Hour 2: Championship Roster & The List

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Hour 2: Championship Roster & The List"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 2: Championship Roster & The List
• Release Date: May 28, 2025
• Description: Hosted by ESPN New York’s Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg, the show delves into New York sports, hip hop, WWE, and more, offering expert analysis and lively discussions.

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1. Introduction to Fanatics Fest ([00:43] - [01:50])

The episode begins with Alan Hahn highlighting the return of Fanatics Fest to New York City at the Javits Center from June 20-22. This three-day event celebrates sports culture with athlete appearances, live podcasts, panels, and opportunities to win tickets through the ESPN New York app.

Notable Quote:

• Alan Hahn ([00:48]): "A three-day celebration where sports culture and collecting converge, bringing fans closer to their favorite athletes like never before."

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2. Analyzing the New York Knicks' Roster and Front Office Strategies ([01:50] - [06:03])

The conversation shifts to the Knicks' performance, focusing on their recent playoff struggles. Alan Hahn expresses concerns about the team's stagnation despite having a talented roster.

Key Points:

• Roster Management: The hosts discuss the importance of assessing and adjusting the roster to maintain competitiveness, drawing parallels with the Rangers' inability to evolve despite a strong lineup.
• Front Office Agility: Emphasis on the need for the Knicks' front office, led by Leon Rose, to remain agile and make necessary adjustments without overhauling the team annually.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn ([01:58]): "Sometimes when you're close, that's when you have to strike. That's when you have to make changes."
• Guest Analyst ([02:22]): "You always have to be agile as a front office. Tweaking the roster to find the right fit is crucial."

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3. Historical Insights and Team Comparisons ([06:03] - [12:04])

The discussion delves into the Knicks' historical roster decisions, comparing past strategies to current challenges. The removal of key players like Cassie Russell and the impact of trades are examined.

Key Points:

• Historical Trades: Analysis of how past trades, such as Cassie Russell for Walt Frazier, transformed the Knicks into a championship team.
• Current Roster Challenges: Addressing the balance between maintaining star players like Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart while integrating new talent like Adenobi and Kristaps Porzingis.

Notable Quotes:

• Guest Analyst ([03:10]): "They had to make moves that opened up key positions, allowing players like Walt Frazier to become starters."
• Peter Rosenberg ([09:37]): "There are truly on this team two guys that would break your heart to lose. They are Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart."

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4. Listener Callers and Debates ([12:04] - [41:43])

Listeners engage with the hosts, raising concerns about player performances and coaching decisions. A significant debate emerges between Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg over comments made about Alan’s wife, highlighting tensions and differing viewpoints.

Key Points:

• Performance Critique: Callers express disappointment in players like Josh Hart and question whether coaching or roster construction is to blame for the Knicks' struggles.
• Host Interaction: A heated exchange arises when a caller insinuates assumptions about Alan Hahn’s wife, leading to a brief moment of conflict among the hosts.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn ([12:12]): "People keep saying the Pacers are a better team on paper, but they don't play better."
• Peter Rosenberg ([40:26]): "When I say a woman might want to sleep with a man, that means she’s easy—that’s not true. It means they know it, they want it, and she’s human."

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5. List Segment: Top Five Franchises That Moved for the Better ([27:03] - [35:35])

Alan Hahn introduces a curated list of the top five sports franchises that benefited from relocating. The list includes:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers ([32:10]): Despite initial backlash from Brooklyn fans, the move to LA resulted in seven championships, significantly boosting the franchise's success.
2. Colorado Avalanche ([31:25]): Transitioned from Quebec City to Denver, winning three Stanley Cups and establishing a strong presence in a new market.
3. New Jersey Devils ([31:06]): Moved from Kansas City to Denver and then to New Jersey, where they secured three Stanley Cup titles.
4. Carolina Hurricanes ([28:56]): Former Hartford Whalers, the Hurricanes have become a consistent playoff team and won a Stanley Cup.
5. Washington Nationals ([28:31]): Originating as the Montreal Expos, the Nationals thrived post-move, culminating in a 2018 championship.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn ([27:44]): "The move from Montreal to Washington was stellar. They have a beautiful building that's always full and they won a championship in 2018."
• Peter Rosenberg ([29:28]): "I firmly don't care if they come back. There's something about the logo that's iconic."

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6. Playoff Series Analysis: Knicks vs. Pacers ([35:35] - [51:09])

The hosts provide an in-depth analysis of the Knicks' playoff series against the Pacers, who currently hold a 3-1 lead. Discussions focus on the Knicks' potential to mount a comeback and the factors influencing the series outcome.

Key Points:

• Series Statistics: Highlighting the rarity of teams overcoming a 3-1 deficit, with less than a 5% success rate in such scenarios.
• Team Dynamics: Examining the Pacers' flawless execution versus the Knicks' self-inflicted errors and inconsistent performances.
• Fan Sentiment: Predicting how the Knicks' fan base will react, balancing frustration with continued support despite the disappointing loss.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn ([46:10]): "Less than 5% of teams down 3-1 end up coming back and winning."
• Guest Analyst ([47:22]): "The Pacers are executing at a pristine level, while the Knicks are making self-inflicted mistakes."

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7. Conclusion and Closing Remarks ([51:09] - End)

The episode wraps up with final thoughts on the Knicks' season, reflections on the day's discussions, and a tease for upcoming shows. The hosts encourage listeners to stay engaged and support their favorite teams.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn ([48:03]): "This is the series. You're facing elimination."
• Don La Greca ([51:09]): "Hear more of Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers."

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Overall Insights:

• Roster Management: Effective team management is crucial for maintaining competitiveness, requiring a balance between retaining star players and integrating new talent.
• Historical Context: Understanding past successful trades and moves can inform current strategies to build championship teams.
• Fan Engagement: Maintaining a strong and supportive fan base is essential, even during challenging playoff runs.
• Relocation Success: Franchise relocations can lead to significant success when executed strategically, as evidenced by the listed teams.

Conclusion: In "Hour 2: Championship Roster & The List," Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg provide a comprehensive analysis of the New York Knicks' current challenges, comparing historical and contemporary team strategies. The episode offers valuable insights into effective roster management, the impact of franchise relocations, and the dynamics of playoff series, all while engaging with listener perspectives and maintaining a lively, informative dialogue.

