Hour 2: Game 3 & Thursday Rewrite

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary
Episode: Hour 2: Game 3 & Thursday Rewrite
Release Date: April 24, 2025

Hosts:

• Don LaGreca: ESPN New York and New Jersey legend
• Alan Hahn: Long-time sportswriter and New York Knicks broadcaster
• Peter Rosenberg: Hip Hop veteran and WWE personality

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1. NFL Draft Timing Frustration

Discussion Highlights: Peter Rosenberg opens the episode expressing his annoyance with the NFL Draft's extended timing, particularly the additional minutes allotted to the Tennessee Titans during their pick.

Notable Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg [00:40]: "Nothing irritates me more... why do we need five minutes? They've had five months."
• Don LaGreca [02:12]: "This is abusive to our viewers."

Insights:

• Peter criticizes Commissioner Roger Goodell for dragging out the draft, questioning the necessity of prolonged deliberations when picks often seem predetermined.
• Alan concurs, emphasizing the audience's frustration with the unengaging start to the shows caused by these delays.

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2. Player Relationships During the Draft

Discussion Highlights: The hosts delve into the common presence of draftees' girlfriends on camera during the NFL Draft, highlighting the often fleeting nature of these relationships post-draft.

Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca [05:08]: "My father would be the one to volunteer to tell her."
• Alan Hahn [07:00]: "These guys are idiots."

Insights:

• The conversation underscores the awkwardness and potential issues of having significant others present at such pivotal moments, suggesting that long-term relationships should be a prerequisite for on-camera appearances.
• Peter humorously imagines paternal interventions to exclude short-term partners from draft celebrations.

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3. Knicks-Pistons Playoff Series Analysis

Discussion Highlights: The hosts analyze the Knicks' performance against the Pistons, focusing on officiating, offensive struggles, and defensive strategies.

Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca [10:33]: "This could have been one of the best offensive teams the Knicks have ever had."
• Allen Hahn [31:04]: "They needed what Karl Anthony Towns brings offensively."

Insights:

• Don critiques the Knicks' offense in Game 2, attributing their performance to poor ball movement and ineffective screen setting by Karl Anthony Towns.
• Peter raises concerns about the Knicks' ability to adapt and overcome these offensive flaws in future games.
• Alan and Don discuss the potential impact of officiating on the game's outcome, highlighting the Pistons' high foul rates and free throw attempts.

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4. Hypothetical Roster Changes and Their Impact

Discussion Highlights: A speculative segment explores how different contract decisions, particularly regarding Isaiah Hartenstein, could have altered the Knicks' current playoff standing.

Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca [27:48]: "The personality of this team changed dramatically... it was a three-year deal, not a two-year deal."
• Peter Rosenberg [30:50]: "Changes the Knicks, Peter changes OKC, Minnesota... it's still evolving as we speak."

Insights:

• Don envisions a scenario where Hartenstein signs a three-year deal, potentially stabilizing the Knicks' bench and altering team dynamics.
• The discussion extends to the broader NBA landscape, considering how such a change might influence other teams like Oklahoma City and Minnesota.
• Peter and Don emphasize the long-term strategic implications of contract decisions on team chemistry and performance.

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5. Fan Interactions and Perspectives

Discussion Highlights: The podcast features live calls from fans, providing diverse viewpoints on the Knicks' performance and team strategy.

Notable Quotes:

• Fan Justin [31:54]: "The Bridges situation hasn't worked out... it's still early in the series."
• Fan Dan [41:52]: "Bridges has been streaky; Hart hasn't been."

Insights:

• Justin expresses skepticism about the team's optimism, citing ongoing struggles and piece movements.
• Dan highlights inconsistencies in key players' performances, particularly Mikhail Bridges, suggesting a lack of the necessary competitive edge.

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6. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Discussion Highlights: The hosts wrap up their analysis, reiterating the Knicks' need to improve offensive execution and team cohesion to advance further in the playoffs.

Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca [35:33]: "It's a high-powered offense that suddenly became stagnant in the playoffs."
• Allen Hahn [31:50]: "Tonight's a big night... They need to play like straight-up gangsters."

Insights:

• Emphasis is placed on the urgency for the Knicks to regain their offensive prowess and address defensive lapses.
• The hosts express cautious optimism, acknowledging the critical nature of the upcoming game in determining the series' outcome.

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Additional Notes:

• Advertisements and Non-Content Sections:
  The transcript includes several commercial breaks and sponsor messages (e.g., Nordstrom, Mint Mobile, FanDuel) which were omitted from the summary as per instructions.

• Closing Remarks:
  The episode concludes with reminders about upcoming coverage and promotional shout-outs, maintaining engagement with listeners.

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Overall Summary: In this episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, the hosts tackle a range of topics from frustrations with the NFL Draft's pacing to in-depth analysis of the Knicks-Pistons playoff series. They critique the Knicks' offensive struggles, explore hypothetical roster changes that could have altered their playoff trajectory, and engage with fan perspectives to provide a comprehensive view of the team's current standing. The discussion balances strategic insights with humorous banter, offering both seasoned fans and newcomers a valuable overview of New York sports dynamics.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers, 403.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In the big city. Don Han, Rosenberg Draft the countdown is now down to 4 hours and 23 minutes for coverage. And of course, Tennessee will be on the clock at 8:00. And nothing irritates me more, guys, than when Roger Goodell walks up to the podium, says, welcome to the 2025 NFL Draft. The draft has begun. Tennessee Titans are on the clock and they put the 15 minutes up. You've had all you've had months. No, honestly, I know they're. How they. How they doing? Like, how's it working for him? It's going to get tremendous ratings. Going to outrate any of the playoff games that are going to air tonight. It's going to outrate anything, right? Even. Even the second, third, all the rounds are going to do tremendous numbers. But how money would it be if he just said, all right, here's Tennessee with the pick. Just get it. Everybody knows, man, it's going to be Cam Ward. They've been sitting on this for months. The second that they knew where they were drafting with the first overall pick, what they were going to do, they've had all that time to work on it. What's an additional 15 minutes going to do? Come on.

