Hour 1: Knicks Game 4 Preview

Summary

Summary of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" Podcast Episode: "Hour 1: Knicks Game 4 Preview"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Guests: Richard Jefferson, Spike Lee, Kenny Smith, Chris Carlin
• Episode: Hour 1: Knicks Game 4 Preview
• Release Date: May 27, 2025

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Introduction

In the inaugural episode titled "Knicks Game 4 Preview," hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg, joined by guest Richard Jefferson, dive deep into the ongoing playoff series between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. The discussion centers around the strategies, key performances, and pivotal moments that could shape the outcome of Game 4.

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Series Overview

Current Standings:

• Knicks trail the Pacers with a series score of 2-1.
• The series has been notably unpredictable, with fluctuating momentum swings.

Key Moments:

• Game 1 & 3: Both games were inconclusive, with Pacers securing wins in Game 1 and a more stable victory in Game 3.
• Game 2: Pacers dominated, escalating the series tension.

Notable Quote:

• Don La Greca [00:02]: "For the team ready to conquer the grandest stage, immortality awaits moments of sweat and sacrifice towards the composition of champions."

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Key Players and Performances

Jalen Brunson

• Performance Concerns: Brunson's foul trouble and struggling three-point shooting have become focal points of discussion.
• Impact: His performance is crucial, as highlighted by multiple hosts.

Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg [02:22]: "There's been five total in the last four playoffs combined."
• Alan Hahn [17:04]: "Jalen Brunson shot horribly in game three. One for five from three, six for 18 from the floor."

Carl Anthony Towns

• Clutch Performance: Towns' ability to score under pressure, including a crucial four-point play in Game 3, was a turning point.

Quotes:

• Richard Jefferson [18:21]: "That's the point."
• Peter Rosenberg [18:25]: "He was different."

RJ Neesmith

• Injury Status: Neesmith's ankle injury from Game 3 is a concern for Game 4. Classified as a questionable game-time decision.

Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg [15:09]: "He was in obvious pain, tried to come back, you know, they taped it up. He was not right."

Tyrese Halliburton

• External Factors: The reinstatement of Halliburton's father into the arena introduces potential psychological impacts on Tyrese.

Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg [08:21]: "Why now? Why in the middle of a series?"

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Coaching Strategies and Adjustments

Defensive Lineups

• Alan Hahn [06:14]: "These are two very evenly matched teams and anything can happen here."
• Discussion revolves around how Coach Tibbs has adjusted defensive strategies, particularly in handling key Pacers players and managing foul trouble.

Bench Utilization

• Peter Rosenberg [16:00]: "He's a good defender. You know, it's Shamet."
• Emphasis on the strategic use of veterans like Delon Wright and Landry Shamet to maintain defensive integrity when starters are in foul trouble.

Key Insights:

• Spike Lee [34:20]: "Luck is the residue of design."
• Alan Hahn [19:52]: "He screwed up thinking that he didn't have to do that."

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External Influences

Tyrese Halliburton's Father

• Reinstatement Impact: Debated whether the lifting of Halliburton's father's ban affects Tyrese's performance or adds psychological pressure.

Discussion Points:

• Timing of the reinstatement between Games 3 and 4.
• Potential distractions and morale impacts on the team.

Music and Atmosphere

• Discussion on Iconic New York Tunes: Brief diversion into the role of music in sports arenas, touching on misconceptions about song origins.

Notable Exchanges:

• Alan Hahn [25:35]: "Shadow Boxing featuring Method Man. You're right there."
• Peter Rosenberg [26:46]: "It's a Wu Tang Clan..."

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Listener Interactions

Calls from Listeners

• Kenny Smith [20:24]: Highlights the Knicks' strong road performance and Brunson's crucial role.

  • Quote: "The Knicks, they play great on the road. That's the thing. They do."

• Frank in the Bronx [29:11]: Discusses turnovers and transition defense issues, emphasizing the need for strategic adjustments to support Jalen Brunson.

  • Quote: "If we bring the ball up and Jalen's playing off, we're effective."

Key Themes from Calls:

• Importance of Jalen Brunson's role.
• Need for strategic adjustments to minimize turnovers.
• Confidence in Knicks' ability to secure victories in upcoming games.

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Strategic Insights and Host Analyses

• Three Core Concerns for Game 4:

  1. Pacers' Three-Point Shooting: Peter Rosenberg expresses worry about the consistency of the Pacers' three-point attempts and successes.
  2. Tyrese Halliburton's Performance: Concerns about how external factors might influence his gameplay.
  3. Neesmith's Injury: The impact of his questionable status on the team's dynamics.

• Alan Hahn [33:17]: "It's a matter of when it's going to end."

• Peter Rosenberg [15:00]: "The three things that I'm watching with concern for tonight."

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn [38:08]: "Luck is the residue of design."
• Peter Rosenberg [37:14]: "Luck is the dying wish of a man who believes success happens by accident."

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Conclusion

The episode provided a comprehensive preview of Game 4, blending strategic analysis with player performance evaluations and external factors. The hosts emphasized the Knicks' resilience and the critical adjustments needed to balance the series. Listener calls enriched the discussion, offering diverse perspectives on team strategies and player roles.

Final Thoughts:

• The series remains unpredictable, with both teams showcasing strengths that could sway the outcome.
• Strategic adjustments, particularly in defense and bench utilization, are pivotal for the Knicks to even the series.

Notable Closing Exchanges:

• Spike Lee [34:06]: "Luck is the residue of design."
• Alan Hahn [39:29]: "Thus, luck is the residue of design."

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This detailed summary encapsulates the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the "Knicks Game 4 Preview" episode, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners and fans alike.

Transcript

[Don La Greca]

For the team ready to conquer the grandest stage, immortality awaits moments of sweat and sacrifice towards the composition of champions. An unforgettable journey is nearing its finale.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Four more wins to take home the trophy.

[Don La Greca]

The NBA finals, presented by YouTube TV, begin June 5 on ABC.

[Alan Hahn]

Don, I was fighting with obesity. I wore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You were losing. Han.

[Richard Jefferson]

John.

[Spike Lee]

Peter. Thank you, Alan.

[Kenny Smith]

I hope you make the team.

[Chris Carlin]

And Rosenberg.

[Richard Jefferson]

Richard, have you ever heard of Brazzers? No. This is in North Dakota. This is New York.

[Chris Carlin]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg on 880 ESPN and the ESPN New York app.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, last we talked to you, the knicks were down 1 0, then 2 0. But now, now looking to even the series tonight in Indiana. Hopefully everybody had a tremendous Memorial Day weekend. How are you boys?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Friday, what would we say? We didn't know how it went down, but if we said it'd be two one Pacers the next time we spoke, none of us would have been shocked. It's just how it went down.

