Hour 1: Knicks Stubbornness

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Knicks Stubbornness

Release Date: April 22, 2025

In the inaugural episode titled "Knicks Stubbornness," hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into the New York Knicks' performance in their recent playoff series against the Detroit Pistons. The discussion paints a comprehensive picture of the team's challenges, strategic missteps, and the overarching stubbornness that may be hindering their progress.

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1. Overview of Game 2 vs. Pistons

Peter Rosenberg kicks off the analysis by describing Game 2 as "a maddening game on many levels" ([02:35]). The Knicks faced a disappointing loss at Madison Square Garden, bringing the series to a 1-1 tie and setting the stage for a pivotal Game 3 in Detroit.

2. Offensive Strategy and Execution

A central theme of the discussion revolves around the Knicks' offensive strategy. Rosenberg criticizes the team's focus on drawing fouls over executing effective offensive plays:

“It was no longer about winning the game. It was more about winning the battle with the officiating.” ([03:36])

This approach led to stagnation, with the team barely scoring 100 points, highlighting inefficiencies in their offensive execution.

3. Critique of Coaching Decisions

Don Hahn interjects, labeling this strategy as "the loser's lament" ([03:43]). He draws parallels to the previous year's Pacers series, where excessive complaining about officiating altered the course of the series. Hahn raises concerns about Tom Thibodeau’s (the Knicks' head coach) decision-making, questioning whether the focus on officiating detracts from addressing the team's core issues.

4. Player Performance and Roles

The conversation shifts to individual performances, particularly Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Rosenberg commends Towns' matchup defense but criticizes his lack of involvement in crucial moments:

“They came back without him getting the ball. So the last thing he's going to do is complain about that.” ([05:36])

Hahn underscores the significance of Towns' contributions, questioning why he isn't more integral in the postseason:

“If you had found a way to win the game, you wouldn't be complaining about the officials.” ([04:45])

5. Impact of Officiating

Both hosts agree that officiating played a role in the Knicks' loss, but they caution against overemphasizing it as the sole reason. Rosenberg points out that:

“They were down 13 in the fourth quarter and they came back to tie. So for him, I can't say, I can't complain.” ([05:36])

This sentiment is echoed by Hahn, who believes that while officiating was a factor, it shouldn't overshadow the team's strategic shortcomings.

6. Team Dynamics and Leadership

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the team's dynamics and leadership. Rosenberg attributes some of the Knicks' issues to stubbornness and a lack of adaptability:

“Stubbornness is inexcusable.” ([38:03])

He emphasizes the importance of leadership roles, suggesting that Brunson needs to facilitate better ball distribution and involve other players more effectively.

7. Defensive and Rebounding Concerns

Don Hahn highlights defensive lapses and rebounding weaknesses as critical issues:

“How great is this defense that you gave up 10 open threes?” ([18:42])

This defense inadequacy allowed the Pistons to capitalize on open shots, exacerbating the Knicks' offensive struggles.

8. Fan Reactions and Atmosphere

The hosts discuss the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden post-game, noting increased fan frustration and the potential psychological impact on the team:

“They're on their way to Detroit for game three. And they will do it in a one-one series after a very disappointing game two at MSG.” ([02:14])

9. Future Outlook and Series Implications

Looking forward, Hahn expresses skepticism about the Knicks' ability to overcome their current hurdles:

“I'm not completely ruling out it being a bit of a Brunson problem.” ([48:19])

Rosenberg concurs, emphasizing the need for the team to address internal issues and improve their offensive strategies to succeed in the remainder of the series.

10. Conclusion: Path Forward for the Knicks

The episode concludes with a consensus that while the Knicks possess talent, their stubborn adherence to ineffective strategies and lack of cohesive teamwork may impede their postseason aspirations. Both Hahn and Rosenberg advocate for a more flexible and adaptable approach, urging the team to prioritize winning over contentious disputes with officiating.

“Just show up, do your job, take care of this team in five games, move on.” ([38:00])

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Notable Quotes

• Peter Rosenberg ([05:36]): “They came back without him getting the ball. So the last thing he's going to do is complain about that.”

• Don Hahn ([03:43]): “That's the loser's lament.”

• Peter Rosenberg ([38:03]): “Stubbornness is inexcusable.”

• Don Hahn ([04:45]): “If you had found a way to win the game, you wouldn't be complaining about the officials.”

• Peter Rosenberg ([48:19]): “I'm not completely ruling out it being a bit of a Brunson problem.”

Key Takeaways

• The Knicks' reliance on drawing fouls rather than executing effective offensive strategies contributed significantly to their loss in Game 2.
• Coaching decisions under Tom Thibodeau are under scrutiny for potentially prioritizing disputes over officiating instead of addressing tactical weaknesses.
• Individual players, especially Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, need to adapt their roles to maximize team performance.
• Defensive lapses and poor rebounding hindered the Knicks' ability to control the game's pace and score efficiently.
• The team's internal dynamics and leadership approaches require adjustment to foster a more collaborative and winning mindset.

This episode offers a critical yet constructive examination of the New York Knicks' current playoff struggles, providing listeners with in-depth insights into the multifaceted challenges facing the team.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

Han.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just got excited. And Rosenberg.

[Unknown Speaker]

Alan just expressed theoretical arousal about the Dolly Parton puppet.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg. The best threesome I've ever heard on 8 80, ESPN and the ESPN New York app.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, yeah. We're going to be off to a start today on Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because that's a gavel.

[Unknown Speaker]

Because Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he doesn't have a microphone.

[Unknown Speaker]

Don just tried to crack the mic. It didn't work. He's now, I swear, turned his head down. I can't tell what's happening.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The look of defeat that he just. He just displayed right there, all fired up to start the show.

[Unknown Speaker]

And he's.

[Don Hahn]

And he's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And nothing.

[Unknown Speaker]

And still not there, I don't think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's why he's nothing. Still not there. No.

[Unknown Speaker]

And now his head's in his hands.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Explode.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, no. He's taking his headphones off. He's turning around. He's going to the door.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don McGregor, everybody. Don McGregor. Don has left the building.

[Unknown Speaker]

And do you see, this is why I get upset that we are not on television.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because this would have been a great video.

[Unknown Speaker]

You needed that zoom. And then the walkout here. Film it, Alan. Don is now banging on the windows outside of the studio. Anyways, welcome to the show, everybody. We have a lot, a lot to discuss today. Don will do it as well when his microphone is working, but I'm Peter Rosenberg. That's Alan Hahn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I am.