Transcript

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[Don La Greca]

This is the Dime Han at Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don La Greca]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[Alan Hahn]

Fanatics Fest is making its return to New York City this summer at the Javits Center.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure it is.

[Alan Hahn]

Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22 a three day celebration where sports culture and collecting converge, bringing fans closer to their favorite athletes in sports leagues than ever before, with appearances by your favorite athletes, celebrities and entertainers, live podcasts and a full schedule of panels featuring most recognizable names in sports. You can enter to win a four pack of tickets on the ESPN New York app, find the contest tile and submit your entry. Adult and kids tickets are available [e-mail] it's not apples to apples, guys, but what you don't want to do. In reference to whether you get Giannis or not, you always look to try to improve your team because you look at the Rangers. You know, Rangers go to the conference final in 22, playoffs in 23, conference final in 24. All of a sudden you miss the playoffs and now your star players are getting older and now you're looking to make changes but you can't because they're because you're locked into contracts, guys are underachieving, you're not going to get value form. They're banged up, they're getting older. Don't get too caught up. And we're close. Sometimes when you're close, that's when you got to strike. That's when you got to do something. You got to make changes. So just be careful because there are plenty of examples where you make the move and it doesn't work. But there's plenty of examples where you kind of rest on your laurels. You don't make the necessary changes and then you take the step back. Like the Rangers and the Knicks don't want to be like the Rangers, where maybe they saw their window close and now what do you do with all these guys now, they don't have the same value.

[Guest Analyst]

I completely agree. It is something where you always have to be agile as a front office. And I think you're always tweaking. You're looking at your roster and you're just trying to find the right fit until you get it to click. But you also don't want to constantly change everything. Where it's dramatic, where every year it's three of the five starters are new or. Cause that also you never get any traction.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Guest Analyst]

So it's a very delicate balance. And the Ranger example is a great example because they had success and where.

[Alan Hahn]

They tweaked is the coach and didn't work.

[Guest Analyst]

No. Learn your lesson there.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. So. So all those people like, we'll get rid of Tibs. Okay, well, that's what the Rangers did and it didn't seem to work because it ended up being a roster problem, not a coaching.

[Guest Analyst]

Because you keep changing your system then and that doesn't help either.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Guest Analyst]

You've got to recognize parts that fit. I was saying this to a friend that understands the history of the franchise. So I don't want to go too deep in the weeds, but little history here. Before their championship run, the Knicks had a really good roster. They had Cassie Russell, who was a high draft picking hall of Famer. This great player in college. He and Bill Bradley played the same position. Bradley was out of position because Kazi Russell was there. They were two really good players though. But they were just. It didn't fit. They had Walt Bellamy, another guy, hall of Fame talent, and Willis Reed. Willis Reed was a center, but they had him play in the four because they had Walt Bellamy and Bellamy was a center. And it's like that didn't fit. But they're all talented players and they were a good team and they got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To make it fit.

[Guest Analyst]

They had been bad in the 60s, so this group was actually starting to like win games and be competitive. But they weren't good enough. And you had to recognize that we got to move some pieces, even the ones that people love. There were fans who were mad when they traded Cassie Russell. They loved Cassie. But sometimes you got to recognize this doesn't fit. Not quite. Is it successful? Yes, but this is not exactly it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It could be better.

[Guest Analyst]

And they had to make a couple of moves. And one of the moves they made opened up a point guard spot that allowed Walt Frazier to become a starter. That's a big deal, right? That's a huge deal. So you do that. You Got to keep those things in mind. And obviously the Debusser trade, that's the one that Bellamy was involved in. Like, that's a, you know, that's a, that's a no brainer. That's one of those generational type trades. That was the final piece of the puzzle that turned them into a championship team. Now they took them a year after that trade to get to a championship, but you could see it, it was. It started to fit. Everything made sense. So I just think that's kind of where we could be right now is that Adenobi is a tremendous player, right. A great pickup. Who is. He has transformed them from what they were before that trade. And Bridges, that's two wings. Every team wants these wings. Towns like all that stuff, you look at it and you're like, well, that's a lot of talent here. But you've got to assess when this season's over is while the talent gave you one of the best seasons you've had in 25 years. Is this talent fitting in a way that you go, I know what a championship team look. That looks like a team that can win a championship. I know Brunson can because he's done in college. He's a winner. Like, I know I've got that DNA in the team already, a standard and all that stuff. But it's some of the, some of the peripheral pieces you've got to reconsider and say is this. Does this all fit the right way or not? And that's an off season conversation. But it's a tough one for Leon Rose. That might be the hardest thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's hard for fans.

[Guest Analyst]

The great things for Leon Rose has done and his in his front office, they have been phenomenal. The great things they have done to get this team in basically four years from barely making the playoffs to a team that's in the final four that at one point look like they were one of the favorites to win it. Right? Think about that. That's. That kind of work is amazing. The hardest part now is that delicate move. It's like Jenga.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which piece take.

[Guest Analyst]

You don't want the tower to fall.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, remember I said this and this is the hard thing for fans. You know, I'm a big Knicks fan, but in a previous life, I don't remember, I'm a Celtics fan.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Marcus Smart thing really hurt.

[Guest Analyst]

Yes, great point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You really thought he's a piece of what makes them a future champion. And when they did it, I'm like, this is moronic. Wait. Oh, everyone's telling me I'm going to feel better because they're getting. Wait for it. Kristaps Porzingis.

[Guest Analyst]

This guy's never healthy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Never healthy. Oh, he's on the Wizard. This is really going to be the thing.

[Guest Analyst]

Great point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then that happened. Another random trade happens with Milwaukee and Portland. Now Jrue Holiday lands in Boston.

[Guest Analyst]

That's the foresight. Did Brad Stevens know that Lillard was going to end up in Milwaukee? Therefore Drew would be available and I'll get him, probably. Or did that just fall in his lap? Because that doesn't work. Because losing Marcus and his defense and his toughness doesn't work if you don't get Drew. Drew landing later in the summer in your lap, that clinched it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They literally got it.

[Guest Analyst]

You got to be in position.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They literally got a better Marcus. Smart.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And added Porzingis. Because the idea of just adding Porzingis to me, I was like, so. But yeah, both. Oh, now you have. So just be prepared and listen again. I don't know how Allen and Don feel. I am not ready to give a eulogy to this season. I think the Knicks are going to play really hard tomorrow and I think they can win tomorrow. But as we move forward here, you do have to start gearing up Knicks fans to take that last step. And I think you're close. You're going to lose someone that pains you a bit.

