Hour 1: Knicks-76ers Game 3 Preview

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast – Hour 1: Knicks-76ers Game 3 Preview (May 8, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on an in-depth preview and lively debate ahead of Game 3 in the Knicks-76ers Eastern Conference Semifinals. Hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg discuss the pivotal nature of Game 3, injury concerns (notably OG Anunoby and Joel Embiid), and the psychology surrounding the Knicks’ playoff run. The trio also fields passionate calls from listeners, explores whether the Knicks are being undervalued nationally, and debates what truly separates a championship team from a contender. In classic fashion, the show is packed with energy, insight, and unfiltered New York sports takes.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Status of OG Anunoby and Joel Embiid (01:06–07:30)

• Opening Focus: The major pregame storyline revolves around injury questions: whether OG Anunoby (Knicks) will suit up due to a hamstring issue and the uncertain status of Joel Embiid (Sixers).
• Risk of Playing OG: Don makes clear his stance:

  “I’m on the camp of even if OG feels like he can go … you don’t want to compromise yourself by having him play when he shouldn’t play.” – Don Hahn (05:41)

• Gamesmanship and Uncertainty: There’s recognition that pregame warm-ups and “testing” OG could be psychological tactics by Knicks head coach Mike Brown.

2. Game 3’s Historical and Psychological Importance (03:30–06:40; 12:00–14:00)

• Don underscores Game 3 as the classic “swing game” in a seven-game series.
• He references previous playoff collapses (e.g., Knicks vs. Indiana, Rangers vs. Lightning) where a 2-0 lead evaporated after losing Game 3.
• Quote:

  “Game three is a thing. It was a thing a couple of years ago when the Knicks had a two nothing series lead against Indiana.” – Don Hahn (04:44)

• Both hosts emphasize the psychological edge a 3-0 lead brings:

  “No team in the history of the NBA has ever blown a 3–0 series lead.” – Don Hahn (06:15)

3. The Vegas Betting Line and Respect for the Knicks (06:40–13:17)

• Discussion around why the Sixers are favored by one point despite Knicks’ five-game playoff win streak and home struggles for the Sixers.
• Peter sees it as subtle skepticism about the Knicks:

  “Vegas always knows something, Don, and they obviously think … Philly and Nick Nurse may have figured something out.” – Peter Rosenberg (08:19)

• Don speculates on national “disrespect” vs. local overhype:

  “Are we overhyping the Knicks on our side? ... Maybe we’ve built this team up a lot ... there may be a New York bias outside of New York.” – Don Hahn (11:43)

4. The Stakes of OG’s Injury for the Knicks’ Title Hopes (13:17–14:18)

• The hosts agree OG Anunoby is crucial:

  “One thing every Knicks fan could agree with me on is this team ain’t going to the Finals or winning a Final without OG Anunoby. That is not on the table.” – Peter Rosenberg (13:28) “Agree 100%. I honestly don’t think they beat Detroit.” – Don Hahn (13:42)

5. Caller Perspectives and Landscape of the East (16:32–19:12)

• A caller, Dennis, soberly notes OG’s injury history and argues this playoff run is the Knicks’ best window, with future Eastern Conference competition only getting stronger (e.g., Pistons, Cavs, Pacers, Celtics).
• Don and Peter reflect that the timing is optimal, but that nothing is guaranteed.

6. Off-Topic: Jets News and Russell Wilson Side Conversation (19:12–21:27)

• Announcement of Jets’ RB Breece Hall’s contract extension.
• Brief, lighthearted debate about Russell Wilson’s NFL and potential TV future.

7. Filling the Gaps: Knicks’ Depth and Media Coverage (28:33–36:54)

• Alan Hahn joins to discuss the Knicks’ history of losing Game 3s after 2-0 leads, declaring, “That’s the next thing you challenge yourself about.”

• The trio debates intangible aspects: are the Knicks finally playing at their ceiling, or are media/fans getting too optimistic?

• Bench players mentioned as possible X-factors: Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet, Clarkson, Alvarado.

  “Every playoff run, there’s always that one game where it’s the guy that no one saw coming and he gave you something off the bench ... Who’s that going to be?” – Alan Hahn (34:35)

8. The Talent Hierarchy in the Series (35:02–36:00)

• Peter poses:

  “If you were to ask…non-Knicks and Sixers fans and have them power-rank the top four talents … they could be ranked in a different order by every person you ask.” (35:09)

• Discussion of Brunson, Towns, Maxey, Embiid as elite talents and the unpredictability if Embiid is healthy.

9. What Makes a Championship Team? (47:23–50:56)

• A caller asks if the Knicks have the championship “killer instinct.”
• Alan and Don stress fit, adjustments, and that “one guy” (OG) can impact a championship run.
• Alan references the Thunder's championship run last year—reminding listeners that even great teams lose games and face adversity:

  “Championship teams figure it out when it matters most, but doesn’t mean that it’s a perfect 4-0, 4-0, 4-0, 4-0 run to a championship.” – Alan Hahn (50:07)

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On respecting Game 3:
  “I just don’t want Knicks fans or the Knicks themselves to just think Game 3 is throwaway ... especially if Embiid doesn’t play. He can be even more well-rested for Sunday’s Game 4.” – Don Hahn (06:08)

• On Vegas and respect:
  “Is it just Vegas just not believing this Knicks team can win six straight playoff games?” – Don Hahn (09:49)

• On OG’s pivotal role:
  “This team ain’t going to the Finals or winning a Final without OG Anunoby. That is not on the table.” – Peter Rosenberg (13:28)

• On playing at “the ceiling”:
  “I think that we’re finally seeing the Knicks play consistently toward their ceiling instead of their floor, and we’ve been waiting for that all season.” – Jay from Queens, Caller (41:48)