[Unknown Speaker]

I'm back from Las Vegas. Allen is back from the Garden. And the Knicks and Pistons have left the Garden. They're on their way to Detroit for game three. And they will do it in a one one series after a very disappointing game two at msg, to say the least. Alan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was a maddening game. Maddening on many levels. And what really bothered me was even. Not even the end of the game. It was after the game. Now I think everybody knows I'm a card carrying Member of the Tom Thibodeau Fan Club. Right. I, I team top. I like him a lot. I like, I like what he's brought to the organization, how much he cares. I respect so much about his effort and dedication, all those things. But, you know, we also, while sending praise for game one, we can also be critical for things that we saw. Right. That's how you do it. So I'm going to shock everybody, but I'll let you know. He had a bad game. He had a bad game. Jalen Brunson had a bad game. And after the game was even more disturbing because the head coach of the Knicks, after a disturbing loss with his offense that really got just caught up in trying to draw fouls rather than just try to counter whatever the Pistons were doing defensively. It was no longer about winning the game. It was more about winning the battle with the officiating. That's what it looked like to me. Offensively, that bothered me.

[Don Hahn]

That's the loser's lament.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then after the game, all we heard about was the officiating and the imbalance in the free throws and, and the issues. And if Cade's getting these calls, why is my. There's one thing, do you want to defend your team when you feel like there, it's not fair. And if you want to defend your star, if you feel like that, he's getting hit a lot. But it's another thing to use that to me as the distraction to the bigger issues that were going on with this team, which is the stubbornness of that effort in a game that you could not mess around with, gave away because they only scored 100 points and they barely scored 100 points. They were at 94 points with a minute to go. Right. So it's not like they were. They were running you out of the gym. No, they were having trouble, too. Your defense was working for the most part. It was the other side that really bothered me in a home game that you got rattled because it was a physical game and the officials weren't giving you calls. And after the game, you made that the lament more than anything else that.

[Don Hahn]

We should be talking about in defense. Last year at work for the Pacers, they complained about the officiating and it turned the series around. So I get the strategy of it, but you're the favorites, man. You just lost the game at home, and even though you got job by the officials, you still tied the game and you couldn't show that you were the better team down the stretch and win the game. Anyway, and believe me, if you had found a way to win the game, you wouldn't be complaining about the officials, but you're complaining about the officials because you lost. It's now best of five series. They've got home court. And you can't have Towns just disappear like that. In the sense of, why is he not getting the ball? Does he not want the ball? Is it just designed that it's Brunson's team and he's got to take every shot? Like, who's to blame for this? Is he just not want to take a shot? Is he not asking for the ball? How does a star like that not contribute in a big game in the fourth quarter?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll answer the questions. First of all, they did make a run. And I give. I give Towns credit. I talked to him after the game and his response was, well, we did make a comeback and I was just playing within whatever they wanted me to do. So they came back without him getting the ball. So the last thing he's going to do is complain about that, right? Because they tied the game. They were down 13 in the fourth quarter and they came back to tie. So for him, I can't say, I can't complain. What am I going to say? That I would have made a difference? We still were right there. The game was in our hands.

[Don Hahn]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it doesn't mean that any observer would tell you that this guy was a matchup problem for the Pistons. They had a 6, 8 guy, Tobias Harris, God bless him, who was trying all he could physically to deal with him. And he was, what was he, four for five against him, whatever it was. And just for some reason, no one seemed to recognize while they were struggling in the third quarter to get a bucket, maybe we should get this guy the ball. And instead it was this, like I said, it was a stubbornness. Don, you don't have to call a play. The coach might say, run one, which might be a Jalen Brunson player or a bridges play, right? But the point guard, the captain, you want to think for a minute, my big dog hasn't touched the ball in a minute. I got it. Let's get him going. And that's what I. That, you know, Jalen Brunson again, you love Jalen Brunson. Everybody loves him. And I, again, I have great appreciation for him. He's got to recognize in this game. That's a matchup nightmare for them. I got to get my dog the ball and I got to get him on the post. This is an old School game, put them on the post and let them go old school until they send doubles and then someone else will be open. You gotta recognize that. And I think, and I don't like saying it, but I think Jalen got caught up in trying to foul out assert Thompson.

[Don Hahn]

Oh yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And now became a personal battle. That's stubbornness. And the head coach, for whatever reason, also got caught up in the officiating thing and the stubbornness of let's just ride Jalen to another comeback win. Which led to now one one going on the road, which is a dangerous place to be if you're this Knicks team.

[Don Hahn]

But the reason you made the changes that you made was that it didn't have to be all about Brunson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Like last year you understood it, especially after the injuries, it had to be Brunson to carry you. But now you go out and you get Carl Anthony Towns as a singular talent. You went out and trade five first round picks for Bridges. And I know he didn't shoot great, especially from three, but he was much better than he was in game one. So is it a lack of trust of both, Both Tibbs and Brunson? I don't think these guys can make a big shot. I think our only way to win is Brunson taking every single shot down the stretch. Because that becomes very easy to defend, doesn't it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course.

[Don Hahn]

And you already got guys like, you know, Hart who can't make a three. So that becomes very easy to defend because, you know, I don't have to defend him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

And if I know Brunson's going to take the shot, well, then you become very, very one handed when you don't necessarily have to be. Because that's not what this trade was supposed to be about.

[Unknown Speaker]

If in fact it's the way it appears to be. And for lack of a better word, Thibodeau froze Cat out to some extent in the fourth quarter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was it knowingly, unknowingly, not one shot?

[Unknown Speaker]

How could that be unknown?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what I mean.

[Unknown Speaker]

He's arguably someone's got it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even one of the assistant coaches. You know, Cat hasn't a touch in a minute.

[Unknown Speaker]

He's arguably the best offensive player on the team. It's not like him and Jalen aren't in the same conversation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They both are all NBA players, both all stars.

[Unknown Speaker]

So to have a player of that level not get a shot in the fourth to me doesn't seem accidental. Now if that happens, Allen, and then you lose the series to Detroit. Oh, I'M telling the Tibbs Noise is going to get blaring, blaringly loud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, you know I've always pushed back. I can't deny that I can't. No, I'll keep fighting about. Well, it's easy to say get rid of people, but you need to tell me who you're replacing them with. Like, you can't just.

[Unknown Speaker]

But a couple people have popped up now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I know, but I'm just saying, like, you can't have this, you know, the. Where you just react right away. You can't have that impulsive, just clean house, get somebody better and not know who the hell that somebody better is. So that's the problem. Like, you can't be impulsive. But I also know that you can't. Like, what happened last night cannot happen the rest of the series. Now, look. All right, let's get some answers. Tom Thibodeau on Towns having such a quiet fourth quarter after game one. He was one of the most dominant players on the court in fourth quarter.