[Alan Hahn]

This whole series has been topsy turvy as far as like how. Not. Not that the paces are up 2:1 or 2, but just how these games have gone, like, you have no idea. Guys, the result of this game, no matter what the score is. I don't care what the score is at halftime today, you don't know what's going to happen.

[Richard Jefferson]

No way of knowing. It's. It's so now one in three. Even though the way it happened for the Pacers in game one was a more brutal result for the Knicks. Game one and three are kind of a scratch now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you feel like that's been. That happened.

[Richard Jefferson]

You think so two ridiculous games happened.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Revenge factor now is complete.

[Richard Jefferson]

And, and the, and then the Pacers won. The one normal game we've had, the Pacers won.

[Alan Hahn]

But I can't put three at the same level of one. Yeah, it was a big. You blew a big lead. But you take a look at these NBA playoffs, you see leads like that disappear quick. I hear you, but how many 20 point deficits?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's what, seven, six already in this.

[Richard Jefferson]

Already have been erased.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have been erased for a win.

[Alan Hahn]

And the Knicks, there's been three of them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's been five total in the last four playoffs combined.

[Richard Jefferson]

When.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So there's something weird going on this.

[Richard Jefferson]

Year when the steel dunk to make it 20 happens though, in the second quarter.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Richard Jefferson]

@ that moment, if you go, Knicks are winning tonight, it's. I get it, it happens. But the way that felt, only the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Greatest optimist would have said that.

[Richard Jefferson]

It was sure I felt the. I was at Beyonce. I'm just literally watching on my phone and watching my texts. The world thought it was over when that dunk went, but not to the.

[Alan Hahn]

Level of, you know, an eight point lead. 40 seconds.

[Richard Jefferson]

No. Well listen, again, that's what I'm. That one is more freakish.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know the people, and I agree with Alan, most people would say no way. But if you know this Nick team, they don't, they don't go away. So you know, did the Pacers fall asleep? Was there something that was discovered? I mean all this is going to be analyzed during the course of these four hours and pick up until Mets and White Sox at 6:30 here on 880 and then from 10:50 in the app until 7 again volunteered for it will take charge at 7 o' clock for the pre game. But it's taken like a serpentine kind of way. It hasn't been direct A to B, but it's been just incredible basketball. And now it just feels like, all right, who's, who's going okc because they took control of that series last night up three games to one. And are the Pacers going to do the same or, or do we restart the series of best of three with the Knicks having home court?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That, I mean obviously, obviously that's what everybody here in New York wants is just a reset. Turn it into a best of three and you have two games at home. That's what you'll take at this point after losing the first two at home.

[Richard Jefferson]

It's what you dream of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Steal back the other two and now you kind of reset that that that's what you're hoping for because three one, it's still, that, that still feels like a hill to climb even though other teams have done it. It just feels like a hill to climb. I want to give you guys one thing right out of the gate here about what. What I'm concerned about tonight is okay, the Pacers have lost game three in the first two series as well. They lost game three to the Bucks, they lost game three to Cleveland. And Cleveland, remember they took the first two games on the road. They lost that game three at home in all three of their losses. They shot the ball terribly from three like awful three point shooting in the game fours. And so far the previous two were all both wins. They were lights out from three point range. So if I'm watching anything tonight, and I do feel like I hate simplifying the NBA game, but sometimes there are things you can simplify the team that is making the threes, knocking down the threes, they generally win. They generally win. And so to me, that's what I'm watching tonight was game three and their three point shooting issues where they didn't take a lot and they didn't make a lot. Was it the Knicks defense and the defensive lineups that Tibbs went with that got them out of their rhythm, took away those threes, or is it just an off night and then they'll get back to. They were shooting 40 something percent in the first two games from three. I'm worried about that like anything, like, you know, in any, any sport. Right. Power play, penalty kill, Don, in a series where, oh, their power play just had a bad night, but they've been great all, all series, like. So you expected to be back on track. I wouldn't even know in baseball what it could possibly be, but I just feel like if anything is going to dictate tonight, it's will the Pacers get hot from three again or will the Knicks, did they figure something out in game three, taking away that shot in game four?

[Alan Hahn]

I just think, and I was talking about this with you during the meeting and we already got calls of people that they're confident, they believe. I'm not telling you not to, but I think the one thing we figured out over these last three games, these are two very evenly matched teams.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, they just are.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't care what you thought going in. I don't care what the regular season dictated. I don't care what happened in the playoffs last year when the Knicks were decimated by injuries and still almost won the series. These are even evenly matched teams and anything can happen here. All right. If you, to Peter's point, if you want to say that 1 and 3 are a wash, by the way they ended up. While the Pacers want a close game. Both teams have shown the ability to win on the road. And I'm not even going to make the declarative statement that the winner of tonight's game wins the series because as you said, teams have come back from 31 down. I think it'd be unlikely the Knicks would come back from 31 down, but I wouldn't rule it out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And if you want to get excited about, well, now it's a series if they win tonight, because now it's the best of three of the Knicks having home court advantage. What exactly is home court for the Knicks? Right. They have not really taken control of games at Madison Square Garden. Some of their best games have been on the road. So grabs, man. It's up for grabs, by the way.

[Richard Jefferson]

But by the way, sort of the same thing for Indiana. Indiana's really better on the road too. Halliburton's like a 10 point better player on the road.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Richard Jefferson]

So it's, it's funny. You're like, you're going to play a three game series. If they can even the series tonight, which would be incredible. You're going to play a three game series and you have quote unquote home court advantage that I don't know is home court advantage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't know if it's an advantage. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And you'd like to think the Knicks figured something out by the way they were able to come back, but you know, they stood. The Pacers have been still good in certain situations and they were dominant in the first two rounds of the playoff. I think this is why you play a best of seven series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's also the adjustments that go throughout a series. And what Tibs did in Game 3, whether he was forced to do it or from what I've heard, the players kind of almost like not begged him, but just encouraged him to do it, is to go deeper into the bench, play nine and play defensive lineups that could help. And that, that turned the tide. And so does he keep doing that. I'll give you another thing for tonight to watch. And I'm curious how you guys feel about this. So Tyrese Halliburton's father is now welcomed back into the arena. Remember he was banned from.

[Richard Jefferson]

Right, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's in a suite, but still he's in the building. Now, Halbert had a bad Game 3. He wasn't great in Game 2 either, but he had a bad Game 3. Does this benefit him in some way? A little extra juice, A little. Whatever it is that we decide before game four, like in the middle of three and four, we're going to make this decision that how? Okay, he's welcome back in the building. Like, why now? Why in the middle of a series, in between two home games, are we saying, okay, the ban's lifted, he can be back in the building?

