Hour 1: LIVE from Plaza33

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: LIVE from Plaza33

Episode Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Host/Authors: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 1: LIVE from Plaza33
• Release Date: May 12, 2025
• Description: Join ESPN New York legends Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg as they delve into New York sports, with a special focus on the Knicks, Celtics, and more.

---

1. Introduction to the Knicks-Celtics Playoff Series

The episode kicks off with an in-depth analysis of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg discuss the series' current standing, where the Knicks lead 2-1, and the implications of upcoming games.

• Don LaGreca [01:49]: "No, no. That's exactly the emotion that you should have. And I imagine that every fan has right now, you know, even the most optimistic fan does have that feeling of must win."

2. Performance Breakdown

The hosts dissect the Knicks' performance, highlighting key players and strategic shortcomings.

• Peter Rosenberg [01:21]: "This is in North Dakota. This is New York."
  (Emphasizes the high stakes and local pride involved in the series.)

• Don LaGreca [03:51]: "The Knicks have not played great basketball. Jalen Brunson hasn't played great basketball. Allen, their offense has not been good except for in those moments when they've made those runs."

• Peter Rosenberg [08:01]: "I think the better odds are Knicks winning up 3:1 because they would have won three out of four against Boston."
  (Suggests the Knicks are in a strong position to take the series.)

3. Coaching and Strategy Insights

Discussion shifts to the coaching strategies of Tom Thibodeau for the Knicks and Joe Missoula for the Celtics.

• Don LaGreca [07:19]: "They need to approach it as an elimination game."

• Peter Rosenberg [26:32]: "This is part of, I think, the Celtics plan. Joe Missoula, the coach of the Celtics, goes beyond like X's and O's and strategy. He goes mental warfare."

4. Player Performances and Leadership

The conversation delves into individual player contributions and leadership dynamics.

• Don LaGreca [01:49]: "Jalen Brunson... is not somebody that is going to be out there giving you headlines, giving you big quotes."
  (Commends Brunson's leadership style.)

• Peter Rosenberg [26:07]: "How concerning is the whole Mitchell Robinson thing? I mean it's really, it's embarrassing."
  (Expresses concern over Robinson's free-throw struggles and its impact on the team's performance.)

5. Fan Sentiment and Atmosphere at Plaza33

The hosts describe the vibrant atmosphere at Plaza33, the Knicks' watch party location, and gauge fan sentiment regarding the series.

• Peter Rosenberg [23:09]: "Starting at 5:30, there's going to be the pregame fest here. You take photos, meet alumni."

• Don LaGreca [11:32]: "The crowd was great Saturday. They really were."

• Chris Canty [15:23]: "I sat here and told you guys... I hope Tibbs goes and gets himself a new apartment on Fifth Avenue, get the biggest penthouse they got."
  (Reflects frustration among fans due to the team's performance.)

6. Critical Moments and Turning Points

The hosts analyze pivotal moments in the series that could determine the outcome.

• Don LaGreca [19:24]: "I did not expect... it was 36 to 20. I did not expect."
  (Refers to a surprising early lead by the Celtics in Game 3.)

• Peter Rosenberg [29:07]: "Every game is attached to the other game. So if you're in his head."
  (Highlights the cumulative pressure of each game on players' performances.)

7. Future Implications and Series Outlook

Looking ahead, the hosts discuss potential scenarios and their implications for the Knicks' season.

• Don LaGreca [35:58]: "It's a big game 1-800-919-3776. The number to call. Let's go to Dave in the car."

• Alan Hahn [33:34]: "I think their hope relies in will and in grit, in spirit."
  (Believes the Knicks can overcome current challenges through determination.)

• Peter Rosenberg [35:04]: "I've got my finger on the pulse because I came in just am I wrong to feel like that sense of urgency?"
  (Emphasizes the crucial nature of upcoming games for the series outcome.)

8. Listener Engagement and Real-Time Reactions

The episode includes live calls from listeners, adding real-time reactions and perspectives.

• Caller Dave [25:50]: Expresses concern over Mitchell Robinson's performance and the overall strategic approach of the Knicks.

• Alan Hahn [42:00]: Shares a personal story about losing bets and his emotional connection to the team.

9. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The hosts wrap up the episode by reiterating the importance of the upcoming Game 4 and encouraging listener participation.

• Peter Rosenberg [51:03]: "Thanks for 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."

• Don LaGreca [51:03]: "Hear more of Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg weekday afternoons starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers."

---

Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca [03:51]: "The Knicks haven't been winning their entire series. They've just been outmatched."

• Peter Rosenberg [10:10]: "In this day's NBA, everything you just described and by the way you captivated the crowd here, they were totally into it. That should be something."

• Alan Hahn [33:34]: "There's something fundamentally broken? Why do we have to be down to fight back?"

• Chris Canty [35:58]: "Man up and be in this game. They cannot have that happen first quarter again."

---

Key Takeaways:

1. Series Significance: The Knicks lead the series 2-1 against the Celtics, making Game 4 pivotal for both teams' advancement.

2. Performance Issues: The Knicks have struggled with consistency, particularly in defense and shooting, while the Celtics have leveraged effective three-point shooting to gain advantages.

3. Leadership Matters: Jalen Brunson's leadership is highlighted as crucial for the Knicks to instill urgency and cohesion within the team.

4. Coaching Strategies: Tom Thibodeau's coaching emphasizes elimination-style gameplay, while Joe Missoula employs mental warfare against the Knicks.

5. Fan Impact: The passionate fan base at Plaza33 plays a significant role in motivating the team, though recent performances have tested this support.

6. Player Concerns: Mitchell Robinson's free-throw struggles and overall performance are areas of concern that could impact the Knicks' success in the series.

7. Future Outlook: The outcome of Game 4 will heavily influence the Knicks' confidence and momentum, potentially determining the series' direction.

---

This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg provides a comprehensive analysis of the Knicks-Celtics playoff series, blending expert insights with listener engagement to paint a vivid picture of the current state and future possibilities of the teams involved.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

Member week is here at Lowe's. Don't miss your chance to get up to 40% off hundreds of items like paint, stain, tools, flooring and more. Shop our exclusive deals happening in store and online from May 8 through May 14. Not a member. Join Myloes Pro Rewards for free today and get ready to save more Lowes. We help you save loyalty programs subject to terms and conditions. Details@lowe's.com Terms subject to change.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don I had never seen holes like that before.

[Alan Hahn]

Han.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm not comfortable touching it. I'm not. No. And Rosenberg.

[Chris Canty]

I'm not breastfeeding. No, but I.

[Don LaGreca]

That's too bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is in North Dakota. This is New York.