[Unknown Speaker]

Getting touches, but he's making the right play. If he's getting double teamed, I don't want him just shooting the ball over three people.

[Don Hahn]

That makes no sense to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did that once. Yeah, he did. He did take one shot and he actually there was. Remember the one he got? He ran into a wall and he just threw it up and went in. Like there was that one shot. But if he didn't like the shots he was taking, that's a conversation. But I don't like the idea of. I didn't like that shot. Now, I'm not getting you not calling your number. I don't like the suggestion that that's there. Now here's Towns when he was asked why he didn't get any shots in the fourth. Just trying to have the game, you know, do what it does and like I said, just executing what we talked about. So we got some great shots and great looks. So those kind of great shots and.

[Unknown Speaker]

Great looks, especially when we fall back in that game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He just took the high road, in.

[Don Hahn]

My opinion, and that's the right thing to do, I guess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he was not going to complain publicly about it. But there's no way he was. I don't believe that. He walks out of the building and he's almost like shrugging like, I don't care. People don't realize. While he is kind of a nice guy and he, you know, he tends to be goofy and stuff, I've gotten to know him. He's a. He's A pretty competitive. He's fiery competitive guy. This is a guy that took game seven in Denver last year and played Jokic to a standstill in that series. Like when he. When you get him at a level fired up, which we saw in Game one, when you get him there, he's an unstoppable force. But you got to get him there some nights. And they never got him there last night.

[Don Hahn]

Nope. And he's a star player, no question about that. Playing Madison Square Garden postseason and he's not getting any touches.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That doesn't make sense. Honestly. That doesn't make sense.

[Don Hahn]

And that's why there's. Now you're 1 1. Now do I think they're going to win this series? I do. But it opens up a door of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's dangerous going there.

[Don Hahn]

Now you look at the first three quarters on. On Saturday and you look at the 21 nothing run that really.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that the operation? Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

To a lot of things that kind of went wrong in Game one. And I had mentioned yesterday. Let's see how they come out. Right. The momentum of the fourth quarter breakdown for the Pistons and the fourth quarter romp for the Knicks didn't seem to matter. It ended up being just a continuation of what you saw on Saturday. And the Knicks did make a run and then they come all the way back. But this time the Pistons showed you a little something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, Schroeder hits the three.

[Don Hahn]

That was a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The most veteran player hits the three. And by the way, on that play, Brunson, actually here's Brunson explaining he took the hit and he's right. And he should have said this, blamed himself for that shooter getting that wide open. 3. It's both of us. It's something that should have happened, especially with. Between me and him.

[Don Hahn]

We know each other too long to mess that up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, that's him and Josh Hart.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Two guys who have a podcast together. They can finish each other's sentences. You think they would completely understand how to play that. And they both. One switched, the other one didn't. And Brunson was too late to close out. And credit to Schroeder, he drilled the three. Under a minute to go. Broke the 94 all tie and the rest was history. The Knicks missed two threes after that.

[Don Hahn]

Well, and then just before that when Brunson drew the foul in the three point play and only hit two.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Two out of three. Right? Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And you're not going to beat him up for that. But again, that's. Those are the little things that End up losing you again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That is right. And you can. You can, if you wanted to point to hearts dunk. That tied it. He gets hit on the head. No call.

[Don Hahn]

Like, there are no call.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There are moments you could say, like, how is that not a foul? But I don't end the game and go, well, you know, the officials got. No. No way am I making that an excuse. No way is that the first thing I'm talking about.

[Don Hahn]

Tie game with. How much time was left when they tied it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was 94.

[Unknown Speaker]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, like. Like it was either 50 something seconds or a minute, something four, something like that. So you got a lot of time.

[Don Hahn]

You're not thinking about the officials and the call. All you're thinking about is, this is our house.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Give me a stop.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go. Yeah, get a big stop. Let's win this game. Be a better team for the final minute of the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I worry now that now you're going to a place that hasn't seen a playoff game in years, and they are starving for it. You guys know The Pistons lost 21 straight games last year.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, yeah. Well documented.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, hard it is to go through a season where your team loses 21 in a row, and the next year you're in the playoffs and now you got a team, a veteran team, a big market team that's sort of. You can see that they're teetering a little bit. Like you could feel it that they are. It's early in the fight, but you've already landed a punch that it looks like staggered him a little bit. Right. And now you're in your building where that place is going to be nuts. I mean, they're crazy at Detroit as it is.

[Unknown Speaker]

So you felt it the last game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I called that game on MSG and that building for that game. Yeah. Oh, yeah. They were getting on Brunson. They were yelling. They're going to be on his case for every time he tries. Like, a lot of people are now talking about him and the foul, you know, the foul baiting that he's been doing. And they're gonna. He's gonna hear it, they're gonna boo. It's gonna be a crucible. It's not gonna be Philadelphia like it was last year when half the building or more than half the building with Nick fans.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, no, no, no. This is Nick fans will get in there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But this is not swing it like in Philadelphia.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It'll be different. And so this is a dangerous place, man.

[Don Hahn]

This is a different sports town. They're starting to feel it in Detroit. Yeah, right. Tigers are off to a great start. You got the Lions, you know, competing for a Super bowl now. Alan and I spent a lot of time in Detroit recent years, and that's been, you know, everything that you. As advertised Zombieland.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, absolutely not.

[Don Hahn]

Not recently. Now you got the Pistons all fired up. That building is going to be electric. Could work to their disadvantage, too, because of the fact that they are a little inexperienced, maybe be overwhelmed by the situation too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jacked up.

[Don Hahn]

They're alive. You had a chance to finish them off last night in the sense of not in our house. We toyed with you the first three quarters on Saturday, we showed you who's. Who's the boss in game in the fourth quarter, and you let them right back into the house. But now it just becomes a question of did you let them back in or were they there to begin with? Like, how good are is this Knicks team? And you start to begin to wonder. You got yourself a series, guys. I mean, five games is still doable, but do you sense that the Knicks are on their way to winning three straight, including two in Detroit? I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't.

[Don Hahn]

Now you're like, all right, Knicks in six.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're still trying to figure it out.

