Hour 1: Knicks-Celtics Game 5

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Knicks-Celtics Game 5

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 1: Knicks-Celtics Game 5
• Release Date: May 14, 2025

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Introduction

In the premiere episode titled "Knicks-Celtics Game 5," the trio—Don Hahn, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—delve deep into the pivotal Game 5 between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. Airing on May 14, 2025, the discussion sets the stage for what promises to be a consequential NBA playoff series.

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Knicks vs. Celtics: Series Breakdown

Current Standings and Stakes

The core focus of the episode centers on the intense Knicks-Celtics rivalry, particularly the implications of Game 5. With the Knicks aiming to clinch the series and advance against the Indiana Pacers, the hosts analyze the strategic maneuvers both teams might employ.

Peter Rosenberg [00:26]: "A chance to finish off the Boston Celtics and move on to officially take on the Indiana Pacers..."

Impact of Key Injuries

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Jayson Tatum's absence and its potential ramifications on the Celtics' performance.

Peter Rosenberg [05:43]: "Without Tatum this year, they're nine and two, including a win in the playoffs against Orlando because of the risk."

Don Hahn counters by emphasizing the Celtics' depth and resilience despite the injury.

Don Hahn [32:03]: "This is a guy that is always, every year in the MVP conversation... You're taking him away from that team. It changes everything about their offense."

Strategic Analysis and Predictions

The hosts dissect possible game plans, focusing on three-point shooting and Porzingis's role for the Knicks.

Don Hahn [07:36]: "They're going to put up over 50 threes in this game. I promise you."

Peter Rosenberg remains cautiously optimistic about the Knicks' chances, highlighting both teams' motivations and execution capabilities.

Peter Rosenberg [13:06]: "But I don't know if this bothers you at all, but without Tatum this year they're nine and two..."

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Listener Engagement: Calls and Perspectives

Throughout the episode, listeners David and Elizabeth share their insights and queries, prompting deeper discussions.

Call from David

David praises the Knicks' fanbase for their sportsmanship amidst the intense series.

David [18:04]: "Props to the Knick fans... We genuinely feel sorry for those Celtics fans."

Call from Elizabeth

Elizabeth reflects on the Knicks' growth throughout the season and its implications for the future.

Elizabeth [34:08]: "...is this kind of series indicative of another point to the fact that the regular season is about getting to the playoffs..."

The hosts respond by acknowledging the Knicks' evolution and the importance of maintaining focus during high-stakes games.

Don Hahn [35:08]: "It's when everybody makes a big deal about November, he's just looking at it like, yeah, okay, we're still figuring stuff out..."

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Broader NBA Playoff Implications

The conversation extends beyond the Knicks-Celtics series to encompass potential matchups in the Eastern and Western Conferences. The hosts speculate on how series outcomes could influence future playoff dynamics, emphasizing the unpredictability inherent in postseason basketball.

Don Hahn [42:11]: "Do you think the networks want Pacers Thunder, Oklahoma City, Indiana?"

Peter Rosenberg contemplates the television appeal of various matchups, reflecting on historical series and their viewership.

Peter Rosenberg [43:09]: "There are shows that are number one network television..."

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Media and Leaks: NFL Schedule Concerns

A notable segment addresses the frustration with NFL schedule leakages, critiquing how information is prematurely disclosed through social media and live broadcasts.

Peter Rosenberg [15:15]: "It's a sieve. It's ridiculous, embarrassing, but it's out."

Don Hahn echoes the sentiment, expressing disappointment over the loss of control regarding official announcements.

Don Hahn [15:44]: "So here's the thing. Can you make up your mind? Either allow it to just leak out..."

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Final Predictions and Closing Thoughts

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts recap their predictions for Game 5, balancing optimism with realistic assessments of both teams' capabilities.

Peter Rosenberg [48:14]: "I'm not going to make it like hugely important because you still get two more kicks to the can..."

Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg emphasize the importance of execution and focus, regardless of external factors or past performances.

Don Hahn [37:56]: "The Knicks were there when that banner was raised to open the season. Would the Knicks be there to close the building?"

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Notable Quotes

• Peter Rosenberg [00:26]: "A chance to finish off the Boston Celtics and move on to officially take on the Indiana Pacers..."

• Don Hahn [07:36]: "They're going to put up over 50 threes in this game. I promise you."

• David [18:04]: "Props to the Knick fans... We genuinely feel sorry for those Celtics fans."

• Don Hahn [35:08]: "It's when everybody makes a big deal about November, he's just looking at it like, yeah, okay, we're still figuring stuff out..."

• Peter Rosenberg [15:15]: "It's a sieve. It's ridiculous, embarrassing, but it's out."

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Conclusion

The first hour of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg provides an in-depth and dynamic analysis of the Knicks-Celtics playoff series, enriched by listener interactions and broader sports discussions. Hosts Don Hahn, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg blend expertise with engaging banter, making the episode both informative and entertaining for fans keen on New York sports and beyond.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, offering a comprehensive overview for those who haven't had the chance to listen.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

Done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I gotta divorce my wife and have my kids bleed out.

[Unknown Speaker]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because the Giant game's on.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Unknown Speaker]

Otherwise I'm not a real fan.

[Don Hahn]

What kind of fan are you?

[Unknown Speaker]

Not a good one.

[Don Hahn]

And Rosenberg.

[Unknown Speaker]

The Peter haters who call stupid. The Peter fans who call very bright.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is in North Dakota. This is New York.

[Don Hahn]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg. The best threesome I've ever heard. On 880 ESPN and the ESPN New.

[Peter Rosenberg]

York app 301 of the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg on a major miserable Wednesday afternoon. Mets Pirates pending. But one thing is going to be played. You're not miserable if you're a Knick fan. A chance to finish off the Boston Celtics and move on to officially guys take on the Indiana Pacers which would be the fourth time chance to in the third round in franchise history. How you doing guys?

[Unknown Speaker]

Hi.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got an off the air medical report from Peter. It's not good. He may not make the end of the show.

[Unknown Speaker]

I didn't know. I didn't say that at all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You did.

[Don Hahn]

Oh no.

[Unknown Speaker]

I simply said. No he didn't. He made that up.

[Don Hahn]

Hey. Thoughts and prayers.

[Unknown Speaker]

I simply say thoughts and prayers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hopes and prayers.

[Unknown Speaker]

I simply said I had one of those days where I just woke up like you know, a little sore throat. Ish.

[Don Hahn]

Dude.

[Unknown Speaker]

Meh. It's not like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe it's not like that. You're diagnosing yourself, doctor.

