Hour 1: Knicks Lose to Pistons Again

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — "Knicks Lose to Pistons Again" (Hour 1)

ESPN New York | February 20, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

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Episode Overview

This hour of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" centers around the New York Knicks’ latest defeat to the Detroit Pistons, raising deeper questions about the Knicks’ competitiveness, consistency, and mental toughness as the postseason approaches. The trio dissects last night’s game, debates the team’s flaws and strengths, and places this loss in the broader context of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Listeners call in with their takes, and the crew balances passionate critique with humor, insight, and signature New York attitude.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weather Talk & Hockey Teaser (00:52–03:12)

• The show opens with lighthearted complaints about New York’s lingering snow and a preview of the US-Slovakia Olympic hockey game.
• Memorable banter: The snow won’t go away, with the crew joking about "tapping out" on winter weather.

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2. Canadian Olympic Hockey Comeback (01:13–03:12)

• Alan and Don break down Canada’s wild win over Finland, with Alan highlighting the drama:

  “First time ever that Canada won an Olympic game that late…down two goals and able to get the equalizer." (02:16, Alan Hahn)

• Discussion shifts to Sidney Crosby's injury and the possibility he might not return for the final, with Peter noting:

  “There's probably not another Stanley Cup in Sid's future. This is the last moment of glory. This is it.” (03:44, Peter Rosenberg)

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3. Knicks’ Loss: Not a Defining Moment, But a Wake-Up Call (04:01–05:07)

• Alan delivers a passionate assessment of the Knicks loss:

  “Somewhere in the middle has to be the truth. And in the middle is that was a disgraceful performance in a big spot...It's a kick to the groin, right?” (04:57, Alan Hahn)

• Peter adds, “You got punched in the stomach and took a knee." (05:07)

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4. OG Anunoby’s Return and No More Excuses (05:13–06:45)

• The crew notes OG Anunoby’s return meant fewer excuses for this loss. Alan admits he feels “much worse about this one,” given the Knicks were nearly at full strength.
• Rosenberg: “They played right into the narrative of we don’t trust this team.” (06:30)

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5. Knicks’ High Ceiling, Low Floor (06:45–07:43)

• Don assesses, “Their ceiling’s really high. The problem is their floor is lower than most of the great teams in the NBA.” (06:46)
• The issue isn't talent but consistency and focus against teams, especially when the opponent is missing key pieces.

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6. Why the Loss Matters: Brooklyn vs. Detroit vs. Boston Comparisons (07:16–09:45)

• Alan and Don reject the “it’s just February” argument, stressing the Knicks haven’t achieved enough to overlook regular season performances.
• Don makes a crucial point:

  “The Pistons team has a healthy hatred for the Knicks… If you get in a playoff series with them and you go down 20, guess what, you’re going down 30." (08:20)

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7. Why Do "Nick Killers" Emerge at MSG? (09:45–11:56)

• Alan and Peter discuss how Madison Square Garden seems to inspire breakout performances against the Knicks, invoking names from Jimmy Butler to Reggie Miller.
• Don: “Every great player that comes in that building, they want to have their moment on that stage. That’s a real thing. And Cade had that moment last night…putting up 42 on national TV on that stage and getting the dub.” (11:07)

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8. Third Quarter Collapse: Mike Brown & Karl-Anthony Towns Discussion (12:33–15:55)

• Knicks’ coach Mike Brown shares thoughts on the third quarter debacle:

  “Everybody’s disappointed...but for sure, it's not the end of the world. We got to regroup...” (12:33, Mike Brown)

• Alan and Don critique Towns’ lack of aggression in the first half, even with favorable matchups:

  “As big as he is, how are you not demanding the ball there? How are you not…there’s no shot blockers on the court!” (15:15, Don Hahn)

Notable Exchange:

• Peter: “Alan, you are gigantic.” (16:01)
• Alan: "Big head, big head." [Laughter]

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9. Hockey Interlude & Banter (16:31–18:18)

• The hosts mix in Olympic hockey updates and playful tangents about obscure NHL history, bringing levity amid the Knicks angst.

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10. Towns’ Own Perspective on the Game (19:07–19:38)

• Clip from Karl-Anthony Towns on his approach:

  “Just trying to make a play, be aggressive with playmaking… wanted to capitalize on those opportunities and... get us off to a quick start.” (19:07, Karl-Anthony Towns)

• Don pushes back: “But there was a whole first half. He took three shots...that’s the part that gets frustrating.” (19:40)

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11. Critical Turning Point: Third Quarter Meltdown (21:19–22:00)

• The group agrees that Towns’ flashy but failed fast-break play (21:19) “was as close as they were going to get.”

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12. Playoff Storylines & Dangers (22:01–26:25)

• Peter finds a silver lining: “It gives a great storyline to this team heading into the playoffs...dog walked in the regular season by this team creates an awesome storyline.” (21:37)
• Alan picks up:

  “What you must avoid…do not finish fourth. Why? Because you’d have to play Detroit in the second round. That would be a fatal flaw.” (25:01, Alan Hahn)

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Important Segment: Playoff Implications (23:31–26:25)

• Alan walks through the Eastern Conference standings, noting a very real threat the Knicks may slip to fourth seed and face Detroit early:

  “Detroit has a pretty healthy lead…Knicks have dropped to third…you absolutely positively have to avoid that fourth seed, because that sets up a potential second round matchup with the team that can’t wait to eliminate you.” (25:00–26:25)

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13. Knicks vs. Celtics Last Year: Why It’s Different (26:25–28:21)

• The trio cautions against assuming last season’s bounce-back from Boston means the Knicks will handle Detroit.
• Don: “They were more dominated by the Pistons than they were by the Celtics last year, correct?”
  Alan: “Yes…minus 84 in three games.” (28:21)

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14. Mental Toughness & Leadership Gaps (29:07–30:15)

• Don worries about the “corporate feel” of the team, noting a loss of past “mental toughness and relentlessness”—“there’s something about this team that’s lacking, that toughness.” (29:36)
• Alan: “How dare they turn it on and off. Who the hell are they? What the hell have you accomplished that you could do that?” (30:15; 30:58)

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15. Who’s To Blame? The Towns & Bridges Dilemma (31:08–33:18)

• Don points to Towns and Mikal Bridges for inconsistent effort in high-intensity games:

  “Towns has not had a good year…In a very physical game, [Bridges] shied away from contact…” (31:31–32:32)

• Alan gives OG Anunoby a pass for rust, citing recent injury.