[Don Hahn]

But so. So now if you're confident the Knicks are going to win, you're probably shifting. All right, Probably Nixon six. All right, well, Nick's six is too close to seven, too close to maybe a break here, break there. All of a sudden you find yourself not being able to win this series. You went from let's finish them off early so that we give ourselves the best chance against Boston to. Now why would you even be thinking about Boston? You got a huge game to just make sure that you can get out of this series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's a scary thing for Tibbs because when you have a moment like last night where people start seeing a glaring. Where even an Alan Hahn. And if it's Alan Hahn, it's not just Alan Hahn. That means others, the people who supported you can all see, oof. That was some silly coaching. In the fourth quarter, you lose a game at home that sticks to you. If you end up losing that series, it's a. It's a tough moment for Tibbs, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is. And you have to recover from it. You certainly know that. You stick to all the things that you're going with, but you had a whole week to prepare for this series. And I think defensively they've been Fine. I think the biggest issue is their offense has been awful for a team that once was the third best offense in the NBA. You don't have seeing that here. You want to credit the Pistons and how hard they're playing. Absolutely. Yes. You want to credit the Pistons and how they're getting after the boards, dominating the glass. The Knicks can't rebound. Yes. Give them that too. But can you explain to me, 0 for 8 from 3 in the first quarter in your building in game two, 048-how-re you supposed to build a lead if you miss eight threes? And all of them were open. They were guys. How about this stat? They were 1 for 10 from 3 that are considered open wide open. I should say that means a defender was 6ft or more away from you as you shot the ball one for 10.

[Don Hahn]

Did you think, the hell is that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How are you supposed to win a game when you like that? That doesn't make sense. So that's the bigger problem. Your home, your rims and your one for ten on. You got ten open three wide open threes that they gave you. How great is this defense that you gave up 10 open threes?

[Don Hahn]

How did you think it was on the table at all? What, they would lose a home playoff game to this team to and lose a game in which they allowed 100 points? Yeah, it was even feasible the Knicks would lose. If you said to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, if you said to me they're at the Garden and they held the team to 100 points, win or lose, I'm like always double digit. 99% of the time I'm going, yeah, they probably won that game. That's, that's my point where everybody's focusing on stopping Cade and defense and all those things that you want to talk about. And all I keep saying is they 94 points.

[Don Hahn]

94 points is not enough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, come on, this team with all this talent, no way. You should not be held to 94 points in your building in a playoff game. That doesn't make sense.

[Don Hahn]

And if the inexperience showed itself in the fourth quarter on Saturday, did all of a sudden they gain experience last night? Because they didn't look like a team that was overwhelmed by the moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who, the Pistons? Yeah, they absolutely gave the game away. Again, they were up by 13, Don. They're up by 13 in the fourth quarter.

[Don Hahn]

But foul. That's gonna happen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They piddled it away. It was tied. They needed their vet that they picked up at the trade deadline to hit a three because of a defensive breakdown.

[Don Hahn]

But if that's not. Then why did they all of a sudden seem to find it in the last minute to get it done? Or are you just going to say that it's all just, the Knicks blew it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think the Knicks blew it. He hit an open three. Congratulations. Like. Like he's a veteran who hit an open three. That's. They had open three, but Beasley missed a corner three that could have put them away. Hardaway missed the three that could have put them away. They couldn't. They once again looked tight down the stretch. The game was there to be stolen. But I always look at it like, all right, you stole game one. You did not deserve this game.

[Don Hahn]

But is it tight or is it just. You know what, this is who they are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pistons.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Could be. They're a six seed. As you said, they lost 21 straight games last year. I mean, they are a much better team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, they are much better.

[Don Hahn]

But you know, they are what they are that they should be. What. What everybody else in the first. The elite teams are doing in the first round. Right. That's why the Laker loss was as disturbing as it was.

[Unknown Speaker]

That's a disturbing loss.

[Don Hahn]

But are the Cavs having any trouble? I know Orlando gave Boston a mild threat in Game 1.

[Unknown Speaker]

Miami.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Miami gave guards a little.

[Don Hahn]

Supposed to be handling things like Cleveland and Boston. If you are Cleveland and Boston.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Should you be handling your business? I will see what those teams do in game two. But they didn't have the moment. They didn't need a 21 nothing run in the fourth quarter to win their game one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This feels like what the Celtics were a couple of years ago when they were a good team that seemed to just play with the food too much and like, just messed around too much. Like they. That's what this feels like. That Boston team, those Celtics teams, before they made the trade, before they still had Marcus Smart, they would drive you crazy because they was just. They would be good. But they'd have these games in the playoffs where you're like, what are you. How are you losing that game? Like the series with the Sixers where they just messed around with the Sixers until they finally beat them. You know, the. The losing to the Miami Heat because they went down.03. Like they were just series that they would play. And you always felt like they were unserious. And that's where it feels like the Knicks are right now. And you know that's going to make things very interesting if they don't get out of the first round and they Go into this summer with a lot of decisions to make going forward.

[Unknown Speaker]

That's a ways away. That's a ways away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it is. But at 1 1, going on the road, it gets two days off.

[Don Hahn]

Now we're getting into the head game portion of the series, right? Two gate. Two days off before game three. Two days off before game four. Oh, it was poor. When Sunday's game is what time?

[Peter Rosenberg]

1:00.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, thank God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because ABC.

[Don Hahn]

Right. Because you didn't want it to be like a Sunday night, like two days off in Detroit. God, what did they do again? I don't want to talk ill of Detroit, but, like, what's there to do?

[Peter Rosenberg]

At least. At least it's spring.

[Don Hahn]

At least it's spring. But it's not going to be, like, 80.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but you're right, though.

[Don Hahn]

You don't know. I mean, again, it's a nice. Every. Every city looks good when the sun's out. Right? Honestly. And Detroit's one of those cities. But, you know, you don't want them hanging out at the casino. You don't want them crossing the border in the Windsor. They can be locked in your hotel room thinking about their last game. And if it's a win, it's good.

[Unknown Speaker]

I just got great news on my phone. Great news. You want to know it?

[Don Hahn]

I mean, what are we gonna do? We got our audience.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You want me to beg you for it?

[Don Hahn]

We don't have the ability. Now you gonna tease? No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You wanna tease us? This was the meeting. Not teaseable.

[Don Hahn]

If this was in the meeting. But you brought our audience. I don't want to speak for the audio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everybody wants to know.

[Unknown Speaker]

It was just an authentic moment that we were wrapping up. I'll tell you quickly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Big news.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I'm an idiot, and I did not. You guys, tell me if you knew. Alan was so long ago, they were typing names into stone, it doesn't even matter. But, Don, you may remember, I didn't know I had to, like, call my insurance company to say we had a baby. I thought they knew we had a baby because they covered all of the things leading up to the baby. So now I assume when the baby comes and the hospital's, like, doing all this stuff, it's like, I didn't know. You literally have to call and go, hey, insurance. We had a baby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's called Add a dependent.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, I've never. I've never had a dependent.