[Don Hahn]

I'm on the hamster wheel right now. Three different shows going and this guy's going to bring a virus into the studio. This is what I need today.

[Unknown Speaker]

I don't think it's. My guess is it's just a rundown Ness more than a virus.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, your degree tells you what? That you're okay.

[Unknown Speaker]

My what? My degree in medicine.

[Don Hahn]

Get your PhD.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well you want me to. You want me to take. I should have stayed home today.

[Don Hahn]

That you're not contagious.

[Unknown Speaker]

I don't. I'm not warm or anything. I don't feel like.

[Don Hahn]

Not yet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't take your own temperature that way.

[Unknown Speaker]

You can tell when you have a temperature though as an adult.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that true?

[Unknown Speaker]

You can't physically tell when you're like running temperature.

[Don Hahn]

Whenever you told your mother that you weren't feeling well, was there like one go to for her? Did she look at your eyes or ask you to stick at your touch the forehead? She would. She would. She would check your forehead. Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, same thing.

[Don Hahn]

Forehead, forehead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then right to the rectal thermometer.

[Unknown Speaker]

But that was almost it. Almost like she Liked it. She couldn't wait to do it. Sometimes she'd skip the forehead and go right to the rectal therapeutics.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because I gotta tell you, and these weren't those digital. These were the glass mercury ones. Oh yeah, of course.

[Unknown Speaker]

The real deal.

[Don Hahn]

Oh my God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, they were deadly.

[Don Hahn]

Gigantic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But they were accurate.

[Unknown Speaker]

I hope so. It's touching your brain. How would it not be accurate? Yeah, well, I'm fine. No, I'm fine. I'm feeling good. Excited for the game time. What time's our tip tonight? 7:30.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, really excited. You don't even know what it tips.

[Don Hahn]

Seven, seven.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, you know what?

[Don Hahn]

The other day, weren't we bright and early?

[Unknown Speaker]

Were we told 7:30 before the with the draft lottery night or did they changed it?

[Don Hahn]

I believe this was changed Monday. Like right before or over the weekend maybe.

[Unknown Speaker]

It was annoying over the weekend. I really was turning on the game. I was in the gym and I went, all right, game time, here we go. And then I turn it on. It's Cooper flag staring into nothingness.

[Don Hahn]

That's how you found out. That was just the Tuesday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was above his pay grade at that point. But no, we got a seven o' clock tip.

[Don Hahn]

This one's on tnt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now here is the lay of the land. Right now we're taking up until 6:30 and then it is going to be the Mets going for the sweep of the Pirates over at Citi Field. But if you've been outside at all, you gotta think that this game might be in a little bit of jeopardy, right? It's been pouring all day. Now our pinhead suit, John Winthorpe, has been in touch with the Mets who say game on. They apparently say there's a window and the game is going to be a go, of course. But if for some reason plans change and they end up postponing this game, well, then at 6:00 clock on here on 880, our coverage would begin with Pat O' Keefe leading into the 7:00 clock tip. But right now, Mets on 8:80, Nick's on 10:50. But a big day. Now we know it's the Pacers and that's what Nick fans are hoping for because they've kind of gone the same way. Right? Indiana takes the two games in Cleveland, then the first game in Indiana, the Cavaliers blow them out, then the Pacers take game four and then they finish it off in game five. That's how the Knicks are hoping the same thing happens. Take the two in Boston, you lose the first game at the Garden and come back and win to take the three one series lead and then win game five. And I'm not going to make it like hugely important because you still get two more kicks to the can and you are returning home on Friday. But two things. They haven't been great at home. And also why give the Pacers any kind of a head start? Right. Why give them extra rest? They're sitting there with their feet up wondering are we going to be playing on Monday, Tuesday, whenever.

[Don Hahn]

Well, it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I guess Monday if the Knicks win tonight.

[Don Hahn]

Monday if they win tonight. Or I believe or Friday could go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All the way to Friday.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I think Friday's game six. I'm not 100% sure because I think the original start date is way Wednesday, next Wednesday. But they could push it up to Monday if both series end early.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So I don't know if they'll push it to Wednesday if the Knicks go to Friday and then the Pacers get literally a week off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And which, which the. Which the Celtics had, if you remember.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it didn't help them. So then you get the whole rest rust thing. But I think as glorious as it would be on a Friday night.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To win at the Garden, first time in 25 years, not only advancing to the conference final, but series at home.

[Don Hahn]

I'm good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think I'm good, too.

[Don Hahn]

I'm all set on that. Yeah. I want it Friday night. I want to be sitting at home watching Mets Yank.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I got bad news for you, Al.

[Don Hahn]

What's that?

[Unknown Speaker]

Not happening.

[Don Hahn]

What happened? What? They're going to reign out.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, no, that. You can choose to watch that if you want to watch it from the studio. But I think the Celtics are getting it done tonight. I really do. They're going to come out guns blazing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's that.

[Don Hahn]

I guarantee you they're going to be blazing those guns. They're going to put up over 50 threes in this game. I promise you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah. They're going to be heaving it.

[Unknown Speaker]

What does that mean? That's a regular day of the week.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I don't know if this bothers you at all, but without Tatum this year they're nine and two, including a win in the playoffs against Orlando because of the risk.

[Don Hahn]

Give you an asterisk on that one.

[Unknown Speaker]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

They played Utah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

They played the Wizards. They played the Nets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

These are all lottery teams that you're mentioning so far.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, they played the dregs. The only team that they played that made the playoffs was Orlando and Detroit. That's It.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Orlando was the playoff game, right?

[Don Hahn]

Well, one, the playoff game was Orlando, of course. Yeah. And then there was. There was also two. And against Orlando, they were one and two. So the two losses came to Orlando in the regular season. They won the Game 2 playoff game against Orlando without Tatum and then Detroit, they beat him both times without him. But that. So. But then they also played a lot of, like, lottery teams. Would you rest a team like them? You know, you'll sit your best players again. He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's the best player on the team, but it's still a good team. And I think that they're not going to go quietly into that good night at all, because they're home. If this game was at the Garden, then, I mean, maybe they would just put their tail between their legs, say, it's not our year, but they're home. They want to be in front of their family.

[Don Hahn]

I'm going to give you the opposite.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, they're obviously, again, you're going to. You're going to get their emotion. The buildings, there's all kinds of stuff that you'll get out of them, which is all the stuff to expect. I think you got to get through all that in the beginning. And then you got to know two things. One, Brown's going to try to play hero ball. That's what he does. He's going to try to be a hero. Two, they're going to, as I said, 50 plus threes. It's a lock. A lock. They're going to take more than 50 threes, and you have to take that away from them. You got to just know that's what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They want doing that.