[Richard Jefferson]

It is weird, right? Who made this? That's the league.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The league. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

That is weird.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Isn't it strange? Like what, like why, why now? Why would do it before the series? So we already know or do it after the series if they advance. Why between games three and four when it's a 2:1 series? And I'm not saying that it's. It's like it's it sways it or anything, but it's just one more kind of storyline distraction. And I would watch Halliburton tonight and just see if he's got a little extra juice because dad's back in the building and this whole notion that, you know, to free him and all this. Free John Halliburton? Give me a break. People get free him. Will you stop? He acted like everything he got, he did. Like anybody else does that. And by the way, we've all like, Don, you're a sports parent and you might not see it yet, but you're going to see it soon. Cause I've seen it. The way parents act sometimes in some of these games, they're out of their minds. And what they do and what he did was that it was a terrible example that would have some accountability. It was a bad example to other parents who saw that and thought, oh, you see, he's just passionate for his son. No, no, he acted up and he thought he could get away with it. He thought he had the ability and the right to do what he did. And he was wrong. And, and he should be held accountable for it. He was. For what? Two games? Come on.

[Alan Hahn]

You hope he looks in a suite. So it shouldn't be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but they'll. You know that. I guarantee you TNT's got the camera on that suite. They'll be showing him over and over.

[Alan Hahn]

Again, like late in the game. He's not going to find his way. Well, not even his way down to the court.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, he won't find its way down to the court, but they'll, they'll make sure. And he'll know he's on camera.

[Richard Jefferson]

I don't think it does anything.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that won't affect Halliburton though. He won't see that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but I'm just saying.

[Richard Jefferson]

No, in the building, they'll do it too. He knows.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He knows his father's in the building. Oh, yeah, they'll put him on the jump.

[Richard Jefferson]

They'll put on the Jumbotron.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he knows his father in the building. A little personal, a little extra. A little something. I find it to be odd that this is the day we decide to do this.

[Richard Jefferson]

It is odd, but I wouldn't be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Am I overreacting?

[Richard Jefferson]

Yeah, I'm not worried about it at all. Not that doesn't stress me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fair enough.

[Richard Jefferson]

Here's what you need to do, though. Charles Oakley needs to drop his suit against the Garden and we need Charles Oakley.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, my God.

[Richard Jefferson]

Can you imagine? You want to talk about. Would Be a real boost. Like, an actual boost would be the day Charles Oakley walks back in the building. That would in the playoffs. Now, it's not gonna happen unless Hell Freeze is over. Cause I don't see Charles going back on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's allowed in the building. He's choosing not to.

[Richard Jefferson]

No. I thought. I thought what I read was he will be allowed in the building if he drops his suit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, litigation. Yeah, right.

[Richard Jefferson]

Well, they're like the MSG says, we're fine with you just drop the suit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because it's going nowhere.

[Richard Jefferson]

It's not gonna happen. By the way, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's never doing it.

[Richard Jefferson]

Never happened, by the way. I went to the Beyonce show, guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's the second reference already.

[Richard Jefferson]

The sphere. We're 11 minutes in the sphere being taken out. She goes in. Remember I said on the air that MSG threatened to sue her for picking up the sphere. So now instead she awkwardly goes. So basically she's doing a King Kong thing where she's walking through cities. You know, they have to do these things during these huge shows to give you time to change outfits, etc. So she's doing a thing where she's walking. She goes up to Statue of Liberty, lifts up the Statue of Liberty and she lights her cigarette. Like it's all like goofy things like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Feels a little disrespectful, doesn't it?

[Richard Jefferson]

Yeah. So maybe you should sue again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're gonna light a cigarette with the torch.

[Richard Jefferson]

It's supposed to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of liberty.

[Alan Hahn]

This is America and the freedom to smoke.

[Richard Jefferson]

So the reason it's so silly, though, is she's basically doing it with. What's the iconic thing in each city?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I get it.

[Richard Jefferson]

She was making the sphere this brand new building, the iconic thing of Las Vegas. And now she goes up to Allegiance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stadium, she picks up Alexa. It looks like Alexa.

[Richard Jefferson]

What do you mean?

[Alan Hahn]

Did a rights fee for it.

[Richard Jefferson]

I mean, they threatened to sue and so she.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Using the image, I guess using the image. I don't.

[Richard Jefferson]

There was no.

[Alan Hahn]

But isn't it cool to be the iconic thing in Las Vegas?

[Richard Jefferson]

I would. That was my table.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe it would be cooler if, you know, what's the count you played. If you played well.

[Richard Jefferson]

But like, wouldn't that have the sphere? Isn't that the way to make the phone call?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Richard Jefferson]

Hey, you know, we got to do. Let's. Hey, we noticed you picked up the sphere. You know, how about 15 dates?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you say?

[Alan Hahn]

A little. Little. I don't know. It might. It might be gone because I'm not a big Vegas guy. I've been there a handful of times.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The cowboy that's tipping his cap, long gone.

[Alan Hahn]

Why? Not that. That's iconic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, that's not there anymore.

[Richard Jefferson]

I don't know if it's there anymore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, actually, isn't that. Didn't they take that out to put the stadium in?

[Alan Hahn]

Maybe they did.

[Richard Jefferson]

Wait, and how big is.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know.

[Richard Jefferson]

How big was that guy?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know, but you'd think Vegas, right?

[Richard Jefferson]

No. You know, I'll tell you this. It's a bad job. They probably went with Allegiant Stadium to stick it to msg because I would have just went to a casino. She should have picked up Excalibur, MGM grand or Bellagio. Like that would have made more sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The fountain would have been good.

[Richard Jefferson]

Bellagio. She should have just lifted up the whole Bellagio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She picks up the Bellagio and drinks from the fount like it's a waterfall.

[Alan Hahn]

Or just, you know, washes her face in it or something.

[Richard Jefferson]

Anyways, we're not going to get Charles Oakley back at MSG this week. And I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I don't think if you get to game five. Two, two. You're not going to need that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, two, two, game.

[Richard Jefferson]

It'll be on two.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry.

[Richard Jefferson]

It'll be up for grabs, as some would say. Not me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Up for grabs, they say.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, as he says, I'm. I'm. I'm on the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so I. I'm over.

[Alan Hahn]

Destroyed us for not doing that half hour yesterday. He can go.

[Richard Jefferson]

Wait. What do you mean he destroyed us? You heard it.

[Alan Hahn]

I did not. Anthony told me. Anthony described it as you would have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Had been listening to really have heard it. And I know I didn't hear it, because you know who wasn't listening?

[Alan Hahn]

You.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That'd be me.

[Richard Jefferson]

Anthony. Hold on. When you say destroy, are you being that guy or was it just regular K?

[Hannah]

Oh, listen, I can't. I can't divulge. I mean, you'll have to go back and listen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nah, we're all set. We're good. Vacation day means don't work. That's what vacation means.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, and the only reason he worked, because he's stuck in a hotel in Anaheim to do the game, and he figures, you know what? I'll do this. You think if he was home he would. He would have worked? He would have volunteered to work?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, of course not. So let's move on.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't even come in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, let's Move on. It's not necessary. It's an off day.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's always necessary off day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One more thing. I got three nuggets for you. This is the third nugget.