[Don LaGreca]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, what a day. In so many ways, what a day. Gorgeous weather and a huge game at Madison Square Garden. Getting better than that. A beautiful spring day and a big game at Madison Square garden. Watch party 33rd to my right, the world's most famous arena to the left. And Dinahan, the rest of the world straight ahead.

[Don LaGreca]

Han, the Empire State Building straight ahead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Empire State Building right behind us, the post office. But a big game. And I've never seen this in any sport, in any best of seven. Never seen it in baseball, hockey, certainly basketball, where the team up to one that's playing at home is feeling the sense of urgency. Guys, am I wrong to feel anxious about a team that's up 2:1 and is going to play a game four in their own building?

[Don LaGreca]

No, no. That's exactly the emotion that you should have. And I imagine that every fan has right now, you know, even the most optimistic fan does have that feeling of must win. And I think the players are feeling it too. Guys. Jalen Brunson after game three talk to me said that like he does. He's very Aaron Judge when it comes to media and how he addresses the media. He is not somebody that is going to be out there giving you headlines, giving you big quotes. He's never going to guarantee like Mark Messier did all those years ago. That's just not the way he operates in the media. And after that game, the things that he said about the way his team approached that game and the sense of urgency phrases that he continued to use when talking about what they were lacking in Game 3 as much as, of course, you want to talk about how good the Celtics were. Oh, by the way, they made their threes. There's your formula, right? I mean, they look nothing beyond. Just look nothing beyond any other statistic you want to look at. In the first two games, they didn't make their threes. In game three, they did. That is the difference for them. That's just basically how it works. But it is really, to me, amazing to think about how Jalen Brunson, I don't want to say called out his teammates, but I think he sent a message about game four on Saturday evening after game three ended. He looked embarrassed, he looked mad, he looked frustrated, and he looked like, this is not going to happen again. So when you see a leader like him, he's a captain, when he expresses words like do we want it? That was the question. He literally put out there. A hypothetical, but he put it out there. He said it when talking about, like, well, you're pick and roll defense, because it's not about schematics, it's about do we want it? And that's a question that he and the rest of his teammates have to answer tonight. And we'll see. But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that, that's great in theory, but, Peter, when you watch that game, did it feel like the Knicks didn't want it or just the Celtics hit their shots? Are we looking too deep into it? It's just, hey, the Knicks want won the first two games because the Celtics didn't hit their shots. And the Celtics hit their shots in game three and they won the game going away. I think the Knicks could have controlled things a little differently as far as how it looked, as far as, you know, not getting blown out, being consistently down 20 points the entire game. But, guys, is it really about the Knicks or is it really just about the Celtics and how they're going to shoot what's going to ultimately determine who wins the game?

[Chris Canty]

I'm glad you asked that question, Don, because I thought about it. No, the only thing that actually changed that the Celtics made their shots. The problem is all that does is accentuate something that we talked about on Friday. The Knicks haven't played well yet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They haven't.

[Chris Canty]

They won two miracle games. Guys, how many minutes of this series have the Knicks been winning? Yeah, they. The 12 total. Is that your guess or.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, they know it. It's 12.

[Chris Canty]

So the first game, if you recall, they were in it for the first quarter. They got basically smoked. The second four, third and part of the fourth, the game two, they were basically beaten the entire game up until eight minutes left in the game, 10 minutes left, whatever it was. And then this game, they were beaten, pillar to post. The entire Time never even looked up for one second. So the unfortunate part is nothing has changed. And that also means the Knicks just have not played great basketball. Jalen Brunson hasn't played great basketball. Allen, their offense has not been good except for in those moments when they've made those runs. Otherwise been very stagnant.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that's been the big problem. But for both teams, they could argue the same thing again. The Celtics have not really. Jason Tatum made threes. His twos were awful. He was 3 for 11. Like, you can't say that. Oh, Tatum broke out. I don't think he did. I just think he. He got open looks. He knocked him down. The Knicks were soft on their defense. And I know, Don, you don't like the whole wanted more thing, right? But there was definitely. If you don't want to say that they lacked intensity, if you don't like that, then I guess you would say that they were deferential, that they looked. Once Boston started making shots early and they were missing. Tom Thibodeau said that it affected the way we played defense. It affected our intensity. Those early misses, which were rim outs, there were tons of shots that were rim outs early on. And you could feel the building go from an incredible energy on Saturday afternoon to that tenseness and tightness. And then came the folly of Mitchell Robinson's parade to the free throw line, where it just became a point where the crowd. It was like he was a CYO kid and the crowd was just trying to encourage him. Hey, just make one. Everything will be great. Like, that's what it became. And that's exactly what Joe Missoula wanted. His team is not playing great yet, but what he's doing is the mental warfare against the Knicks on various levels. The threes knocking down that. That. That affects you mentally because it is like when they make a couple, it almost feels like they made like, 10. And then it's, let me mess with Mitchell Robinson a little bit. Let's do some things to them that get them out of their game and get them out of their swords. And that happened. They fell apart. And that's. I think, what if I was Jalen Brunson? That's what would worry me about the guys around me. Like, what are we doing? How do we just fall apart? So you saying up to one yet feel anxious about this game? This feels like an elimination game. Crazy to say it, but that's what it feels like. They need to approach it as such.

[Chris Canty]

That's not hyperbole.

[Don LaGreca]

And they need to approach it as well because it's an elimination game.

[Chris Canty]

Listen, obviously we're not going to. I'm not going to be the idiot who gets up here and says they absolutely could never win a game in Boston again. You never know. Perhaps they could. But if they lose tonight and lose in convincing fashion again, you truly then start to believe and they start to believe in their head that games one and two were a fluke and that this really is a series that's not as close as it appeared. So tonight is basically must win for them.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because I think the winner of this game wins the series. I don't think that's hyperbole. You said because Nick's up 31 off 3 cracks to do it. They've already proven they can win in Boston. But then two two having to win a third game in Boston and then you're going to have to. Right.

[Chris Canty]

Well what's more likely though? Tell me the truth. Celtics, Celtics win the series from 2:2 or Knicks win the series from 3:1?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think the better odds are Knicks winning up 3:1 because they would have won three out of four against Boston. I, I don't see Boston then turning it around after losing three out of four.

[Chris Canty]

Remember, it still wouldn't be turning it around. You know, they have really still.

[Don LaGreca]

Let me know what you got to tell me what it looks like.

[Chris Canty]

I know I know where the world.

[Don LaGreca]

That's why I think you got to tell me what it looked like.