[Alan Hahn]

It's going to happen, you know, and sometimes it's not a trade like Alan will tell you. You know, Dom Mattingly retiring is. And then Tito Martinez comes in. The fans were didn't like Tino, now they didn't trade Donnie. But you know, he had to go. He had to retire. Your back was bad, but then you get a younger power left handed guy, great defensive player, and you rattle off four championships in five years. Of course, Alan will tell you what Butch Goring meant to the New York Islanders. Couldn't get over the hump. Kept losing, having the best team in hockey and losing to Toronto in 78, the Rangers in 79. In comes Butch Goring. Didn't win with the Kings, but he was the right fit. And next thing you know, they rattled off, you know, 19 straight series.

[Guest Analyst]

He walked in that locker room and looked at this young, talented team and he's like, you guys have no idea how good you are. The whole league's afraid of you. And you don't even realize, hey, the.

[Alan Hahn]

88 Dodgers were completely turned around by Kirk Gibson. But one with the tigers in 84 and he walked in that room and said, I got a ring. You don't follow me.

[Guest Analyst]

Dave, Andrew, Chuck, you know, Lightning.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, exactly. Hadn't won, but he had been around forever. And he was just. You gotta find that. Because those are the things. That's why, you know, fans, look, oh, we've got a better roster. Let's compare this player to this player that great. That's all fun in fantasy, but it's chemistry. But it's the chemistry. It's the will to win. And knowing how to win is probably the better way to put it. Everybody's got the will to win, but I. How do you do it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I have great news. Great news. If we're really honest, to my fellow Knicks fan.

[Guest Analyst]

Oh, boy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, but seriously, to Knicks fans, if we're being honest, I can say this as someone who knows the base and the team well enough. There are truly on this team two guys that would break your heart to lose. They are Jalen Brunson.

[Guest Analyst]

He's going nowhere.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Josh Hart. I don't think either is going anywhere.

[Guest Analyst]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think that Bridges keeping all three of the Nova kids. Not sure. Maybe Mitch, you love him. Not sure. Towns, you've had moments with them. Not sure. No one else is a guarantee. But I really think Brunson, we know, is locked in. I think Josh will stay with him.

[Guest Analyst]

I think they will keep those two. I think you're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think that's pretty reassuring if you're a fan.

[Guest Analyst]

I think you're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who are you going to lose that's going to break your heart. Truly break your heart.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah. There's always the guys you just like. Again, there are fans that are still, you know, sad about RJ Barrett, you know, like, and Emmanuel Quickley.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And their fans are upset that they don't get to see Precious to chew again. Any minute, it's always going to be there, right?

[Guest Analyst]

But the Dante DiVincenzo thing, it just. It just continues to hover because that's. That's an element that you never could replace. And I've always said, well, in the off season, you can just trade, you know, get him back. But Minnesota's not. There's no way that Minnesota is going to move on from him. They love him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's worked out so.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah. So. So. But you're right, Peter, that you're right. It's not like. Because there's been so many new pieces thrown in here, but, you know, just the wrong one. I think about Jenga. The wrong piece comes out, the whole thing comes down but the guy who.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was just on the screen, that was a hard one for some people. And I know that there were, I think, really unfair Knicks fans who didn't care about Randall. But I think the smart Knicks fan appreciated what Randall did here, but also knew he's not going to be our title guy. And. And they moved on from him. And guess what? The team improved. Now we don't know if Towns will end up being a part of what they do. I'd like to think he could be. I think he's really, really good. I just think the combination of having these two stars who are both at most times a minus on defense and, you know, it drives me crazy with Towns, though, because there are moments, guys, when I feel like he can step up and do it. And then there are other possessions where you're like, what effort was that? Like getting out your clothes. His closeouts can look so weak. Like, it's just very frustrating. I don't know that you're capable of taking that next step when you have that many net negative defenders on the floor. I just don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, let's get back to the phones of 1-800-919-3776. Jose in Connecticut, you're on. Don Han and Rosenberg.

[Caller]

Hey, guys, what's up? How you doing? Listen, you know, I'm disappointed like everybody else, and it sucks because if. If they don't have that crazy, crazy fluky game in game one, this is a different conversation, right? We're two, two. And I gotta say, there's two things. I had a com. Had a comment and a question for. For you, Han. First. First, I'm gonna be putting the point in Josh Hart, man. Like, he's the heart and soul of this team. Yeah, we gotta keep him. But this series, he's been off. But outside of Game 4, he hasn't had energy on offense. He's been really kind of off. I don't know if it's an injury or just frustration of what's going on with him, but he. It's not Josh Hart basketball. So I'm just. I really, really, like, been like, kind of disappointed in him in that. And my question for you guys is for you guys and Yuhan too, specifically, like, people keep saying, like, the Patriots are a better team. Like, on paper, the Knicks are the better team. They have more talent. Especially like at first, you know, five, six players, like, compare the two rosters. The Knicks have better overall talent, but they don't play better. And so my question is, I mean, we gotta say Chibs is not the perfect coach. We see some, some of the warts. Is it Tibs or is it the roster construction by Leon? Because I'm torn. Because we see teams with two bad defenders in the starting lineup that still make it. Look at the Nuggets with, with, with Jokic and, and their point guard. And even the Pacers like Halliburton and Bridges are not great defenders but they got teams around them and they scheme for them like. So I guess I'm torn. I guess I want to know like if you had to pick one, who would you blame for the roster not being like the greater than the sum of his parts?

[Guest Analyst]

I just think there's a great example of the fact that the Pacers are the same roster for the last two seasons. They went to the conference finals last year. They were already in a run. They got a bad start to the year. But then middle of the season something clicked and they. It just all. They have been simpatico since January. And you credit Rick Carlisle because they all believe in him and they trust him and believe in the system. They are selfless players who have started. I mean I've heard Matheran sometimes gets a little whiny about his role and some people think he's going to be the first to go because he fancied himself as a guy that shouldn't be coming off the bench. We'll see how that goes. But for the most part though, this is not a team that like their star players. Halliburton and all he cares about is setting up teammates. They had to encourage him to be aggressive with his offense in Game 4 because they needed him to be aggressive and it worked obviously. So is there something to be said about a team that just has had more time together to learn from the losing and all the other stuff they've gone through to have that buy in of a system that they all have understood to a point now where they mastered it. You know, is there something to be said about that and why it's. Why it looks so much different for the Pacers right now. And you can ask the Cavs the same question. Look at the Cavs were probably like what the hell? Like what. What did we just run into? You know, like I think sometimes a team just has its moment where everybody has the buy in, everybody has the understanding of roles happens and it just has come together for them beautifully.

