. No.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, you picked up your, you said.

[Alan Hahn]

Picked up papers like you were ready to go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm just looking to see what's going on.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, okay, then.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You want to just keep talking. We come back.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, we'll just do that and we'll take more call. Yeah, it's got a break. Thanks for listening to the Don Han 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. Dot's favorite artists.

[Don LaGreca]

I think he's very underrated.

[Alan Hahn]

You just love him because he waved your kid.

[Don LaGreca]

Peter, who thinks that, like Ringo is just along for the ride and he reminds you that he was amazing himself.

[Alan Hahn]

He kept time. He kept time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's so funny. I really do. I barely know his, I barely know his solo stuff. But that's a good.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a couple going, this is a great one. This is one of my favorites of his. Speaking of keeping time, we have game time and it's brought to you by Telemardu Irish Whiskey. Because, boys, when it's game time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, don't do it.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't have enough time. Do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We don't have enough time.

[Alan Hahn]

Do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's totally time.

[Alan Hahn]

I like when he holds it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's totally time.

[Alan Hahn]

We have plenty of time. Why only one team in action tonight after, like, the last two nights has been incredibly busy? Tonight Quiet Nets host the Atlanta Hawks. That's it.

[Don LaGreca]

That's quiet.

[Alan Hahn]

That's very quiet. That's 7:30. Jacob already told me he's good. You're gonna catch up on something. You're streaming, I'm guessing. Yeah. The Nets have three block shots on the season.

[Don LaGreca]

That's interesting. That's only three more than me.

[Alan Hahn]

That's it. We got to do better.

[Don LaGreca]

That's a mess.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. I don't know. We all know what's going on there, but it's a bad look. Telemardu, the original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemar Deux or try the new Telemardu. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Telemardu responsibly. Quickly. Jets with a little trade here. Michael Carter, the nickel back, was traded for John Metchie. The Eagles didn't use Metchie at all. The jets need wide receivers. And so the former Alabama standout is now at the Jets. And Michael Carter, who was a highly regarded corner, who was very good, I remember. Yeah, he is now headed to Philly, by the way. And a seventh round pick, too, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Congratulations. I just want to say, wherever they're having dinner tonight in the Carter household, enjoy it like that. Dinner. I don't know where they're going to go tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

Philippe, chow or say less.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wherever they go and just pop a bottle to go compete for a championship.

[Alan Hahn]

We have to discuss the jets, even though we shouldn't, but we should because there's something more tone deaf from the owner. Well, we'll get to it. But, Don, you. You. You teach something about a theory you have about towns and why we truly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have no idea where you're going.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't. I don't know where you're going now.

[Don LaGreca]

Now listen, and maybe. Maybe you'll. You'll kill this, this theory that I have, all right? And I won't say conspiracy theory, because I think there's something to this. All right? He's probably not completely on board with the coaching change, right? And guys, he's playing in Milwaukee. All the conversation is about a possible deal for Giannis. Who do you think is going to go in that Deal. You don't think he knows that? You don't think that as he's adjusting to a new coach, there's still the possibility that he's not going to be here when it's all said and done. So every time they talk about Giannis, he has to be thinking, all right, I'm probably the guy that's going in that deal, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

One of.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, one of. Exactly. They gotta be a one for one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everybody else, if your name's not Jalen Brunson, I gotta say, might be in the package.

[Alan Hahn]

I gotta say, Donnie, you, you, good stuff. You, you're good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he's, it's, you're good. He's more than just your yo, yo devil.

[Alan Hahn]

You're good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you, you have a gift. Yes, you do that.

[Don LaGreca]

So there is something that's.

[Alan Hahn]

I, I, I think you're right, because the com, if you remember the conversations about the Knicks and the Bucks were in August. That's what the report was. They talked in August. I mean, this stuff doesn't happen in a vacuum. No players hear about it. Everybody knows. And it's not crazy to think that he's coming in and he's got that hovering, and he's got to know I'm going to be in that. Like, him and him and OG Anunoby are probably the two pieces, right. That would be talked about the most. And, yeah, I think there's something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a good call, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

And you would think the other way is for him to play out of his mind and say, why would you ever want to trade me? Look, look what I can do. But instead, it seems, is it in his head, on top of the fact that they were asking him to sacrifice his numbers in a system that he's not quite sure he knows how to.