• On what separates a contender from a champion:
  “Championship teams figure it out when it matters most, but doesn’t mean that it’s a perfect 4-0, 4-0, 4-0, 4-0 run to a championship.” – Alan Hahn (50:07)

• On playoff adversity:
  “Let me remind you that the Oklahoma City Thunder were down 2:1 in the second round ... and got blown out by 42 in Game 3 of a series they opened up 2–0.” – Alan Hahn (49:08)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Rough Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Opening / OG & Embiid injury talk | 01:06–07:30 | | Game 3 psychology and playoff history | 03:30–07:00 | | Vegas/Knicks respect debate | 06:40–13:17 | | Why OG is irreplaceable for Knicks’ ceiling | 13:17–14:18 | | Callers: Knicks’ window and future of East | 16:32–19:12 | | Jets, Russell Wilson sidebar | 19:12–21:27 | | Alan Hahn joins – Knicks’ Game 3s, mentality | 25:40–28:33 | | Evolving X-factors, bench depth | 34:35–36:00 | | Ranking top 4 talents in series | 35:02–36:00 | | Championship DNA, adversity, perspective | 47:23–50:56 |

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Summary

The episode captures the blend of anxiety and excitement in New York as the Knicks approach a critical Game 3 against the Sixers. While the hosts recognize New York’s momentum and growth, they stress the danger of underestimating opponents and overvaluing recent wins. Injury uncertainty around OG Anunoby is cast as both a tactical and existential concern regarding the Knicks’ championship odds. The hosts strike a balance between passionate fandom and honest appraisal, mirroring much of the city’s mood, and field a variety of strong, thought-provoking listener viewpoints. The prevailing message: Game 3 is no throwaway—championship teams prove their mettle precisely in moments like these.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

a million bucks Don I was fighting with obesity.

[Caller]

I wore you're losing Hahn Don Peter thank you Alan.

[Alan Hahn]

I hope you make the team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Rosenberg Richard, have you ever heard of Brazzers?

[Don Hahn]

No, this isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Caller]

The best threesome I've ever on ESPN

[Alan Hahn]

New York and streaming live on YouTube

[Don Hahn]

301 of the big city Don Hahn and Rosenberg with you till 3 to 6 o' clock today. Just three hours. Why you ask? Well, easily because the Knicks are at seven and our pregame begins at six with Pat o'. Keefe. So we are very very busy with the Knicks. The Mets of course later on tonight can be heard on 1050 and eventually on 880 they're starting a series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. But the Knicks on our air coverage begins at 6 o' clock. So a condensed show today. So again we'll do the 5:45 enn. We're still going to do fraud alert Friday at 4:30 so line up the emails for that. Should be a good time. Will Ben Stiller come up in conversation because many people believe that he's a fraud for going to the Met Gala and not go to nick Sixers. Game 1. The Knicks won in blowout fashion. I will have my ruling officially coming up at 4:30 because I do think it's going to come up in conversation for sure. We don't know about Embiid. We don't know about OG. Nicks have a 2 nothing series lead Pistons 1. Last night they blew a 14 point lead but still won the game against the Cavs. So they're up two games to none. So they haven't shifted to Cleveland just yet. But you know the Pistons finding their sea legs here. They've now won five straight postseason games for the first time since 2008. So is Detroit Climbing back into the conversation as not just an eventual opponent for the Knicks, if they get by the Sixers, but a team that maybe could be a concern down the road considering how well they played against the Knicks in the three game regular season series. But what I find interesting is the Knicks are at one point dog in Philadelphia. Now that could be the Embiid situation. Most likely it's the OG situation. I mean, the Knicks could have very easily lost that game too. They didn't. But they were down 25 different lead changes. And now with the potential of OG not available for the entire game, with or without Embiid and Philadelphia returning home, Vegas is telling you that the Sixers should win this game. And listen, Vegas isn't the end all be all. But you talk to Peter and you take a look at how things went down in game two from a line standpoint and all that. They usually have their finger on the pulse of what's going on and they're basically telling you this should be a six or win. Should it? I mean, the Knicks have won five in a row. They're up to nothing in a series. They finally won a closely contested game, which I think has tremendous value in game two. That they won a close game considering they've won all their games, a blowout fashion, and the two games they lost were close games. You're going to have to win some close games in the postseason in order to make a run. You can't count on winning every game by double digits every single night in the postseason. Maybe in the first couple of rounds when you get through the flotsam and jetsam of the NBA. But when you start to get to the nitty gritty and get down to the final four and you've got aspirations of winning the whole damn thing, well, you're going to have to win some close games. So I thought there was tremendous value in that. But I do find it interesting that even with everything up for grabs, will embiId play? Will OG play? I'm going to guess OG is not going to play because a hamstring is a dicey thing. You don't want to hurt him, never mind the rest of the playoffs, because that's not assured. But hurt your chances of a problem in this series because if he plays and is compromised, you lose the game. OG gets hurt more. Now maybe isn't available for games four and five. Now you've got almost the Indiana situation from a couple of years ago again, where now you've let the other team back into the series and you're losing players, you can't do that. So if you were listening to the show over the last day or two since the Knicks won Game two, I am on the camp of even if OG feels like he can go and apparently he's going to go through warm ups, he's going to test it, feel how it is. And that could just be gamesmanship too. Maybe he'll even dress and be on the bench and not play. Who knows? That actually could be a valuable asset just to get into Philadelphia's head because that's how good I think OG is. I thought he was the best player in the first round and he certainly, I don't want to say an underrated player. Nick fans understand his value, but I think he's somebody that is very, very important to a Knicks run. So you don't want to compromise yourself by having him play when he shouldn't play. But at the same time, when you look at the history of Best of seven series, Game three is a thing. It's just a thing. It was a thing a couple of years ago when the Knicks had a two nothing series lead against Indiana. Almost win Game three, but don't Indiana creeps back in Nick Players start getting hurt and they lose the series. Ranger fans, Anthony will tell you in 2022 it looked like the Lightning were dead. Rangers won the first two games. They had a two nothing lead. In Game three, they blew that, didn't win another game in the series. Now I don't think that's going to happen here because I think the Knicks are better than the Sixers, but all the more reason to dispose of them as quickly as possible and get focused and get healthy. The best thing to do is just win tonight and then you know what, oh gee, doesn't have to play Game four because you're up three games to none and no team in the history of the NBA has ever blown a 3 nothing. Seriously. So I'm going to err on the side of him not playing Peter, but I just don't want Nick fans to think tonight's a throwaway because you do allow the Sixers to get back into the series in some way, shape or form and especially if MB doesn't play. And now he can be even more well rested for Sunday's Game four also in Philadelphia. So I'm cool with resting OG Peter, but I just don't want Nick fans or the Knicks themselves to just think the Game three is a throwaway because they're up to nothing and they played so well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you're absolutely right about that. And I think if you're a Knicks fan, you don't want to, you don't view it that way because you don't feel like having this become a series. And the fact of the matter is, no matter what we've seen from game one and Game two, which was a dominant performance in Game one and a game two in which you ended up feeling good about it because your team found a way. But we're not going to pretend as if the Knicks were in any way dominant in Game two. So you, you cannot think of this game as a throwaway. And Don, the troubling part to me is I think Vegas sees this as a Sixers win. Clearly this is. The Sixers have been plus one since the. I mean, I'm sorry, the Sixers have been favored by one to one and a half since the line opened. And that's with no knowledge of. Of what OG or embiid status is.