[Chris Canty]

Well, no, if the knicks win by 20 tonight, then you feel really good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, yeah. Or even if they win a close game, but if it looks like anything, like it looks Saturday, then people are going to walk out of this building feeling like this is they're in real trouble because now the switch got flipped. But to Brunson's point, maybe there was a little bit of just wow, it's not our day. Kind of felt like he got kicked in the gut. We complimented this team time and time again that as much as the Celtics blew it, the Knicks didn't go away twice. Down 20 coming back to win the game did not fold up shot. How many times can you do that, Alan? Now the third straight game you're down 20. I mean can you really expect every single game.

[Don LaGreca]

The difference is Don, they were down 3:30. Well that was the difference is. And even the Celtics talked about it. They took the 20 point lead or the was this was it at the half I, I lost track. But the point is, is that they said in the third quarter we got to take this and take it to 30. Like they would, they would. They went full throttle. They had that mentality of we can't let this happen again. So they also had that in the back of their mind. But you could point to early fourth quarter, game got to 20 and the whole building erupted because it's almost like this hill, this attitude, hey, we got them right where we want them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, and, and, and there was that sense. But the difference was Boston came down on the next two possessions and hit threes that weren't dropping in the first two games. Yeah, I hate. Look, I'm not the guy that likes to say the NBA game is all about three pointers and today. Yes, it is. And the team that makes them. Look at Indiana last night. Yeah, Indiana couldn't miss from three. Couldn't miss. And they made a mockery of one of the best teams in the NBA in the Cleveland Cavaliers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

After they got schooled the game before.

[Don LaGreca]

And they got blown out the game before. It just kind of shows you that it does really matter. And the Knicks, let's not forget, shot 5 of 28 from 3. They couldn't make one. So it is such a mental thing when, when one team's making them at 50% and. And the other team's hitting them at 25%. They were outscored. Here's your only stat. They were outscored by 45 points from the three point line in that game. How you win in that game and you're not, you can't let that ever happen again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's the joke that like, like, yeah, we can look at it like the crowd's engaged. And it's kind of funny they even mentioned I was listening radio too. You know, Tyler would say, we got them where we want them. We're down 20. That's funny, but that's not how to. It's no way to live every single game. But 20 became 25 became 30, and then it's a mess.

[Chris Canty]

It was weird though, so. So I was watching the game almost entirely on my phone. No, it was entirely on my phone from the arena in St. Louis getting ready for backlash. And I, when I had the volume up, I could sense that early when the lead was, you know, 15 down to 12, back to 16 at that point, the crowd really was kind of like on the journey, like, we've been here, okay, this isn't worth riding the wave.

[Don LaGreca]

That crowd was great Saturday.

[Chris Canty]

They really were.

[Don LaGreca]

Really. Did they never. You never heard any groaning, any moaning, any. Nothing. Nothing. They.

[Chris Canty]

No, they had.

[Don LaGreca]

They were they were pushing this team all the way to the end.

[Chris Canty]

And. But, but there was a certain point when the air came out in the third quarter and there went, oh, this doesn't feel exactly like the other games. Like it's not turning. They're just continuing to hit their shots.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you just can't, you can't live that way.

[Don LaGreca]

Now the starts, the starts, you know, along with the three point shoot, the starts have been a biggest, the biggest problem here, right. Getting outscored by almost 10 points a game in the first quarter in the series so far and in your own building to come out like this. Now they've lost. What is it now, three out of four right. In Madison Square Garden for the, for this, for this playoff year. They have never. They haven't lost three straight home games in the same playoff year since 1953.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Don LaGreca]

Do you know how long it's been since they lost four straight? They've never done that ever.

[Chris Canty]

Wow.

[Don LaGreca]

That's never happened. So there's something else about tonight that you got to feel when it comes to the pressure is to say, like, you don't want to now set a new history here. It's bad enough to imagine the start of this game like the start of game three was the same thing, but the start of this game is imperative. It will tell me everything I need to know about this group and whether or not they have championship medals.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You said something very, very interesting about how Boston at the half said we need to go up 31 because what happened in the first two games, right, where they're batting the bunny around saying, we got this, and then twice, twice the Knicks came back, right? So now, unless they were just so impressed with themselves, which is still a possibility, that's what they are so impressed with themselves on what they did on Saturday. They know in the back of their minds, this Nick team's not dead until we kill them.

[Don LaGreca]

So Detroit learned that, didn't they? Yeah, Detroit learned that the hard way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Detroit thought they had him dead to rights. How many games in that series?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How many? But you know what? This is a different.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm well aware.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, of course. And you know that now the Celtics are like, if that happens again, hey, we're good. Because now we know we're not going to sit there and lay back and let them fight back into it. So you kind of woke them up. But you even. You talked about it with me off the air about the sense that this Celtic team has a very high opinion of themselves. So don't rule out the possibility that they got so drunk on what they did on Saturday that maybe they'll leave it there again. But I would think the Knicks are going to respond. The question is, will the response be.

[Don LaGreca]

Enough for the defending champs? Right. They have heard all the criticism over the previous couple of years from their failures. They finally broke through last year, and even when they did, all they were told was, yeah, but the Pacers really weren't up to it. Then the first two rounds you faced injured teams that weren't up to it. And then by the time Dallas got to. They went. They went through the west and it was so tough that they were all banged up and they weren't right. So, you know, there's always going to be an asterisk. So they've heard all that stuff. But it is something for me that when you look at what the Knicks are trying to build, that this is an important game for. For them just believing in what they're building here. No.

[Chris Canty]

Oh, absolutely.

[Don LaGreca]

Like, don't you like to bow out if. To. If you guys want to say gifted the first two games, fine. But to bow out meagerly and end up losing the series in six, which means you lose. They lose in six. That means they lost all three playoff home. Home games.

[Chris Canty]

Correct. And lost four.

[Don LaGreca]

All they got to do is win one damn home game and you got a seven game series and didn't. And before this started, did anybody else. Would you sign up if I told you there'd be a Game 7 in Boston?

[Chris Canty]

Of course.

[Don LaGreca]

Absolutely. You would.

[Chris Canty]

By the way, I would have signed up for six. But now everything feels different. And this is the problem about sports and talking about it every day is that we all get passionate about these feelings we have on a day. But then let me see how it looks and you start to feel different.

[Don LaGreca]

You're right.

[Chris Canty]

I sat here and told you guys and I'm not changing this at this moment. I hope Tibbs goes and gets himself a new apartment on fifth Avenue, get the biggest penthouse they got. I'm not saying he won't be here. I think of course he will. But is it going to feel different if they lose four games by 25 points? It is. All of it will feel different if they lose four straight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Your back feel different.