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16. Caller Takes: Spike & James Share Their Frustrations

Spike in St. Pete (33:44–37:34)

• Spike criticizes Towns for not demanding the ball and Bridges for avoiding contact:

  “He disappears, he melts when there's contact. That’s not a good sign…” (35:35, Spike)

• Cites Cade Cunningham’s rise: “Cade Cunningham may be the best guard in the East. I don't think it's close.” (36:13)

James in Charlotte (42:42–44:32)

• James contrasts these Knicks with the '90s “dogs,” suggesting this group is fluent offensively but lacks defensive grit.
• Raises concern: “Paul Anthony Towns makes me nervous. You never know what you’re going to get…so talented, but…never turns…it almost seems like the team doesn’t want to give him the ball because he doesn’t try hard.” (44:08)

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17. Complaining to Officials: A Real Problem (44:32–45:25)

• Alan and Don highlight how excessive complaining (“whiny league”) is spreading across the team, moving even stoic players like Mitchell Robinson to gripe for calls.

  “It is…something that becomes contagious…it’s neck up, really do.” (45:26–45:53)

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18. Looking Ahead: The Next 10 Games, Playoff Pressure & Seeding Realities (46:07–47:44)

• The rest of the schedule is tough; finishing under .500 in the critical 10-game stretch could drop them to 4th and create “must-win territory.”
• Alan and Don note the Knicks have excelled against bad teams (19-6) but are nearly even vs. winners (16-15).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Alan Hahn (on NY hype): “This isn’t North Dakota. This is New York.” (00:39)
• Peter Rosenberg (MSG effect): “The Garden’s part of it. The attention the Knicks get even when they're not that great...the general disdain that a lot of America has for New York…” (10:34)
• Don Hahn (Knicks’ ceiling): “Their ceiling’s really high. The problem is their floor is lower than most of the great teams in the NBA.” (06:46)
• Peter Rosenberg (on narrative): “It gives a great storyline…now that the Knicks…have to deal with [Detroit] in the conference final...it’s a great story.” (21:37)
• Alan Hahn (postgame frustration): “How dare the Knicks play with their food. What the hell have you accomplished that you could do that?” (30:58)
• Don Hahn (shot at Towns & Bridges): “[Bridges] shied away from contact. These are different kinds of games. You’ve got to bring it.” (32:32)
• Alan Hahn (on NBA three-point reliance): “You make your threes, you win. You don’t make your threes, you lose. That's the NBA, isn't it?” (37:50)

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:52–03:12: Weather banter, hockey preview
• 04:01–05:13: Knicks loss perspective, fan narratives
• 05:13–06:45: OG Anunoby’s struggles, Knicks’ excuses running out
• 07:16–09:45: Playoff stakes, Pistons’ animosity
• 10:05–11:56: Why MSG brings out “Nick Killers”
• 12:33–15:55: Mike Brown on the loss, deep dive into Towns’ performance
• 19:07–19:38: Towns’ own postgame comments
• 21:19–22:00: Pivotal third quarter meltdown
• 22:01–26:25: Playoff seeding danger, need to avoid fourth place
• 29:36–30:15: Missing Knicks’ “mental toughness”
• 31:08–33:18: Starters’ struggles with intensity
• 33:44–37:34: Spike’s call—Towns, Bridges, and MSG atmosphere
• 42:42–44:32: James’ call—defensive “dog” identity lacking

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Tone and Style

The discussion is unfiltered, blending New York sports passion, analytical critique, and locker-room humor. The hosts are candid—sometimes harsh—about Knicks players and coaching but balance that with empathy and big-picture perspective. Multiple memorable one-liners and playful digs keep things lively for the diehard New York sports listener.

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Conclusion

This episode examines the Knicks’ alarming loss to Detroit not just as another bad night, but in the larger context of playoff seedings, broken trust with fans, and what the team needs to fix—both mentally and tactically—to become an actual contender. The crew’s frankness is balanced by their understanding of how narratives, streaks, and the MSG “spotlight” all intertwine to keep New York basketball compelling, even with the pain of another humbling defeat.

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Transcript

[Podcast Host]

From 30 for 30 podcasts.

[Caller Spike]

Did you say someone got shot?

[Alan Hahn]

Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami, gunned down.

[Don Hahn]

The key to this case, It's Brian. An hour before he died, he was

[Mike Brown]

on the phone arguing with somebody.

[Don Hahn]

This might be a hit. You want the truth? They just want a conviction.

[Alan Hahn]

Being placed under arrest. We had a killer amongst us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Murder at the U.

[Podcast Host]

Listen now.

[Alan Hahn]

Don sitting sick. You stink.

[Don Hahn]

Han, how about your nuts? Can I get some?

[Podcast Producer]

And Rosenberg, he wanted me to jump

[Peter Rosenberg]

up and make the jokey jokey so that people go, laugh time.

[Alan Hahn]

This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Podcast Producer]

This is Don, Han, and Rosenberg.

[Caller James]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[Podcast Producer]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[Alan Hahn]

Fast approaching 300 one of the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg on a rainy Friday. And I gotta tell you, I don't mind it raining because get rid of this snow. This snow's been around here for, like, a month. It's.

[Don Hahn]

It's not going anywhere. It's amazing. It's been pouring. I still have tons of snow.

[Alan Hahn]

And the thing is, we've got to make room, apparently, for more snow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I. I heard it. I don't like it. I don't believe it.

[Don Hahn]

Who's tapping out? I'm out. Who else is out? I'm out.

[Alan Hahn]

Where are we going?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I've been out. Are you remember? You guys remember? I literally came on the air and I said, all right, Mother Nature. I. I got it. Like, I got it one. And now if it were to snow again, the level of cruelty that would be, given that it literally is just starting, at least in the city. Like, I can't speak to Long island, but in Manhattan, it's finally almost gone. It would be brutal if we caught

[Alan Hahn]

another foot this week. Yeah, especially if they're talking, like, some of the numbers. I mean, here in Jersey, they're talking five to eight, which I guess I can handle after, you know, having over a foot last month. But, you know, it could be. Could be even worse out of Long Island. So enjoy the, you know, 40 degrees and rain because it could be quite different by the time we get to Sunday night. But we've got lots to discuss. Again, distraction Friday, because at 3:10, the US is going to take on Slovakia. And that's. If it's anything like these games have been over the last couple of days, there's going to be a lot of eyeballs on that game for sure. Canada survives.

[Don Hahn]

That was so good.

[Alan Hahn]

A win over Finland. They get a goal midway through the third Period. To tie it from Shea. Theodore, after being down 2 nothing. First time ever that Canada won an Olympic game that late, you know, in the tournament, down two goals and they were able to get the equalizer from Theodore midway through the third. The game winner from McKinnon on the power play with a little over 30 seconds to play. But just a great game. And I'm hoping for just another one later on today. So Canada advances to the game at 8:10 on Sunday.