[Alan Hahn]

It's also how you're playing. I mean. Yeah. But if you take a look at what the Pacers have been since, since the calendar turned to 20, 24, second.

[Guest Analyst]

Best record in the NBA.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean so yeah, you look at all, we had a point. We had one more win than they did. We beat them during the regular season. We beat them. We should have beat them in the playoffs last year. The only reason we lost because of the injuries, same pacer team. We should be a better team with the additions of Cat and Bridges. But it's all about how it comes out. As far as the coach, do I think that Tibbs might have been out coached in this series? Yeah, maybe. But is he responsible for the 17 turnovers? Is he responsible for the fact that. That these guys are not playing to the best of their abilities? That Hart had one of the worst games of his career? Like come on, sometimes it's got to fall on the players, man. You put them in the situation now his tips put him in the absolute best situation. Maybe you can, you could debate that. And it's. Carlisle had a better series probably. But it does come down to these guys executing. And if you are a better player and you don't show it in the series, how are you supposed to win?

[Guest Analyst]

Do they have scouting ports on both. Like both sides do extensive scouting work on the other team? Right. Like I said, there's no secrets. Both teams know each other really well. They know what the teams want to do and all that stuff. But there are things that you hear in the post game about the scouting report and paying attention to scouting port and knowing the tendencies of players and then something happens and it's like yeah, we're supposed to know that. So is that on the coach or is it on the players for not being as locked in to understand you the information. Right. I can't let him do that. I know that's coming. He's coming around that screen. He's coming downhill. I can't be seven feet off him and let him pull up for three. I can't do that. Like if we're going to switch on this, we need to know before the play. It's an inbounds play. We, we all knew where it was going. Cuz they both ran to the spot of the first option. The problem is Halliburton saw that and threw it to the second option. Obi Toppin popping out for the dagger three. Nobody was guarding him because two guys ran to the corner. There was no communication. That's the stuff to me that is on the court. These are professionals, they're veterans. This is not a young team. So that's the part that when you watch them and you say these are self inflicted. The Pacers are executing well. The pressure they're putting on you is you have to execute well.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Guest Analyst]

To match it. And when you don't, it's. You're going to look really bad. And that was the epitome of game four. And yet they were still in the game.

[Alan Hahn]

Dave and Queen. John, ESPN New York Dave, hey, good afternoon, fellows.

[Caller]

And I appreciate you taking my call.

[Alan Hahn]

Always.

[Caller]

Quick question. It seems like you guys have covered most of the talking points and you might be all on equal grounds, but a couple of things, Allen, I don't know if you're too close to this because you know, you kind of work for the Knicks and all this stuff feels like you're making a lot of excuses for this team that I think on its face. I hope we can have a good conversation. On its face just isn't it. I think the proof is in the pudding, in something Don said earlier, which we've all seen. You can't be considered a great. A good whatever team if you're always down 15 to 20 points in every game you play. Besides maybe the one blowout of Boston. Right. That's the level of consistency that you would see in a team that tells you kind of who they are during a regular season of 82 games. Hey man, you're traveling. The teams are traveling.

[Guest Analyst]

Can I pause you. Can I just pause you for a second? Did you hear the first segment? Did you hear the first segment of the show?

[Caller]

I did not.

[Guest Analyst]

All right, sorry. So I. Don, can you just speak for me on this, Dave?

[Alan Hahn]

He said all those things.

[Guest Analyst]

I lost my mind.

[Alan Hahn]

On how poorly they played, how poorly they executed. He's not making excuses for them.

[Guest Analyst]

I don't think I made an excuse.

[Alan Hahn]

At all today just because he. I guess he's getting on you because of the fact you still think the Knicks are the better team.

[Guest Analyst]

I. Oh no, no, no, no. I said they're even. This is an evenly, evenly matched team.

[Alan Hahn]

The Pacers are not.

[Guest Analyst]

Pacers are just executing at a pristine level right now and the Knicks are. There's so many self inflicted wounds, but they are very evenly matched teams, which is what I thought was going to make this series so compelling. But my credit to the Pacers is that they are playing near flawless. They just have been incredible with their execution.

[Caller]

I'll say one thing to that and then I'll ask a question really quickly. I thought the same thing. I'm not a Knicks fan. My wife is. So shout out to my wife. But I'm not A Knicks fan. But I love the energy.

[Guest Analyst]

I like your wife getting from. I like your wife better than you, Dave.

[Caller]

That out to Jeff.

[Alan Hahn]

You love her more.

[Caller]

I like the energy.

[Alan Hahn]

He likes her.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Caller]

I love the energy that the city is involved in. So I support their success. Right. So I just want to put that on the record.

[Guest Analyst]

Right.

[Caller]

However, the Pacers are playing near flawless basketball. But I also think their ability to go deep and not be so reliant on a Halliburton or a Siakam is probably something that they have a lot greater than the Knicks.

[Guest Analyst]

I got to argue.

[Caller]

Can I argue again over Brunson and over Cat?

[Guest Analyst]

Halliburton has been the. The epicenter of their offensive success in this entire series. He's averaging double figures and assists. He's been. He is. They rely on everything that he does. When their bench comes in, their offense goes to hell. Like he has been everything. And then Siakam, by the way, at two of the three wins. Oh, you didn't have to hang up on him.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm sorry.

[Guest Analyst]

Oh. He had. I think he was going to ask a question. But. But like siakam has had 30 point games twice. They are literally relying on those two guys. McConnell has been, eh. Their bench has not been good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Niecemith won a game for them.

[Guest Analyst]

Niecemith won a game for him by detonating late. Matheran had one good game, which was last night. Nemhard's been nothing like it has been all Halliburton. He just had his big offensive scoring game last night, the triple double. But assist wise, he has been literally the catalyst of everything they're doing.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm sorry, he. I did. I thought he got to his point and we're up against it.