[Don LaGreca]

Not just tips, everybody. There's a lot of people in that group that are gonna feel it. Not just tips.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, there's the frustration, the reason it was on the table to me about Tibbs losing his job if they lost to the Pistons. It's a step back all right. No matter if you lose this series, no matter how it is, it's being stationary. You didn't take the step forward in a year where you thought you were gonna take the step forward. So is that bad? Yes. But it's not the end of the world. It's not something. It's not a fireable effect, but still frustration champions. It's the frustration Allen of hitting the second round. And now you're going to go next year into year 26 without a conference final appearance. That, that, that'll be frustrating. But to Peter's point, not enough to lose your job again. Loose lost to the pistol. You don't want to be taken. Step back. But also stationary isn't good either. When everybody's expecting that bold. That bold step forward.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm sorry, Don. It's just amazing and, and you started to show off this way. So it is kind of. We are staying consistent. But it really is amazing how we're talking here. And they're up 2:1. They're up two games to one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's reality.

[Don LaGreca]

But it's amazing how up two games to one. There's this strange sense of all is lost. All based off of one game that looked really bad. And do we think that's the like. Is that who the Knicks are? Is that who they are or is that a bad version of them? Is that. Is that the worst version of them? Well, again, that's why this has so much of a. This has a bigger feel. Remember I said was the game of the century. Yeah, only because of the build up. But this might be the most important game. They played a Game 7 last year and I still might say this might be the most important game Jalen Brunson plays in a Nick uniform.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think you're gonna have that sense. And as people start to gather here on Thursday 33rd, you're going to get that. That sense. As optimistic as Nick fans are, and they're usually the most optimistic of any team and fan base in New York, there's going to be a little bit of nervousness. But the one thing I disagree with you, I don't think my assessment of the importance of tonight is based on what happened on Saturday. You also have to include games one and two, the slow start falling behind by 20. That's all part of the process too is let's not forget they did win those games and give them credit. Big four quarters, but they still, even the Celtics not being able to shoot well still had 20 point leads in both games. Like that's that that's part of my assessment of where we are. I mean, they have not played well in this series. They haven't. And when you start to get to now, game four, which we're now past the midway point, if this were to go seven, and if not, we're getting towards the latter stages of this series, when do you start to say that's what you are or that's the way it is and not, hey, eventually the true Knicks are going to show themselves. It's three games now, still have not put together a 48 minute effort. I think it's on the table to question whether that is going to come.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's remember the regular season head to head also looked similar to the first two games. Especially looked similar to game three. The last two were far more competitive, but still couldn't close the deal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

The last, especially the last one, the last one was the one you thought you had in your pocket and then they made a push and you couldn't answer it. So I don't know, is it. Can a team be in the head of another team? Can a team just have a dominance over you, where everyone in that room is like, I'm trying, but they're just too good. Does that eventually get. And because there were times on, on Saturday afternoon, I thought I was seeing that in some players where the more times they were missing makeable shots and then they'd go down and then another three, you almost see the collective like, oh man, this team, we just can't beat them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that didn't happen in games one and two.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, because the Celtics weren't burying you with those threes. They weren't doing that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That is part of it. But the Brunson's point there, that lack of that urgency, or was it just the game? Because let me. Let's be blunt, let's be honest.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did Saturday surprise you or did you say I kind of saw. I kind of felt like that was coming.

[Don LaGreca]

The first quarter surprised me. Okay, that, that part got me because I, I thought with the energy, the intel, all the things that come with Saturday's game and the pomp and circumstance, the excitement, the anticipation that, that can I tell you, I was sitting in my normal, my normal spot sideline right off the court and that game started. I'm telling you, Don, it felt like there were more, more people in the building than ever before.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Chris Canty]

Like if they somehow squeezed more. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Like it just, it felt like the court, like you couldn't move on the song. Like there was just so many people. And no, you know, some crowds, they get there a little late. You know, tip off happens. It's still something. There wasn't an empty seat before tip off. And I'm like, there was just an intensity, a bloodthirstiness, a ferocity. And I'm thinking to myself, get. They'll at least get off to a good start, which is what you need. Just get out of the gate, get this place going nuts. And you could really ride that. And instead there was. There was like a layup miss. There was a three that rimmed out. There was another shot rimmed out. And it's like you could just see them. And I'm thinking, are they tight? And that's the part when I worried. But I. Before tip, no, I did not expect it to be, you know, 17 to 6 or whatever it was to start. And then in a blink, by the end of the quarter, it was 36 to 20. I did not expect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

True. But at the end of the day, I kind of expected you were going to see a better Celtic team. And I was shocked at. The Celtics expected to be at the level that it was. But we talked about it at length on Friday about how well road teams seem to perform nowadays. Isn't that the perfect example? The building is hyped. There's an electricity before you hit the court, and then what happens? Yeah, you end up being tight because you're trying to improve pressure, trying to live up to the expectations the crowd brings to the table. It's not a hostile environment. They're expecting you to waltz in here and win. And then the slow start starts to mount and give credit. The fans didn't turn, but still there's that level of anticipation that I guess they just didn't show up for the alpha.

[Don LaGreca]

Who's the alpha? Who's the one that wants it?

[Chris Canty]

Well, don't we know who's the one.

[Don LaGreca]

That will walk out at the beginning of this game when the place is going to rock again and just say, I'm not missing a damn shot.

[Chris Canty]

Well, we know who that.

[Don LaGreca]

I am not missing a damn shot. I'm going through that. Dude. If Al Horford's guarding me, I'm breaking his ankle. I am not going to miss. And if I do, I'm following it up. I'm not giving up. Second effort, third effort. Defensively, Derrick White's not getting easy. Back doors, none of this. That kid Pritchard comes in, I'm putting him on the post. I'm going mouse in the house. And I'm Dunking on his ass. Who's going to do that in this game? That's what everybody was waiting to see. And no one did it in game three.

[Chris Canty]

I know, but it's. Is it a rhetorical question? There's one guy who does that on this team. I'm sorry. There are other guys who have nights where they have good nights. OG gives you nights of like, oh, my God, 30 from OG oh, towns. 27 and 15. It happened. The guy who does that is Jalen Brunson.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Chris Canty]

And he ended up having a decent game, but not when they had a bad start. It was a bad start.

[Don LaGreca]

You.

[Chris Canty]

You made that point earlier. They've been down the first quarter. I think it was like 21. All they hung around till the low 20s and then it all of a sudden it was 10 and 12 and 14. They cannot get down big again in this game.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Chris Canty]

He's got to show that early on.

[Don LaGreca]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But unfortunately, in this day's NBA, everything you just described and by the way you captivated the crowd here, they were totally into it. That should be something.