[Don Hahn]

Well, think about it. You have Bridges and Anobi are your wing defenders and heart as well. Normally you have to worry about Tatum and Brown. Now you have to worry about Brown. To me, the guy I'm watching tonight is Porzingis.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

Does Porzingis just take all the IV and all the. Every multivitamin he can come up with? And you know, like, Bart always would say riboflavin. Whatever it takes, he would always throw. He would say riboflavin. I don't even know what that is.

[Unknown Speaker]

But okay, a triboflavin.

[Don Hahn]

But he says ribbon flabbin.

[Unknown Speaker]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

And so, but you take. He's gonna just load up and see if he can give you 35 minutes and be a handful, be a difference maker for one game. Can he do it? Because this virus, as you see, they have limited his minutes. They have limited how much time In a row, he'll play. Then they take him out so he can recharge. He was ineffective in the fourth quarter. In game four, he couldn't do anything defensively. He did nothing. So that's, to me, what I'm looking for tonight. If Porzingis has that kind of game where, okay, this guy's locked in tonight and he's playing like he's blowing through the minutes restriction, then I think you're right. Then I think, you know, the Knicks could have. Could have some trouble. But aside from that, like, again, I trying to be Knicks boy here. This team has faced enough now elimination games and opportunities. This is the eighth time in the three years that they've been advancing in the playoffs, this is the eighth time they'll have an elimination game. In this previous seven, they've only won three of them. All right, so you got to know. And of course it's three, because they've advanced three times. They have to know that at some point, they. They understand the significance of just getting it done tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but. But I don't think it comes down to as much as we like to play this game well, the Knicks lose tonight because they started reading their press clippings.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not buying that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, if they lose tonight, they're going to lose because the Celtics were just a better team. And the same thing. If the Celtics lose, it's not because of all the Celtics gave up. It's just maybe the Knicks played better. Like, we get caught up in the emotional part of it. Of course, these are all professionals, and you know, they're going to go out there and they're going to do the best that they can and stay focused. You saw the way Brunson handled the winning game four. You know, there was no celebration.

[Don Hahn]

Let's get all the court. Let's go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got work to do. And I'm sure the Celtics take a lot of pride in what they do for a living, and they want to defend their championship as best they can. They don't want to go quiet. So I don't think the result is going to be about that. I think it's just going to be, are the Celtics going to be able to execute?

[Don Hahn]

Are they going to shoot? Are they going to do what they did in game three and just go, you know, just detonate from three. I think they hit 20 plus threes. You know, if they have a game like that. Yeah, and they could. Now, who's going to start in Tatum's place? Are they going to go big and Go with Horford and Porzingis or are they going to go with Pritchard off the bench? The kid, Merrill, right? Is it Merrill? He's. He got hurt early in the series. He's probable. He's a good three point. Yes. A Houser, Sam Houser. I mix the other kid from Cleveland, but they're very much the same player. He's a good three point shooter and he's a decent defender. He was hurt for most of the series, but if he's available to play, which they have him as probable, well, then, all right, now you can move Pritchard into the starting lineup. Play a faster small ball kind of lineup with another guy that can knock down threes and then at least you have a guy coming off the bench that's still doing that. I'm telling you, the two things I'm watching, the two things that matter the most are going to be what do they do from three point range and what does Porzingis look like? If both of those are negatives, the Knicks are winning this game.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I mean, I think, I don't think anything's changed. If the Celtics are negative from three point range, they lose. That's kind of been the story of the playoffs so far. The Porzingis thing I think is pivotal. I wouldn't say it's if they shoot great, they can still do that. Even if Porzingis isn't full blown. Porzingis.

[Don Hahn]

But those are the two things. If I'm you're asking what are you looking for? Those are two things.

[Unknown Speaker]

But if Porzingis somehow is a much better, you know, gives you a lot of minutes and looks good because he really hasn't produced very much, even when he, when he's been on the floor to any degree. So I can't bank on that. I think. Also, I know this goes without saying, but does Jalen Brown really step up or does your point, Allen. He tries to play hero ball. Tries to do too much balls in his hands too much. Stagnates the offense.

[Don Hahn]

Exactly. With the stagnate part. Exactly.

[Unknown Speaker]

So like that can happen. What you hope is they kind of do as much as it will offend. Chuck D. As a Celtics fan, I just hope they keep playing their game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

Keep shooting open threes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's unethical as all that.

[Unknown Speaker]

I mean, I know it's hard for me morally to get up from it, but if Jalen Brown. Because Jalen Brown. Here's one thing though. Jalen Brown can draw defense, not maybe to the same degree. Tatum can but he's really capable of getting to the basket. He will draw attention.

[Don Hahn]

The guy won the MVP of the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals for a reason.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. He's the man. So if.

[Don Hahn]

But without Tatum, he's different.

[Unknown Speaker]

It is different, right? Well, let's see. And can those guys. Can all those other guys. Hauser, Pritchard, Porzingis, Drew Holiday, Derrick White, can they all hit their shots when they get them? My guess is they're still going to get their looks. Will they hit their shots?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just don't think things come as easy as you want it to. So I would not be surprised if we're playing on Friday. I think the Knicks are going to win this series. We'll see if they can finish it off tonight. I think you want to. You don't want to play with fire, but I think the Celtics will bring it. I think the Knicks are going to bring it, and we'll see. Both teams could be on top of their game, and then it just becomes, you know, who hits the shot, who doesn't.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah. And again, it's what the Knicks got in Game four was all hands on deck. Everybody did something. There was. There was a lot of contributions, which was very important to see. And it's got to continue for them to have any chance in any series, to be honest with you, Jalen Brunson this morning, because now that we know the Pacers have advanced and so that's who they'll meet if they can get out of this series. And so now, of course, what media does is start setting that up. Remember, the Knicks had the Pacers dead to rights last year in the second round.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

And then everybody started getting hurt, and all of a sudden you're playing a Game seven where there's just no one left, and you lose a Game seven at home. Don't think for a second that those guys don't remember how that felt and how frustrated they were about losing that series in the manner that they lost it. But they can't be thinking about that now. Every playoff series is a battle, no matter what. That's why you can't look ahead. You can't think about what's going on in other series or anything like that. Yes, you're aware of it, but you got to be focused on what you have to do, because anything can happen. So they're not focusing on the Pacers and revenge and all the stuff that's ahead of them, or potentially they are focused solely on. You got to drive the stake through this Celtics, the Defending champs for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's all the things you want to hear. You know, the fans of the media are all going to fantasize about the Pacers. And up three games to one, teams have blown three one series leads before. Doesn't happen that much, but it does happen.