[Mike Brown]

We.

[Alan Hahn]

Will the US meet them? Will the US be able to do what the women did yesterday? That should be a lot of fun to watch. And we will keep an eye on it. Beginning in just a couple of minutes, we're going to see who's Connor wearing

[Peter Rosenberg]

the sea in place of Sid the kid.

[Don Hahn]

But.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. Sid did not play. And I know they haven't ruled him out of the tournament, but not playing on Friday, I would think there's a very good possibility he may not play on Sunday. So we'll see.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That would really stink, man. My hope is that the thought was he was kind of iffy, but they thought it was too close. And it's like, hey, if we make the final, come back for the final. But let's give you the extra two days. But it would be a bummer if he wasn't there.

[Don Hahn]

You consider him too, like where he is right now in his career. You know, some places, some people would say, you know, the NHL team wouldn't want him to play. Like, no, no, no, don't risk it. We need you for the rest of the season. Sid's. No, if he can go, he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you were. I think we were talking about this yesterday. There's probably not another Stanley cup in Sid's future. This is the last moment of glory. This is it.

[Alan Hahn]

I doubt very seriously he's going to play in 30. He's already got a gold medal. He's already got Stanley Cups. If he didn't play today, it was because he couldn't play.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

They're not holding him out. An elimination game, you know, no way he would have been out there. So we'll see what happens coming up on Sunday. But they do get a day of rest and we'll watch the US Coming up in just a couple of minutes from Milan. I gotta say this about the Knicks because obviously this is the jumping off point. We pretty much promised you this, that, you know, three o', clock, we'll assess what they did. And we kind of had the tone of let's relax. You know, it's a regular season game. It's not going to be a defining moment for their, you know, for their chance at a championship or if they don't win, then, you know, they won't win for the next 25 years. All that garbage. I think it was, it was overdone by Stephen A. It was overdone by a lot of people putting so much on that game. But on the other side of it, guys, you can't just discard it either and just say, oh, well, wait till the playoffs. Because if that's the case, let's just put them to bed and let's wake up in the first round of the playoffs and not assess anything they do in the regular season. I'm sorry, Somewhere in the middle has to be the truth. And in the middle is that was a disgraceful performance in a big spot. It's not a defining moment for their season, guys, but it's. It's a kick to the groin, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, you got punched in the

[Alan Hahn]

stomach and took a knee. You've got to try to get back up because you got smacked around for the third time against.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And this time and this time with the guy who we all know is the X factor for this team at OG Anunoby, he played, played badly.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Alan, you have to feel much worse about this one than the last one where you had more built in excuses.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. You know, I'm the one that yesterday was saying, like, why all the doom and gloom? You know, the anticipation and it's amazing how they played right into it, didn't they? They played right into the doom and gloom. All the things you worry about. Because as you said, Don, I think yesterday, you're just so used to, you know, something not going right, you're not used to seeing them come through is certainly for about 22 minutes. That was a great game. I mean, that was an absolute battle, a brawl. And it was one of those games he felt, okay, they're showing up, going toe to toe, they don't finish the half right. Then they try to get something going in the third quarter, some boneheaded moves, plays, decisions, whatever it was. But every time it felt like they were trying to make a push, Cade Cunningham just let you know, like, you can't stop me. And when my team needs a bucket, I'm getting it. And then they just melted down after that. And that's the part that bothered me the most. So they played right into the narrative of we don't trust this team. So while Don, you said, you know, whatever happens, it's not A defining moment. Maybe not defining moment, but it certainly felt like it was emblematic of the team they've been this season.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Which is, like I said, their ceilings really high. The problem is their floor is lower than most of the great teams in the NBA. And they showed you both in this game last night. And it was concerning enough that they didn't seem to be able to bring it. And against a team that didn't have either one of their top two centers, that didn't make sense to me. It was a disappointing performance.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the problem when I say defining moment. Like, I'm not going to sit here and tell you they can't beat the Pistons.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Because we've learned that we know what this team can do when everybody's flying. But there are concerns that have to be corrected. And there's still 26 games to correct them and get it right. But you know the idea, oh, it doesn't matter. The Pistons needed it more.

[Don Hahn]

Why?

[Alan Hahn]

Why do the Pistons need it more? What have the Knicks accomplished, by the way?

[Don Hahn]

Who said they need it more?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no, but these are things you hear from callers and different people like that are defending like, oh, it doesn't matter. We saw this last year. They were killed by the Cavaliers, they were killed by the Celtics, and look what happened. It's only February. Okay, it's only February, but why are we talking about the Knicks as if, you know, the target clearly is on their back? I get it. But you know what? The Celtics might have played with their food last year, and they didn't during the regular season, and maybe they did in the postseason, who knows? But they were coming off a championship. All right, The Knicks haven't accomplished anything. For them to not take anybody seriously.

[Don Hahn]

Correct. That's the problem I have with the thought of comparing it to last year. Let me explain why.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

The Celtics, as you said, coming off a title, they smacked the Knicks around. They did not look at the Knicks as a team. They were worried about healthy respect, but not worried about. And so they went up 20 in game one. Batted the bunny. Knicks were a scrappy, never give up kind of team. Found a way to steal one. Game two, same thing happened. Boston went up 20 and they. They didn't put the Knicks away. They didn't take it serious. They didn't drive the stake through them. This Pistons team is angry. This Pistons team has a healthy hatred for the Knicks. You could see it by how hard they play against them. You could. I said at home games, I am situated by the visitors Bench, I see and I hear everything. And I'm telling you, this team looks at the Knicks and they salivate about beating them. It matters to 1 through 15 on that roster. Every guy that gets in the game can't wait to get a piece of it. So with that in mind, if it so happens, you get in a playoff series with them and you go down 20, guess what, you're going down 30. Yeah, like they're not giving back a lead because they want to beat you badly. All the way up to J.B. bickerstaff, who, who took that loss last year personal. This is not the same thing as Knicks, Boston last year. This is different. So it's dangerous to think that way.

[Alan Hahn]

And why, why do we always see whenever the Knicks play a team that it's the coming out party for that player? There's just one player that kills them. Right? You know, you go, you go back to the Heat with Butler, you go back to Young with the, with the, with the, the Hawks. You go back to Halliburton with the Pacers, and now it's Cunningham.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, right.

[Alan Hahn]

It's, you know, guys that maybe weren't necessarily on your radar unless you were like a die hard basketball fan. And now all of a sudden they become public enemy number one. Like you've got these wanted posters up all over your room if you're a Knick fan of like Nick Killers, you know, going. If you really want to go way, way back, you know, to Reggie Miller and the like.