[Richard Jefferson]

Okay?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay. The hat trick to open the show, the Neesmith injury, which was an important impact in the second half right of game three because he rolled that angle, that right ankle that had, by the way, been giving him problems. He rolled it on a drive, he limps off the court. He was in obvious pain, tried to come back, you know, they taped it up. He was not right. But he came back in the game. But he was not right.

[Richard Jefferson]

He is listed as question questionable for tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They say game time decision. I can't imagine he misses the game too big of a game, right?

[Richard Jefferson]

He doesn't miss it, but he may not be good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what I mean. He doesn't mean that. It's not going to take away.

[Richard Jefferson]

He's a, he's a true jump shooter. That that will affect him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's. Well, everything he does is the athleticism. Everything his, his threes he made in game one. Watch them back, every one of them. He's like six feet. He jumps.

[Richard Jefferson]

He's a true jump shooter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. So that's also something to watch tonight for sure. If he can't really move, if he can't play Brunson like he does and Brunson does still score on him. But if they've got to now go to more nem, hard more. Matheran's been bad in this series. Shepherd, if they've got to go that way and get away from Neesmith and Neesmith doesn't have the impact and we really haven't seen him have an impact the last two games at all. That's a huge turning point piece right now to keep an eye on with this team. So there's the three things that I'm watching with concern for tonight. The three point shooting for the Pacers, the Halliburton impact of the father being in the building coming off a bad game. Is he a little more juiced up tonight to be a difference maker because he was not good in game three? And then the Neesmith injury. Those are three things. And I mean again, the honorable mention, fourth one is, does Tibbs continue going with the nine man rotation and giving those guys like Delon Wright and Landry Shammit minutes? Because when they came in they were a much different, much better defensive team.

[Richard Jefferson]

I will respond to your three point concern though by saying on the flip side of that, Jalen Brunson shot horribly in game three. One for five from three, six for 18 from the floor. So every reason to think he'll have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A bounce back game and foul trouble again.

[Richard Jefferson]

And foul trouble was. Did that end up being a blessing in Scott?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's funny, it forced Tibbs. His and deuce McBride's early foul trouble forced Tibbs to go deep into the bench, bring in guys that everybody else was telling him, you got to play these guys like delaun, right, can defend, he's good, he's a good defender. You know, it's shammit. These guys played in 40 something playoff games. Like, this guy's got experience. Bring him in, he can help. Forced him to do that. And that was the Eureka moment. Like, whoa, whoa. Like, all right, this, this group's doing something. And then Carl Anthony Towns was. It was him and four guys that he probably don't even know by name. And he got, he went off and those guys surrounded him and would you.

[Richard Jefferson]

Guys agree, Would you guys agree if they go on to. I won't even say win the series if they go on to tie the series tonight? I really think game three was the Carl Anthony Towns moment as Nick that fourth quarter, the dunk to take the.

[Alan Hahn]

Lead 20 points in the fourth quarter.

[Richard Jefferson]

That's, that's the point.

[Alan Hahn]

He was serious.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was different. Like, and that's the thing that drives you crazy is it's like, where is that right all the time?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I think it's important to win the series because if you don't win the series and maybe he doesn't play to that level again, people will forget about game three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But no matter what happens the rest of the way, if they end up winning the series, that, that moment, it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It'S the, it's the, the four point play, right? It's, it's all those things that you remember that happened and he should have.

[Richard Jefferson]

Had a four point play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Richard Jefferson]

That setback that made it a four point lead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, he was fouled on. Agree, he.

[Richard Jefferson]

But no, he, he can turn it on. And you know, it is ironic after all of the Tibbs conversation this whole year and people really have been, you know, I think too hard on him at times. It is funny though that in a huge moment, the biggest moment of the season, he ended up going deep into the bench and it led to them getting a win. It is, it is funny for the people who have been saying that, it's a little bit of like Tibbs, we were saying we got some guys.

[Alan Hahn]

I was going to Say that the minutes police, even if they win, I'll still say, hey, you know what? He screwed up thinking that he didn't have to do that. He had a bench. He didn't realize it. Like, he lucked into it because he had no choice but to go to his bench and then found out he actually had one. Why didn't he know he had one beforehand? But if they win the series, I think people will get off his back about it. But it's just something. I'm sure that the minutes police will file away. He had a bench, didn't know it.

[Richard Jefferson]

And by the way, it's hilarious that we're acting like he went so deep into the bench. He hit nine.

[Alan Hahn]

I know, but nine is big for him.

[Richard Jefferson]

I know, but Cameron Payne didn't sniff the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, he's been bad. Did you hear what Kenny Smith said on the broadcast at halftime? Tibbs wouldn't play nine guys in a baseball game.

[Alan Hahn]

I did such a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a really good line.

[Richard Jefferson]

That is a great line.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a really good line.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, you want some calls?

[Richard Jefferson]

Yeah, let's talk to them.

[Alan Hahn]

Feeling a chance to even it up at 218-919-3776. Let's go to Joe and Yonkers. You get us started off here on Don Hunter Rosenberg.

[Kenny Smith]

Oh, thank you, guys. Thanks for taking the call. Always love listening to you guys. You guys do a great job. Peter in the morning with espn. I wanted to give you the props for that, Han.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Always.

[Kenny Smith]

And Don, of course.

[Richard Jefferson]

Thanks, buddy.

[Kenny Smith]

You got it, guys. Yeah, the Knicks, I was a little shook watching that game, not gonna lie. But like you guys said, Brunson let Cat let ball to keep that fourth quarter, you know what I mean, in the clutch, and he came through. I think we're gonna win this game and we're gonna win the next game at home, finally. But the Knicks, they play great on the road. That's the thing. They do. And then when they're at home, they kind of, like, fall back. And that's the thing, you know? And pretty much, if they do that, and Brunson, which is going to bounce back, if he does that, there's no question that we got this game, because he didn't do really anything a lot of guys didn't. And at the end of the day, that's. That's how I really feel about this. And the Knicks are in great shape, guys.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, great. Strong. But I think in better yet. Yeah, listen, compared to oh, three, then we're. This is this is a, this is a funeral dirge today. Right? It's over. It's just a matter of when it's going to end.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, but. And it sure felt like that.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, we've always talked about how optimistic this fan base is compared to other fan bases that haven't won in a long time. But I don't know how you feel great. But I think you feel good that you've. You made it a series again. But I don't know, I. I think you feel great if you win tonight because then you're back to square. Yeah, right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Yeah. That's different.