[Don Hahn]

Right? Exactly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were already comfortable with Philly winning this game thinking they might not have embiid. So there is. Vegas always knows something, Don, and they obviously think based on what they saw in Game 2, that Philly and Nick Nurse may have figured something out. So this is going to have to be another very hard fought game for this Knicks team and very likely It'll be without OG.

[Don Hahn]

Anunoby 1-800-919-3776. The number to call. You want to join us again, it's a condensed show. We're going to take a lot of phone calls. We got fraud alert Friday at 4:30. ENN is going to be at 5:45. But it's so interesting you brought that up and it's a great point by you that they had no idea about OG's status and yet still the line was just one one and a half somewhere in that kind of vicinity, depending on what book you were looking at. But I'm wondering, is that a disrespect to the Knicks? All right, The Knicks have won five straight games. That was the only competitive game of the five and they still won the game. 25 different lead changes. They were the better team down the stretch and they won by six. They didn't need a last second shot. They were the better team in the fourth quarter. I think they were. Even though the game was close. And yeah, the Sixers say, yeah, we could have had that game, but the Knicks didn't allow that to happen in the fourth quarter. And Brunson goes off. You don't know about embiid Philadelphia hasn't been particularly good at home in these playoffs. The Knicks have been outstanding on the road. Have been historically in recent vintage. On the road. Just look at last year and how many games they won in Detroit, one in Boston.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So I don't think they're intimidated by going into Philadelphia. We were talking to Alan, and Alan will join us in just a bit about how easy it is to get into the game tonight because again, Sixer fans probably don't believe, you know, there's going to be a lot of Nick fans are going to find their way into the building. So ultimately, Peter, is it just Vegas just not believing this Knicks team can win six straight playoff games?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That has to be a piece of this. I mean, it just has to be. I mean, at a certain point, Don, you know, the likelihood that this team is not losing again is very low. So you already saw that the changes that were made on Wednesday were problematic for the Knicks.

[Caller]

It.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It definitively changed the way they played. And I know Allen felt very comfortable and he really did believe at some point the shots would stop falling for Philly and New York would pull away with the win. And they did. But Don, from my fan vantage point, it looked like a markedly different Knicks team. They did not. They were not. The free wheel. Up, down, everyone's touching the ball, lots of layups. Team they had been previously was a little bit, a little bit more labored. So I think there's a ton of reasons why Vegas sees it this way. And also let's, I mean, this Sixers team, yes, they're a playing team, Don. They were down 31 and beat the Celtics. You cannot take that away from them. They, they have a few players on this team, even beyond obviously Joel Bead, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey. They have special players and a championship caliber head coach. So I just think as much as the, the, the city is riding on this high, that the Knicks are never going to lose. Vegas sees this as a regular conference semis and they assume the home team will win tonight.

[Don Hahn]

And I use the phrase because we're doing the show from New York and obviously we have a rooting interest in the Knicks doing well is that Vegas is disrespecting the Knicks. Are we overhyping the Knicks on our side? And I think that is kind of fair in the sense that there may be a New York bias outside of New York. Like this Knicks team is probably not as good as they think. I'll give a little of that. And then I also concede that maybe We've built this team up a lot because, listen, they've played exceptionally well. They've done things that they've never done before, win four straight games by double digits the way they did before the close victory in game three. So there's probably a little bit of both on both sides where there's a healthy disrespect on one side and maybe we're getting a little not carried away that this team can make a run, but that they can be had and that maybe this series could end up being a little bit more difficult than we think. And that's why tonight, I think, becomes important, Peter, because it'll be a moot point if it goes up 30 because no team's ever blown that. So even if the Sixers were to win a couple of games or a game, it's not going to matter. They're not going to win the series, not going to come back from three. Nothing down but two one down with a home game in game four. With OG's injury being something that will become a major factor to one going into game four, all of a sudden, Peter, you got a series. And I'm not saying you should be concerned, but, you know, something to certainly keep an eye on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, if this ends up being a 21 game and we a 21 series and we still don't know the future of OG and Anobi, that starts to become a scary proposition. Because I think one thing that every Knicks fan could agree with me on is this team ain't going to the finals or winning a final without OG Anunoby. That is not on the table.