[Don Hahn]

But why does it.

[Alan Hahn]

The Garden is the Knicks like, what is it about, like, the guys, they use the Knicks in Madison Square Garden as their coming out party.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, I think it's the combination of it all. I think the Garden's part of it. The attention the Knicks get even when they're not that great, God forbid, the attention they get when they are pretty good. It just, it's the general disdain that a lot of America has for New York. Just on the. I mean, let's be honest, New York is a great town. We love it, love living here. Not exactly the most modest place its entire branding is. Everything's the greatest, everything's the biggest. We're number one.

[Caller Spike]

The.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you can make it here, you make it anywhere. I think that naturally puts a target on the back of most of the

[Alan Hahn]

teams who play here because it's the

[Don Hahn]

best stage in basketball, man. Like, like people. I know everybody gets their backup. When you say the Mecca and all. People get mad around the country, but don't get mad at us because Every great player that comes in that building, they want to have their moment on that stage. That's a real thing. And Kate had that moment last night. Now, he had some good playoff games in the Garden last year. People forget that. Pistons came in and they won game two. Like they came in and they had some good games in that series in the Garden. But last night, without Duran, without Stewart, Cade almost took it upon himself to show you we could still beat you, because you can't stop me. And that is a Garden moment. Putting up 42 on national TV on that stage and getting the dub. Yeah, like that's a real thing. And that did happen last night.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, we want to hear from Mike Brown, but before we do that, there's a lot of reasons why people buy at Ramsey Mazda. It's their selection, it's their customer service, and it's their savings. Lisa New 2026 Mazda CX 32.5s select sport all wheel drive for 209 for 33 months. Start shopping now at ramseymazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Then TM 105852 MSRP 295300 security deposit and 32 26. The third quarter, a problem for the Knicks. Mike Brown, what happened in that third,

[Mike Brown]

Nobody wants to lose, you know, and everybody's disappointed. And I'm sure everybody's trying to figure out how they could have played better to help the team win. So it's not a fun feeling. It shouldn't be a fun feeling for me or anybody else in that locker room, but for sure, it's not the end of the world. We got to regroup and we got to watch this film, see how we can get better, and then go get the next one.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, if you listened or watched get up, you would know that our partner here, Alan Hahn, had some choice words about Cat and certainly not the greatest. Again, the stats were there, as usually what happens with Cat, right? You know, the points were there, but not the performance you'd want, especially with their bigs out of the lineup. And Mike Brown, should Cat have gotten the ball more in the first half?

[Mike Brown]

In the first half, they switch a lot, you know, and so with with Mitch, they're going to blitz or double team the ball. With Cat, they're going to switch, especially if they create separation. And so we tried running some of the same actions. They switched, and he didn't get as many good looks, you know, as he did in the Second half, we opened it up and tried to set the screen a little bit higher and a little bit quicker in that second half so we can get right to it, which freed him up at times.

[Alan Hahn]

But there are other things that bothered you about his performance, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, first and foremost, you know, like what, what? And Mike Brown's being very protective of his player, as he should. And I want to point out that as I tried to point out, although no one seemed to hear that part of it this morning on get up was he. He was having a great third quarter. After an invisible first half, he came out third quarter, I think he put like 12 points up in five minutes. Like, he. He was different. He had a little more motivation, which is like, all right, well, where was that in the first quarter? But never mind. He was playing really well. So he did find it at some point and then it got loose again. But in the first half, what I saw when he's talking about getting the matchups and the switches is they were switching the smaller player onto cat and he'd be on the post and it's like, okay, we got a mismatch. Get it down to him. And I didn't see a guy that wanted the basketball.

[Alan Hahn]

How could that be?

[Don Hahn]

He was getting rooted out because he does. Smaller players get under him, under his legs, and they root him out and he doesn't like it and he won't go. He won't ask for the ball. He would rather go on the perimeter and play like a forward rather than post up. Now against Biggs, he'll post up, but little guys to get under him. He just. Whatever reason that was working for Detroit, and you just didn't see Towns aggressively wanting the ball and taking on smaller players on the post ups. That was something they had to adjust to. In the second half, they got him on the perimeter. Second half, he was getting guys like Paul Reed and the Smith kid on him. And then he started driving the ball. So I don't know why, but it seemed like the mismatches that they could have taken advantage of, they didn't. And I would like. As big as he is, how are you not demanding the ball there? How are you not. There's no shot blockers on the court. Why wouldn't you want the ball there? But it didn't look like in the first half he was being that aggressive, seeking the. The basketball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just very Don. I naturally laughed hearing Alan say, as big as he is right now, because, Alan, you are gigantic.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, big head, big head.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, this Is as I just put in the YouTube chat. I've always said that you're a huge star.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, well, somebody disconnected and reconnected.

[Don Hahn]

I got a big head. I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I made it. I made his head big. Oh, now. Well, because that's what it looks like

[Alan Hahn]

without me doing something. Because Don was smaller. He was the one in the middle and his. So every time you guys disconnect and reconnect the. I didn't do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was me.

[Don Hahn]

Say usa. We gotta go, boys.

[Alan Hahn]

It was Lilly.

[Don Hahn]

Lilly and Darkin.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Scores didn't even turn the damn game on yet.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's go at the 4 9th of the first period. They've gotten four of the first six shots on goal us. And they're up one nothing on Slovakia. But we've got that old. That'll figure.

[Don Hahn]

By the way, Donnie, the head coach of Slovakia, Vladimir Orsoc, Remember him?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, played for the Islanders, drafted him. I get.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Give me an Orson first.

[Don Hahn]

My first season. I covered him. It was his last year as an island.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And a Nate drop. We got an I drive a Dodge Stratus on top of a stranger.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go. What's the trifecta now?

[Alan Hahn]

If I said blood in the ground. No.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, he said he was a fifth round draft pick. There was some blood in the ground.

[Alan Hahn]

The hat trick would be. You slept with him.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's. That didn't happen.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, yeah, listen, I've never heard that

[Don Hahn]

version of the hat trick. I didn't need the story that bad.

[Alan Hahn]

Donnie, it's more than blood in the ground.

[Don Hahn]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

We do things different.

[Don Hahn]

News day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Something else in there.

[Don Hahn]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I don't. I don't remember him.

[Don Hahn]

Well, he was not memorable, but he's

[Peter Rosenberg]

a Slovakian player who the Islanders drafted.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. And he played seven years in the league.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Finnish player, that finish player turned Slovakian coach.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, no, no. He was. He was. He was Slovakian.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, you talk. Oh, good.