[Don Hahn]

Just independently wealthy and say, let's just roll.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We don't care.

[Unknown Speaker]

Roll the dice. Right? So they're Giving me all these. All this advice at the hospital that I appreciate. Don't shake the baby. All these things.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No one said. Call the.

[Unknown Speaker]

No one said, by the way, tell the insurance company had a baby. So we're doing this physical therapy for Maya to make sure her neck is good. And they call back, they're like, hey, who's this for? They're like, your insurance company's a little confused, so the birthday's off. I call about the birthday. Hey, what do you have Maya's birthday on? Who's Maya? I said it's my daughter.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know insurance companies to just take liberties, right? Oh, they had a child. We'll just throw them on as a.

[Unknown Speaker]

But Don, I hear you gotta let.

[Don Hahn]

Them know what's gone.

[Unknown Speaker]

But Don, now I know, but it was my first. I didn't realize. I just. It's stupid. I started off by saying I'm stupid. Anyways, my SAG AFTRA health plan email just came and even though I missed the period, they gave me a special one time granted. Maya health insurance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what I'm talking about. See, that's why I SAG aftra. So you want to be in the union.

[Unknown Speaker]

There you go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you can.

[Unknown Speaker]

Good news. I just wanted to share with the audience how dumb I am.

[Don Hahn]

It's not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm gonna leave that alone.

[Don Hahn]

Ignorance. I think the best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you.

[Unknown Speaker]

Ignorance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got calls to get to 800 now at 93776.

[Don Hahn]

Donnie, you want to get the most for your money. That's why more Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda lease a new 2025 Mazda CX5 all wheel drive, just 229amonth. Or buy and get 0.9 APR financing for 36 months. Start shopping now at RamseyMazda.com or at Ramsey Mazda Route 17, north of Ramsey. Choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax, title registration. 0 Security Deposit Fin S0555 872 MSRP30585 ends 430 25.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void? Well, with LinkedIn ads, you can know you're reaching the right decision makers. You can even target buyers by job title, industry, company seniority, skills. Wait, did I say job title yet? Get started today and see how you can avoid the void and reach the right buyers with LinkedIn ads. We'll even give you a one $100 credit on your next campaign. Get started at LinkedIn.com results, terms and conditions apply.

[Don Hahn]

McDonald's meets the Minecraft universe with one.

[Unknown Speaker]

Of six collectibles and your choice of.

[Don Hahn]

A Big Mac or 10 piece McNuggets with spicy nether flame sauce.

[Unknown Speaker]

Now available with a Minecraft movie meal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I participate in McDonald's for a limited time. A Minecraft movie only in theaters. Ryan Reynolds here from IT Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for 15amonth plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities, so. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Unknown Speaker]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

A little surprised. A little taken aback.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, about what?

[Don Hahn]

About the sheer ignorance from you two within the last 10 minutes. You not knowing that you had to put your daughter on your insurance.

[Unknown Speaker]

I think a lot of people can relate to that.

[Don Hahn]

Ignorant, not stupid.

[Unknown Speaker]

Thank you.

[Don Hahn]

And then Allen was ignorant during the break. Oh. I am not a worldly person by any stretch of the imagination, but I do know what Peter was referring to. And to see you talking about the furry community. Yes. I didn't know if you wanted to go there. And for Alan to be completely dumbfounded by this, I'm a little taken aback.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why are you taking aback? That's not in my wheelhouse.

[Don Hahn]

Did a whole episode on it once. I mean, it's kind of a thing. I'm not for me.

[Unknown Speaker]

But it's become a big thing.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And for you not to know anything about it, it's probably.

[Unknown Speaker]

I texted a couple friends yesterday and mentioned it and they didn't know either.

[Don Hahn]

Really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

I was surprised too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Don Hahn]

How about this? You say furry, maybe you don't understand the reference. And then when you explain to them what it is, then it should ring a bell, right?

[Unknown Speaker]

That it's.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. That you've heard of it.

[Unknown Speaker]

Jacob, are you familiar with like the furry community? No. Anthony. Anthony is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony.

[Unknown Speaker]

That's telling. Is that telling that Jacob gave us the no face?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony West. Of course. This is not like a Comic Con thing. Where. Or is it like that?

[Don Hahn]

Who knows where it comes from?

[Unknown Speaker]

It has more of. It's more of a real.

[Don Hahn]

Like.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's more like an Internet community turned, like, lifestyle, and you meet, like, a group of friends from it, and it's like, oh, it's like its own world.

[Don Hahn]

And also, the other thing that disturbs me about Alan is the innocence of, like, not realizing that this could be a thing. All right, you never heard of it, but, you know, there are.

[Unknown Speaker]

There's.

[Don Hahn]

There are men in clubs for My Little Pony.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, that too.

[Don Hahn]

People are completely whacked out. Bronies, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What?

[Unknown Speaker]

Bronies.

[Don Hahn]

Bronies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is.

[Unknown Speaker]

The men who are obsessed with My Little Pony.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My Little Pony.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, they're called Bronies.

[Don Hahn]

So I don't know why you're giving the human race any benefit of the doubt. The. Once you hear it, you'd be like, okay, this makes sense. People. I get people from this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Should I say anything goes? No, no, no. Should I say anything goes? Yes. I guess I always try to reason it, like, can I? Like, what would inspire this? And that's kind of where I go. Because if I don't understand it, I do try to understand it.

[Don Hahn]

Hottest woman in the world. Single Allen on the road covering the Islanders. Hottest woman in the world says, I want you, Alan. Now, I want to climb Mount Allen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Han might have been there once, but.

[Don Hahn]

Here, put this on. You're gonna say no?

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, that's not how it works. That's nothing. How people get there. You just gave him a different version of.

[Don Hahn]

No, no. I mean, that's how it starts, right?

[Unknown Speaker]

Like, this is how I hear.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Puts this on. Could go anywhere. And I'm.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, exactly what I'm saying. I don't think. I don't ready to do that.

[Don Hahn]

You know, put the. Put the NJ Devil costume on. You know, like, you know what I'm saying?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, but that's not. That's the thing. You would do it, but that's different.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What about Sparky the Dragon? Right?

[Don Hahn]

Sparky the Dragon, all Whatever.

[Unknown Speaker]

I gotta tell you, Mr. Met.