[Don Hahn]

Has it ever happened when the star player of the team, down three one, got injured and is done for the series? That's a significant loss for them emotionally.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course it is.

[Don Hahn]

Statistically, there's a million things about that of course, changes everything.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you can't. If you're the Knicks, if you're the players, can't focus on that. You just got to focus on trying to beat the Celtics. Don't let. Don't let them back in. Right. And that's what that. That's the key point. 1-800-919-3776 what are you thinking? A lot of basketball on the table. The NFL schedule is officially coming out later on tonight. But leakage is worse than the Titanic.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's never been. Now it's just like a leakage now. It's just stupid.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's a sieve. It's ridiculous, embarrassing, but it's out. It's interesting.

[Don Hahn]

They have a show, though. Is there a show tonight? Right. They have a whole thing set up and yet this stuff gets leaked out. It's almost like, why watch the show at this point?

[Unknown Speaker]

So here's the thing. Can you make up your mind? Either allow it to just leak out and then the next day there's a release or do a show, but don't do a show. And. But they can't offend all of their NFL insiders, so they have to keep dribbing and drabbing it to everybody and have a show. It's stupid.

[Don Hahn]

I just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Social media has kind of made this unfun. I mean, I wouldn't watch it anyway. I mean, I've got playoff games and you got N.L. white going on.

[Don Hahn]

But is it like the draft too? Like the draft, like, you know, the pick before they actually announced the pick. If you're following on Twitter.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, yeah. If you've been following, you already know.

[Don Hahn]

The pick and it's just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well. But the NBA tried to put a stop to that, right?

[Don Hahn]

The NBA did. And NFL Woes was so good about it. Yeah, he would. He would change his wording.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like subtle. They're there. But like instead of saying of team is going to pick a player, he would say, he would use any type of adjectives just to describe, like their interest in a Player instead, like he still did. It was great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know, Giants and Jets schedules, we have the leakage. So we're going to talk about that. We've got a very interesting list at 4:30 and then en at 6. So we got a full show.

[Don Hahn]

You think this list is going to start some fights?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, because I don't want to reveal too much, but there are going to be people because of the teams that they root for, are going to fight. Hard to say. How did you forget that? Let me just say this quickly before we go to the calls. Maybe I could have mentioned this, talk about it Tuesday when I put a list together. Why do people. You forgot? I didn't forget. I just didn't think it was deserving. You forgot or did you think about. I try to think about everything now. Have there been times where somebody might have tweeted something going, you know what, maybe that deserves a little more consideration.

[Unknown Speaker]

With all you forgot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

People get offended, man.

[Don Hahn]

It's great though. You know what means they care. Well, not only do they care, the whole idea of this business is to get reaction. Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So he reacted awesome.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Big reaction.

[Don Hahn]

My take. You hated my take. You think it's wrong. Okay, great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. There's one fan base in particular that I think is going to get really upset.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That they didn't make it. But you got to wait till 4:30 for that.

[Don Hahn]

I can't wait.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But right now, the knicks on the table. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to David. He's on the east side. You're on ESPN New York.

[D]

Thanks for taking my call.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Always, David.

[D]

All right, so two quick Nick points. Want to get your reaction to both. Number one, I keep hearing how, you know Boston is not going to want to lose in Boston. They're going to want to take it at least once. I don't buy any of that. How can you go from being laser focused on defending a title to just we got to win one at home? If anything, you're going from highly motivated to less motivated. So I don't. I see the Knicks closing this out. Game five, number two. You know, props to the Knick fans, all of them, for just being so classy about Tatum. You know, this doesn't happen all the time in sports. Sometimes you see fans dunking or getting loud. You saw that from the Celtics fans, to be honest. But everything I've seen from the fans to Jalen Brunson, whoever, just absolute class. We genuinely feel sorry for those Celtics fans. We feel sorry for ourselves too, because we wanted to have a real New York vs Boston series and close it.

[Don Hahn]

Out and win it on our own without excuses.

[D]

A black mark. You know, this could have been one of the all time Great New York vs Boston series and we kind of lost that now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, listen, you'll take it though. Who cares, right? I mean, you miss out on a classic, but you're advancing for the first time in 25 years. You don't buy the motivation. I just think as an athlete, you don't want to go out that way. You're going to go out and try to play your best. It may not be good enough.

[Don Hahn]

Well, wait, wait, wait. Again, and I don't say this flippantly, but fans don't understand the mindset of a true pro athlete, right? They just don't. Fans think like fans do and they think athletes are thinking the same way and it's not accurate at all. These guys aren't looking at it like rallying to win a series or any of that stuff. I know it's hard for people to believe, but trust me, I've had these conversations with these guys. It sounds cliche, but you know what they want to do. They want to win tonight. And then you don't know what happens. Like you win tonight and you see what happens.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They don't want to go out there.

[Don Hahn]

This is also at home. There is a pride about yourself. You're a defending champion. Think about this, Don. The Knicks were there when that banner was raised to open the season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right. Good point.

[Don Hahn]

Would the Knicks be there to close the building? That could happen tonight. You're going to tell me that Joe Missoula is not going to put all that stuff in his players heads and understand, listen, we're going down. We ain't going down here. Like, don't. Not here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That may not be enough, but I'm sure there's going to be, you know, there will be motivation. Whether it's enough for them to be able to overcome.

[Don Hahn]

That's the problem. You know who was motivated last night? Did you hear this story? Cleveland Cavaliers. Last night there was a group text and it was Max Strus. Max Struz put out a group text to his team going into that game. They're at home, they're down 3 1. They were the number one seed in the East. And he said, if anybody doesn't believe, don't even come to the building. That was his message. Of course, everybody showed up. They went up 18. They lost. They lost because they're just not good enough. And by the way, Max Drew went overnight. Yeah, that was that message. But the point is, is that they were all fired up and it still didn't matter. So that's the reality. Sometimes you face.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Every. Every champion has a story about somebody.

[Unknown Speaker]

You sound like a trailer for a documentary.

[Don Hahn]

I love that. Right? Every champion has a story. He's got the voice. Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of somebody kicking over a garbage can. Remember that? When the Devils were down 31 against the Flyers in 2000, Larry Robinson was very reserved, kicked over a garbage can, and they went ahead and won the next three. And that becomes the reason. But there's been tons of garbage cans kicked. There have been tons of paraplegic soldiers who gave a pregame speech at a Super bowl. And you never find out about it because that team lost by 30. But when they win, you're gonna always hear about the coach that did this or the. The speech from that.