[Don Hahn]

I thought Vladimir Orsoc.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, you talk. Okay. I got confused for a second because the Finland coach was prominent in. In the game earlier today with the offside and everything else.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, his hair was a wreck by the end of the game. I know you guys are probably paying attention to that. He was a mess.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no. This beard, everything.

[Don Hahn]

It was just the whole thing. Yeah, but I mean, these guys, you must wear them out like it means so much.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course it does. Especially when you're up to nothing.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Second period thinking, hey, we're Going to go to the gold medal game.

[Don Hahn]

Can I say, in every sport, in every sport, it doesn't matter what the sport is playing. Prevent, right, holding the lead, protect the lead attitude. Does it ever work? Does it ever work?

[Alan Hahn]

No, it doesn't work ever. And then when you need it, like you need the goal, you can't, you can't ratchet it up again because it's been so long since you've done anything offensively and that's a bad job because I never really, honestly, once I. When Reinhardt scored late in the second period, I knew that it was going to be really difficult for Finland to hold on a whole period. They weren't going to give up a goal, you know, so listen, they played well, but it didn't happen. And it didn't happen for the Knicks last night either. You're just talking about Cat. Let's go to the Karl Anthony Towns. What changed for you in the second half?

[Karl-Anthony Towns]

Just trying to make a play, be aggressive with playmaking and, you know, got a chance to, you know, get some shots up. And I wanted to capitalize on those opportunities and, you know, I'm happy that I was able to hopefully give us a spark, you know, try to start the third quarter on a strong note. What I definitely was planning, you know, wanted to do if I could control anything and the third was get us off to a quick start. I'm happy that I was able to do that and find chances to impede my will.

[Alan Hahn]

He did, he seemed to think he did. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But to start the third, there was a whole first half. He took three shots, you know what I mean? He played 10 minutes, I think, in the second quarter and he didn't, like, he didn't score until, I think it was late. But that's, that's the part that gets frustrating. Look, I want to be clear. I, I'm not lumping all this on him because, you know, the. Mikhail Bridges had some moments where you're like, come on, dude, this is a physical problem too. Yeah, like there's, there's, there was other areas. I'm not just pointing to him. The three point shooting was abysmal. OG Anunoby, you could tell, had a ton of rust. He could not make it three. The guy before the injury was 22 of 44 from downtown. That's 50% to you and me, Peter, and that's good. And so he has to get his rhythm back and he clearly didn't have it. And so that was bad. But Cat had these moments where you just like Bud, your team needs you, man. Like this is one of those knuckle up games against an opponent that you could tell has a disdain and he had so in that third quarter, as great as he played then they're down to the Garden's rockin. They get a steal, fast break, cat's got the ball, the seven footer is bringing the ball down the floor and all of a sudden it's like, you know, Rucker park off one leg, look away, lob pass to Anunoby who's like what was that? And OG couldn't make the play, couldn't make the layup. And because we didn't want to simplify, ball goes down the other way. Bad transition defense open three five point turnaround. And it just felt like that's as close as they were going to get right there.

[Alan Hahn]

And then it was.

[Don Hahn]

You had a chance to tie the game and put tons of pressure on this team and take the building back again and instead we tried to do too much flash instead of just dash.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I, can I have one silver lining to this nightmare situation?

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It from just from like a, from a fan standpoint, from a hardcore fan standpoint, obviously it's nerve wracking and freaks you out about the future. From an objective basketball fan standpoint, it gives a great storyline to this team heading into the playoffs. But you know I'm always thinking about with the story. I like that now that the Knicks will have this sort of. Because no matter what happens. Wait, they have one more.

[Don Hahn]

No, it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's it.

[Don Hahn]

They got swept three games so it's over.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So to now head into the playoffs being absolutely dog walked in the regular season by this team creates an awesome storyline that not only do you have to make it there, but likely would have to deal with them in the conference final. I'm sorry, it's a great story.

[Don Hahn]

You're absolutely right and I'll tell you what. And I know Don, we got to go. So I'll tease this. There's something now that the Knicks cannot do by the end of this season. This is something they have to avoid at all costs. Otherwise reaching the conference finals might not happen this year.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's a great tease.

[Podcast Host]

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[Podcast Producer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Producer]

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

[Alan Hahn]

So the floor belongs to Alan on because he had a hell of a tease at the end of the last segment.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you said about or Peter said the great story, right? Yes. And that great story is these two teams meeting up now in the playoffs and what a great storyline it would be. And I absolutely agree with you. The narratives are built during the regular season. The matchups are the ones that then you look forward to to see what's true and what the team that maybe might be the underdog in that matchup what they can do about it. But right now I want you to take a look at the Eastern Conference standings. Detroit now is got a pretty healthy lead. They're five and a half games up on the Celtics. Now the Celtics are in the second seed. Now the Knicks have been in the second seed throughout most of the season. Up until recently, Boston's been on a surge. Boston's had a fairly easy schedule to start the year, but the Knicks have dropped to third. But they're not only just third because they've been tied with Boston for the most part. But now they're a game and a half back of second. But wait, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the same exact record all of a sudden in fourth. What you don't want to do what you must avoid what has to be part of the focus while they don't play Detroit the rest of this regular season. That has to be in their minds do not finish fourth. Why? Because you'd have to play Detroit in the second round.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

That's a mistake. That would be a fatal flaw because Detroit's going to play a play in bat around opponent that they will easily be in the first round. Then they will be again bloodthirsty in the second round. If you get there too and they see you in the second round. Bloodthirsty you might not. I don't think you survived that. So I give the Knicks better odds to beat Detroit in the conference finals than I would in the second round. Why I say that is because by the time you get to that round, for a lot of teams, especially young teams that haven't gone far in the playoffs, it's, it's, it's a different air, man. It gets thinner when you get to the conference finals and they also could be more worn down. They play very hard. Whatever it is, a second round series, you need to take a little piece out of that team so that by the time you get to a conference finals, you feel like whatever they had that bravado, they're going to be tired. And maybe that's the better time to see them. Second round, though, that would be a major concern. So for the Knicks, second seed, third seed has to be. It's a must. You absolutely, positively have to avoid that fourth seed, because that fourth seed sets up a potential second round matchup with the team that can't wait to eliminate you.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, it's funny, you know, Peter, for different reasons, but didn't we feel like last year, well, you gotta play. You gotta play the Celtics in the conference final. And then it was like, oh, my God, we're play the Celtics in the second round. And it ended up not mattering. And I think that's what a lot of Nick fans are kind of falling back on. It's like, well, look what happened last year. It didn't matter. We were all concerned playing Boston in the second round instead of the conference final. We beat him anyway.