[Don Hahn]

Agree 100%. I don't think they. I honestly don't think they beat Detroit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think so either. Alan talked about how essential he'll be Cunningham should that series happen, but all offensive this, this goes back to since he arrived from Toronto on the low, the Knicks quietly go as OG Anunoby goes. So when we found out it was day to day, that was a miracle. But if day to day continues in a series that's now 2:1. Yeah, Don, that starts to get a bit scary.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I just. I've had the concern yesterday. I'm going to continue to have it today of the just. And I don't think the Knicks have this attitude, don't get me wrong, and not that fans can control the outcome of a game, but just the overall attitude of we're winning this series. Let's just be careful. So what if we lose game three? I've seen this act before, Peter. I have, and I'm not going to be one of those Nick fans who is, who was, who was the rapper that was on that was just like, he's not buying into this at all. He's not buying into the banana and the tailpipe. He's been through this camera. Yeah, yeah. I'm not going as far as that.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

I do believe they're winning this series and I do believe this team is going to the finals, but it's not a foregone conclusion. They don't deserve that conversation, Peter. Just because of a five game winning streak. Like, they're not that good. All right. We're not talking about, you know, the LeBron James Cavaliers or the Michael Jordan Bulls or even the Curry and Durant Golden State Warriors. Like, they're good. And I think they are the class of the Eastern Conference, but not to the point where you can just throw games away and just say, so give them game three. So we've got bigger fish to fry. We don't want OG Compromised against Detroit. I don't either. But you still got to deal with Philadelphia. And that's the thing I've seen before last year against Indiana, the year before against Indiana, the Heat, the Hawks. It's like when you've all of a sudden just started, you know, booking your tickets to the next round is when things kind of sneak up on you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, Don, I just planned the conference semis between the Knicks and the Celtics. I've been there. It happens.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. So be a little careful, be a little leery. That's all I'm saying. 1-800-919-3776 we want to be able to take your calls on the Knicks and how you feel. Am I being a nervous Nelly or is there a little bit of concern that I don't want to be in a position to be throwing game three away? 1,8009193776 let's go to Dennis in center reach. He gets us going here on Don Allen Rosenberg. What's up, buddy?

[Caller]

Hey, Don.

How are you, man? Yeah, great conversation you guys are having. Listen, this is what happens when you get OG this is his whole career. He's always hurt, right? So, you know, it's nice he lasted the full season, but, you know, it's just bad timing that he got hurt. But what I wanted to ask you guys is I'm watching these games last night. Pistons in Oklahoma City. I don't know how the Knicks are beating these two teams then. I mean, Detroit is unbelievable. They're physical, they're going to go at town. You know, I'm just assuming that Detroit's going to win the series, but judging the way Cleveland looks and the Thunder, just unbelievable. I don't know who, whoever they play, I think they're going to sweep. They're that good. But yeah, I think this is the Knicks only opportunity this year. Like, if you think about next year, guys, the Pacers are getting Halliburton and Zubots back. They may have a top four pick in the draft. If they get that, I mean, they could be the number one seed. Giannis is going to come back. I think he's going to get traded to Cleveland if Cleveland loses. So that's a super team. And the Knicks are just an older team. And if you look at the ages of these guys, Hart, Brunson, Towns, they're in their 30s. Like, you don't get healthier, you don't get better in your 30s. Right. So I just think this is their best opportunity and I'd hate to see them blow it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, clear. I think we knew that, right, Peter, going in and thank you for the phone call, Dennis, that this was going to be their best shot because Halliburton is going to come back. We'll see what the Celtics end up doing, you know, and there's always. And Detroit's only going to get better, right? I think they're going to learn from all this. I'm not. I am not. Peter. Guaranteeing the Pistons get out of the series with Cleveland, but. And they did blow a 14 point lead last night, but they're up to. Oh, so they got to feel pretty good. But they haven't even played a game in Cleveland yet. But no, I think the avenue is. This is the opportunity. This is the perfect opportunity. But you got to go out and you got to do it. Before we get back to the phone calls, I just want to bring this up and we're going to have. We're hoping to get rich. Samini on in the 4 o' clock hour. Breece hall has extended with the jets three years. $45.75 million. Great news if you're a Jets fan. Looked like he had one foot out the door for a while. He was pouting because he didn't get extended, didn't get traded. Said he wanted to stay here. I thought he played hard, Peter at the end of the season last year for sure. And now he is going to be a part of what the jets are doing moving forward. So listen, he's one of the best running backs in the league. He's now locked up. You've got, you know, a wide receiver in Garrett. That's got to be pretty happy a team that's. That's starting to look with Frank Reich now in charge of the offense that they should be able to score some points this year. So I just didn't want to be remiss that just before the show started, Breece hall locked up with the jets over the next three years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And can you imagine if they get Big Russ, Mr. Unlimited on this team?

[Caller]

Wow.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you'd be just praying he doesn't play. I just, I love the headlines about. Well, he's deciding between. What is it, CBS or the Jets? Like, I'm either going to decide. I'm going to play with the Jets. I'm just going to be out of football completely, then go to tv. So by the way, I think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think you'll be in lock in lockstep with me on this take. How weird is it that Russell Wilson in football has a terrible personality? It's not appealing to players or fans at all. Mike Tomlin is a players coach and as a fan, you watch him and go, man, that guy's cool. I wish he was my coach. And yet when it comes to doing tv, I feel like Russell Wilson will be really good at it. And I don't have an interest in Mike Tomlin.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it is interesting, but I could be. I could be surprised by both because I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I could see. I could see Russ's nerdy way, really working as the color guy in the

[Don Hahn]

booth for football games, I guess. But Alan. And we welcome Alan Hahn into the fold here.

[Alan Hahn]

Hello, boys.