[Guest Analyst]

Let's have. I'd rather have Jess call in anyway. Rather hear from somebody who actually cares about the team.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow. But he liked what he did for the city.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

That's good. He thinks, you know, there'll be less traffic when the Knicks win.

[Guest Analyst]

I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

There won't be.

[Guest Analyst]

Things will be.

[Alan Hahn]

I think those. The names of the. The Nick. The street names are going to go.

[Guest Analyst]

Almost got lost driving downtown after the game because I was looking for 11th street and all I saw was Jalen Brunson Boulevard.

[Alan Hahn]

And I was like, what the hell is this? It messed you up. We got a list coming up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like you dream.

[Alan Hahn]

I think it's a good one. I curated it.

[Guest Analyst]

When did you do this?

[Alan Hahn]

During the show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

We batted it around. Peter Allen had one and he lost it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Literally.

[Alan Hahn]

I Almost saw it. Like, it was crazy. He fumbled it.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But couldn't get it back.

[Guest Analyst]

You ever have these moments, Peter, where you think of something and you're like, oh, I love this idea. And then something just, you know, butterfly comes by, and now suddenly you just lost all the. And you just don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you, a baby golden retriever?

[Guest Analyst]

Yes, I absolutely am. And you just cannot get it. Like, I could not remember it. He Don's talking, and in my head, I'm going, let's listen. Like, oh, this would be a good one. And then who was it that came over and started talking? And I started talking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's over.

[Guest Analyst]

And then Don's like, all right, what's the list idea? I'm like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're like, what list?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it was like a nick turnover. It was gone. They had the ball. They didn't have the ball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Josh. One extra pass. No.

[Guest Analyst]

1.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, the list is coming up Next. We got ENN at 6. We're on 1050 right now, but pretty soon we'll be on 880 because the Mets are about to lose their game to the White Sox as I take a quick look, and they are in the bottom of the ninth inning, down nine. Three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh.

[Alan Hahn]

With two outs and a runner on.

[Guest Analyst]

But it's Soto smiling. Is Soto, you know?

[Alan Hahn]

No. Soto is now 0 for 4. He's batting.224. It's. Honestly, we'll get to it. It's bad. It's really bad.

[Guest Analyst]

You're starting to come around like things are getting better.

[Alan Hahn]

Come around to what?

[Guest Analyst]

Coming around.

[Alan Hahn]

Coming around to what?

[Guest Analyst]

You're coming around.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I might be coming around.

[Alan Hahn]

I'll tell you, this summer is going to be hot. Not that Peter will know. It's Don, it's Han, it's Rosenberg, and it's all happening here on 880 ESPN. 1050 ESPN app. We're everywhere, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, ubiquitous.

[Alan Hahn]

We're like dog crap. We're everywhere.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

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

[Alan Hahn]

You just made the list, buddy.

[Don La Greca]

This is the list with Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

It's now time for the list, which is brought to you by bet365. A couple of people to thank for this. Number one, Anthony. That reminded me, on this day back in 1957, Major League Baseball approved the move of the Giants and the Dodgers to the West Coast.

[Guest Analyst]

Devastating.

[Alan Hahn]

And the Thunderer went away from going to the NBA Finals and I think are the clear cut favorite to win a championship. But if they do, if they do, they would duplicate what the Sonics did. Going to a final, losing to the Bulls and then of course, winning their championship in the 70s.

[Guest Analyst]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

So I decided, how about a list of the top five franchises that moved for the better?

[Guest Analyst]

Ooh, for the better. For the better. Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

That they're better off. Good thing. They move that they're much better where they are than where they were.

[Guest Analyst]

This is interesting because there was a lot of teams that like, are you going back to like the 40s and 50s, like, you know, St. Louis Hawks, now in Atlanta, like that kind of thing?

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, listen, I could, you know, whatever. What was Sacramento? They were the Kansas City Monarchs.

[Guest Analyst]

They were the Kansas City Kings.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Guest Analyst]

They were. Then before that they were the Rochester Royals.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. But I can't say that, you know.

[Guest Analyst]

Atlanta, even an NBA team was in Rochester, New York.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Crazy. And went to the finals and there was a team in Buffalo.

[Guest Analyst]

Actually that's their championship back in the day.

[Alan Hahn]

But, you know, I can't say that. Listen, the move to Atlanta has been like, fiscally responsible, but they haven't rattled off a bunch of championships in Atlanta.

[Guest Analyst]

No, I went over it with the.

[Alan Hahn]

Teams, but here we're going to go with number five, and that is the Washington Nationals. They were the Montreal Expos, God love them, didn't win anything. Maybe they would have won in 94 if not for the strike. But since being in Washington, a beautiful building that's always full and they won a championship in 2018. A lot of great players. So clearly the move from Montreal to Washington was stellar. I have it at number five.

[Guest Analyst]

That's excellent. That's a very good one.

[Alan Hahn]

Number four, God love them and everybody wants them back. But The Hartford Whalers played in the mall. Always fourth in the Atlanta in the Adams Division. Never could be. Win a big game. Never did anything in the playoffs if they did make it there. But since they've been to Carolina, they made a consistent playoff team. Raleigh's amazing.

[Guest Analyst]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, so they, They've. They've won a cup in Carolina. So I just. A Hurricane.

[Guest Analyst]

I love it.

[Alan Hahn]

From Hartford to Carolina at number four.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I. Can I just volunteer and say I firmly don't care if they come back?

[Guest Analyst]

Who?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hartford Whalers.

[Guest Analyst]

You don't. There's something about the logo. That logo might be one of the great old logos in hockey history.

[Alan Hahn]

Was it Carmonas that owned. That owned the team from Hartford? He would not let go of the logo. Like, he still had the rights to it, wouldn't let it be sold. And when I. I get it. People were going up. They. That logo just resonates with people. But I, I get it. I. There was talk, well, we want to put a team in Hartford. It'll be close to espn. Maybe they'll talk hockey. That's not a reason to move a team there. And I did go to the mall, but they played them all.

[Guest Analyst]

I've covered some games there. Pacific Center.

[Alan Hahn]

I do miss them, but, you know, Jones didn't have them back. I wouldn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good old.

[Guest Analyst]

But the Rangers were smart. They put the Wolf back up there. Yeah, that was very smart.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We also had a horrifying WrestleMania there, too. Hartford.

[Guest Analyst]

Oh, really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, sure.