[Don LaGreca]

They hurt my hand.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When I know you sometimes your own strength feeling it. But what also happens in this day's NBA? Inbound pass, dribble up, bang three from the logo. And now you're still down one just sucks, you know, like, that's just kind of like how the sport is right now. All right, Nick fans, join us. We're here. 33rd alongside Madison Square Garden.

[Chris Canty]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Starting at 5:30, there's going to be the pregame fest here. You take photos, meet alumni. We got John Starks is coming here right in the five.

[Don LaGreca]

Johnny Rockets joining our show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

5:30 get hyped for the game FAM Plaza, presented by Duncan, will take place on Plaza 33, located on 33rd street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Head to knicks.com fanplaza to learn more.

[Don LaGreca]

Summer's here and Nordstrom has everything you need for your best dress season ever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

From beach days and weddings to weekend.

[Don LaGreca]

Getaways in your everyday wardrobe. Discover stylish options under $100 from tons of your favorite brands like Mango skin skims, Princess Polly and Madewell. It's easy too, with free shipping and free returns in store. Order pickup and more. Shop today in stores [e-mail] or download the Nordstrom app.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This episode is brought to you by Chevy Silverado. When it's time for you to ditch the blacktop and head off road, do it in a truck that says no to nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

The Chevy Silverado trail bar.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Get the rugged capability of its Z71 suspension and 2 inch factory lift plus impressive torque and towing capacity thanks to an available Duramax 3 liter turbo diesel engine. Where other trucks call it quits, you'll just be getting started. Visit chevy.com to learn more.

[Don LaGreca]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities so so do like I did and have one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today.

[Don LaGreca]

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.

[Chris Canty]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Knicks fans. Tonight's Game four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the Garden is presented by Lexus. All fans in attendance for tonight's game will receive a custom rally towel courtesy of Lexus, Don Han and Rosenberg. We are live here on 33rd between 7th and 8th Avenue. This is going to be the watch party. Oh yeah, into the building tonight for game four. Nick's up two one of the series. We're going to do something we rarely do on Don Hunter Rosenberg during remotes and that's take calls because I think it's just too big a night here at the Garden not to be able to hear from all the fans, not just the ones here, but also if.

[Don LaGreca]

You'Re here, you can actually call.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Because like it is a big area.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a big area. It's not, it's not conducive to do we normally do with our remotes and that's hand a microphone to the fans.

[Don LaGreca]

So yeah. So the number 800-919376. So if you are actually here and you want to ask questions, feel free to just use your cell phone and we'll get you on the air.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So we'll line up the calls. But just before we do take the calls, just how concerning is the whole Mitchell Robinson thing? I mean it's really, it's embarrassing. It just is. I give the Knick fans credit. I mean they're, they're showing support to him, but it's clearly in his head. And I don't know if there's another sports comp to not being able to hit a free throw. You're professional athlete and you're unable to do it at the level that he. He's doing. It is ridiculous.

[Don LaGreca]

Feels like Chuck Knoblock.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Chuck Knoblock. Mackie, Sasha not being able to throw.

[Chris Canty]

Back to the pitch at some point. But at some point, Chuck Knoblock could. Could throw.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no. Actually, no. It just. He just completely lost.

[Chris Canty]

No, no, no, no. I mean, previously.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah.

[Chris Canty]

He forgot how to do something. Mitch has never had a great starting point.

[Don LaGreca]

No. But this is.

[Chris Canty]

But this is now out of. We were just playing mob deep, out of control.

[Don LaGreca]

This is.

[Chris Canty]

This is out of control.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

It is also part of, I think, the Celtics plan. Joe Missoula, the coach of the Celtics, goes beyond like X's and O's and strategy. He goes mental warfare. He goes into the whole idea of, okay, who can we take on their team and just completely eliminate them and find a weakness that just takes them out of the game completely. Who's an impactful player? They look at him as an impactful player because of his ability to pick and roll defense. He is good at switching. Look, you saw the end of game too. He was the whole reason why Tatum. Tatum took a bad shot and missed it all because of the way he defended that. And so during the game, that what. What they're thinking is if he's in the game and we're in the bonus or. Or the Knicks are in the bonus, we're going to foul him and disrupt their offense, take their rhythm away. And now if he's going to miss the way he. I mean, he was missing some epic ones. And all that does is a frustrate him. It almost takes. And Tom Thibodeau admitted, if he's going to keep missing, we got to take him out. So. And then it also takes the Knicks out of any offensive rhythm. So that is a huge disruption. And you're also. Now Robinson is aware of the misses that he's having. And how do you think that affects him on the defensive end? Was he as focused as he normally is? He's as aggressive and intense as he normally is? No. So this is a problem that now the Knicks have to address some way somehow. And the only way to do it is to get them on the court before they're in the bonus. You know, early second quarter, early in the half, early fourth quarter, before the bonus, so that at least the fouls benefit you. He doesn't have to go to the line right away if they are going to do this or they can't foul him because they don't want to get into the bonus. There's got to be a way to. To change up how you're putting him in the game because he is important when he's out on the floor, but you got to keep his head in it. And game three, you could see he was devastated and it caused a meltdown for him and he was not an impactful player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I heard this a little bit from Nick fans on social media and on some of the shows today. Driving in. Oh, that's Bush of the Celtics. They're still fouling him when they're up 20 points. I mean, give me a break. I look at it and I say, listen, it's their game plan.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Every game is attached to the other. Yep. So if you're in his head. Yeah, maybe not. It's not really going to be much of a help to you in game three because you're up by so many points. But if it digs the hole deeper for game four done, then well, yeah, keep doing it.

[Don LaGreca]

Everybody would do this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's no calling off the dogs at this point.

[Don LaGreca]

Take baseball. Take baseball. Are you going to change the way you pitch to someone because it's now 10 nothing in the in the eighth inning of a playoff series, or are you going to let that same batter know I'm never letting you feel good. I'm not allowing you to ever feel good about yourself. Nope. We're going to do it in the first quarter. We're going to do it in the third quarter. Up 30. We're going to do it until you are a puddle on the court and you either have to respond to it or you're going to have zero impact. Hockey's I would do the same thing. That's warfare.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hockey is the best example. You look at the hit Domi had on bark off at the end of the game.

[Don LaGreca]

Dirty hit, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a dirty hit. Right. He got fined for it. It wasn't enough to get suspended. It's the end of the game and people are all, well, it's the end of the game.

[Don LaGreca]

There's no reason to throw that hit there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, but the reason in his mind is, you know what, we got another game coming. We're going back to Toronto. The series is even a 2. If this is November and it's Knicks Celtics and you don't play the Knicks again until February, well, you don't have to worry about it. It's 20 points. Let's just get out of dodge. The thing is the win. But you know, there's a game at the Garden in two days, and if I could dig his hole even deeper.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And put myself in a better situation for game four, I'm going to keep doing it.

