Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Knicks Identity Crisis (April 1, 2026)

Overview

This episode covers the New York Knicks’ late-season struggles, centering on their recent identity crisis and the sharp questions facing head coach Mike Brown. Hosts Don La Greca and Alan Hahn, with Peter Rosenberg off for the day, dissect why optimism surrounding the Knicks’ playoff chances is fading, ask if a mid-season coaching change is warranted, and take calls on the team’s lack of swagger. The hour is rich with personal broadcasting anecdotes and deep Knicks analysis, providing the passionate tone and directness New York sports fans expect.

Main Discussion Points

1. Opening Banter & Recent Experiences

• Don shares excitement about calling his first-ever NHL goalie fight, recalling classic moments from New York hockey history. The camaraderie at MSG, seeing familiar faces, and broadcasting quirks set the atmosphere. (00:52–06:14)
  • Quote: "It was a thrill to be able to call it. To see it last night was just crazy. Being at the Garden... it was nice to be back at the old stomping grounds." – Don (04:32)

2. The Knicks’ Late-Season Slump

• Both hosts express concern that the Knicks are not trending in the right direction with only six games left before the playoffs. Recent losses to strong teams like Oklahoma City and Houston stand in stark contrast to last season’s late surge.
  • Issue: The team has lost five straight to teams with winning records.
  • Quote: "The Knicks are a problem, man... the inconsistency, the health. They were always able to rise to the occasion... That has not been the case over the last five meetings against really good teams." – Don (06:14–07:49)

3. Identity Crisis: What Are the Knicks?

• The hosts ask whether the team has a clear identity, noting reliance on Jalen Brunson and a lack of cohesion between star players. The inability for Towns and Brunson to mesh echoes old Boston debates (Tatum/Brown).
  • Quote: "The Knicks, what is their identity? Is it just a lot of Jalen Brunson? Is it a lot of three-pointers?... What we're noticing it's not is a lot of Karl-Anthony Towns." – Alan (08:56–09:31)
• Key Stat: Towns’ disappearing act in first halves is highlighted as systemic, not just player failure.

4. Accountability: Coach or Players?

• Alan argues it's on the coach (Mike Brown) for the team’s lack of offensive adjustment, especially with a talent like Towns being underutilized.
  • Quote: "I'm sorry, it is... You're 77 games into the season. It can't be still trying to figure it out... It's on the coach." – Alan (10:41–11:48)
  • Don notes fans are blaming Brown but sees firing him with only a few games left as highly unusual—though not without precedent.

5. Mid-Season Coaching Change: Realistic or Radical?

• The hosts debate whether firing Mike Brown with six games remaining is feasible or beneficial.
  • Historical precedents cited:
    • Vegas Golden Knights firing Bruce Cassidy with eight games left (NHL).
    • 2000 Devils firing Robbie Ftorek and winning the Stanley Cup.
    • Nuggets firing Michael Malone (NBA), though with mixed results.
    • Knicks firing Don Nelson late in 1996, replaced by Jeff Van Gundy.
  • Quote: "If I'm running this organization, what's the one thing I can do to create the spark?... I would fire Mike Brown today." – Don (20:49–20:56)
• They acknowledge no clear replacement is available, and the staff lacks experienced alternatives (Tibbs, Malone, or even Rick Brunson are mentioned as hypotheticals). (21:19–23:59)

6. Front Office and Roster Accountability

• The origin of the coaching decision is put in context—Mike Brown was not the Knicks’ first-choice, and the process to hire him was drawn out after failing to secure other marquee names.
  • Quote: "This wasn't... I'm firing Tibbs, I'm bringing in Mike Brown... They talked to Jason Kidd and how many other guys before finally... they zeroed in on Brown." – Don (47:39–48:48)
• Listeners and hosts grapple with whether the problem is Brown or the roster/roster construction.

7. The Knicks’ Swagger Is Gone

• A caller (G in the Bronx) crystallizes fan sentiment: the team has lost its swagger, its edge, and its coherent culture.
  • Quote: "I feel like they don't have no swagger. They had a culture last year when facing the Knicks. I feel like teams were a little scared. Now... I think they lost all their swagger." – G in the Bronx (38:48)

8. What Needs to Happen Against Memphis

• The expectation for the severely shorthanded Grizzlies game is clear: a complete, wire-to-wire, dominant win is needed to restore confidence.
  • Quote: "Tonight has to be a no-brainer out of the gate, wire to wire win... This Grizzlies team should not be on the court with you. That's how mad you should play." – Alan (34:16–34:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On firing Brown before the postseason:

  • "All I’m saying is that if you’re unhappy with Mike Brown, I see no reason not to do it. I’m not demanding the Knicks do it, but I’m saying... I’m not being intimidated by the fact there’s only six games left." – Don (46:45)
  • "If there’s urgency about winning now, that’s a conversation that might be had." – Alan (36:59)

• On the unreliability of the current Knicks identity:

  • "As good as they’ve been through stretches... I don’t like the way they’re winning some of these games. They’re getting away with a lot. And... against good teams, you’re seeing good teams have... This is how we play identity. The Knicks, what is their identity?" – Alan (09:05)

• Fan reaction as pulse of the city:

  • "What does the team look happy with? ... you get to sit back, let see that there's a problem, not do anything about it... and then, oh, if they do lose in the first round... you're unhappy, you're going to fire them anyway." – Don (44:51)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 00:52 | Don’s experience calling his first goalie fight | | 06:14 | Knicks struggles & identity crisis introduction | | 07:49 | Alan critiques "blind optimism" about the playoffs | | 09:05 | "What's the Knicks' identity?" discussion | | 10:41 | Blame on Mike Brown, not just players | | 13:08 | Precedent for late-season firing (NHL & NBA examples) | | 21:19 | Debate on internal coaching options (Van Gundy, Tibbs) | | 20:49 | Don: "I would fire Mike Brown today." | | 34:16 | Importance of a blowout win vs. Grizzlies | | 38:48 | Caller: “Swagger” and “culture” are missing | | 46:45 | Social media/clippings on firing Brown | | 47:39 | Process of hiring Mike Brown explained |

Listener Interaction & Call-Ins

• G in the Bronx (38:09):
  "They had a culture last year... teams were a little scared. Now... I think they lost all their swagger."
  (Directs question to Alan about what’s different; Alan notes lack of a consistent edge despite clear talent.)

• Manny in Flushing (47:24):
  Argues firing Brown would signal regret over letting Tibbs go, given Brown wasn’t the first choice and was a last-resort hire.

• Blair in Plainfield (48:54):
  Notes that Mike Brown’s approach has confused and disempowered the roster: “Why not come with a scheme that everybody understands, that brings out the best in your players?”

Summary & Takeaways

• The Knicks are limping into the postseason, without the edge or coherence that defined last year.
• There is widespread fan and media concern about the team’s loss of identity and inability to integrate stars.
• The debate over whether to dismiss Mike Brown before the playoffs is heated but uses historical precedent to suggest it’s not outlandish.
• The hosts emphasize urgency—either to make a radical change or to see the team rediscover its confidence and identity in the season’s final stretch.
• Ultimately, both hosts agree: The Knicks are too talented to look this uncertain, and the front office’s next move could define another era for the franchise.

Tone & Style

• Direct, slightly urgent, classic NY sports radio.
• Conversational, with a mix of historical references and fan interaction.
• Candid, sometimes harsh, but always deeply engaged with the team’s struggles.

For those who missed the episode, this breakdown captures the hosts’ concern, the debate over coaching, and the frustration of a Knicks fan base desperate for answers as the playoffs approach.