[Don LaGreca]

Fit, very secure that he's even going to be a part of when it's all said and done. I mean, this is a work in progress. Tibbs was the first pendulum to fall of what eventually is going to be this next great Nick team, bring in the right coach, eventually bring in the star player to compliment Brunson. So that puts everybody else on notice. And here's a guy that seemed more attached to the previous regime. He's trying to make sacrifices to be better. And they, they may be sacrifices that be on another NBA team next year, whether it's Milwaukee or whoever the third team is to kind of make this deal. So I'm not saying he's necessarily even, you know, conscious of it, to the point where it like bothers him day in and day out. But it's human nature, long term thought, especially in the city where all the conversation is about Giannis. You're thinking, am I even going to be a part of this when this happens?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, no, no, it's. I, I think it's fair for you to bring that up because it's also, if your talents, it's human for you to have that in the back of your mind. You still got to learn how to play without it. But I wouldn't blame him for having that and having that bother him. We'll get to calls in a moment. YouTube TV customers, though, you could lose ESPN and the sports you love, including college football, college game day, Monday night football, NBA, college basketball and more. So take action now. Go to keep my networks.com so you can keep ESPN. Nick and Woodbridge, start us off. Nick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Don LaGreca]

Nick.

[Alan Hahn]

Nick, go for it.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, hey, guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry about that.

[Don LaGreca]

Thanks for. Thanks for taking the call. So, a couple things, like, Don, I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Think you're spot on. Like, it is a little weird that.

[Don LaGreca]

The Knicks seem to be drawing attention to the slow start, when in reality, I think like, I mean, last year they started 6 and 6 and nobody was, you know, we weren't in full fledged panic mode.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think what looks weird for me.

[Don LaGreca]

So far is the shot selection that Cat's getting. And I. What I can't get past is that report that he came out and said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That he had a grade 2 quad strength.

[Don LaGreca]

If that's the case, he shouldn't be playing. And I don't understand why they would risk his long.

[Alan Hahn]

He wants to play.

[Don LaGreca]

He doesn't look right.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, Nick, I doesn't look right. So I was standing next to him when he revealed that to us after this, after the home opener, and he just said, yeah. Somebody asked, are you in pain? You were. You were questionable. And he just said, yeah, I. I've got a grade two quad strength. He said, but I wanted to play. I didn't want to let the fans down. And so he's continued to play. And I can tell you that this team is. Look, look what they're doing with Robinson. They are being overly cautious when it comes to injury and resting players when they need to be rested. And so they wouldn't let him play if he could damage it further. He wants to play. That's what that's about. So I don't. There's nothing on that part. Is he playing through something? Yes, but he wants to play, so that's one thing. But you know, it's still the other stuff. Like Don said, I think there's a lot going on mentally with Towns. I don't think it's as. I don't think it's physical. I think it's mental with him right now. Between the system and the rumors and everything else, I think he's dealing with that more than anything. One more quick Harris in Long Island. Harris. Harris.

[Don LaGreca]

Hey, what's happening? Thanks for taking my call. You know, just a real quick thing on the Knicks. It's only four games, but for essentially, this is the same group of players as last year. So while they do have a new coach, you know, other than a couple of guys on the bench, it's the same guys, right? And to go into, you know, these two last two Cleveland game, they played, they played well. Cleveland missing more, you know, more talent than the Knicks were that night. It's game one. Game two. Celtics don't look very good the last two games. When you're like a quote unquote big team, like you're going to be a 56, 58 win team and you're going to really be in the hunt for a championship. You don't lose to. To that, that group of Bucks last night, I mean that was a. Other than Giannis, you saw that lineup.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Well, all I'll say Harris is what we saw. And thanks for the call. We saw the good and the bad because the second quarter was the team that should have blown the Bucks off the court. That's what you saw. Second half, there were issues. The offense got stuck and defensive and then Giannis just took over like a great player does when it's a close game. And so that's what you saw there. 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, but 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.

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