[Guest Analyst]

How far?

[Alan Hahn]

I believe it was the one where you've come.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I believe it was the one that Lawrence Taylor main evented. So with the 96 a while back. 95.

[Alan Hahn]

The Hartford Civic Center. Hold on.

[Guest Analyst]

That's. That's a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a hard. It's hard to picture. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Alliance Stadium.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Allegiance.

[Alan Hahn]

Allegiance. Alliance.

[Guest Analyst]

WrestleMania 11.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's 11. Yeah, that's LT, right.

[Alan Hahn]

Was it 96? WrestleMania 95.

[Guest Analyst]

April 2nd. 95.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm good. I'm right there.

[Guest Analyst]

That's not bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was LT number Main event LT versus Bam Bam Bigelow. That's a tough main event.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah, but that's a good one, too. Hartford Whalers. Carolina Hurricanes. Yeah, that's a great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Call them slurricanes.

[Alan Hahn]

I just want to say that three we've got. The New Jersey Devils went from Kansas City to Denver to New Jersey, where they've won all their cups in Kansas City.

[Guest Analyst]

Scouts.

[Alan Hahn]

Scouts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

Just two seasons, Colorado Rockies. Don Cherry was the coach of that team.

[Guest Analyst]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

And the New Jersey Devils winning three Stanley Cups. I've got them in number three.

[Guest Analyst]

That's a good one. Chico Rush started with the Rockies right.

[Alan Hahn]

Up in New Jersey. New Jersey, yeah. Number two, I've got the Colorado Avalanche. They were in Quebec City.

[Guest Analyst]

Nice.

[Alan Hahn]

Nobody wanted to play there because nobody spoke English. And it was like, way up there.

[Guest Analyst]

We have too many French now.

[Alan Hahn]

You go to Denver and they, you know, they've won three cups and.

[Guest Analyst]

Glorious. One of the great new uniform. Like the jersey change because the. The Nordic jersey. I loved it.

[Alan Hahn]

The blue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's a class. That's a class.

[Guest Analyst]

But the Avalanche jersey.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't like the Avalanche.

[Guest Analyst]

What?

[Alan Hahn]

It's. It's. It's spermatozoa. I told you that. It's. It's. It's a sperm cell going around the letter A. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you know what? I'm with Donald.

[Guest Analyst]

But. But the burgundy and the silver.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that's just nice. Nice colors.

[Guest Analyst]

Beautiful.

[Alan Hahn]

But you have a logo that is seeking an egg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

The A is not an egg.

[Guest Analyst]

I don't care. I still wear it proudly.

[Alan Hahn]

And number one is going to tick you off. It's going to tick a lot of other people off. But I got to say, the Los Angeles Dodgers leaving Brooklyn to go to la, it pained a lot of people in Brooklyn, but it kind of worked in la.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's a thing.

[Guest Analyst]

They draw very well. It changed sports.

[Alan Hahn]

And also the Dodgers, one championship in Brooklyn in, like 100 years. And then since moving to LA, they've won seven. So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, no, it worked out financially.

[Alan Hahn]

It has worked out championship wise.

[Guest Analyst]

I can't disagree with that.

[Alan Hahn]

I considered the San Francisco Giants, but they won more in New York than they did in San Francisco.

[Guest Analyst]

Really?

[Alan Hahn]

And when they moved to San Francisco, do you realize that Tropicana Field was built for them? They were going to move to Tampa.

[Guest Analyst]

What?

[Alan Hahn]

When they were in Candlestick, it was. They. They couldn't get a new building. They were going to move out of San Francisco. Nobody went to the games. Now it's, like, amazing. They're flourishing, but it took a long time, and they want a slew more championships in New York. And also, they probably would have folded if they stayed in New York because they didn't draw well. And it got caught up. They had to move. The Dodgers didn't have to move. No, the Giants had to move. They were going to go to Minnesota, but they ended up going to San Francisco because the Dodgers literally need somebody close to them from a travel perspective. So they didn't have to have always, you know, St. Louis would have been their closest team, so they had to go. So I left the Giants off the list. Thunder, you know, batted that around too. But I think I'm going to go with these five.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's one of the great lists.

[Guest Analyst]

The Thunder move is one that you can't really say was they were better off. You can't. The NBA misses Seattle dearly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that was the one that I think people really want back.

[Guest Analyst]

And well, they. But they have done well in Oklahoma City. The crowds have been great. They. They've had an awesome audience that the sport, the professional level, which you didn't think in Oklahoma, it's really more college area. You would think that maybe they wouldn't take to a professional sport, but it has done really well. But yeah, I still think, though, they didn't benefit. They aren't better off being in Oklahoma City because Seattle was such a great, great sports town.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's why I considered. Didn't put it on there. Same with the Ravens. I mean, you could say moving from Cleveland. Cleveland to Baltimore was very good for them.

[Guest Analyst]

I mean, look at this one.

[Alan Hahn]

A Super Bowl. Won a couple of Super Bowls. But what they did to Cleveland, I just. And in Baltimore, moving to Indianapolis, that was probably, you know, that's been nice for. They won a champion. But I still. I still think what they did to those cities, what Modell did in Cleveland, that's why those. They got teams back. Right. Because they shouldn't have moved in the first place.

[Guest Analyst]

The Colts going to Indianapolis. So that's a pretty big, big.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, they moved in the middle of the night. Those Mayflower trucks. But. So I didn't want to give them love. So those are the five. So I've got.

[Guest Analyst]

I like this list.

[Alan Hahn]

The Nats at 5, Hurricanes at 4, Devils 3, Avalanche 2, and the Dodgers 1. I'd never been to Quebec City. I'd love to go. I heard it's awesome. Beautiful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

People speak very highly.

[Guest Analyst]

They speak it in French.

[Alan Hahn]

That's 3% English speaking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Very highly.

[Alan Hahn]

Because in Montreal. You've been to Montreal. You start. Everybody dresses you in French.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah. And the minute you speak English, they.

[Alan Hahn]

Started speaking English, apparently. Go up to Quebec City and you started speaking English. Spit on you. Yeah.

[Guest Analyst]

They literally spit on you.

[Alan Hahn]

I will tell you, that only counts in Montreal proper. If you leave the city of Montreal, go like the Laval or you go to the suburbs. No. England.

[Guest Analyst]

Nope.