[Don Hahn]

His choice is between the jets and television. Not Jets, Falcons. Not, not, not another team. It's one foot in, one foot out, basically. What are we going to do?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, how did we get here?

[Don Hahn]

Because I just. I wanted to mention the Breeze hall and then.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

And then I mentioned the breeze hall and then.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then I said, can you imagine that offense if they have Mr. Unlimited involved?

[Don Hahn]

I don't think they want Mr. Unlimited playing.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don Hahn]

He could be in uniform, on the sidelines.

[Alan Hahn]

He'd be a backup at just. Again, it's very similar to the script of the Giants of just reversed. That's all. I don't think he's there to start. I think he's there just in case something happens to Geno and you don't want to have to start your rookie quarterback. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can the jets also get another veteran who should play ahead of him? But not use him and just go to Russell.

[Don Hahn]

And then, then you've. Then you've fully taken on the Giants plan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then you really have taken.

[Alan Hahn]

Then you've, then you've really gone all in on that.

[Caller]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

But, but, you know, crazy start to the show. We got tons of phone calls. I just wanted to bring up the Breeze hall because it just happened before the show started.

[Alan Hahn]

I want to shout out somebody if I could real quick because I just saw them. I was crossing 7th Avenue finally out of my car and I saw a van at the light and he beeped, leaned out of the window, pointed to the radio and said, I listen to you guys every day. Love you guys. Gave me a wave and said, let's go, Nick. So I didn't get his name, but if he. I'm sure he's listening right now. And, and that was awesome. Yeah, that was just awesome to kind of. That was a good way to start the day right after, you know, it's been. It's a, it's playoff day. You know that. Guys, for me, it's extremely busy day, extremely dizzy, busy morning and extremely busy. Am I right now? Yes. So I just wanted to shout him out though, because that, that meant a lot to me.

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[Alan Hahn]

by 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 whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Don Hahn]

Today's Mets Diamondbacks game can be heard on 1050 ESPN at 9pm Game three of the Knicks 76ers can be heard on 880 ESPN New York at 6 with Pat O' Keefstarting our coverage. All the games will be streamed on ESPN New York's app. And again, thanks to the Mets for making that move. Anytime they're going to be up against the Knicks, they'll move to 1050 and the Knicks will be on 880. Quick programming note again, we are going to hear from Rich Samini and he will join us at 4 o'.

[Caller]

Clock.

[Don Hahn]

Give us details. The Breeze hall extension three years over $45 million for him. So that's good news certainly for Knick fans as the Knicks get ready for this Game three. And Allen, you joined us a little bit later. So what I had opened with was just the fact that I think the Knicks are in good shape, but Vegas is kind of telling you that this could be a close game and probably a game that the Sixers could win because even with Joel Embiid's possibility of playing in doubt, they're a one point favorite tonight, despite the fact they haven't been good at home, despite the fact that half that building might be filled with Knick fans, despite the fact that the Knicks have won five straight. So as much as I'm in for resting OG and being careful because you're up to nothing in the series, I don't feel good about throwing away a Game three in the best of seven series. I don't want to let this team back in and I still want to see them get this victory tonight. I'm not throwing anything away.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course not. And that's not the mentality this team has had. That's what's been interesting right since they kind of flipped. Seems like they this Nick team understands it. Listen, this is the third time I think let me get it right. My head's spinning right now with all the stuff that I've been doing this morning with the pregame show. This is the fourth time or. Yeah, fourth time. So each year they've been up 20 in a series. The first time was against Philly. The second time was Indiana, second round. And then last year was Boston. They never, they haven't won game three. They always lost game three. And so that's something I think you have to like. If you're a team, that's the next thing you challenge yourself about, is it, you know, I know we are talking about the other team. Right, Right. This is not about that. This is about you and where you are right now. Because how many times have we said, you know, we'll know more about this team? Or what do we know about this team? They have to prove this. They have to prove that. And this is another proving moment for them. You got a team that's tired and on the ropes. That's what you got showed in the fourth quarter. Game two, they're tired. They used, they used that excuse for game one. Oh, we'll get a day off, we'll get rested, we'll be fine. That didn't work. They got tired again in game four. So you're going to tell me that they're not going to be tired in game three either, because they're home. So I think it's more about you and your approach. And if you're the Knicks, you sit together and you understand we've been up 20 three other times, and every time we give that game three away, can't do it here. So that has to be the approach, because I do think it makes Sunday's game, which, by the way, 3:30, quick turnaround.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't think about that, too, as far as the fatigue factor goes and injury recovery. So if I'm the Knicks, I'm like, this is the one that matters more. Not, you know, we just got to get a split. No, we got to go up 30 because then Sunday is the house money game.

[Don Hahn]

Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

And by the way, you go up 30 Sunday, well, now you're going to get a million New Yorkers down there buying up all the tickets on the secondary market because you're down 3 0. Nobody's ever come back from 30 in NBA history. So if you're a Sixers fan, you're selling your tickets. Yeah, but that's house money Sunday. Knowing you've got the rest of the series in your back pocket with two home games. Does that make sense? Yeah, because that's how I'm looking at it. If, if I'm in that room, if I'm in the organization. That's my message. Tonight's the must win. We got to get this one. And then we have full. We have a stranglehold.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

On this series.

[Don Hahn]

And then you're. You're in really good shape. 1-800-919-3776, JEP in New Jersey here on Don Hanna Rosenberg. What's up, Jeff? How's it going? What's up? All right, thanks a lot, Jeff. Let's go.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

We got you in New Fairfield. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Steve?