[Don Hahn]

Imagine if you were like, the guy. Like, how about it would be great to interview somebody who was supposed to be the inspiration and went in, hey, come talk to the players before the game, and you give this whole speech, and the players are all fired up and they lose by 30.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And then you're forgotten forever. And you want to tell, like, yeah, I gave. You never want to admit that you gave the pregame speech for that game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's always some. There's always somebody that spoke that said, listen, before my father died last night, he said. He said, son, win that game for me. And then if you win, it's the headline. When you lose, it's like, oh, well. And they all have them. So you know what? You got to go out there and you got to execute.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Unknown Speaker]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Interesting that Jacob would come in with the band Boston, which I do love.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm a fan of the city, too. I do like it. And I'd like the band Balls, one of my favorite bands. This is a good song, but he's not. Jacob's not making any kind of Celtic statement.

[Don Hahn]

Is he making predictions here?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no. I think the next. Absolutely. Smoking the Boston Pack tonight, we're closing them out at five. So Smoking Boston. So it was the reverse thing.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't even listen to. I didn't even listen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I would not be surprised by anything tonight as far as win or loser. I would be surprised if somebody Wanted to blow up. I think this is going to be a great game.

[Don Hahn]

Okay. I think now, I think we've seen our last great game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what I think it will be, a blowout.

[Don Hahn]

I think it's one or the other interesting. I think they're going to hit. If they hit 25 threes or they're not going to make anything.

[Unknown Speaker]

You could see a world in a world. I'm not trying to say this as a. To be a jerk, but you can see a world in which Boston gets smoked at home tonight. Like, they give up.

[Don Hahn]

Kind of not give up, just. It's just brick city.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know, and the Knicks, now you're talking about five games in. But even when it's got a report, like, just.

[Unknown Speaker]

Even when it's been brick city for this team, the Knicks have not been able to blow them out.

[Don Hahn]

Something happened offensively in that second half for them. It's as if you think they're going to click, as if they were like, okay, there it is. Like, they had to find the formula. And that formula really worked. Now, that formula, of course, was Jalen Brunson going crazy, but it was what it opened up with everyone else. Like I said, I don't know. I go with feelings, right. And I admitted that Saturday, go into the Garden, I was like, yeah, you know, I did not have that feeling about it Monday. I told you guys before the show, right? I told you guys. I told anybody that saw me on Monday, I was like, I feel good about this game. I wake up today and I had that sort of same feeling of calm, of like. Yeah, I think. I think. I think they got this now. Yeah. Could be totally wrong.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's why we watch.

[Don Hahn]

We base it on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

As much as we love you and we love your gut, you don't trust. Still gonna watch the game.

[Don Hahn]

Just lay out, watch. Watch the Mets, just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I'll just watch the Met game and.

[Don Hahn]

And commit tomorrow. All right. What happened?

[Unknown Speaker]

How come you're not watching the Knicks?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Alan told me they got this.

[Unknown Speaker]

You know. You know what?

[Don Hahn]

Wow. Jack Curry, look at this. Look.

[Unknown Speaker]

A little lad.

[Don Hahn]

Little low. Is that. What is that color?

[Unknown Speaker]

Let's be careful with Don showing him people's looks in the middle of the show. I'll never go after Jack, because last.

[Don Hahn]

Night, Jack, he's like, I get.

[Unknown Speaker]

I get it. But last night, this guy's a patron.

[Don Hahn]

Saint of the Yankees.

[Unknown Speaker]

I. I get it. But there were other family yesterday that were related to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a good point of adjacent. And that was A ridiculous outfit.

[Unknown Speaker]

He crashed out, though.

[Don Hahn]

He really got.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, Don crashed out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was also winning.

[Don Hahn]

Did we save that? Oh, we saved it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you doing? You're not the story. Look at me. Look at me. Dear God in heaven, look at me. He got the job. Yes.

[Unknown Speaker]

That was.

[Don Hahn]

You called Nagandi. And I mean, come on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's one of the best people in the world. Take it back. But I just don't understand why that. That was too over the top. Yes, but Jack isn't wearing something.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, no. Jack is okay to take, but it's the colors.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But maybe he's taking a little bit of a chance with a lavender tie.

[Don Hahn]

I'm gonna say his wife picked that up.

[Unknown Speaker]

But my only point was, was that. Just be careful, Alan. I'm just saying when we set dot up and we go look at the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who's the one.

[Unknown Speaker]

You don't know what he's gonna say.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You started it. You're the one that noticed it. No, you're the one that constantly goes after Lee Goldberg. Lee Goldberg with the glasses. So you're not above anything. I'm an observer. I observe things and I have an opinion. That's in life. I observe too much, and I can't keep my mouth shut with my opinion.

[Unknown Speaker]

Everything you're saying is true. I'm just pointing out to Alan, be mindful. Before you say, hey, Don, check. I learned a lesson last night. If I say, hey, Don, check out this fit, it could go any direction.

[Don Hahn]

That's probably.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not going after Jack. You got the job. Yeah, it's more of a compliment. He's got the job. What are you doing?

[Don Hahn]

He's very good at it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I never said he wasn't good, but that. That outfit was. You know what? It was unethical.

[Don Hahn]

We got something from Chuck D. We have some confirmation, though, on game one, right, Don?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, there's a reporter from Indiana. I'll get his name in just a second. Because he was able to find this out. Eddie Garrison. And from what he says is Knicks win tonight, game one, Monday. If the Knicks lose tonight and obviously win Game 6, then Game 1 of the conference final would be Wednesday.

[Don Hahn]

I think, regardless, it's Wednesday. I think that was the scheduled starting point, but they said it could be earlier.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You could understand that if everybody would. Nobody, I think, anticipated certainly the winners. But both of these ending in five. Yeah, they probably figured it was going to end the five would be cav. Celtics, but nobody expected this result. But, you know, listen, why not start it early? Why?

[Don Hahn]

Let's get to it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Plus, you don't want to. You don't want to go stagnant, right? No, you don't want to have days without gaining any game.

[Don Hahn]

Players don't want to sit erect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the NBA doesn't want, like, open nights either.