[Alan Hahn]

And no. I took Nancy. This is why I'm the husband of the year.

[Guest Analyst]

Here we go. Here we go.

[Alan Hahn]

Patrice Brisewa. That's the Reason she loves the Canadians.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's always about a hot dude.

[Alan Hahn]

It was racist.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Always about a hot dude.

[Alan Hahn]

These guys, none of them look like George Foster. Okay. Like, not. She didn't dig Sam Cassell. Right? Like, it's. Or George Mirasan. Easy if I told you a story. Well, I'm just saying these are. These are not handsome men. Patrice Brisewan, Dave Rigetti are handsome.

[Guest Analyst]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

So he was. He raced briefly at the end of his career in NASCAR up in Canada. Really? And he was going to show off his car in a suburb of Laval, which is like 20 minutes, half hour outside of Montreal.

[Guest Analyst]

I believe that's where Roberta Luan goes from.

[Alan Hahn]

And yes. And Nancy, we are really. Could we go up there?

[Peter Rosenberg]

We are hitting it right, baby?

[Guest Analyst]

I told you I could speak hockey with.

[Alan Hahn]

I want to meet you. Really, I want to meet. But this isn't about hockey. It's about me being a great husband.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Guest Analyst]

Tell the story.

[Alan Hahn]

So we will drive up to spend, you know, time in Montreal, and then we'll go check this out. She's like, we got to get there early. It's a Canadian outside of Montreal signing autographs. So we get there early. We were there. We were the first in line, and there wasn't much of a turnout. And so she. He got really. There was a hang with Breeze, like, signed. He had. She had bought, like a game. You stick and stuff. Basically spent an hour with him. So it worked out great. But just to try to get food there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to.

[Guest Analyst]

What?

[Alan Hahn]

I'm bringing it. No, that's good. It's good for radio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At any moment, did you think. You want me to just step aside, leave you guys?

[Guest Analyst]

I was thinking more like unbuttoned. Can you sign?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no, no, no. I think a step further than that. I think Don, if you really wanted to be husband of the year, he'd go, you know what? Let's make this about more than the autograph. Let's talk about a real memory here. You know, something to hold on to.

[Alan Hahn]

Why do you make. See, I don't understand why you think it's a good idea to treat my wife in that way. No, in the time I treated them both nice. I don't know why.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, why does he have to do that? But hold on. That's not fair. That's not fair.

[Alan Hahn]

Nancy, you know, women are sports fan. This is very sexist to you as well. You think that all she was out for was the hot dog.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Alan. Alan. How did he explain the favorite players of her Wife is of his wife.

[Guest Analyst]

They don't look like George Foster or Murizod.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He said. Right.

[Guest Analyst]

Or George Murraison.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In other words, their looks are a factor.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. But it doesn't mean you are a parent. So you. You're saying is. I just want to get this straight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

That my wife would sleep with anybody that's attractive? That's what you're saying? No, that's exactly what you said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm saying.

[Alan Hahn]

I said attractive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, I'm saying this. If it's someone who you not only think is attractive, but attractive enough that you're going to an event to meet them six hours a day, it's outside of Montreal's.

[Alan Hahn]

Motivated by.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If I'm going that far. If you said, for example, Janet Jackson's playing in Cleveland and I go, babe, I'm driving there. If she were to go, honey, if she offers you the chance, would you sleep with her? That wouldn't be an out of bounds question.

[Guest Analyst]

I'd go, that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are.

[Guest Analyst]

Do I get a hall pass? Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Talk to me about whether this is on the table.

[Guest Analyst]

Is this cool?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's. That's, that's all I'm saying. That's a reasonable. Now, if you had said she's. She's a huge fan of the Cleveland Browns. And I said, well, did you want to just let her go in the locker room by. That's not what you're saying?

[Guest Analyst]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

You still insinuated that my wife is easy, and I don't appreciate that at all. You don't even insinuate it. You flat out said it. By the way, easy is the wrong. I just don't understand why she found Patrice Briswa attractive and decided to root for the Montreal Canadiens automatically leads to sex. She's not a guy. I think women can appreciate the looks of a guy without thinking of being sexual.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, now, now, if she had said.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait a minute, now, wait a minute. I know my wife.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Now you say, let's go to Laval. Ed Norton's doing an autograph, a book thing. That might be a different story.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why Norton?

[Guest Analyst]

Why Ed Norton?

[Alan Hahn]

I just see History X.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he was in good shape. He was in good shape then.

[Alan Hahn]

But I'm just saying I think that might be where the lines crossed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Guest Analyst]

I don't, you know, if you saw him in a complete unknown, I would appreciate it. Like, he's really.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, I. Listen, I just know she appreciates the looks. I just took her on a nice trip.

[Alan Hahn]

Michael calling my mommy. He's saying, that there were key parties. What? I actually remember that these are individuals very free with my family. And luckily I'm just an easygoing guy. Things don't bother me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't like that you assume.

[Alan Hahn]

I assume. You said it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you said it. Alan, hear me out because this is deep.

[Alan Hahn]

What?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm getting to listen. I need to pay attention closely.

[Guest Analyst]

Is it deep?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's jumping. He's actually the sexist for implying that when I say a woman might want to sleep with a man, that means she's easy. That doesn't mean easy. It means they know it, they want, and she's human. So if you were to say, who does my wife think is like an absolute smoke show? I don't have a good example. But if you were to say, oh my God, that would be a dream. If she got to have a moment, I wouldn't say that makes her easy. I'd say that's a person with desires. And that's an attractive person. Unfortunately, I live in a very old school way.

[Alan Hahn]

They happen to be attractive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's not happen to be. Now you're changing it.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I'm not changing it. You're being a bad guy.

[Guest Analyst]

No, these are conversations that men listening right now will be having with their wives.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Rigetti doesn't have.

[Guest Analyst]

Every time a woman reacts to an athlete, the husband will say, oh. Oh, really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it depends how they react.

[Guest Analyst]

But what, what do you like about him?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It just so happens that every time Nancy loves an athlete, I'm sorry, he's.

[Guest Analyst]

A lefty shot defenseman. That can't be the only thing you like about it.

[Alan Hahn]

And Dave Rigetti wasn't that hot. Breezois was an attractive guy. Also beat Dilly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Double drop.

[Alan Hahn]

I should have included the Lakers. That was a bad job out of me.