[Caller]

Hey, fellas. This is not personal. Believe me. I respect all you guys opinions. I listen every week. But this is something that irks me about the media. The media will constantly talk about. Well, that's a fan. Fans are reactionary. The media drives that pulse so much it's unbelievable. What you were talking about open. Does Vegas know something because it's one and a half. What the hell does Vegas need to know? Philly, before the season started, it was considered Knicks in Detroit and watch the Magic. And if the Sixers ever have it together and Embiid's fairly healthy and they're motivated. So now Philly lose to the team that we say if we play Boston, man, it's going to be a war. So now they beat Boston and now we're going to Philly at their house and we're up to. Oh, but if they're by Philly being up one and a half, that's supposed to be like what is Vegas? No, it should be that way. The Knicks don't win by 40. I don't care if we win 78, 77. I could give a rat's butt. This is how it's supposed to be. Those ebbs and flows. Nurse is going to make adjustments and people. But Sixers wouldn't get into us a little more in game two. Definitely better defensively. So just irritated always with that premise.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, but what my angle was that the theme yesterday, I don't know if you listened to yesterday's show, Steve, was let's just rest OG you know, they're up 2 0. Let's not take any chances. And I kind of understand that because I don't want him compromised because you got bigger fish to fry. Right. I just didn't like the general attitude of oh, we're winning this series anyway. That should never be the attitude of any players. And I don't think fans should think that way either because this team hasn't done enough even though they've been great over the last five games, certainly the first four of those five games. But they're not the Golden State warriors with Durant Curry. They're not the Michael Jordan Bulls, you know, so. And I just brought up Vegas because they usually have their finger on the pulse. And I'm hearing a lot of fans and, yeah, media, too, saying, oh, yeah, but this is over. And I'm just trying to remind people that Vegas, who kind of knows what they're doing, is basically saying, the Sixers should win this game tonight, so it

[Caller]

can't possibly be over. I'm misreading your statements a little bit then. Donna, I'm on par with you. I agree. Yeah. Vegas is saying that because there is a reason to. I agree with you. You go after every game hard. But for people to think, like, why is. Why is Philly favored by one and a half? Why aren't we winning by 35 every game now?

[Don Hahn]

My God, I get it. I, I, I, I. Stephen, thank you for the phone call. I'm just a little surprised. Just because Philly hasn't played well at home. They don't know if they're going to have embassy.

[Alan Hahn]

Let me throw a couple of things at you because, you know, like, and we talked about this on the, on the call when we did our meeting. Number one, the Knicks have won five straight playoff games. That's the second longest streak in franchise history. Vegas is going. I mean, do you really think they're going to go to six in a row? Like, the unlikelihood of that. Right. So put that in there. There's the, the uncertainty of OG Anunoby, who's a critical player for them. So there's uncertainty there. You're on the road. You've won, I think, six straight games in Philly, going back to the clincher that you had in Philadelphia two, three years ago. Right. So put all that together, and it's like the likelihood of all of this continuing is, you know, is negligible. Like, I just, I think there's so much of this that you could say it's, it's. I hate to say do, but you

[Don Hahn]

kind of do, right? I think you do.

[Alan Hahn]

So you favor the home team by one point, which almost doesn't feel like you're favoring the home team. So, you know, I do think that's how you look at this game tonight. But to answer your question, I do think this series has proven to be more about the Knicks than it is about your opponent. Yes, the Sixers have good players, obviously. Maxi's really good. Paul, George is really good. Embiid, when he can play, is really good. Edgecombe is a really good rookie. They have no bench. And so you have to feel like you have the advantage every game. And all this is now is trying to figure out how do you win this game? What's it going to take? In the first game it was the, you know, the sledgehammer that you dropped in the third quarter, the second quarter. In the second game of the series, it was outlasting them in the fourth quarter and making the shots that mattered in clutch. What's tonight going to be, you know, staying out of foul trouble. Like there's shooting the three a lot better than you shot the three in game two. That's the strategy I'm looking at is how do they get this one? Because I'm telling you, history tells you they win tonight, this series is over. There's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Alan, they have a lot to deal with tonight with no og. We already saw that the Knicks that showed up in game two with Embiid out of the lineup. And as you talked about at Stout that day, you knew new Nick Nurse would come up with something else and maybe in some ways it would present new challenges. It did. It did present new challenges. And the, and the, the Knicks looked different offensively in that game now.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but you saw them now. Now you know what he's going to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, but now they'll have to deal with it in all likelihood without Ognunobi. So it's another new wrinkle. It's like this is the third game, Alan, but it's the third different storyline that you have to deal with as an ex.

[Alan Hahn]

I know. And you got to adjust from game to game to game. You got to figure it out. You got. All right, what's it going to take? But do you know what the most important thing is? You still have Towns who's only think about this. He only played 20 minutes in game one because of foul trouble and because the fourth quarter he didn't need to play. And he played 27 minutes in game two. If you can keep him on the floor for 30 plus minutes, he. He's been really good. So there's that. You still have Brunson. Obviously that's important. Bridges has played very well. Robinson is back. He didn't play in game two. That's a difference maker as well.

[Caller]

And.

[Alan Hahn]

And now you'll need. Who's going to step up? Deuce McBride, Landry Shamut? Who's it going to be off the bench? Clarkson. Who's going to give you a game because every playoff run there's always that one game where it's the guy that no one saw it coming and he gave you something off the bench in a big spot and that's what you're looking for tonight. Who's that going to be? It may again, this is what makes it fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you agree, Alan? Another fascinating thing about this series, if you were to ask, and I want to, I want to say objective, I don't mean Knicks fans or Sixers fans.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you were to go to non Knicks and Sixers fans and have them power rank the top four talents in this series who I believe are Brunson, Cat, Maxi and Embiid, you, they could be ranked in a different order by every person you ask. That's how talented. Like I really do think we talk about the talent of the top four players in this series and that's being disrespectful to some of the guys who are right there on the outside of that top four. But don't you agree that like because. And the reason it popped in my head is, is you were being sort of, you know, you were being sort of intentionally slash, unintentionally dismissive when you're like, oh, well, Maxi's good, Embiid's good.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, I'm acknowledging that these are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Embiid is one of the. When, when Embiid is fully healthy, well, well beyond good. Is he.