[Don Hahn]

Zerbiak tells a story about the Cavs team. In 09, they won 66 games. That's LeBron. Like, that's. That. That was a hell of a team. And they rolled through the first round or the first and second round, I believe. And Orlando was on like, you know, one of these miracle runs. And that's a. Dwight Howard. Stan Van Gundy was the coach. Like, they had a good team. And the Cavs sat around for, he said, like, six or seven days. They were playing like, they were playing scrimmages. They had scrimmages in practice just to try to stay locked in. But game one, Orlando comes in. They're, you know, still hot from the fight of the previous round, and they beat him. They took stranglehold of the series. They ended up winning the series and went to the finals. And we were robbed of a Kobe vs. LeBron NBA Finals because of that series. And he says that, that, that long layoff, they could just never get it back because it was just too long of a layoff between series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you just. You don't want to have it to be too obnoxiously long. I'm trying to think of the longest one in hockey. Remember the. Remember in. Oh, three, Devils went seven against Ottawa, and the Ducks swept the. The Wild in the conference final. And they finished up on May 16th.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Their game, the Stanley cup final against the Devils. And The Ducks started May 27th.

[Don Hahn]

Wow. There you go. Eleven days.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a. That's a. Eleven days. Ducks got smoked in the first two games. Didn't score a goal, lost three. Nothing in both games.

[Don Hahn]

You got to ratchet it back up. I mean, playing in the playoffs is a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There is level. Listen, anybody will take rest, especially after a long season, but not that. But that's. That's too much. And again, you don't want to have. The NBA does not want to have dark days where there's no games going on.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Especially.

[Don Hahn]

That's the great thing about the playlist. There's always that rhythm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

A game tonight, game tonight, game tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Slows down now, where you have, like, stagnant starts in the first round because they're just trying to make sure that there's a game every single night.

[Don Hahn]

That's Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's for television, but you don't want to get too crazy with it. Let's go to David and Elizabeth. You're on ESPN, New York.

[Unknown Speaker]

Hey, what's going on, Don?

[Don Hahn]

What's going on? Don? What's going on? Rosenberg?

[Peter Rosenberg]

There you go. It's all good.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, sir.

[D]

All right, first and foremost, fellas, tonight, I hope that we're dressed in all black because we're going to watch a seller, a televised funeral, I hope. But like Peter said, you never know, the Celtics might come out with that sense of urgency, that fire, and, you.

[Unknown Speaker]

Know, white and friends might be hitting.

[D]

All types of three pointers. So I just hope that we go out there, we are very compatible, very, very competitive.

[Unknown Speaker]

I said compatible. Compatible is not a word. But let me ask you a question. Let me ask a question. I'm being honest.

[D]

Yes, sir.

[Unknown Speaker]

If you were to remove the, the, the, the, the, the way Tatum went down and what that could mentally or emotionally do, and you just looked at this game straight up as a one off game, would you really feel that confident about the Knicks beating the Celtics?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm gonna be honest. No.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[D]

Putting on a marvelous performance before he got.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, no, no, no Tatum. I mean, no Tatum. I mean, no Tatum. Remove Tatum.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's with.

[D]

Not Tatum.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like the date. The date is March 12th. Tatum took a day. And the Celtics are playing the Knicks in Boston. Would you be that confident in the Knicks beating the Celtics?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Unknown Speaker]

You really would be.

[Don Hahn]

You telling me that he's just sitting out a game?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

And you'd be that confident?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think, I think you gotta understand.

[Don Hahn]

This is a guy.

[D]

Your top gun's not playing.

[Don Hahn]

I know. David's right.

[Unknown Speaker]

Look, I hear you.

[Don Hahn]

You're removing a top five player. A guy that is always, every year in the MVP conversation, A guy that is an all star MVP and all NBA talent. You're taking him away from that team. It changes everything about their offense. Everything. And the way you have to defend. So, yes, I would feel good.

[Unknown Speaker]

What do you think the line would be?

[Don Hahn]

Well, the line is still favoring Boston. I think they were five and a half last check.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The spread was four and a half.

[Don Hahn]

It's four and a half.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, Celtics.

[Unknown Speaker]

Interesting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Still a good team.

[Unknown Speaker]

That's the point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, you don't win a championship based on one guy. I mean, listen, they, they. Tatum is a star, but they have other stars on the team. They're pretty deep.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, but the Knicks are a very good team as well. And they're also a team that when you look at them and you look at their body of work, especially in this year's playoffs, they're a team that if it's a close game, you would favor them.

[Unknown Speaker]

That is true. You know, this, this game goes late in this series, you're going to feel good about them. Here's the part I just won't overlook. Those that for, for long, significant parts of this series. The Knicks offenses look dreadful.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

And that could happen again tonight. So it could, you know, I could be wrong. I like the Celtics in the spot tonight.

[Don Hahn]

I wonder if. Do you. Do you expect a more physical game? Do you think this game will have more that and would the officials let that go like this? Feel like a series like more like Detroit where the Celtics are going to do as much as they can to rattle and physically punish the Knicks? I mean, that's not really who they are.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, I wouldn't do that. That to me, I don't want to grind this if I'm the Celtics. In fact, I run and gun even more. Yeah, I run and gun and shoot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A lot of shots.

[Don Hahn]

Jack, Jack up those three.

[Unknown Speaker]

Because the difference is you don't have Tatum to do what he does in a half court set. So I just keep moving and keep shooting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go to Matt and Westchester on Don Hanna. Rosenberg.

[E]

Hey guys, listen, love the show. So I wanted to call back because I actually called earlier in the week with regards to, you know, this being a measuring stick series for the Knicks and, and who we are and what we are as a team in an organization. And you know, I come to think about that a little bit now as we're going through the series and we've had the success we've had. You know, is this kind of series indicative of, you know, another point to the fact that the regular season is about getting to the playoffs and then who you are as a team can kind of emerge or blossom into something you didn't think initially was there. Sort of like what the Knicks are doing right now in terms of they don't have the best bench, they don't have the depth, but they were able to play an eight man roster, so to speak, very effectively in this series. Does that mean we're as far off as we would have wanted to have been going into next year?

[Don Hahn]

So.

[E]

I know, I know I'm kind of advancing the conversation. I don't mean to take eyes off of this series, but it was just a thought that I wanted to bring back to the table whenever you guys get a chance. Thanks so much.