[Don Hahn]

Mrs. Matt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mr. Met. Is that what we want to do?

[Unknown Speaker]

I'll tell you. I'll tell you more about it later.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stephanie's a Mets fan, but I met.

[Unknown Speaker]

Someone who was coming from a furry convention, and he was telling me about what it was like, and after he finished describing it, I went, I get it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

But I can see how someone finds community in this and enjoys it. All I'm saying is, knock yourself out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not Knocking it out.

[Don Hahn]

There's always the first taste. What I'm trying to give the analogy with, Allen, is, so here, put on the rabbit costume. It's Easter. You do it, and you find yourself, you know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

This. This is fun. This doesn't happen.

[Don Hahn]

This is taking me to places I'd never been. This is the only way I ever want to do it again.

[Unknown Speaker]

Don. The only thing I'm pushing back on, and we'll get back to the Knicks. The only thing I'm pushing back on is that you can't start your argument with if the hottest woman in the world asked you to do blank. Because single me would do anything in that category. Hey, would you do a mound of coke?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, probably.

[Unknown Speaker]

But I'm not a cokehead. But in the right moment, I'm forced to. But I don't think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's do it.

[Don Hahn]

The only way you could perform is with a mound of coke. What I'm saying is that this is maybe where he's like, you know what? This. This was fun. This is the only way I want to do it from now. Like, everybody introduced to. I'm sure every one of them at this convention, it's like at some point realized this might be the only way I'll ever have sex.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, well, that. That's. That's. That's another thing. Well, with that in mind.

[Don Hahn]

All right, what else do you want to talk about? How poor the Knicks were last.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. By the way, I really don't.

[Unknown Speaker]

The furries are kind of better, but go ahead, whatever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Much happier lifestyle. It really does, being a Knicks fan. Because this is. This is a tough time. 800-919-3776. Let's begin the call, shall we? Let's begin it with Tom in Georgia. Tom.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, guys, what's going on?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Taping.

[Alan Hahn]

Tom, I'm sitting here listening to this furry thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

And it just threw me way off of. It just made the Knicks problems not seem that bad.

[Don Hahn]

No, it didn't bring back any memories.

[Peter Rosenberg]

For you, did it?

[Alan Hahn]

I just know what I'm not going to do.

[Don Hahn]

Never say never. You never know where life's going to take you.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, not in the costume. I'm telling you right now. All right, but here's the thing. One thing with the Knicks is it's real simple, like watching them all season. They don't have a high basketball iq, you know, and they just make a lot of mistakes. If you go through that game like you started from the beginning all the way to the end, you just count the turnovers. Yeah, that was dumb. Turn was like. You just look and be like, that's gonna cost them. That's gonna cost him. Mikhail Bridges, he played great deal at one point, gotta steal. He throws it right away. I'm like, guys, you can't afford to throw the ball away like this cat. We have him. I think they're not playing to his strengths. He's not strong like that in a post. He is not strong. Like, every time you put him in a post and he take a dribble and try to move somebody, he's not moving anybody. That's why they're able to put smaller guys on. You know, I will argue with you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tom, that he scored it, Will. When he got on the post, he scored it, Will. He missed one shot, which was a Dirk fadeaway. That's the only shot he missed. He scored. He scored four out of five on the post.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now. Now, you might not like the fact that, you know, Harris, you know, puts a forearm into his ribs. And so instead of being able to push Harris back, he's not moving Harris because Harris is anchoring in. I'm waiting for Harris to pull the chair. You know, little Malik rose on him, but it never happened. But. But no, he scored it, Will.

[Alan Hahn]

Harris are the other young guy that they had playing Paul Reed. Yeah, he couldn't. He can't move them. But like I said, if they go to play more to his strengths and let him shoot his three, well, they're taking that away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, the Pistons taking that away. And the Knicks aren't running pick and pop for him. They're having him. Space. They're having him. Just stay out in the perimeter and just stand there. You can't do that with him.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the last thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right?

[Alan Hahn]

You got five starters, and only two and a half of them are producing. Yeah, they have to produce. If you look at Robinson, if he gets a rebound, the first thing, he'll get a rebound under the rim. And look, the pass before you go to shoot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's true.

[Alan Hahn]

That can't happen. You have to. They gotta think that these other guys are going to shoot, too. So like you said earlier, one of you guys said earlier, it's easy for them to play defense because they just got to worry about two guys. That's not good for us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not.

[Alan Hahn]

Even though we're going to win series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, you still believe.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on. I'm a die hard Nick.

[Don Hahn]

Sir.

[Alan Hahn]

We're going to beat these guys.

[Unknown Speaker]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

There you go. Does it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like it.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know how you felt about the matchup with Boston. Does, does that make you worry more though if getting out of the first round that they're capable of this.

[Alan Hahn]

Look, playing against Boston, I mean being a die hard Knicks fan, I tell everybody I remember the dark years. I love this, just being engaged and having a team to look at. Like last night. I'm a Mets fan, I'm a Knicks fan. I get to watch both, both of my teams at this time of year. It feels great because I remember when we had nothing to look forward to going into April maybe, you know, so I enjoy it going against Boston. We can't beat those guys.

[Unknown Speaker]

I appreciate your honor.

[Don Hahn]

That's kind of what I take.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tom's an og.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not as worried as you seem to be, Alan. I think they're gonna find a way to win the series. I'm not even worried about that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They have to. There's no choice.

[Don Hahn]

But when I look at the wide angle lens of it all, this is why you can't like their chances of getting out of the second round because of nights like last night. Because if they played Boston the way they played the Pistons in the last two games, they're down two up and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They'Re probably minus 40.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And so that, that's the way I look at it. So he's got the right frame of mind. Hey, my team's in, my team's in the playoffs. We're 1:1, we're going to win this series. We're going to be okay. But you're kind of looking a little bit more beyond and you're kind of pre scouting. Right. Like what's this going to look like moving forward and you can't feel good that they're capable of doing what they did last night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. If they, after a week of practice, which is what they had, if they were like that well oiled machine offensively that they were through December and early January and the ball was popping and like they were knocking down threes at a high rate, then you could say to yourself, you know, this offense looks really good again. And they could, they could give the Celtics trouble. But because their offense looks so clunky. It just does. It's exactly what I think it makes you feel like how they are, like even if they get out of this game, how are they going to get a win? You can't play like this.

[Don Hahn]

And then just the logistics of if you've got to go six games with Detroit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh yeah, you're.

[Don Hahn]

And Boston sweeps Orlando Then your only thing you got going for you is, you know, maybe Boston's rusty or whatever, but you want to give yourself the best chance, of course, to face Boston.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But they got to get right no matter who they play.