[Don Hahn]

It's not the same.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not the same. Thank you. And we will always look back. Michael brought it up earlier today. I always bring it up as my. Go to the 1988 Mets. They played the Dodgers, I think it was 11 times because one of the games was rained out and they didn't make it up. And the mets beat them 10 of 11 times. That was back when you actually had two West coast trips when you were in baseball. And when they played them in the league championship series, a fait accompli. They beat the Dodgers 10 out of 11 times. Of course they're going to beat him. And then he lost in seven. And you could give countless examples of teams that owned the team in the regular season and in the postseason. It's a different animal. But we remember those times. What we don't remember is all the other times, the majority of the times that the matchup stinks, it stunk in the regular season, it's going to stink in the postseason. So stop thinking about last year. Different year, different team, different set of circumstances. Don't always think that that, well is always going to be overflowing with water all the time. Oh, yeah, it happened last year and it's happened occasionally in sports. But even in the Celtics series last year, during the regular season, there was a game that went to overtime. I think they won like, five of the 17 quarters, counting overtime, they were outscored in every quarter that they played against the Pistons. They were more dominated by the Pistons than they were dominated by the Celtics last year, correct?

[Don Hahn]

Yes. Yes. Oh, my God, yes. So minus 84 in three games.

[Alan Hahn]

Don, that's not. I mean. And don't tell me the Knicks don't care now. Did a Pistons care more because, you know, they got a chip on their shoulder. They're not New York. They don't play at the guard. Not everybody believes in them. But did the Knicks accomplish anything yet that they could walk around saying, we don't need these games? You just said you've got the Cavaliers, who just acquired Harden crawling up your back for third place. How would that look going, never mind the matchup and having to play Detroit in a second. Like, how would that look in a year where you're favorite to win the East? You finish in fourth, right?

[Don Hahn]

Not good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And behind the Celtics, It's. It's nasty behind the Celtics without Tatum, but that's the.

[Don Hahn]

And that. I think last night was an example of why there is this lack of trust in the Knicks as a true contender. Because, you know, Jalen Brunson even said it, you know, like, how there are times where we look really good. The problem is we don't do it consistently enough. And that's a problem. Like. And he admits it, you know, whether it's defensively, whether it's the ability to use the three as a weapon, because when they can't make threes, it looks like they can't win.

[Caller Spike]

And.

[Don Hahn]

And there's a. We've talked about this all season. There's a weird corporate feel about the way they approach things now, as if they're never going to show emotion, they're never going to be aggressive and be in your face. There's something about this team that's lacking, that toughness. We've talked about it many times, and it's not just the physical toughness, Right. It's a mental toughness. It's a relentlessness that was a staple of this group the last couple of seasons. And that. I don't know where it went. I don't get it.

[Alan Hahn]

How dare they turn it on and off. Who the hell are they? Like, honestly. All right, the Celtics last year. Well, you know what? You deserve it. You won the title the year before. I mean, there's some teams. It's a great line that I steal from Peter all the time, and I try to give you credit when I can, Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you don't have to every time,

[Alan Hahn]

but I try, but I don't every time play with their food. I told it to Danico, he laughed out loud. He's like, I love that line. And I had to give credit to Peter because I couldn't live with myself. Is that I don't think. But there are certain teams that could play with their food. The Florida Panthers could play with their food.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, back to back cups, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, the Patrick Mahomes Chiefs could play with their food and constantly not cover and drive Peter and I crazy

[Caller James]

when we make our picks.

[Alan Hahn]

Who. How dare the Knicks play with their food.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

What the hell have you accomplished that you could do that?

[Don Hahn]

Yep. It's true.

[Alan Hahn]

What One conference final appearance in a quarter century. But now you'd imagine, now you're flexing.

[Don Hahn]

See, Vidan, the problem is I don't see it as a collective issue. Jalen Brunson played his ass off last night with two defenders on him.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And he sees Cade taking over the stage. Jalen just all of a sudden is like, no, no, no, no. And he started, he got to 30 something points. So, like it, he's not there. I wouldn't put him in that place. I wouldn't put Josh Hart in that place.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don Hahn]

As the guys come off the bench, they're trying, they're trying hard. Like they're not cadillacing. But it's, it's again, you know, Towns has not had a good year. He just hasn't been the same guy. And I heard a, I heard a guy ask him last night in the, in the locker room. One of the reporters said to him, like, you know, like, is it still a work in progress with Mike Brown in the system? And I'm like, come on, game 50, what are we at? Right? Game 56. This better not be after a while. It's no longer work in progress. Now it's just not working. At some point. You can't just keep asking, you know, you're still trying to figure it out, like, stop doing that. I saw Mikhail Bridges in a very physical game, shy away from contact. I saw him get bumped and not like it and fade away. And these are things that you're looking at going, man, like, this is a different kind of game. You got to bring it. I'll give OG Anunoby a pass on last night because I trust that dude when he's right. He plays hard and he plays nasty and you could tell the toe and rust, there's enough there. I'm going to give him A pass. I'm going to give him a pass about poor shooting night that he really did struggle defending Kate. But you know, two of your five starters have got a, have got to understand that in some games you're playing an opponent that is going to want to, it's got to be, it's going to be man to man combat and you got to be ready. You got to bring it. And I did not see it consistently enough from some of those guys. And that's why I don't think it's a we're so good, we can just lay back. I think there's something else there that that's missing and it's very noticeable and that's the concern about the playoffs too.

[Alan Hahn]

You wish it was kind of just looking past or reading your own press clippings. You can change that. That's a conversation.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

But if there's other issues then that's more difficult to correct and you won't

[Peter Rosenberg]

know exactly what it is until we're in a series with them.

[Caller Spike]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you're going to have to figure it out over the course of seven games.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And you know that was the only eight, what the eighth loss at home for the Knicks so far this year. But the Pistons have shown you even in the playoffs last year, they're in and they're not scared of the guard.

[Don Hahn]

No, that's true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're not as scared.

[Alan Hahn]

They have no problem coming to the guard and playing. 1-800-919-3776. Let's start off the phones with old friends Spike and St. Pete. You're on ESPN.