[Don Hahn]

I know what you're saying. I think what Matt's saying, and there is a part of it that's, you know, you build yourself up through a season to get to the playoffs. That's something Tom Thibodeau says all the time the season is you go through what you have to figure out so that by the time you get to the playoffs, you're where you need to be. Right. Like it's. It's when everybody makes a big deal about November, he's just looking at it like, yeah, okay, we're still figuring stuff out. Like we are not our best. We want to be at our best at the end of the season, not early in the season, and then lose it. How many times, how many teams have we seen they get off to great starts and then just kind of like almost just plateau, never get better. Right. Cleveland's a great example. Cleveland was an unbelievable team during the regular season. Playoffs came and they got physically tested and they got a mentally tested and they failed again. So I do think there is something to that. But I will add the caveat. When there is one of those super teams, the regular season is about establishing who you are. Like Oklahoma City and then the playoffs are about kind of emphasizing what you did all season. Yeah, that's who we are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's two types of teams, Alan. There's the teams, and this goes for bad teams too. They know what they are. They make their adjustments and changes during the off season and then they just. They go about their business in the regular season. Celtics didn't have anything to prove. You know, they are what they are. They use the regular season and then they get into the postseason. The Knicks, they make their trade during the off season, but they use the regular season to build up what they are. And we didn't know how long it was going to take. Matter of fact, for most of the season, we thought it might take a couple of years before this team turns the corner. But things happen and maybe they're accelerated. What happens if they win and move on to the next round, what that looks like ultimately to determine exactly how close they are. You know, you get swept by the Pacers, you're going to have a different feel about everything as far as moving forward. But right now it just seems like what they were in October is not what they are now.

[Don Hahn]

No, that's what makes this game so. Yeah, that's what makes this game so significant. Because you remember opening night, they got absolutely boat raced. They got absolutely embarrassed in that game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like that.

[Unknown Speaker]

You familiar with the phrase?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but I never heard.

[Don Hahn]

You never heard that Boat race? Yeah. Boat race means you just got blown out. Blown out of the water?

[Unknown Speaker]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So anyways, boat race, that's not your typical race.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, it is. Are both people in a boat or is just one boat versus, like feet? Because that seems unfair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you confusing with motorboating?

[Don Hahn]

I trust. Trust me, somebody has done both. I'm not confusing. Excuse me. The point I'm trying to make.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's too late.

[Don Hahn]

Is the fact that they on opening night are not the same team they are right now. And they have a chance to go back to opening night in their minds and say, look where we were. Like, here's where it started and here's where we end it. And that's what you really want to do in a regular season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's what's great because they play the regular season like it matters, because it does.

[Unknown Speaker]

And as I call it, opening night night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Termite 1-800-919-3776 But Peter, you need to tell the world things.

[Unknown Speaker]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Unknown Speaker]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Calling all baseball fans Join ESPN New York and the Michael K Show Live at Stout Bryant park ahead of the first Subway Series matchup on Friday, May 16th. Starting at one o' clock, Michael will look ahead, which should be a tremendous crosstown rivalry matchup. Michael K Show Live at Stout Bryant park on Friday, May 16 from 1 to 3 brought to you by Sun Cruiser. Vodka iced tea. Let the good times cruise. Twisted ice tea.

[Don Hahn]

Keep it twisted.

[Peter Rosenberg]

New York and Corona, the official cerveza of Major League Baseball. Michael was pleading, hoping, praying, begging that the Knicks win so that he can have all day.

[Don Hahn]

You know what? I'm in the same place. I just want to have that be just baseball weekend in New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It deserves its moment. Right? And we'll get it.

[Don Hahn]

We're supposed to get rain all weekend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sunday should be fun. No, Sunday's supposed to be nice.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, so we'll get a triple header Sunday. Oh, that'd be amazing. Let's see. Let's see how we're looking here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can you imagine?

[Don Hahn]

Friday rain, Saturday, rain, Sunday, partly cloudy. The next two days, though, are sunny in 69, 68.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, Monday and Tuesday.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Nothing like a gorgeous Monday and Tuesday.

[Don Hahn]

Well, Monday, Monday, Monday could be game one at Madison Square Garden. The other thing to think about is if the Knicks win this series, they are the higher seat again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

They'd have a game one or a potential game seven at the Garden.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't see it that often, especially in the NBA, where you go from being. Not. Not having home court and then all of a sudden having it third seed.

[Don Hahn]

Suddenly are the high seed left. It's rare that the first and second seeds are out that quickly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And do we dare take a look at what's left out west?

[Don Hahn]

Well, we know it's out west.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I know. Me meaning record wise.

[Unknown Speaker]

Start thinking about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Start thinking about the home.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She would have. Would have home court.

[Don Hahn]

Not. Not Minnesota.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Denver.

[Don Hahn]

Minnesota was a six seat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Denver.

[Don Hahn]

Denver was like a. Was it. Were they a three?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, LA was a three because they lost to Minnesota. Who was the six?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay. Sees the one standby carried three. I think den is Denver two. But then what's the record? Because that goes up by scene. He'll go by record at that point. Right.

[Don Hahn]

That's where I'm at right now. The Nuggets were 4C, but what was their record? Record was 50 and 32. So too low, Bob. 51 wins is still the most wins remaining outside of the Thunder. But Denver's down 32 in that series. I have a hard time believing that the Thunder are not going to win this series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You wouldn't. You would think, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Next up is the Timberwolves at 49 wins.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So the only time, if they can win tonight or win this series, the only possibility of not having home court was okc.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which is the likely match.

[Don Hahn]

Absolutely.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We've seen a lot of curveballs for sure.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. You want to go conspiracy theory real quick?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, interesting. Go ahead.

[Don Hahn]

Do you think the networks want Pacers Thunder, Oklahoma City, Indiana?

[Unknown Speaker]

No, no, I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Naptown versus where exactly is that?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I know exactly where exactly is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That point on the map? Where?

[Don Hahn]

Okay, I know it's Oklahoma City. Is that Oklahoma or is that like Kansas City where it's not really in Kansas.

[Unknown Speaker]

How does that work? Oklahoma City, Nebraska? I'm not sure. No, that's a great point.

[Don Hahn]

I'm just saying you want to do a conspiracy theory thing. I mean you're getting major market and a rising team or you're getting two markets that everybody's like in recent memories. What else is on?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It would be fair.

[Unknown Speaker]

It would set the record market. It would be the least watched final of all time by a country.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the biggest concern was if the right it was setting up if it went chalk Cleveland, Oklahoma City, Indiana is.

[Unknown Speaker]

Not much better but yeah, all right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Off the top of your head.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The worst matchup from television interest wise. I already got one in my head ever. Ever or in recent memory in basketball.

[Don Hahn]

Net spurs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Net spurs easily it had to be.