[Don LaGreca]

That's. And the fact that there's another game here where you saw the way the crowd was. And again, the crowd was great because they were trying to encourage him because it just shows you the crowd was very aware that he is not a good free throw shooter and that this is something the Celtics are going to employ. And they were hoping to encourage him, to make him feel confident. All it did was put more pressure on him. Not that it was the crowd's fault, but his own fault. And then the airball. Oh, my God. Did you see him put his hands down to his knees?

[Chris Canty]

That wasn't a high point.

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, that. That just felt terrible for him. But if you're Joe Missoula, you're just smiling and laughing, going, well, the plan's working and I'm not going to stop until that guy can't play in this series because he. In games one and two, when you say, well, why, what is he doing in the series? Plus 32 in his 43 minutes on the court in the first two games, plus 32.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But also, I don't want him on.

[Don LaGreca]

The floor if I'm the Celtics.

[Chris Canty]

But also, why would you ever stop at any point given that you've blown 20 point leads multiple times? There's never a time in this point, I don't think in this series.

[Don LaGreca]

But the first quarter is what everybody was wondering. But really already?

[Chris Canty]

But why? Well, why not?

[Don LaGreca]

I agree.

[Chris Canty]

If it's effective or early, no problem. And late. You're not going to stop because you need every point.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. No one, no one should act like this is like poor sportsmanship or anything. It's the playoffs. Anything goes. It's like hitting Tatum's wrist over and over again on fouls like Orlando was doing. Just keep hitting his wrist and you know it's bothering him. Keep hitting it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But again, the all. It's a living, breathing thing, a series. One game is attached to the other game. So it matters. You know, bush league would be if it's. If it's elimination game and you're up 20 with like five minutes to go, why bother now? Of course it's over. But they realized and the Celtics are still down to one. I mean, this is a colossally big game 1-800-919-3776. The number to call. Let's go to Dave in the car. You get us started off here on Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, what's up, guys? Thanks for having me on. I want to get your opinion on this. You know, I think Tibbs is an excellent coach, but there's different ways of coaching. There's being high on the X's and O's, and then there's being able to coach what's tangible with the emotions of players. I think the best example of that historically is when after the Celtics destroyed the Lakers, the Lakers dug in and.

[Don LaGreca]

Riley was able to just turn them.

[Alan Hahn]

Into a nasty team for the rest of that series. I'm hoping that that can be done with the Knicks. I think their hope relies in will and in grit, in spirit. Even if Brunson has to blow it out and give you 35 to 40 every night and Cat has to shoot up his fingers with novocaine, that is the only way they're going to beat the Celtics. They don't have enough men, but I do believe they have enough will. So you tell me, where do you think the Knicks are like, emotionally? Do you think that's the down and dirty direction they need to go to have success with a possibility of advancing?

[Don LaGreca]

Yes. And I think it's the reason why Jalen Brunson lightly called out his team after game three, saying that it's about who wants it.

[Chris Canty]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, like that's, that's what it's about. And I think he looked at his team and did not see that collectively in the group in a Game three at home, which was a huge game. And so he asked that question, he made that point several times about intensity and urgency and all that stuff and, and being comfortable. All the stuff that, you know, it's funny, I laughed at. Shaq said it, Knicks can't be comfortable. And I laugh like, who the hell could be comfortable when you were down 20 in both games and had to come back to when you can't possibly be comfortable? And then Jalen Brunson said he's like, it was a subconscious sort of satisfied with being, you know, having two wins already. And I, I look at that guys as this. Do they think they can win this series collectively, as a group, do they think they can win this series or, or are they looking at it like, wow, we're up 2 0. But I mean, they're good once they turn it on, I'm sure they're human. What's the attitude that they Have. Because what the caller just said is exactly the attitude they need to bring tonight. Believe you can win this freaking series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you better, because the problem. It's always fun when you come out with that major statement. You have to respond, because if you don't, then where can Brunson go? He's got to double down on it. No, it's just, well, you got to respond. If you don't respond, that's. That's why this game is so big. Because if it. If you don't respond now, it's two to you going back to Boston, it's going to feel like the governor called. The Celtics are now off. Off the chair.

[Don LaGreca]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? And now it's the best of three. With two games in Boston and you having to now win a third game. Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It just becomes so.

[Chris Canty]

And the belief at that point, if you don't play a good game tonight, if you get blown out of the first quarter again, you just start to look up and go, guys, do we really have a chance against this team? We've barely been winning this entire series. We're just outmatched. At a certain point, even if no one says that out loud, Allen, it starts to kick into your brain. They have to have a great performance. There's even a world, by the way, in which they lose tonight. And I don't feel horrible about the series if they have a war with the Celtics. They're in the game the whole time, and they lose on a Tatum 3 at the buzzer. I don't. I don't say, oh, my God, they can't win. I. I want to see them play and compete for 48 minutes. To me, that's the biggest thing tonight. They could lose this game, Allen, just like we talked about, if you had said two, two after four, we would have all taken it.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Chris Canty]

So just show me you can play tonight. Man up and be in this game. They. The first quarter ended 3620 on Saturday. You cannot have that happen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

1-800-919-3776, David and Elizabeth, you're on ESPN. New York.

[Alan Hahn]

Don. Han Rosenberg. What it do, baby?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's up? Yo, yo. Same old, same old.

[Alan Hahn]

So, look, we're gonna jump straight into it. First off, before I get into my next point, Don, how about my mandolin door? He's on fire. And the Mets are playing really good. And I'm going to the game Saturday, Han. And I'm gonna. I'm gonna give your Yankee fans a tough time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry.

[Don LaGreca]

All right. That's what it's about. That's what it's about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To the Bronx. Hopefully. You're.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, be careful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're ready.

[Don LaGreca]

Just, just, just don't forget Aaron Judge is still the best player in the city. Just don't forget that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good. That's something. Do they give you a trophy at the end? Does the commissioner present you with something after that?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah. At the end of the season, you get a piece of tin. All right, you get a piece of tin.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you, Rob.

[Alan Hahn]

Nah, nah, nah, nah. We gotta give. We got to give Hollywood hot his flowers, man. Aaron judges definitely.

[Don LaGreca]

Just go at it every day.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, it's gonna go down, fellas. It's gonna go down. So look, this is what I want to say. We just need to come out aggressive. We need to not get our doors blown off. And like that Seinfeld episode. Please don't let the toupee come off, George tonight. Come on, please, fellas. Let's get it together, man. We can make this happen, please. Appreciate you, gentlemen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, man. We appreciate the phone call.