[Guest Analyst]

Oh, Minneapolis, Minneapolis. But you know they won championships in Minneapolis.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hold on, hold on.

[Alan Hahn]

That's why I left them all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, hold on.

[Guest Analyst]

They're out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's lying through.

[Guest Analyst]

They already had it. They also had a center there too. George Mikin.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do we have to go back? Does forgetting the Lakers knock the whole list completely to shut? Like we even come. No, we're hacks.

[Guest Analyst]

Oh, Minneapolis Lakers though, won championships in Minneapolis.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But how many?

[Guest Analyst]

I think three. Three?

[Peter Rosenberg]

So they have 13.

[Guest Analyst]

You know how long it took them to get their next one in la?

[Peter Rosenberg]

A while. But they made. They made up for it.

[Guest Analyst]

Well, they got Magic jump on a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hell of a run.

[Alan Hahn]

And you almost forget that they were in Minneapolis. So let's just have fun with that. That was the list brought to you by bet365 Whatever the moment, it's never ordinary.

[Guest Analyst]

The next list365 Nancy's favorite athletes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh by the way I can do I could do a couple of them.

[Alan Hahn]

I almost slapped him like a Chris Rock but I love him too much.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you a little bit. My wife name out Joe about.

[Alan Hahn]

On 880SPN I think we're on 880 are we?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who knows?

[Alan Hahn]

Are we?

[Guest Analyst]

Not yet.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Guest Analyst]

Then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee full [e-mail] thanks.

[Don La Greca]

For listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

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

[Alan Hahn]

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[Guest Analyst]

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[Alan Hahn]

It's so easy.

[Guest Analyst]

So easy on your phone, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Already there on your phone.

[Guest Analyst]

No excuse.

[Alan Hahn]

Listening. All right, so disappointing loss for the Knicks down 3 1. 14 teams have come back from 31 down. But to put it into perspective, it's still like less than a 5% chance. Less than 5% of teams down 3:1 end up coming back and winning.

[Guest Analyst]

Now, the Knicks have been down 3:1 in their franchise history 15 times, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How many big wins we got?

[Guest Analyst]

How many times they've come back to win the series? Yeah, that'd be done. So remember when Cry Town said we're trying to make our own history?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Well, they got a chance to do it. And I would think, listen, I would think the formula to do it would be to have the two home games, right? Because you win games normally, but the when you're good at home, they're not great at home. And you're also asking a Pacer team that right now is what, 11 and three in the playoffs to just drop three in a row now, is it possible? Sure. But you're going to have to see something a lot different. Usually when you come back, like the one that I think about is going 31 lead and why Draymond got suspended.

[Guest Analyst]

Right, for the kick.

[Alan Hahn]

Like you need something like that. But you know what? As long as you're still alive, something like that may happen. You know, maybe there's an injury or something crazy. There's a turning point. So you just want to be alive. So I don't think anybody's burying the Knicks today. But listen, it is what it is, the Series. You're facing elimination.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. And that's the problem, is now there's no room for error. None. Like all of the.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to get it all out.

[Guest Analyst]

Of your system because now you have to play near perfect. And the series has been so close in the margins when it comes to scoring that, you know, it could go either way, literally. So you, if one thing, if you're being dominated for a couple of games here, you just not, you know, you're overmatched. This is not that. This has been games that have always had to have a tough finish.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Guest Analyst]

So what the Knicks have to figure out is to stop making those mistakes that are debilitating and make sure that they are locked in on the game plan, on the strategy, on the scattering reports and all those things, and not have these mental breakdowns that have cost them dearly.

[Alan Hahn]

And the other thing that's scary is this is going to type the way it went against Milwaukee and Cleveland, where they win the first two games, kind of shoot poorly and don't get things connected in game three. And then it all comes together in game four and five and they win in five. So that the formula is they go to the Garden and win. And that's got to be the message to the Knicks. All right, we're not going to have a conversation about winning the series. That's. You got to take it one game at a time. So all we're focused on, and we're going to be at stout on 33rd tomorrow, starting at 1 o' clock with Michael K. And we'll be there at three. So it's going to be fun. So if you go into the game, and even if you're not, if you're going to be in the city, come by, hang out. We're going to have guests. Both shows are going to have guests. A lot of fun, like you dream. We had a big turnout going into game five against the Pistons. Let's do it again. You know the Nick fans are going to show up, but this team, the way they played in the regular season, the way they played so far in the postseason, these fans deserve better than a funeral dirge tomorrow. If it's going to end, let it end in Indiana on the weekend. Don't have it right in your face. To these loyal fans, they deserve better. So let's see what happens. At least win game five and then we'll see what happens. Go back to Indiana. You'll be good on the road. And heck, you know, all bets are off once you get to a game seven of course, also, but right now, don't go out that way. This, this, this fan base deserves better.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And, and the, and the, the very charming and the intriguing and we've all fallen in love with it. Ability to go down 15 and then come back. Don't do that tomorrow because now you're risking with you break. You break. You go, we don't have another one. And you know, and then you just get blown out. It was like the Celtics in the last game of that series.

[Alan Hahn]

Alan would probably be able to answer this question much better, but he's a professional. If that were to happen, do the fans rally because they've come back from deficits, or do they turn on this team if they sense that they're going to go out that way?

[Guest Analyst]

Great question.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it gets. I think they'd get extremely tight. I don't think they turn on them.

[Guest Analyst]

I think during the game, you'll get that restlessness, the frustration. I think once it's kind of settled, I do believe that when they walk off the, off the court, there will be some sort of acknowledgment, whoever's left in the building of, hey, thanks for a fun season. But I don't, you know, obviously it'll be subdued. It'll be subdued. But, you know, it's, it's, it's a, it's a, it's a crowd and it's a fan base that is sort of, I think, conflicted by the season because you do recognize this is the most fun, the deepest they've gone a long time. Like, this is a new feeling. But there's also this sense of there was more to be had because you.

[Alan Hahn]

Pivoted your expectations, right? The expectations were conference final or bust. It was NBA finals or bust. Once they saw, Once you took out the Celtics, once you took out the Celtics, you saw the Pacers there, and you're like, oh, my God, we're going to the NBA Finals. And now you might go out in five. Very, very tough to take.

[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Guest Analyst]

I don't want to know how this is. Sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.

[Don La Greca]

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.