[Don Hahn]

Easy that one and think about the stars that played in that. I believe that was one of the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Lowest rated Now I enjoyed it. I mean I was a great series. I went to all the home games in Jersey and Nets team was awesome and that went six. That wasn't a bad series. But again San Antonio even in their heyday they were boring.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't have any kind of national appeal. I'm not trying to throw any shade at net fans but you know what I mean? Listen, the Devil's Ducks wasn't sexy either. I mean there's always going to be matchups but it just seems like even when you get like when Cleveland was making it to the finals it was LeBron James like it's usually market proof the NBA as long as they have stars. But right now Minnesota and OKC are developing into that but well could there be a day Peter that like fast forward five, six years from now where OKC is like must see tv? Sure. Or I don't know if they are.

[Don Hahn]

Right now Buck Suns didn't do very well either. Not until the end when Giannis ended up. I think the clinching game did it was 12 million.

[Unknown Speaker]

I wouldn't have remembered it was the.

[Don Hahn]

Suns, you know what I mean? That got think about it, 12 million for the clinching game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got to Think of all sports. I guess, you know, Super Bowls haven't had any. It's hard for Super Bowl.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, no, there have been many duds. It just doesn't matter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No dud games. But I'm saying matchups like, like that was a tough World Series a couple of years ago. You know, Rangers, Diamondbacks. That's. That's for the diehards.

[Don Hahn]

That's, that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a tough.

[Don Hahn]

I gotta be honest with you. And you know, I'm a big sportsman. You know, I am a baseball guy. I didn't watch a single game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'm sure in that series I didn't know.

[Don Hahn]

Not a single game.

[Unknown Speaker]

And in high school, Panthers, Titans. Panthers, Titans is tough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That would be tough.

[Unknown Speaker]

Wasn't that what happened?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. The Titans play the Rams.

[Unknown Speaker]

Titans, Rams, Titans. Lost in the.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

Who did the Titans come up and in short, against.

[Don Hahn]

But that was amazing game. The Rams.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was in the.

[Unknown Speaker]

Against the Rams.

[Don Hahn]

That's one of the. That's a memorable moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I would think it would still do an amazing rating because it's football. But if you got a Jaguars, Panthers, Super Bowl.

[Unknown Speaker]

Do we have Panthers, Broncos, Panthers, Broncos?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it's a Super Bowl. I don't think the Panthers, Patriots. Oh, wow. This is actually worse.

[Unknown Speaker]

Not great.

[Don Hahn]

Jake just told me. Oh, seven. LeBron's first final against the Spurs. Garbage. Yeah, you would think with LeBron James, but LeBron James wasn't really LeBron James yet.

[Unknown Speaker]

He was, but he wasn't.

[Don Hahn]

But not nationally. Right, that's it. Think about the clinching game. Got a 9.9 million viewers and I was the Spurs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Spurs, yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

They're always the culprit though. They were always the culprit.

[Don Hahn]

The spurs are what the Devils were not good for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A great team that nobody bad for outside of New Jersey to say.

[Unknown Speaker]

And by the way, speaks to my point of why Popovich is the best ever. Because none of those teams had had like just sexy jump off the page players. They were just great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, coaching makes. It probably makes it easier for him, the coach though, right?

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I just didn't have a superstar.

[Don Hahn]

Even that Nets series we talked about that guy. The clinching game, the game six you mentioned. It's still 11.5 million viewers again for the. The NFL sneezes at that. Like. Yeah, that was on Monday night in December for us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I remember.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Unknown Speaker]

But still have to be a Wednesday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I remember for 11. Yeah. What game it was because that started in San Antonio. Right. So it's probably game three. Three or four. In Jersey.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The halftime show was at the Meadowlands Queen. This is 2002.

[Don Hahn]

Two. 2000. Well, you thought the Spurs. That was 03 because they played the Lakers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Devils also.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. And is there a reason we should know who's at the half?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You'll know who it is, but it just shows you that how not good it was. Well, how different the NBA was then.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, so it definitely wasn't Queen Latifah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it wasn't Queen Latifah.

[Unknown Speaker]

Although that would have taken up a thumbs Jersey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sex was a woman.

[Don Hahn]

Celine Dion closer. Really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm getting warmer. Well, compared to Queen latifah, pretty big in 03. Wasn't. Wasn't. Wasn'T a nobody. But it just didn't smell like the NBA. It didn't feel like an NBA artist.

[Don Hahn]

Alanis Morton.

[Unknown Speaker]

Gloria. Stefan.

[Don Hahn]

That's a good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're rattling around the rim here.

[Unknown Speaker]

Really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Ready?

[Unknown Speaker]

What did he say, Lance?

[Don Hahn]

Go, Jewel. Ah, yeah, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Again, not bad.

[Don Hahn]

Little acoustic guitar. Little Jewel, but yeah, that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know what's. What's the. What's. What's the 2025 equivalent of a Jewel?

[Unknown Speaker]

I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Katy Perry and.

[Don Hahn]

No. No, not even.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, no.

[Don Hahn]

Isn't she kind of.

[Unknown Speaker]

Pipe down.

[Don Hahn]

Well done.

[Unknown Speaker]

Pipe down. Gramps.

[Don Hahn]

That's not. No, she's not kind of gone.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh. Oh.

[Don Hahn]

Jewel wasn't, by the way.

[Unknown Speaker]

Sorry, sorry. You don't mean musically in terms of where they are in the landscape world.

[Don Hahn]

Like that's.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know what Katy Perry's like. She started on that.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, no, she's starting to fade. But she was bigger at her biggest than Jewel was.

[Don Hahn]

Probably without a doubt.

[Unknown Speaker]

So like it is a tough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was a lot of book jewel in oh3 than it would be in 98. Then did you know, like Katy Perry now.

[Don Hahn]

Wow.

[Unknown Speaker]

On K. Swift.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

By the way. Bulls jazz. 98. The Last Dance. 35 million games. Different worlds, different world.

[Unknown Speaker]

35 million.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There are shows that are number one network television.

[Don Hahn]

First Nicks the year, the next year. Didn't get this. Half that guys. Half that guys.

[Unknown Speaker]

There are people. There are a handful of people on this planet. I think Don's done a list of this before. I was having a conversation for a documentary thing and my favorite subject came up Mike Tyson. And I was trying to express into words how big he was. And I'm like, if you're a young person, you can't quite even fathom the needle moving. We're talking about.

[Don Hahn]

I agree.

[Unknown Speaker]

When you get to Tyson, Jordan, Ali. There's like five people that could literally shift Tiger. That could shift an entire country and world to watch. 35 million to watch game six. The NBA now in a great finals is praying to get 1718.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jordan was must and those Bulls teams were.

[Unknown Speaker]

And by the way, the Jazz at that point. While of course, they had Stockton and Malone, blah blah blah. Nationally, no raving to watch the Jazz.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.