[Caller Spike]

There he is like well, first of all, I love Alan Hahn because everything I was going to say you said and I'm going to give you a real 10 second how I go about it. I talked to both of my boys and I talked to my best friend prior to the game and I said when they played the paces and Vickers Zubak was sitting on the bench, they should have gone at him. I said now you got the same situation, different circumstances, no injury with Paul Reeds and they got to do some pick and roll. Now I know cat shot isn't there anymore. He's off eight and a half percent this year. Yeah, I know his shot isn't there which kind of compromises the pick and roll a little bit. But you gotta get the ball to your second best scorer at some point. That's on the coach. That's on the coach. I think the coach is a little tepid in these situations and JB although he got 30 something points. A lot of that was piling on at the end. And something about Mikel Bridges. I've told you this, Alan. Every correspondence I have with you, every call I make to every show, he shies away from contact. That's why he's played 900 games in a row or something. That's why the fadeaway jump shots there. Orphan 6667 guarding a guy the same size and 20 pounds heavier. He disappears. He melts. He melts when there's contact. That's not a good sign. I said the same thing prior to the game to my oldest boy. I said, I don't know why they're playing that. And Obi, I didn't like the way he was moving at the beginning. He was hesitant. And the toe, that's. That must hurt like hell when you. When your big toenail comes off.

[Don Hahn]

I don't think you numb it. The whole nail, man. Okay, that hurts.

[Caller Spike]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

So when, you know, OG's got to play. I'll say this, though, Spike, you're. You're right on a lot of things you said there. But I'll. Og, he misses three more games, he's not eligible for post season awards. He wants acknowledgment for his defense and all. Defense is something that he wants. He's going to play as much as he can.

[Caller Spike]

Okay, but the objective. I understand you. I respect everything you do. But on this summer, they'll give you some blowback. I don't give a dong about these awards. Nikola Jokic came back just in time to get 65 games in for another MVP. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard about. Adam Silva is no David Stern, that's for sure. Adam Silva is a player's commissioner. Last thought on this game, and this is what bothered me. First of all, Cade Cunningham may be the best guard in the East. I don't think it's close at this point. He's got the side. He's. I said before the game, oh, my big clap and I'm wrong again. I said, you never let him take a shot. But I wouldn't worry too much. He's a 33% shooter and he would. He made four out of five or four to six.

[Don Hahn]

Last night from three, he made five out of 11.

[Caller Spike]

Okay, here's the differential. Here's the differential. The Knicks shot 23%, I'm guessing, and they must have shot 45%.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Caller Spike]

Now if they both took 10 of them, I wouldn't give A crap. But if they took 30 or 35 each, there's the difference. They manhandled the Knicks pitched last night. But here's the caveat off then Kenny Atkinson is going to finish and knock off the Pistons because I think the Pistons, they've got terrific defense, they got the best player perhaps in the conference, but they don't have the experience. And Kenny's a master. Kenny Atkinson got burned in his rear end last year with those injuries, and I'll never figure out why they let go DeAndre Hunter. But Harden will get them to the second round and then he'll melt.

[Don Hahn]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Spike coming in hot.

[Don Hahn]

He was. Yeah, he was scorching.

[Alan Hahn]

No, he was. And he does his homework and he knows for sure. And the other thing, too, with the threes, because that's the other thing I heard a lot today was all they just did. They made their threes to be in good shape. Well, that's the NBA, isn't it?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, they were one of the 13.

[Alan Hahn]

You make your threes, you win. You don't make your threes, you lose.

[Don Hahn]

That's the way it's all these games, it's so true. And to figure out when they make him and when they don't and why they make him when they like. The problem I have with that is in the playoffs, what do you do? If tonight we're just not making them, what do you do? Well, we lost because we just didn't make our. No, find another way.

[Alan Hahn]

Find another way to get some points. But some of these teams, they don't have another way. But you got to find it because it does have a tendency to disappear on you. You just can't. You just can't take the L all the time when it's not falling right.

[Podcast Producer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Producer]

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

[Alan Hahn]

Get any New York More New York than this. Wild Turkey Bourbon is giving you the chance to score the ultimate New York game Day. One lucky winner scores a pair of tickets to open day in the Bronx and New York Knicks tickets, Both on Friday, April 3rd. Two games, one epic day. No compromises to enter. Find the contest tile on the ESPN New York app and submit your entry or sign up in person at select Wild Turkey events happening around the city. Brought to you by Wild Turkey Bourbon. When you know it's right, don't change a damn thing. Must be 21 or over. Enjoy Wild Turkey responsibly. Congratulations to our boy Griffin in Connecticut. He had called up after you left Allen yesterday for the Knicks.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

And he said that he expects in the Team USA game against Slovakia that Brock Nelson and Tage Thompson would score. Well, Nully hasn't scored yet, but Tage Thompson scores on the power play late in the first period. And the USA takes a two nothing lead into the dressing room against Slovakia after one whoopee do. So hopefully Griff bet Tage Thompson. Anytime.

[Don Hahn]

Goal scorer, baby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, did. We didn't get any drops from Griffin's call yesterday because it was pretty incredible. Allen. I asked essentially, Griff if he'd consider watching in the nude, and he did say, if it gets hot and the game's intense, he will take his shirt off. That did happen.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, the shirt.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But still, I mean, I didn't expect nudity.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, we just didn't expect it. We ended up playing Raise it up by Petey Pablo. You know, take your shirt off, wave it like a helicopter. You know, I mean, that's kind of the zone we were on with the Griftster yesterday. It was not what I. And then Don took it a step further and basically asked Griffin to send nudes and said, if you do do that, we would like to see video.

[Alan Hahn]

So, No, I never said I wanted to.

[Don Hahn]

What's the drop? No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Caller Spike]

He said, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. Because Michael had this thing about when a game is close or it's an amazing game that he likes to watch naked, which I think is the stupid. So that's where Peter was going with. And.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Griffin said that when the game gets 10 and he takes his shirt off. So I wanted to know if, you know, in a big moment, would he celebrate the way Gronk did after the Super Bowl? Remember when he took his shirt off and was on the dance floor at, like, the disco at. In the celebration and twirling the shirt? I said, would you do that in a big moment? He said he would. I'm like, well, please send video if you do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, it's close enough.

[Don Hahn]

No, but I didn't say I wanted nudes.

[Alan Hahn]

I. I just. I would like to see him. Yeah. Then he called him Trey Thompson instead of Page Thompson. But I still think he deserves.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was a drop, too, because then Don must have said Tage three times. And every time, Griff's like, Trey, and he's like, Tage.

[Don Hahn]

No, it's not about. Well, if he hits a Hat trick. We'll call him Trey.

[Alan Hahn]

Also.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tell me something, Alan, tell me. Nothing ages Don more. I mean, it ages him a legit 20 years.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, my God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When he referred to. To a club as a disco. It's. It's Don, it's like your. It's like your parents are taking over the microphone.

[Alan Hahn]

When you say that was strategic. Doing the hustle, that was strategic because a grown ass man like Gronkowski taking his shirt off and twirling in the air is very disco.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's true, but I.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, that's where I was going, so. Well, that was a club, but dance club became disco.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think Don, I think Don, if Don were traveling, he'd get to town and be like, hey, where is like the discotheque? I want, I want to find the discotheque.