[Alan Hahn]

When is he almost never. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But so, but Embiid that you got even in the, the game seven against the Celtics, that is a potent and dangerous player. What. And you never know when he's going to pop up, right? Because it seems like Allen, one game he's holding his leg, you think he's half dead. And then the next game, like Michael Myers, he, you know, he's back.

[Alan Hahn]

But that's what the Sixers always talk like, like the idea that they're going to see how he feels before the game when he wants. First of all, I think a lot of this is, you know, this is all, this is gamesmanship. Yeah, it is A lot of times with this, oh, he stays questionable until the last minute and then all of a sudden he plays and he looks fine and that's why he doesn't play game two. So he gets a couple of days off and, and can have like his battery as close to 100 as he can. Knowing how important game three is. I'm not dismissing any of that. I'm just looking at it from the fascination of like how do you. Again, I'm looking at it from the Nick perspective.

[Caller]

I.

[Alan Hahn]

How do you get this game? What's it going to take? What are you going to. Because we know the constants. Maxey's going to get a 20 plus performance, maybe even a 30 plus performance because he hasn't really shot the ball well. But he's had big moments. But we know he can go off at any moment. Right. And Bridges has done a good job on him. You know, he's watched film, so there's that. There's also the towns thing. He hasn't really played much yet. Is he going to figure out how to stay out of foul trouble? And then it's the equalizer. Him and Embiid are just having it out because they both stay on the floor. That's a huge factor in this. One or the other doesn't play a lot in this game for various reasons, whether it's an injury, whether it's foul trouble. That's a major factor. You know, like not having. Not having OG is obviously a huge thing. But who fills the blank in one game? One game. Who fills the blank? That's. There's so much of that tonight that I'm looking at, which is why it's a, you know, Sixers laying one and that's not what game two was. Nick's Knicks laying seven and a half. Come on, like seven and a half.

[Don Hahn]

Then ten and a half. Once you found that Embiid was out,

[Alan Hahn]

like that's a ridiculous spread. So this feels more like what you'd expect when the better team is on the road and the home team is still a very dangerous team. That's what you expect tonight. This. This should be. I hope so anyway. An epic game. It could come down to a last couple of possessions again. So that's what I'm trying to figure out. What's the avenue to a win for the Knicks? How do they do it? Because an avenue to a win tonight, the series is a fait accompli.

[Don Hahn]

Yep, they're not coming back from 30 down because nobody ever has. Nobody ever has in the NBA.

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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 the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, Alan on here to tell you about Ring's End. Our project at the house is starting to come together. My contractor Michael, he's working with my Ring's End project manager Andrew. They're working on a beautiful French door. It's going to open out to that pool I've been telling you about that we put in. By the way, Pool just opened yesterday. That's when you know the sounds of summer Donnie.

[Don Hahn]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

So you asked me why you go at Ring's End. Well, because they work with pro contractors who build and remodel for a living. The pros trust them. So of course I can trust them and you can too. They have all the premium brands, not just indoors. Like I'm getting the French doors. They have windows, decking, paint, lumber, kitchens, all the things that you would need to update, upgrade your home. And this is usually the time of year that you want to do that stuff. So Rings End is not a national chain by the way. They have regional expertise. They have eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester county and 12 freestanding paint centers as well. It's family owned and operates since 1902. They've been around a long time guys. And if you can't make it to a store. Shop [e-mail] that's ring that ringsend.com Donnie

[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-3776 Back to the busy phones and let's talk to Jay in Queens. You're on ESPN New York. Hi, Jay.

[Caller]

Hi, good afternoon guys. Real quick on the Knicks. Don, I know you were saying, are we over hyping the Knicks? I don't think it's that. I think that we're finally seeing the Knicks play consistently towards their ceiling instead of their floor. And we've been waiting for that all season. You know that the games that they had that they lost, they played towards their floor for a quarter or two and it cost them and it cost them. They lost by one point. So I think we're just kind of buying into what we're seeing and having belief that Mike Brown finally got them playing the way that we've all thought they were capable of playing, playing at the time. So, you know, obviously game three is not a giveaway, but I also feel that us losing a starter and Mike Brown being able to go to his bench the way he has all season long, these guys are not going to be in a situation they haven't been before. They might not be able to do it individually make up for og, but collectively I think Alvarado and Shamet and all these guys, they've been in these spots before and they can all have a big game and help us pull one of these two games out hopefully tonight. Thank you guys. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and

[Don Hahn]