[Don LaGreca]

It's amazing that nick fans up 2 to 1 going, please don't get blown out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm glad. I'm glad.

[Don LaGreca]

Where are we?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've got my finger on the pulse because I came in just am I wrong to feel like that sense of urgency? And I was like, no, I feel it. The callers are feeling it. The people here are feeling it. Watch party tonight, 33rd between 7th and 8th Avenue. They've really done a great job here because we used to be located at Tupan Plaza from when the station started in 2001 up until 2013. And there was like no vibe here. There was nothing going on.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, this was an actual street.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This was a street, like, but like, but it's still. The breezeway's all blocked off post 9 11. And there wasn't a lot of activity. And now it's like a really cool vibe here. And we got to see with the Rangers last year, now with the Knicks here, a lot of stuff going on here. So come swing by. It's a beautiful day. Ian Begley is going to join us in the 4 o' clock hour. John Starks is going to be live here in the 5 o' clock hour. So if you're in the neighborhood, man, we had a buddy, a listener walk 30 blocks in this heat to say hello to us. So come on out, say hello. More calls at 1-800-919-3776. Don Hahn and Rosenberg taking up until 6:30. Then it's Mets and Pirates right here on 880 ESPN New York and the ESPN New York app.

[Don LaGreca]

It's Alan Haunt here to tell you about my friends at Bathfitter. They remodeled a bath in my home. My wife Stephanie is so excited about this. We updated a bath by our pool, converting the tub to a shower so we can use it for the summer guests when they have when they come through and hang out and kids have sleepovers. A bath that are consultant took us through the process with their free and home consultation to pick the style and color as well as specifics, the accessories and update our bath customized the way she wanted it. A Bath Fitter worked fast, delivered the highest quality work without delay. Bath Fitter is a permanent solution, everybody. It's a one piece seamless wall for a watertight fit and a lifetime guarantee. You can trust the Bath Fitter team like we did. They've been in business for 40 years with millions of happy customers and right now you can save up to $500. Start designing your bath like we did. Visit bathfitter.com for more details. There is only one bathfitter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's the Smuckers Uncrustables podcast with your host, Uncrustables. Okay, today's guest is rough around the edges. Please welcome crust. Thanks for having me. Today's topic, he's round with soft pillowy bread. Hey. Filled with delicious PB and J. Are you talking about yourself? And you can take them anywhere. Why'd you invite and we are out of time. Are you really cutting me off? Uncrustables are the best part of the sandwich. Sorry, Crust.

[Don LaGreca]

Starting a business can seem like a daunting task unless you have a partner like Shopify.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They have the tools you need to.

[Don LaGreca]

Start and grow your business. From designing a website to marketing to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Selling and beyond, Shopify can help with everything you need. There's a reason millions of companies like.

[Don LaGreca]

Mattel, Heinz and Allbirds continue to trust and use them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

With Shopify on your side, turn your.

[Don LaGreca]

Big business idea into sign up for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Your $1 per month [e-mail] specialoffer hi, this is Jevon, your blinds.com design consultant. Oh wow, a real person.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm here to help with everything from.

[Don LaGreca]

Selecting the perfect window treatments to. Wow, I've got a complicated project. No problem.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can even help schedule a professional measuring install. We can also send you samples fast and free. I just might have to do more. Whatever you need.

[Don LaGreca]

So the first room we're looking at.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is for shopblinds.com now and get up to 50% off with minimum purchase.

[Don LaGreca]

Blinds.com rules and restrictions may apply a better way. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Chris Canty]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's the lay of land. Take it 6:30. Then it's Mets Pirates that's coming off taking two out of three from the Cubs while the Yankees took two out of three from the A's. They're going to be in Seattle tonight. But 880 is where you can hear the Met game. 1050 is where you can hear the Knick game with coverage beginning with Pat O' Keefe at 6:30. Ian Bagley is going to be joining us here on the Deus at four four o' clock. John Starks in the five o' clock hour as well. So 1-800-919-3776. Number to call. Let's go to Mervin. Queens, you're on. Don, Han and Rosenberg. What's up Merv?

[Alan Hahn]

What's going on guys? Stress, stress, stress. My Friday waiting. Alan, I don't know if you remember and I used to call in last year, you and Bart. I lost the bets, you guys. I've ended up sending some food to the station.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, but delicious.

[Alan Hahn]

I. I got a question, man. Why is everything a struggle? We're talking about free throws this match. Porzingis is basically out. When is town's gonna say I'm a 55 million dollar guy. Choke them back down five times in a row. It seems like he's on the win. We can't have a third game with OG playing like this, guys. I. I can't look at it. I know you guys are basketball guys. You can look at it like without being a fan. My whole thing is is there something fundamentally broken? Why do we have to be down to fight back? I personally think tonight's winner wins. I. I'm taking a break from sports for a year. If they don't win tonight, your comments. Thank you guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A year, that's punish. Well, maybe you're not punishing yourself. Maybe you do yourself a favor. You'll grow as a person sitting at my tele. Are you married?

[Alan Hahn]

At my television is not healthy. What happened?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you married?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, my wife passed away last year.

[Chris Canty]

Oh man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was gonna say it. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I never got to say sorry, Alan, for your sister also I'm sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'm sorry to you man.

[Alan Hahn]

She used to screaming she Used to Windex the television and she said, give up on the team. I said, I don't want to give up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then you can't do it. Then you can't. Yeah, you can't do it in the spirit of your wife. You got to keep it going and you'll be fine. You. If even if you wanted to give up on sports, it's opening night, all of a sudden, you'll get sucked.

[Don LaGreca]

Didn't he say he's a Mets fan? Marv, you said you're a Mets fan or.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, no, Nick. Strictly Nick.

[Don LaGreca]

Just Nick. No. So not a fan of any other team?

[Alan Hahn]

N. The Giants killed me. The two Super Bowls had me drunk for a while.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, boy. Sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is what it is. But in honor of your late wife, do not give up on sports. You told you not to give up on the team. You're not going to give up on the team.

[Don LaGreca]

But, but he asked, he asked him, man.

[Alan Hahn]

But telling you, telling you, Allen, what.

[Don LaGreca]

What has to be done.

[Alan Hahn]

Have to say tonight. Tonight I'm going for 50. What is.

[Don LaGreca]

But, but you can't. See, the problem is you, as much as, like, we'd like to say that you can't predetermine go into a game and be like, all right, I'm dropping 50, because their whole defense is about taking him out. And that's when you look at Towns and you say, well, why can't he now stretch the defense? Why can't he get into the post? And. Well, because they've got a lot of size that they put on him. And for whatever reason right now, and I know the finger thing that everybody's talking about. He's had that all year. He's had it all year. And it's not his shooting hand. Squeeze.

