Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Knicks Statement Win

ESPN New York | April 7, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the New York Knicks’ impressive statement win over the red-hot Atlanta Hawks, dissecting playoff implications, team performance, and the importance of Karl-Anthony Towns (“Cat”). Hosted by Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, and Don La Greca, the trio blend sharp sports analysis with their signature wit, also touching on headline news in hockey and baseball, and sharing personal anecdotes to keep things lively.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Knicks’ Statement Win Against the Hawks

(12:20–19:56; returns at 31:20–53:32)

• The hosts highlight the significance of the Knicks’ hard-fought win over an Atlanta Hawks team that had won 18 of 20 games and boasted the NBA’s top defense during that stretch.
• Alan Hahn (13:27): “Let me remind everybody that the Atlanta Hawks came into that game winners of 18 of their last 20 games… They also had the best defense in the league over that stretch.”
• The group pushes back against fans who minimized the win because Atlanta is "not a top seed," arguing that informed fans should respect how tough the matchup really was.
• Playoff implications are discussed, with Hahn emphasizing the importance of seeding and defending the choice to avoid Atlanta in the first round:
  Alan Hahn (15:03): “You're out of your mind if you want to be the fourth seed. No way. I'll take the Sixers… over that Hawks team all day long.”

The Cat Factor: Unlocking the Knicks’ Ceiling

(16:28–37:12 | 31:20–37:12)

• The critical role of Karl-Anthony Towns in the Knicks' system is analyzed. More action was run through him, and his offensive and defensive engagement made the team dynamic.
  • Alan Hahn (17:36): “Cat was very active. Early in the game he felt part of it… he had three assists, was involved in action, screens moving… you saw a guy that now was engaged defensively and made a couple of really important defensive plays."
• The chemistry between Brunson and Towns, especially in the two-man game, left the Hawks scrambling defensively.
  • Alan Hahn (34:04): “He does the skill part like the finesse. But he still does something that… in this game, rebounding is effort and determination and physicality. And this guy… is number two in the league in rebounding and leading the league in double-doubles this season.”
• The question then becomes: Can Towns stay consistent through the playoffs?
  • Don Hahn (35:33): “If he brings that every night, this team competes for a championship.”
  • Adam Rosenberg (35:59): “Just from following sports, when you are that way, you’re that way for life… but I don’t need the rest of your life – just two months!”

Team Flaws, Potential & Playoff Realism

(51:20–53:32)

• Listeners and hosts acknowledge the Knicks’ maddening inconsistency: moments of brilliance countered by careless turnovers and sometimes shoddy defense.
  • Caller Paul (52:04): “If Cat’s doing this, if they're rotating like this, we could take on anyone in the East. But… there were other moments… they flipped back into turning the ball over unforced…"
  • Alan Hahn (53:16): “No, they're not [perfect]. They’re wonderfully flawed.”
  • Adam Rosenberg (53:18): “A talented team that if they could put it together can make a run, but… could be an early exit. That’s why they are so maddening and fascinating at the same time.”

New York Hockey — Organizational Change & Uncertainty

(06:02–12:07)

• Don and Alan break down the Devils’ late-season firing of GM Tom Fitzgerald—surprising due to its timing and emotional impact on the team, not the least because Fitzgerald was highly connected to much of the core roster.
  • Adam Rosenberg (07:53): “There is an emotional side to it and it sucks to see… When you look at sports now, Peter, sometimes you bring in a president… then a GM. Maybe a guy comes in, does both. No interim. So they're looking right now.”
• Discussion broadens to recent NHL front-office firings, the impact on player morale, and speculation about who the Devils might target for their next leadership team.

Mets & Yankees — Weather Woes and Fan Service

(20:46–24:49)

• The hosts outline the Mets adjusting game time to dodge cold weather for the fans' and players' sake, contrasting that with the Yankees' decision to keep their night slot.
  • Adam Rosenberg (21:54): “Trying to figure that… What do you think their logic is with the Yankees?”
  • Don Hahn (22:26): “The Mets not only, you know, would allow you a refund. They also gave away tickets to these two games… to show appreciation of the fan base.”
• They jest about possible motivations for each franchise, with the Yankees’ lack of communication coming across as typical.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alan Hahn (16:18): “I thought vanilla. And you just want to see, can you raise your level effort wise and just try to out talent them? And that didn’t happen.”
• Don Hahn (33:18): “No pressure, Cat. But if you do that, if he brings that every night this team competes for a championship. In my opinion, that is.”
• Adam Rosenberg (35:25): “He’s an enigma, but is also a unicorn. He’s a unicorn that at that height can shoot so well from the perimeter and yet not every night.”
• Alan Hahn (34:42): “He talks a lot, he flails a lot, but he goes hard. If he could bring this every night. We are… they’re a two superstar team.”
• Adam Rosenberg (53:18): “They constantly remind you that if they don’t put it together it could be an early exit. That’s why they are so maddening and fascinating at the same time.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Knicks-Hawks Game Analysis & Stakes: 12:20–19:56, 31:20–41:09
• Karl-Anthony Towns Impact Debate: 16:28–37:12
• Fan Calls on Knicks Consistency & Playoff Hopes: 31:20–39:56, 51:20–53:32
• Devils GM Firing & NHL Coaching Carousel: 06:02–12:07
• Mets/Yankees Weather Decisions: 20:46–24:49
• Humor & Personal Life Stories (Moving, Kids, Social Media): 03:35–05:15, 49:00–53:00
• YouTube/Couch Photo Banter: 45:06–47:45
• Drop Madness Reflection: 46:33–47:45

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain their signature banter, mixing incisive sports analysis with humor, candid admissions, and relatable stories. They aren’t afraid to poke fun at each other or their teams, yet consistently bring sharp perspective grounded in their media and sports experience.

Summary Takeaway

The Knicks’ big win over the Hawks marks a team peaking at the right time, primarily due to unlocking Towns offensively and defensively—a key to their playoff ceiling. Yet, ongoing flaws remain. The episode also deftly covers shifting tides for the Devils and the fan experience around the Mets/Yankees, all through the lens of New York’s passionate and idiosyncratic sports culture.