again, thanks a lot, Jay. No, good point because I had mentioned too before you got on Alan that like I do think there's probably a little bit of disrespect outside of New York not buying into the fact that the Knicks are as good as they are because they haven't won in this collective. They went to the conference final last year, lost a series that many believe they should have won and it's more of a show me feel where I think here in New York we, we've got more of a buy in because we've watched them more and we believe in them more. So it's probably both are true. There's probably an underrated aspect outside of New York and maybe a tad overrated inside New York.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know, I just think there's a year like, I don't know, I wasn't like this last year was I like I was really cautious last year about a lot of things with them and there was a lot of prove it stuff that was going on there. And the Boston series took us all by surprise, right? And then the Indiana series happened and, boy, was that frustrating because it kind of was. The warts started to show again in that series that you were hoping you wouldn't see. And it's, it's ever since Game 3 against Atlanta, this has just been a different team. And I just keep going back to the fact that it's almost as if. And this is what a lot of the guys were saying is they just got fed up. Like, come on, we've been through this before. We're not doing this again. And so you get that feeling like, I didn't think game two was a bad game by the Knicks. I thought it was just all the circumstances, it's jump defenses and trapping and craziness and small lineups. And the officiating was really, really strict on every type of body contact that was going on. It was a weird game. And yet a game that could have easily, like, you just get frustrated and lose it and give it away and lose because, ah, we always lose this game anyway. There was a determination about just getting the win and they got it. And so that's why it's so like, I keep watching this team, like, all right, this is still looking different. I'm big on, you know how it is. I'm. I'm big on how does it look? And as I watch them, it's just, it's looked now again, the blowouts besides. But how'd they get to the blowouts? Those moments in the game where it just, they just turn it up and they put it into that higher gear and it's that gear we've seen at times throughout the season that, you know, they can get to. But I've always said they've had that ceiling in the floor and it's a wide gap, but, man, they've been at that ceiling now for the last couple of games and it's in the playoffs. There's a little more urgency than if this was February and you just won nine in a row and, you know, you just, you piss away a game. I don't. I just don't know if they're going into this game with the attitude of, you know, we're not really into this. I think they're going to be pretty fired up to go up three.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, let's go to Mike.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry, it didn't look the same. I'm sorry, Don. It didn't look the same when they turned it on, on Wednesday because it was a different kind of game. But the bottom line is, Alan, you're right. Like you're watching them in one speed and it's. You think this is going to be. At least I did, but you didn't feel the same way. But I'm a little bit nervous about where this thing's going to go.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then all of a sudden you start getting deep in the game and you're right, they have this other gear. You know, I did a hit the other day for Yahoo Sports and they were asking about the Knicks team and did I see this all year. And I'm like, I got to be honest with you guys. You know, we were joking about this with Bill Peto. What is the regular season. We saw glimmers of this team, right. But this, the playoffs start. And by the way, that's also true of the Sixers. I mean teams are different in the playoffs. You become a markedly different team. And yeah, Don, I was just this, this team went healthy and obviously that's why the OG piece is so big. Because this, this day to day cannot turn out to be week to week.

[Don Hahn]

And yes, and things could things change in playoffs too. I mean, look at Detroit, right? They were down 3:1 to Orlando and it looked like they were dead and we disregarded them and now they're down 23.

[Alan Hahn]

They were down 23, Don, in that game too. The game, that elimination game, the game five. They were almost going to be out.

[Don Hahn]

So what happens if Detroit goes to Cleveland, wins both of those games and now they'll be riding into the conference final on what it'll be a seven game winning streak. And now maybe you think completely different about them than you did when they were down 31 Orlando. It's all very fluid. It could all change in the positive and the negative. But the sample size for the Knicks is small in the grand scheme of things. The five straight wins, but within the confines of the playoffs, it's everything thing. It's a big deal. So that's why there's no foregone conclusions. It should be a lot of fun watching this team moving forward. Let's go to Mike in the car. You're on espn New York.

[Caller]

I love the show. One thing about the mix, everyone keeps talking about individual players, you know, are they ever going to play, you know, winning streak or whatever. But I think the test is do you guys think that they are a championship team? You know, it's not about individual games and you know, the championship caliber teams, when they have A team down, they step on their throats and they don't let up. And is that the Knicks? Are they that kind of team? And are they going to put the past behind them and are they going to actually go to that next level as opposed to one guy, this one guy that, et cetera?

[Don Hahn]

Well, the thing, the problem with. Are they a cheap team?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. It's how the pieces fit, though. You can't, you can't dismiss the. The one guy this. Because one guy is a key piece and it can affect the entire group not having that piece. That's why I said, who's going to step up?

[Don Hahn]

But, but when we end the conversation when we, we had that call from, from Mike a couple of days ago, ended up being our worst caller, you know, championship or bust. I'm sorry, the Thunder to me, don't look like a team that's going to be beaten by anybody. Right. Right now. Now, obviously, things can change. And the spurs came back and they even that series with the T Wolves, and the spurs have kind of had the Thunder's number. But, you know, championship team, I, I think they can get to the finals. It's hard to say you're not a championship team if you get to the final, but am I going to guarantee a win against the Thunder? The Thunder to me seemed the class of the league, right. They, they accomplished. They won a championship last year. But let's just live in the moment, all right? And let's see. Let's get through this series first. We'll analyze things moving forward. You know, Peter made a great comment before. They're not winning a championship without OG So let's pay attention to this injury and make sure it's not. Well, it could be a problem.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Shams is saying for what he's hearing is that it's a tweak and you know, that he really does want to try to give it a go tonight, that it's not. It doesn't seem serious and that the fact that it's a tweak and not a true poll or any of that stuff is, you know, again, that's the stuff that you want to hold on to and then see, like, do you just go all in tonight and try to get the win so you can look at Sunday as house money, or do you just say no, sit, because we don't have a big turnaround to Game four and we'd rather make sure we have you for that. And just a quick. I know we got to go, but quick answer to that caller. Championship teams Let me remind you that the Oklahoma City Thunder were down 2:1 in the second round to the Denver Nuggets. They were down 2:1 in that series. All right. Let me also remind you that they won their first two games in the conference final against Minnesota and lost game three by a lot. They lost by 42 championship teams. It happens. So like, let's not get hysterical about like what championship teams do, because recent history, including meaning last year, the team that, you know looked indomitable all year looks indomitable again this year. But down two one in their series in the second round and got blown out by 42 in game three of a series. They opened up two nothing and had to go seven games against the Pacers, who no one saw getting to the finals. Championship teams figure it out when it matters most, but doesn't mean that it's a perfect 404-04-040 run to a championship done well. Exactly. Even Moses Malone was wrong.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but this time Moses would have to say fo, fo fo foe. Because there's extra rounds, the extra rounds. And now that's the best of seven in all four.

[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 Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN News York app, and your smart speakers. Hey sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to

[Peter Rosenberg]

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