[Alan Hahn]

You won a couple of games in a row. Pacers haven't lost back to back games in the postseason. God, when was the last time they lost back to back games? But I. Listen, I'm not going to tell you how to feel great. Seems strong, but, you know, feeling good after the way they came back and won. Yeah, I can live with that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Last time they lost back to back games was in the conference finals last year. The Pacers.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's, it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, they've had a run here. That's why this is. They've always lost. Previously. They've lost the game threes in the previous two series and they've, They've taken game four without much pushback. That's. That's what, to me, all you did on Sunday night was buy yourself the chance to even the series.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. You're still.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There is no, you know, momentum or any of that stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it doesn't seem to seem to matter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's too, it's. You said it, Don. It's too evenly mad. I talk. That's why when I, I said Nixon 7. I'm only saying Knicks because I'm saying Knicks, but it could go either way. But this felt like it was going to be a long series. And Rick Carlisle kept saying, 13 days. 13 days. He knew it.

[Alan Hahn]

You feel like it's two evenly matched teams, and that's why you circle back to game one and say, that was one that you were supposed to win. Now you got to grab one you weren't supposed to. Maybe that was game three. That kind of evens things up again. But still, two one on the road, there's a lot of work still to be done.

[Richard Jefferson]

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[Hannah]

What is dedication?

[Don La Greca]

The thing that drives me every day as a dad is Dariana. We call him Dayday for short. Every day he's hungry for something, whether it's attention, affection, knowledge. And there's this huge responsibility in making sure that when he's no longer under my wing that he's a good person. I want him to be able to sit back one day and go, we work together. We did a good job.

[Hannah]

That's dedication. Find out [e-mail] brought to you by the U.S. department of Health and Human Services and the Ad Council.

[Chris Carlin]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Chris Carlin]

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

[Alan Hahn]

Don Hanna, Rosenberg, I think I know this, but I don't want to embarrass myself and be wrong trivia, but I do think I know who this is.

[Richard Jefferson]

All right, go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I think it might be Wu Tang.

[Richard Jefferson]

It is. Now you want to get more specific? You want to stop there?

[Alan Hahn]

I think it's on the album that I have.

[Richard Jefferson]

No, but I do.

[Alan Hahn]

But at least I need credit for that. See, I didn't want to get. I didn't want to go in the weeds here because, listen, it's foreign to me. I'm a blind man feeling for the wall.

[Richard Jefferson]

But. But I can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You recognize good music.

[Richard Jefferson]

Yeah, but I. But I also can't give you too much credit for thinking it was on the album that you actually know and it's not.

[Alan Hahn]

No, but. But you should give me more credit because it was on the album that I actually know. Well, then it's easy for me to remember, sir. But the fact that I knew a Song not on that album and tells me that maybe I'm a little bit more with it than you gave me credit for. Right.

[Richard Jefferson]

And like your ear, your ear just heard it and went, I know this, this has to be Wu Tang, right? Well, you are, you are, right? It's the Jizza. Shadow Boxing featuring Method Man. You're right there.

[Alan Hahn]

Now why is it featuring somebody that's already in the band?

[Richard Jefferson]

Because it's a Jiza solo song.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, so it's. So I was wrong. It wasn't Wooten.

[Richard Jefferson]

No, the artist listed is not Wu Tang. The artist is the Jizza. But it's a Wu Tang song. It's still in the middle of a Wu Tang set. You know, if you made a Wu Tang playlist, it's in there.

[Alan Hahn]

So a person that doesn't really know much about rock hears just the gigolo and goes, is that Van Halen? Is that, is that, is that. No, no, no. Okay, good.

[Richard Jefferson]

Because Wu Tang is like a genre basically. And all of these solo albums, if, if, let me put it this way. If you were playing that song and someone went, oh man, I love Wu Tang. And then someone else went, well, that's not Wu Tang, that's Jizza. That person would be a bad person. So that would be like a dumb.

[Alan Hahn]

Just to bring it back to my comfort zone. Rock and roll metal. All right, so back in the New York groove comes on and you go, I love Kiss. Well, that was on the Ace Freely. Remember when they all had their own solo albums?

[Richard Jefferson]

Absolutely not.

[Alan Hahn]

You remember, right, Alan?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Each band member. Right. Right in Kisses heyday decided they were going to have their all four solo albums and they sold them packaged individual. And the biggest song of any of the four was Ace Freely. Back in the New York groove, which I'm sure you know the song.

[Richard Jefferson]

I, I believe you because you tell me and you're usually right.

[Alan Hahn]

Back in the New York groove, you've heard it's. They played in stadiums.

[Richard Jefferson]

Find it.

[Alan Hahn]

You know Jacob, you know the song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know the.

[Richard Jefferson]

Jacob knows it. He seems, he seems ready.

[Alan Hahn]

Now if I played that, if I. Hopefully Jacob will find it in a second and play it. And you went, oh, I love Kiss. Then it would be the same, I guess.

[Richard Jefferson]

No, because, well, it's close. But Wu Tang having solo members, it wasn't like a one off thing. They all had full careers after, so it's like even more forgiven.

[Alan Hahn]

It's difficult to compare hip hop and.

[Richard Jefferson]

Rock and roll, but no Wu Tang and anything is hard to compare. How often is there A collective that drops a solo out. I mean, a group album that becomes iconic, and then basically every member drops a classic solo album. It's never really happened.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, Alan, Fleetwood Mac did that.

[Alan Hahn]

Make eye contact with me because I'm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Going to lose it, right? All right.

[Alan Hahn]

Just because it'll be when he. Because when I throw this out, you're going to laugh. Okay, so if I hear. Oh, Sherry. And go, oh, I like that. I like Journey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Journey's good.

[Alan Hahn]

Because that was a Steve Perry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Steve Perry.

[Richard Jefferson]

Oh, the Steve Perry solo vehicle.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And they all did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, but, but. But he. What he's talking about, like, what. What Wu Tang did was basically what Fleetwood Mac did. They all went solo. They all had success.

[Alan Hahn]

But he's saying to the band, yeah.

[Richard Jefferson]

Like it was these.

[Alan Hahn]

They're all doing their.

[Richard Jefferson]

Wu Tang Clan really wasn't a group.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They weren't. They were just a clan.

[Richard Jefferson]

They were really a clan. They really were. It was not. They weren't one music group. They were like all these guys who. RZA was like, my cousin makes sense. And you make sense, right? All come over my house and let's start making music.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I got.

[Richard Jefferson]

And then it led.

[Alan Hahn]

And this is why. Wu Tang Clan ain't nothing to blank with.

[Richard Jefferson]

That's exactly. It's full circle. But we got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's also why they're for the children.

[Richard Jefferson]

And why they're for the children.

[Alan Hahn]

That's probably a little bit more on brand for us. Let's go to Frank in the Bronx. You're on espn, New York. Hi, Frank.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. How you doing?

[Alan Hahn]

Good.

[Caller]

Look at. It's so hard to.

[Richard Jefferson]

Hello.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm with you guys.

[Caller]

We got to stay on message. Yeah.

[Kadeem]

Sorry, guys.