[Don Hahn]

I'm sorry to even bring it up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Because right now it's like, why are we even talking about next round when you're 11 and you just lost home court advantage? But I still think they're going to be okay. Now, did you buy low iq?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, because I think there's.

[Don Hahn]

You can't be that well coached and have a low basketball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They are. They look Brunson smart. Bridges is a smart heart. Very smart. But these are smart guy og they're smart players. It's not smart. Like, it's not. That's not the issue. It's stubbornness. There's a lot of stubbornness right now going on with that offense. That's what I see. And I watch this team every day.

[Don Hahn]

But that's dumb.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's inexcusable. Honestly. Stubbornness is inexcusable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like I said, it felt like a versus the officials. It felt like a versus sort of Thompson, let's get him fouled out. Let's show that. Like, it just felt too personal. One on one stuff instead of just collecting. Right. Thank you. Instead of what's working. Feed that till it ain't working anymore.

[Don Hahn]

Because they're not to the point where they can bat the bunny around. No, again, it's not. It's not low iq. It's just. But it's still stupid. Don't play that. Get. Don't get caught up in that. Those silly little games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Trying to foul guys out and don't play that. It's. But you see, like they even pointed it out there in the broadcast. Like, wasn't like Brunson screaming at John Starks. Like what was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he was yelling at John Starks.

[Don Hahn]

It was right after one of those moments of drawing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because it's that whole idea of you see him, you know, like that kind of thing. Like the, the. The. The proving yourself.

[Don Hahn]

What do you got to prove to anybody you're the favorite.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think.

[Don Hahn]

You don't. You can't play the underdog. You can't play. Just do your job. That should be more than enough. Just show up, do your job, take care of this team in five games, move on. And now. And now you joked around and now you're probably going at least six.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got a lot of calls to get to. You know, we're going to get to them. 800 now 193776 now Fanduel is going.

[Unknown Speaker]

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[Don Hahn]

Across the country pushing boundaries to grow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The game of golf, like champion speed golfer Lauren Kupp, who plays faster than anyone else, and Will Lowry, whose work in the golf community inspires more kids to get into the game as a champion partner of the Masters, bank of America supports everyone determined to find out what's possible in golf and in life. What would you like the power to do? Bank of America bank of America NA Member FDIC Copyright 2025 bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

[Don Hahn]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. You might say all kinds of stuff when things go wrong, but these are the words you really need to remember. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. They've got options to fit your unique insurance needs, meaning you can talk to your agent to choose the coverage you need. Have coverage options to protect the things you value most, file a claim right on the State Farm mobile app, and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even reach a real person when you.

[Don Hahn]

Need to talk to someone. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey there travelers.

[Don Hahn]

Kaley Cuoco here.

[Unknown Speaker]

Sorry to interrupt your music great artist BT Dubs, but wouldn't you rather be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There to hear it live? With Priceline, you can get out of.

[Unknown Speaker]

Your dreams and into your dream concert.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They've got millions of travel deals to get you to to that festival, gig.

[Don Hahn]

Rave, sound bath or sonic experience you've been dreaming of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Can save up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off flights. So don't just dream about that trip. Book it with Priceline.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go to your happy price.

[Don Hahn]

Priceline.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don, Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Unknown Speaker]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast. I didn't even know it did not need this.

[Don Hahn]

You can't unknow it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, we. I want somebody to call in that might.

[Alan Hahn]

Or.

[Unknown Speaker]

Or a Brony.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One of these.

[Unknown Speaker]

A Furry or a Brony?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Either one.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I. I spent a lot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How many do you think are actually sports fans?

[Unknown Speaker]

I. I think I. Well, two things. I think furries are very different than Brodies.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Unknown Speaker]

I think Bronies are way further on.

[Don Hahn]

The extreme one's ones. You think one's a fetish, one's a mental illness. The Brony thing, that's the mess.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's like, very specific.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it feels. Feels very.

[Unknown Speaker]

But the furry that I met yesterday was just absolutely lovely. Not weird at all.

[Don Hahn]

How does this come up again?

[Unknown Speaker]

I said, what are you doing Furry stuff?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I went, oh, really?

[Unknown Speaker]

And then he invited me. He gave me like a little. He gave me a little card. And I have, like, an invite now if I want to accept to join my furry community.

[Don Hahn]

Why do you think he volunteered the information? He was recruiting now, is there a mile high furry? Well, that could have been you.

[Unknown Speaker]

Not yesterday there wasn't.

[Don Hahn]

I'm just saying. But I think the offer. You didn't sense the offer on the table.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Him saying of course he did is like one of the great.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, no hesitation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course he did that line.

[Unknown Speaker]

Thanks, Don.

[Don Hahn]

That's the first thing the guy's volunteering information.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No doubt. Join us.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

800. I went on three. Seven. Seven.

[Don Hahn]

Very good. They want there for some reason, they want an even number of members.

[Unknown Speaker]

Really.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Santiago is in Newburgh.

[Don Hahn]

Hello.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, how's it going?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How you doing?

[Alan Hahn]

Good. So I got two things that worry me about the Knicks. One is I. I. All season, I haven't ever seen him play a game with, like, real urgency. Like, I would have thought yesterday's game, if they would have came out strong, you know, just play the heart out and that's it. You know, don't give Detroit any chance. But I just don't see him doing that, Especially after, like, the 21 point run. I would have thought maybe, you know, they. They don't have that killer, you know, instinct. And the other thing that I see is. And Mello and Randall used to get criticized a lot because it was all dribble, dribble, dribble. You're down to three seconds, and then either look for a pass or look for a shot. And I feel like this is what's happening with Randall now. I mean, not Randall Brunson. They waste too much time dribbling, and then they don't get their place together. Where if you watch a couple of the plays when the ball is moving, that's when they do most of their work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what they.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know what you think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you're right. And that's what some of the players were saying is, like Josh Hart said, we play too slow. So it's true. The pounding of the basketball, the dribble, dribble you're talking about, it's bad basketball. It's not good basketball. It's as simple as that. Mel in New Jersey. What's up, Mel?

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, good afternoon, Alan, Don and Peter.

[Don Hahn]

What's up?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I love basketball. I even love, you know, the New York ESPN. Y'all do great. 24 hours, everybody. Alan, you're the voice of the mix, so I really appreciate having this conversation with you. Alan, two questions, one point. Alan, man. First, to me, I believe that everybody pushing Kate Cunningham as the best player on the court. And that's because, you know, Jalen Brunson and Cat could both score from three levels. But to me, I think Cat could bring it to that Joel and B level. So I think that Cat is the best player on the court. What do you think?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think he could be in this series because they don't have a matchup for him, especially if Isaiah Stewart is injured, which he missed game two.