[Don Hahn]

To me, don't they ask discotheque.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, let's go to James. He's in Charlotte. You're on ESPN New York. Hi, James.

[Caller James]

Hey, how you doing, guys?

[Alan Hahn]

Good.

[Caller James]

I kind of want to try to quell some of these Knick fans.

[Don Hahn]

Go ahead.

[Caller James]

I'm not saying, I'm not saying we don't have anything to worry about. I'm not saying that. I said, I think with the, the difference between the 90s Knicks and this Knicks is the 90s Knicks were dogs on defense and were searching for offensive punch.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Caller James]

And I think we're the opposite. I think we're pretty fluent on offense, but we need some more dogs on defense. And I think we need to give Mike Brown a chance to get Alvarado in there and show him. And show him Alvarado, Mitchell, Robinson and Shamet or the bench. All those guys play really hard. Like Alan said a little while ago, they're very corporate. Like, I'm not saying that Brunson is justice. I mean, justice judge, but he has that corporate, like, you know, I'm focused on the game. I play great, but I'm not super emotional guy.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's very good, James. Yeah, perfect comp.

[Caller James]

Right. So I think when we give Mike Brown a chance to get Alvarado in there and showhand in there and we get a little more aggressive, I think it'll work better. And I'm not saying that Detroit is not a problem, but I think we could calm down a little bit, give him a couple, you know, a couple more weeks, whatever. A little bit of weeks we got left. But what I will say is Paul Anthony Towns makes me nervous. He really does. Because you never know what you're going to get out of that guy. He's so talented, but it just seems like he never turns like him and Bridges, if you push them too much, looks like they don't want to play. Well, Bridges doesn't want to play. And Towns just gets off and just starts crying to the referee. And it seems like it affects him on the other end on defense. And it almost seems like the team doesn't want to give him the ball because he doesn't try hard.

[Alan Hahn]

You just hit on something. James, I wanted to get to earlier in the show and thanks for the phone call is the complaint to the officials. Randall used to do it and the Knicks wouldn't get calls. Now Cat's doing it. Come on, man. I understand that it's a whiny league. I get that. But isn't he a little over the top?

[Don Hahn]

Alan, what I saw yesterday, that I said, okay, it's gone too far because you're right. Like, Brunson does it in conversational. He'll. He'll get mad at a ref. He'll look, he'll stare down there. If he goes over and chats with them. Cat really is demonstrative with it, right? Very demonstrative. But when I saw Mitchell Robinson put up a. Like, get a rebound, put it back, and then turn to a ref and put his arms up. That's what I'm like, all right, now we've gone too far. The guy that never wants to go to the free throw line is now mad that he didn't get a foul. Like, that's enough.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, go a little too far.

[Don Hahn]

We don't really. We don't need that. Like, we don't. But it does. It is to me, something that becomes contagious where if you. You see some teammates doing it now, everybody else starts to do it now. You're so hyper focused on whether I'm gonna get the call or not. Rather than, man, just play, man. Just like there's something. Like I said, there's just something about this group right now that it's. I think it's neck up really do.

[Alan Hahn]

It's, you know, get your act together. Because like Alan said, the. At the end of this gauntlet, which has nine games left. Yeah, it gets a lot easier. And they should be able to win. Saturday they're playing Chicago. Chicago and Milwaukee were the two, I think, layups.

[Don Hahn]

Saturday's the Rockets.

[Alan Hahn]

The Rockets. So where's.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, so that's home against the Rockets on Saturday. That's national game.

[Alan Hahn]

When's the Bulls?

[Don Hahn]

Bulls is Sunday night at Chicago Starts three games in the, you know, in the Midwest.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, so. So you get, you get the layup against Chicago, but It's also the second to back.

[Don Hahn]

That's right. And three and four. Thank you, NBA.

[Alan Hahn]

But looking at that 10 games, I said there's Milwaukee and there's Chicago, but otherwise, you know, a lot of tough games, especially the start of a western swing at the end of the 10 games. So, you know, Monica said she'd take five and five, which now is five and four, because you've lost the first game of the 10 to be able to try to get to five and five. But you know, if it, if it is right, we've got to get the chemistry with the new player. Then what are you going to go three and seven in this now? Again, they'll get off the mat because I think, you know, the final 17 are fairly easy, but you don't finishing under 500 in these 10. I think that you'll, you'll definitely fall to fourth.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

And then, then you're going to be in like, must win territory the final month of the season.

[Don Hahn]

And Donnie, a legit team doesn't do five and five against good teams. Right. Like, that's not what you do.

[Alan Hahn]

I was surprised she settled for that, to be honest with you.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you know, I mean, it's used being honest. She was being honest. I think it also just shows you that there is like this look. The Knicks beat bad teams, are 19 and six against bad teams. The problem is they're one game over.500 against winning teams. They're 16 and 15.

[Alan Hahn]

You, you got a. Yeah. You got a game Sunday when we're gonna get like 1900ft of snow.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And it's studio. I'm not in Chicago. I'm not gonna be on the road on this one.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what, you know what I would do, Peter? If I were Alan, on my own dime, I'd fly to Chicago, say I'm good. I'm gonna go to Chicago.

[Don Hahn]

But how am I getting home?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you'll go home with the team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, but what's.

[Alan Hahn]

What job?

[Don Hahn]

You said on my own dime.

[Alan Hahn]

But what job are you get there on your own dime.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, go and then just ask the team for a lift back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But what are you doing Sunday?

[Don Hahn]

Well, I'm supposed to have get up Monday morning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So then you can't.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, they'll come. You know, I don't know. Just find an easier way to get

[Don Hahn]

packed in the commercial just so the audience knows too. While we, of course, Tyler and Monica are a fantastic listen on the ESPN MSG radio network.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Someone say, like you dream about.

[Don Hahn]

I will be on the national call for ESPN Radio with Mark Kestis.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whoa.

[Don Hahn]

Another day with Nice. So, yeah, another game with.

[Alan Hahn]

That's Clean Living, man.

[Don Hahn]

He's having. He's, he's. He said he'd have me back, so I'm like, let's do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is that. When's that game?

[Don Hahn]

Saturday night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Saturday night, national call.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, sir.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sunday, MSG studio duty.

[Don Hahn]

MSG proper. Right on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

MSG proper followed by a Monday get up vehicle.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's scheduled for a lot. You know what they're saying? You know what they're saying? It's Han season. That's what they're saying.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, hamster wheel, baby.

[Podcast Producer]

Thanks for listening to Badan, Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the

[Don Hahn]

sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good.

[Podcast Producer]

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.