[Caller]

It's so hard to stay on message. When you come out of a break, you talk about Wu Tang, but let me try to pull it back to you.

[Richard Jefferson]

There we go. You got it.

[Caller]

I picked your. I picked you up late. But how come nobody's talking about this? The only way we were as competitive as we were last year in the playoffs was when we had to go into the bench when Randall went down, when OG Went down, everybody went down. And of course, that's. We need that this round going forward, especially the way we match up with the Pacers. So I think it's about predictability. If we come out and Jalen is bringing the ball up and pounding the pound of the rock for 20 seconds, then we're going to lose. We're going to lose badly. We're going to lose going away. But when we Bring the ball and Jalen's playing off, off ball and he's, you know, working in concert and someone else is bringing the ball up. Then we are effective. That's how we Celtics.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Frank, who. Who is. Who is bringing the ball up last year?

[Caller]

Well, I understand that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no. If it worked better last year, who was bringing the ball up last year?

[Caller]

I don't even remember anymore because we were so desperate. It was Jalen. I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so the issue with this team against the Pacers has been turnovers and bad transition defense. The offense has been predictable because they've always had to bring the ball up against a set defense. Because the Pacers have been making a lot of shots in game three. What happened in game three? They started missing shots. And the Knicks were able to get down the floor. And without Jalen on the floor, they were able to get the ball to Carl Anthony Towns, who decided in that moment to go into God mode. That's what happened in that game. I agree that there are times when you watch the game that you're like, Jalen's got to just get the ball up the floor quicker. They got to get their offense quicker. It's taking too long. Frank's right. And everybody has seen it and everybody knows it, but, like, that's something that has to be fixed. Not by getting Jalen off the ball. He's your best player. This is the last 24 hour cycle of this stuff. Starting from yesterday morning's get up was about like Jalen Brunson and as if now he's a problem with. For the Knicks.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I like, Perk even was saying it to me, like, what the hell are people talking about? And I just said, listen, we don't know what to talk about. We run out of things to say. So now we're saying they're better off without Jalen. Which is the really. It's the. It's really stupid to say anything.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, isn't it possible because I. That that's the formula now. And even the caller hinted to it. Well, if they're doing so well with the bench, right? Not just let's go to the bench.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just start the lawn. Right. And sit Brunson. That works.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't you think is a play. You're a bench player. Isn't it different to be brought in, to just be brought in or I'm in because our star players in foul trouble. Like, doesn't that kind of spur the bench on? Like, I'm, I'm needed here. We got to come through our leader is on the bench with, you know, like in game one, you know, five fouls or whatever. Like, doesn't that change the narrative then? Just intentionally, like Tibbs just deciding midway through the second quarter, all right, not.

[Richard Jefferson]

Because of foul trouble, random guys just.

[Alan Hahn]

Randomly going to bring on the bench because they played so well. Of course, isn't that different than I'm needed here? No, but we're going to bail my starters out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're right. But what also needs to be recognized is the fact that you had guys that were ready instead of being brought into a game and they're sort of like, you know, I haven't played in a month. What am I supposed to do? No, I'm ready. That's what you. That's why you have vets on the bench instead of kids. You got guys that have given you 40 plus playoff games in their career who understand the moment when they come in. And as I've said, it started with Josh Hart going to tibs about take me out of starting lineup. Put in Mitchell Robinson. We need him in the starting lineup. Like, we got to get off the better starts. I'll. I'll sacrifice the minutes, which he didn't. He still played the whole fourth quarter. But they, they recognized the importance of it. And then the group also kept trying to push the coaching staff. We got guys on the bench that can play. This is a different kind of series. We might need to bring in guys in certain moments of the game just to match up whatever they're doing or to take away what they're doing. We have guys that can do it. It doesn't mean that you bench someone. It just means give these guys eight minutes and see what they could do with them. And it worked in game three. Will it work in game four? We will see.

[Richard Jefferson]

We shall see.

[Alan Hahn]

Spike and say, Pete, you're on ESPN New York. What's up, baby?

[Spike Lee]

Oh, great. I want you three guys to listen to what I have to say. I guess you're in different locations and.

[Alan Hahn]

Literally looking right at these two ugly mugs.

[Spike Lee]

You're working your ass off, Alan. You've been brilliant on everything. I watch every minute of the post games. There's a famous quote, Branch. Ricky said, luck is the residue of design. Okay, you want to hear that quote?

[Richard Jefferson]

Of course, sure.

[Spike Lee]

Okay, so if luck is the residue of this design, stay with me. Maybe Tibbs lucked out because of the foul situation and, and plucked up Shamet and the second famous Wright brothers. Next to Wilbur and Orville Salon and Darrell are defensive players have some size, can bring the ball up the court. It's luck that he found it. Now you use it if you need it. It's as simple as that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Spike Lee]

You know the said about Tibbs not playing nine in baseball. It's cute. It's real cute. I watched that game the other day. Bruce McBride, my favorite player. I just love the little guy. Keeps his man in front of him as good as anybody that size. Same afro as I had in high school. And he played, got 3,000. What was it, 82 seconds. Besides a big guy. I've never seen that before and I've watched 6,000 basketball games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, two were on rebound. Two are on rebound.

[Spike Lee]

Yeah, I know he's been terrific and he can bring the ball up. So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He'S better. He's better point of attack. Defensively, that's. That's where he really was impactful. He was absolutely battling over screens and all the things that you need to slow down their offense and not let them dominate the pick and roll. But I'm telling you what the players said now I'm only going off of what the players players said and even what Tibbs said, the plan was always to play those guys. Oh, there you go for Game 3. That's what he said. That, that. No, I planned on bringing them in. Just had to bring him in in that moment because of the foul trouble that happened. And it worked and they went with it.

[Spike Lee]

Okay, so. So here's the problem with the sports talk radio business in general. 99% of people didn't know that. And they went to. Tibs wouldn't have done it. So you see the edge you have, which is beautiful. I love you for it. I wish I would have known that. But I knew Elon Wright's game and I knew Sham's game. I never thought Chairman was much of a defender.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know he can shoot defender. Yeah.

[Spike Lee]

Oh, listen, he's terrific. He's been in the league 10 years and his brother came up with the heat. Look, I think we're going to win tonight because I think nobody. Carl Anthony Towns could not be guarded by milestone period. He can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't believe they played him one on one, Spike. I can't. I can't believe they played him one on one.

[Alan Hahn]

But we'll see how they adjust.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like. Oh, they'll. They'll send that spy. They'll probably put. I think they'll put like Matheran or somebody. They'll get somebody physical to try to hit him and then they'll have Turner Play off him. It's. There's going to be some adjustment because he's killing Turner and, you know, we'll see. I have a better luck quote, by the way.

[Richard Jefferson]

Way. All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, I save quotes.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, I've noticed that about you, big quote guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Luck is the dying wish of a man who believes success happens by accident.