[Don Hahn]

We'll see.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now he's got two days off. See if he can get ready for game three. But I was, like, I said it before the game, guys. You remember we were talking about. And I said, like, if Stewart's out town, should dominate the game, I would be feeding him constantly. Just go, go give him picking pops, draw their bigs out of the paint. Find ways to get him open threes, like, whatever it is. That's why you traded for him. He's supposed to be a weapon. So, Mel, you're on. You're on point with that. He should be the best player in the series because the other team doesn't have a matchup for him. Duran is just a big, strong guy who can box out and he can set screens. He really can't move well defensively, like. Like, it Just, I did not understand how no one on that bench was like, you know, we probably should get cat the ball more. But that never happened.

[Don Hahn]

And what more could he do?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know, other than be a guy that just breaks the play. Like, like inbound the ball, give me the ball and dribble it up myself. Like, literally. I don't know what else you're supposed to do. So like, or get in a huddle during a timeout and get pissed off, which is not his nature.

[Don Hahn]

Is that something he's got to address with Brunson? Is. Is it something he's got to address.

[Peter Rosenberg]

With coach meetings when they today be the first thing?

[Don Hahn]

If I'm, I mean, I'm with. Got to say, bringing it up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, guys, we're watching film and you go, can I, can I just point out that there I am in the corner, standing alone in the corner. How am I supposed to get any rebounds if I'm standing there? How am I getting the ball if I'm standing there? This doesn't help us.

[Unknown Speaker]

But what could you. What could the real explanation be as to why a player of that level doesn't get one shot in the fourth quarter of a playoff game?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. They'll blame him for being passive and they'll blame Brunson for not as the point guard saying, I got to get my guy the ball. They'll blame the coach for not recognizing it's a three tiered issue. It's something that there's not enough talking going on. That's probably what it is. It's that passive sort of mentality of, well, you know, we are coming back. So I don't want to say anything. I don't want to upset the apple car. They got too many nice guys on a team. Maybe then somebody just needs to get pissed off and say, somebody get this guy the ball.

[Don Hahn]

Simple aids Brunson's team. Brunson's the guy, he takes all the big shots. So, yeah, I'm kind of just let you be the guy. Yeah, I mean, I'll leave it up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To you to find me. I'll leave it up to you to say, I got to get him the ball.

[Don Hahn]

Talk show, plumber, whatever. If you see somebody's taking every big shot, grab, grabbing the mic, grabbing the wrench, whatever, like, that's the guy that goes to it. Eventually you're going to be like, all right, well, that's just the way it is. And then it's working. You live with it, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it works he's the star player.

[Don Hahn]

It's his team. He's the facilitator. So that's why I don't completely rule out it being a bit of a Brunson problem. It's like, dude, part of your job is to kind of make the guys around you better. Can't be all about you. But I think he gets in his zone where he's trying to draw foul, shouting at Jason, John Starks like, he gets in the zone where it's great. It's his best asset. But sometimes it could be your worst enemy, too. Right? You are the point guard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's part of your job. It's part of your job. Listen, again, we love him. It doesn't take anything away from anything about him. He's still like, you just love everything about him. But, you know, he's not infallible. He'll have a bad game, he'll make mistakes. And last night he's got to look at that film and know I got to be better.

[Don Hahn]

So the next layer of that is if it is Brunson ball hogging, is it because he just feels like it's my team, I got to be the responsibility, or is it a lack of trust?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Both.

[Don Hahn]

And I don't believe you're going to make the shot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm going to go with both. I'm going to say he feels the pressure as a leader, as somebody. We're down again in our building. We know we have to win and he's just determined. I got to score, I got whatever it takes. I got to figure God love him. He's not Jordan or Allen Iverson, but he certainly sometimes tries to become that and sometimes it works.

[Don Hahn]

Sometimes he is that and that's what that intoxicates.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But in this. Right. But in this case, it's. Do I think it's a little bit of trust? Yeah, I kind of think it's a little bit of trust. We got more calls to get to. We'll get to those. More Giants news. We are in draft week, guys. Two days away. We fired up? No, still not moving.

[Unknown Speaker]

I cannot wait.

[Don Hahn]

I am fired up. I want to know where everybody's going to end up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We don't know.

[Unknown Speaker]

But you're not fired up to turn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It on a watch. I really want to see what happens.

[Don Hahn]

Something very revealing about the morning show the other day. Let him bring up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. What happened?

[Don Hahn]

Well, just about how Dave. Big playoff. He's upset with me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, this is another thing that just that he's going to. He's going to have the volume on the draft and the Knicks volume down for game three. Now, maybe he just assumed they'd be up 20 and it wouldn't matter, but how do you not have the volume up for the Knicks? With the whole draft, they're going to say who was drafted. Shador Sanders, this team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's it.

[Don Hahn]

The last thing we need is analysis. That's all we've got for the last month.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, I don't get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hang on, Wait, wait. The whole draft or when the Giants are on the whole draft?

[Don Hahn]

He wants it all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, well, so we'll discuss that, but.

[Don Hahn]

He'S mad at me on another issue, apparently.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought I heard them getting on you about your criticism of Dave and.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I think what you did in a Rick, that was that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what it was. Yeah, it was rough.

[Don Hahn]

I'll read it to you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't wait for this. All right, can't say it on the air, so I'll share it with you later. 800-919-3776. A little bit of Giants draft news and more. And of course, your Knicks calls.

[Unknown Speaker]

Now. Let me talk to you about something, guys. It's a message and it's brought to you by BetterHelp. All right, therapy is a big investment, but the state of your mind is worth it. In fact, it's just as important as your physical health. So let's talk numbers. Traditional in person therapy can cost anywhere from $100, $250 per session, even more, which adds up fast. But with BetterHelp online therapy, you can save on average up to 50% per session. With BetterHelp, you play a flat fee. That's right. Not a fat fee for weekly sessions, which saves you big on cost and time. Alright? Therapy should feel accessible. It shouldn't feel like a luxury. And with anything like anxiety, everyday stress, loss, work stuff, family stuff, your mental health is worth getting help. Therapy's helped me tons and it can do the same for you. All right. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. Your wellbeing is worth it. Visit betterhelp.com Peter today to get 10% off your first month. That's better. H E L p.com Peter thanks for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.