[Alan Hahn]

Can I squeeze one more little thing in there?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Could. Could. Could he. A little. A little bit of precious. I think he, I think he.

[Don LaGreca]

He has. He has played a little. He has played a little bit. He's. He has gotten. Especially because when Robinson's missing from free throws. But you know, how about this? Does anyone think that Towns has had a good series so far?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was it 1 3?

[Don LaGreca]

Right. But.

[Chris Canty]

But he's had, he's had moments and.

[Don LaGreca]

He'S been, okay, but he hasn't had a series where you're like, wow, he's really dominated. Do you know that he's the first player since Patrick Ewing in 1992 to go for 20 and 15 in back to back playoff games? So he's at 20 and 15 and he's not really playing that well. Right. Like, think about that for a minute.

[Alan Hahn]

That's bad.

[Don LaGreca]

20 and 15 hasn't played well yet, which is like, oh, what one. What if he does start playing well? Like, what if he does start to feel it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, there are.

[Don LaGreca]

So are they stopping him? Yes, because his, his numbers are not great when it comes to efficiency. But he's still. It's doing that. It. It. He mentioned OG Anobi. See there, There's a guy that was, I thought invisible in game three and he's been so good in the playoffs that it does make you feel like 10. Tonight's a game where there are zero passengers.

[Chris Canty]

Can't be.

[Don LaGreca]

Can't have a guy that you look at the box score and go, well, he didn't really bring anything. Every guy that plays has got to bring you something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is.

[Don LaGreca]

Every guy has got to make sure that they. So if you're not shooting well, give me three steals and two blocks. Like, give me something. Give me 10 rebounds, whatever it is. Somebody, every single box score guy, you gotta look and go, all right, he did that, he did that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everybody brought something.

[Don LaGreca]

That's the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No passengers is that, you know, the Knicks still have not played their best game. It's been such a weird series. That's why sports is so great. You couldn't predict that this we would get the 2:1. I don't think anybody would. I guess people would be shocked. The Knicks were up to one, but nobody could anticipate the way these games have gone. No, the way. Way the series has gone so far. It's not good on the heart, but it is still a lot of fun. Spike in St. Pete, you're on ESPN New York.

[Chris Canty]

There he is.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, listen, sorry my voice is shot from screaming at my team. I'm like the previous caller and condolences to him. That's horrible that news about his wife. But let me try and give Peter a smile in 101 minutes, please. In the first two games, the Knicks were up 12 minutes. Five was overtime because they made the first basket and they never relinquished the lead. I do not see a path and I'm as optimistic as anybody. And I'll tell you another thing. In the play where bridges came around when Mitchell Robinson funneled Tatum and Knicks adjusted the defense into Anunobi. Bridges should have stayed home because Brown was wide open. Now he was swarmed around. I went through both of those games so slowly, slow. I went through the other four games the Knicks have not played 15 or 20 good minutes against the Celtics all year long. And I'm as biased as you have. I hate the Celtics and I was married in a Knicks jersey and I'm going to be buried in the Knicks jersey. So I can't give you anything positive. They're not making shots. They're not. They made 15. They got 45 more points and they put them away. And you're right, Al. And you know I love you. When you get to 30, then the team quits. And I feel very upset about the fact that I don't see a path. I really don't.

[Chris Canty]

I have an important question, Spike. What, what Nick jersey are you planning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To get buried in?

[Chris Canty]

This is very important.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I got mad. I got married. I've been married 25 years. Twice I'm a double slower. So I. The first one was.

[Chris Canty]

I mean, why are we even talking about the game? That stat?

[Alan Hahn]

No, I got, I got, got married in the Springwell jersey. At the time it was 2002. He was the, the main player I picked out that. It's going to be number 10 if you know anything about me. I just, you know, we're about to start same age, Clyde and I. It's just something I, I love the Knicks so much. Of course, my family, my children and, and, and I love a lot of people and you guys are included in it. But I love the Nick so much. But I don't see a path now. The only thing that could do or do it, as Alan mentioned, you know, you know that there's a bad left wrist on Tatum. So you know you got. What's his name? Let's talk. The guy they picked up that's not playing. The 40 year old with the sneaker collection. Yeah, yeah, bring them in there and have him take a swipe with his left wrist or something. I don't want to turn it into a nasty game.

[Don LaGreca]

God bless you. Thanks for the call. I'm sorry. I don't think that's considered unsportsmanlike.

[Chris Canty]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

At this point, like seriously, we all know he's got a wrist issue. What are we doing?

[Chris Canty]

Elbow crystaps in the gut. I mean doing everything you got to do, do like this. I don't think any of that is out of bounds at this point in.

[Don LaGreca]

The series trying to win.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But for Spike to say he doesn't see a path there. There's a path. Two, one. You may not be confident.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

About the path.

[Don LaGreca]

Got a lot of weeds there. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What a home game.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Three out of the four times At Madison Square Garden, one home game of.

[Don LaGreca]

The next two, Right. And you have a game seven.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

And who wouldn't sign up for a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Game but you're not one, not two, but three cracks at the Celtics if you're able to get the game.

[Don LaGreca]

What did you think of what Brown said at the end of the game, too, by the way? Yeah, Jellyn Brown. What was their attitude coming into the game? He's like, well, got to win four to beat us. Not two, not one, not three. You got to win four. Like, there's an arrogance about this team that just makes you want to just.

[Chris Canty]

But it's not exactly the, you know, attitude to. I mean, to defend my guy for a moment. That. That is.

[Don LaGreca]

You got to say it like that, though.

[Chris Canty]

Yeah. Because he saw the beat like that. Well, because they're watching tv. Tv. Just let me defend the Celtics for a moment. They're watching TV and the whole world is celebrating being up, down 2, 0, win 4. And that's just being factual.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, you know, if he's also.

[Don LaGreca]

The delivery, how you said it, if.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You said it at the end of the series after you won. I mean, you won one game, you're still down to one. Listen, they're arrogant. And then I think that's the reason why they were down two games to none. You. You better hope that if you're a Knick fan, that they got so drunk off a Saturday they go back to the way they were in games one and two.

[Don LaGreca]

Think it was. It was a Saturday night in New York City. You never know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You never know.

[Don LaGreca]

You never know.

[Chris Canty]

Plus, an arrogant. Arrogant, to me is arrogant when. If you lose the series, if they win, we'll look back and say they were confident. If they blow it like idiots, then they were arrogant.

[Don LaGreca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han 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 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.