[Richard Jefferson]

Luck is the dying wish of a man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Richard Jefferson]

Who thinks success leaves sick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Success happens by accident.

[Richard Jefferson]

It's a. That's a tough quote.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you mean? It's tough when people say, like, you know, oh, it's just luck that you came across that way. Oh, it's luck that you got that job. Really.

[Richard Jefferson]

But it says the dying.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So success happens by accident is. No. There's no preparation to it.

[Richard Jefferson]

I don't love the quote.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love it.

[Richard Jefferson]

It's because. It's. Because it's pretty good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because it's the dying wish of somebody who thinks that that's what happened. That's why it worked out for you.

[Richard Jefferson]

Well, so in that case, you can make it work that way, but also because you prepared. But very successful people who work very hard also get lucky. All those things do happen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You just contradicted yourself. Hard work is what leads to luck. You create your own fortune.

[Alan Hahn]

Thus, luck is the residue of design.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, yeah, that's kind of what that means, too.

[Richard Jefferson]

Well, let me put it this way. You increase your chances on getting lucky when you work hard and keep putting the opportunities out there. Yeah, but we could all look at certain people who worked. There are other quarterbacks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Preparation, opportunity, meet at success.

[Richard Jefferson]

There are other quarterbacks who are in the same position who worked as hard as Tom Brady and didn't end up getting drafted to the place.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Preparation and opportunity. You didn't get the opportunity. You were in the wrong place.

[Richard Jefferson]

But what I'm saying is that's not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just because Brady worked hard, but he went to a place where if he worked hard, it would have worked out for him. That's not. Luck. Realized where he was. He realized in his situation what it turned into. Because when he first got the job, he was not Tom Brady. He was a guy. It was a great defense, but then he realized I could really, like, do something.

[Alan Hahn]

No, his luck was that Bill Belichick wanted to keep four quarterbacks, otherwise he'd get cut. Might have ended up on the Jaguars and never done anything.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's because Belichick recognized him.

[Alan Hahn]

But you still. You still have to have the talent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, well. And the effort.

[Richard Jefferson]

So now we all agree.

[Alan Hahn]

I could work My tail off to play into tonight's game. I'm not going to get in. The game has nothing to do with luck.

[Richard Jefferson]

You should start trying. But why not try right now, Don?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They could use it. I see you missing the point.

[Richard Jefferson]

Maybe they go down to 10.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're ready to play even though you're not going to play tonight. But you're ready because at some point you'll be called upon. And as long as you stay ready, you'll be successful. You can't control when. You can only control being ready. See what I mean?

[Alan Hahn]

That's a quote that Mark Chernoff gave me. My first opportunity to host at the Fan came right after the WNBA All Star Game. Like you dream, it was aired on the fan.

[Richard Jefferson]

And by the way, that wasn't the 20, 25 WNBA all star game.

[Alan Hahn]

98, 97, like the 97.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is a different huge audience.

[Richard Jefferson]

There ain't no Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark walking through those doors.

[Alan Hahn]

No, Rebecca was probably there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah.

[Richard Jefferson]

A few good players, just not superstars in the same way.

[Alan Hahn]

So I'm, I'm doing updates, basically. IDs during the that. And Richard near is coming on after the game.

[Richard Jefferson]

Go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

But Richard near was late and Richard near didn't realize the game was going to end as quickly as Wally Pip. They sign off and there's no host. So I jump in there and I. And I did a solid 20 minutes. So I get a tape.

[Richard Jefferson]

Now, hold on. Did anyone ask you to or do you just do it?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, somebody, of course.

[Richard Jefferson]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Someone said there's no network to go.

[Richard Jefferson]

To, but someone said anything or you just have to go, oh.

[Alan Hahn]

They said, get. Get down on the air. I was ready.

[Richard Jefferson]

All right. Of course you were. Damn right.

[Alan Hahn]

And I jumped on. I did 20 minutes and, and I sat down and we listened to the tape. And Mark gave his critique. And I said, well, also I said, mark, in my defense, I didn't know that I was going to go on. 30 seconds before they asked me to go on. He said, you always have to be ready. You wanted to be a host. You're working at a radio station.

[Richard Jefferson]

How are you not ready?

[Alan Hahn]

And how you have to always be ready at any moment. That's your opportunity. So luckily I was ready. And I thought maybe I'd get a softer landing on the critique because, hey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I only had 30.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, no, no. You're a radio professional and you've been asked to do something you've never done before, but you wanted to do it. If you wanted to do it, you should be always prepared to jump in there. So the same as anybody playing on the bench.

[Richard Jefferson]

Yeah, that, that.

[Alan Hahn]

You know that. You know the four quarterbacks they have in Cleveland, One of them is going to get a chance to play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There you go, kids. There's a lesson today as you just left school.

[Alan Hahn]

That's it. You're welcome.

[Richard Jefferson]

You know what? The quote's grown on me, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, see, he sold it as if he was somebody that actually came up with it.

[Richard Jefferson]

Maybe he did.

[Alan Hahn]

You defended it as if it was your own.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's not my own. Of course not.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't say of course not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're a writer.

[Alan Hahn]

It's Don Hahn and Rosenberg here on 880 ESPN New York and the ESPN New York app. You want to get the most for your money. That's why more Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda. Lease a new 2025 Mazda CX30. All wheel drive only. 239 for 36 months. Start shopping now at ramseymazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax, title and registration. 0 secured deposit fin SM 820914 MSRP 26,680 and 6,225.

[Chris Carlin]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Richard Jefferson]

I didn't listen to anything.

[Chris Carlin]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

You've heard this?

[Alan Hahn]

I gotta say this. He's gonna get mad. He's not a New Yorker yet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's been here long enough to have heard.

[Alan Hahn]

How do you not know this? I'm not saying you gotta like it. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but this is, this is. It's a thing, man.

[Richard Jefferson]

Every bit of me wants to lie and just be like, oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Hannah]

We definitely have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We should not be bringing old bits.

[Alan Hahn]

I did not know this.

[Richard Jefferson]

I didn't know that we did this on the old show.

[Alan Hahn]

This is with me. I just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

It's so quintessential New York and it's played at sporting events.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Definitely.

[Hannah]

I definitely heard Peter say he's never heard the song before and we've done this before.

[Richard Jefferson]

Let me ask you this, Andy. Where have you heard, you heard at sporting events.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Richard Jefferson]

Like, like, like you'll just be randomly playing. Like you're not paying attention to Yankee game and it's playing.

[Hannah]

Oh, not a Yankee.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Especially baseball games.

[Hannah]

At Yankee games.

[Richard Jefferson]

Well, it's not a mix I remember.

[Hannah]

It at the end of Ranger games sometimes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, well, I don't think Peter's been to a Ranger.

[Hannah]

No, no, I have only Penguins games.

[Richard Jefferson]

No, I have been a Ranger games. But hockey music, I'm checked out a lot.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I'm surprised. I'm not saying you got to like it, I guess. What is this? 78? Probably.

[Richard Jefferson]

I didn't, I didn't hate it, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It'S not a 78 music, but it's. It's a, it's a, it's a. What was it? Jock jams. It's. It's a jock jam before Josh.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a jock.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, it's an arena.

[Alan Hahn]

Honestly, if you were like top five like New York tunes, like it just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It New York related.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Because it's just, it's something that's lived forever and they were such an iconic band at the time and people think it's a Kiss song, but it's actually from the Ace.

[Richard Jefferson]

Sounds like a Kiss song. I listen, I'm not proud of it, but I'm just, I'm going to listen.

[Alan Hahn]

Again later and I did not know we brought this up again. I'm sorry. You know, you do all these radio hours. Fanatics Fest is making its return to.

[Richard Jefferson]

Damn right it is.

[Alan Hahn]

Summer at the Javits center on Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22. A three day celebration where sports culture and collecting converge, bringing fans closer to their favorite athletes and sports leagues than ever before. With the appearance by favorite athletes, celebrities and entertainers. Live podcasts and a full schedule of panels featuring the most recognizable names in sports. You can enter to win a four pack of tickets on the ESPN New York app. Find the contest tile to submit your entry. Adult and kids tickets are available now@fanatics fest.com. let's get back to the busy phones. Knicks game four tonight in Indy. Let's go to Kadeem in the car. You're on. Don Hanna, Rosenberg.

[Kadeem]

Gentlemen, good afternoon. How are we?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Goodeem good brother.

[Kadeem]

So I got a two parter. So like so on. Yeah, Sunday I was not it necessarily Beyonce but like Peter, I was in an outdoor venue so service is a bit spotty. Me and my friend are watching you on the phone checking the score. Then we go down and then you know, we go into, you know, a mild depression and then next thing you know we, we, you know, we somehow pull it out. So now I'm nervous today that, you know, I'm like, I don't even know if I should watch the game right now. But the point Is. Is that from what I saw from the rest of the players, especially this series, it's like, the only thing that I have an issue with is that we're doing that, like Jalen Brunson, high screen, you know, pick and roll. They're just blitzing them. So basically my question for you, Allen, is like, what. What if you were Tibbs? What adjustment would you make to just make it a bit easier on Brunson? Just because obviously not like everybody else, we need him on the floor at all times. But how can we make it a little bit easier for him? Keep him out of foul trouble, Making it so just. It's easier. Everything looks hard for him right now. So what would you do to that? And then my second part is. Is. Peter, I wish that I could join you gentlemen tonight. I. I wish I could, but I know that neck of the woods at your territory.

[Richard Jefferson]

That's right.

[Kadeem]

I went to Jacob's Pickles last week. I haven't been in, like a year. And I fell in love. It's like seeing your first crush again. Like, I fell in love all. I don't know if you've ever been, you know.

[Richard Jefferson]

If I've ever been.

[Kadeem]

Yes, correct.

[Richard Jefferson]

Listen, if I had mentioned Jacobs pickles anymore on this radio station over the years, it would be the. It would be the Jacobs Pickles studios. That would, of course, mean our sales team would have sold it, but you get the idea. Oh, yeah. John, how often do Jacobs pickles come up on the show?

[Alan Hahn]

I would say probably once, once a month.

[Richard Jefferson]

I used to wear their shirt on. Yes. Oh, yeah. It's my people's. Jacob's.

[Alan Hahn]

My people so much. He one time got sports pickled.

[Richard Jefferson]

That's right. I went to the next level. We ate Jacob's pickles at Moynihan because they have new location there. Anyways, we'll miss you tonight because. Yes. I'll be at Jake's Dilemma tonight, hanging out. I got some great friends coming through to take in the Knicks. And listen, if you're thinking Peter Rosenberg is a fraud, why am I going with him to watch the Knicks? He's not a Knicks fan. How about this? I'm hosting a viewing party for Knicks fans. You see what I'm saying?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Richard Jefferson]

You see what I'm doing?

[Alan Hahn]

I hear you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not like I'm watching the game. Come watch it with me. No, I'm doing this for you.

[Richard Jefferson]

Exactly. Now, if you see me and it's a close game, is there a chance I'll be pumping my fist on A big bucket. There's a chance, but I'm doing it for you. The Knicks fans. I'm here for you all.

[Alan Hahn]

I kept thinking watching that game was like, how is Peter going to host this thing if they're down 3 0.

[Richard Jefferson]

By the way, thank you for thinking that because believe me, I was thinking, how am I getting out of this thing?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no, no, you know, down three.

[Richard Jefferson]

Oh. I was like, no one wants to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm canceling this.

[Richard Jefferson]

A 30 watch party. Listen, the hardcores are out and the fans have been great.

[Alan Hahn]

Like a bronze medal watch game. It's tough.

[Richard Jefferson]

That's. It's never. It's never happened once in league history. That's a tough to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. But again, when you're pumping your fist, it's because this is good for business.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, right.

[Richard Jefferson]

I'm no fraud, dude.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Try to explain that to people.

[Richard Jefferson]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, we are in the business of stuff like this and business is booming when one of the teams is on a run. So of course everybody should be caught up in this.

[Alan Hahn]

This is in Indiana, but that's New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But is it fraudulent behavior for anybody that's working in our business or in. Even if you own a restaurant or anything like that, what's happening in the city. And you might not be a Knicks fan, but right now you're rooting like hell for them for one reason. One reason only for yourself. Right. Personal. Personal profit. Of course this is good for business.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, Pat o' Keefe reminded me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh.

[Alan Hahn]

That the Giants play back in the New York groove whenever they score a touchdown in MetLife State. I think you heard it twice last year, so I can understand if it didn't resonate.

[Richard Jefferson]

The Mets do it after wins.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They do it after wins at Citi Field.

[Richard Jefferson]

They'll play New York groove really well. A few things. One since I got here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can understand why Citi Field is not something you remember much anymore.

[Richard Jefferson]

No, I love Citi Field. I don't know how many wins I've been there for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Richard Jefferson]

I've been there for. I'm being honest.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you see Rosenberg at a Met game.

[Richard Jefferson]

Oh, God. You got Don. Remember the playoff game I went to last year was a. It was an absolute destruction. I never go to wins at Citi Field. And you said touchdowns at Giants games. So if I'm at a Giants game and a touchdown was scored, I'm angry. That means they just scored on the commies.

[Alan Hahn]

And I think they scored four of them last year. Yeah.

[Richard Jefferson]

You didn't hit to hear the song at all.

[Alan Hahn]

Three of them were against Indianapolis, which every Giant fan hated to see.

[Chris Carlin]

Anyway, thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good.

[Chris Carlin]

HEAR More of Don't Alan and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.