[Allen Hahn]

It really is. It's a small thing that everyone complains about. Why don't they just change it? Like, just make the start of the show better? It's immediately starting the show in a boring way out of the gate.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're waiting because the last thing we need is more analysis. Come on, man. I get that. You have to.

[Don LaGreca]

Especially the first pick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, the first pick, because I get. You want the intrigue of possible trades and stuff and all the other picks in between. I get why you've got that. And they lowered to what, 10 minutes once we get to the second round? But Allen, the first pick, come on, just come right out of the box with it.

[Don LaGreca]

I've said this about the NBA as well. Every draft that exists. What commissioner that does it as a show like this because we know baseball it's not really the same, but give me one of the commissioners. Whether it's Gary Bettman, whether it's Adam Silver or Roger Goodell, somebody have the stones? Or at least just care enough about your audience to say, guys, why do we need five minutes? They've had five months. Like, this is not necessary. And this is abusive to our. To our viewers. You could still have that five minutes, but the clock becomes stupid. It's this idea that all the injury begins because now figure out what you're gonna do. Clock is on. It adds this silly idea that there's all of a sudden urgency because there's a clock to it, when we all know that whoever they're picking has already been picked. It's already been decided. There's nothing new that can happen in those five minutes. And if you tell me, well, you never know. What if a team called? They would have already called already. If you want to run commercials, if you want to turn it into some type of banter, whatever it is, then do me a favor. When the broadcast begins, and we know it doesn't begin at 8, that's when the clock starts. Just run the stupid clock.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So officially, first round, 10 minutes, second round, and beyond seven, let's say the 10 minutes.

[Don LaGreca]

The clock. What do you need 10 minutes for, by the way?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Again, I get it. Between the other picks, because there could be trades, but.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, man.

[Allen Hahn]

But why don't they just. When. When they start the show, Right? The show starts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Allen Hahn]

And we're watching, you know, Greenie and. And Mina, and everyone's talking. Why can't they just be like, oh, and we see the clock has. Has started on the first pick. And you see, like, with. With 10 minutes. It was 15 in the first round.

[Peter Rosenberg]

10.

[Allen Hahn]

I'm sorry, 10 minutes before the first pick. You see the 10 go on the clock, and they continue the conversation. And then we know that we're going to see Goodell for the first time in 10 minutes.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't need the chimes. I don't need any of that.

[Allen Hahn]

You know when he should come out?

[Don LaGreca]

Here's when he should come out. You're right. Come out with two minutes on the clock. Welcome, everybody.

[Allen Hahn]

And all the same clock end. Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

And then, you know, then you hit the. And then you go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't.

[Don LaGreca]

There's nothing wrong with. It doesn't, like, you know what it's like? It's like New Year's Eve, and all of a sudden it's five minutes to midnight. Like, we already know. Like, they don't need a five minute clock to Bennett.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you gotta realize something.

[Don LaGreca]

They put the clock on the minute Rockin Eve begins.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If this were Rockin Eve, yeah, every performance would be done by Roger Goodell. This is his time, man. This is where he gets to flex. He's a good looking guy. He gets to announce the picks in the first round. He gets the chest bump and hug all the pics.

[Allen Hahn]

Which, by the way, this is Roger Goodell's time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And don't take away his time.

[Allen Hahn]

You want to know why I'm the most out?

[Don LaGreca]

There we go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We've circled.

[Allen Hahn]

I was already out, but when I saw that pompous hackadoodle do start dapping these guys up like he's cool. And they all have to do it now, like the commissioner and they made the NFL. So they're all going to hype it.

[Don LaGreca]

Up to the greatest night of your life.

[Allen Hahn]

It's the greatest night. And what are you going to do? Tell him? What are you going to do? Go catch his dap and pull it into a handshake? No, he's act like a toolbox, jumping up and down like he's a teenager. I mean, how old is Goodell? 60.

[Don LaGreca]

60 and change.

[Allen Hahn]

He's, he's. No, listen, if I gave Allen a hard time for saying cap, I'm crushing Roger Goodell for dapping people up. It's ridiculous.

[Don LaGreca]

Now here's the other sideshow tonight. 66. Foxy did this this morning on get up and I love it. There's always going to be the 1 video of the guy at home who gets drafted and the girlfriend next to him who goes extra. And everybody's like caught up in the girlfriend. Whether it was the time, that was it. Jalen Waddle's girlfriend took the phone and he grabbed it right back. CD Lamb Waddle was. And then there was the kid, the kid from Brooklyn who got drafted and the girlfriend like bear hugs him and like leans into the camera shot and the mother lifts her up from her armpits and pulls like this. Tremendous moments.

[Allen Hahn]

By the way, how do these people not, like, talk through how this is going to go? Like, let me look, I know that no potential draftees are listening to us right now, but if they were, I'd say lean close to the radio. First of all, how long you been with the girl? If the answer is less than a year, she shouldn't even be on camera. Like, she shouldn't even be near if you want to have her at the party. You guys have been dating for six months. Cool. Let her sit in the back.

[Don LaGreca]

Good luck. Good luck. You know you can't do that.

[Allen Hahn]

Well, these guys are. These guys are idiots.

[Don LaGreca]

Did you see the Russell Wilson one? Russell Wilson. He had this blog there for the.

[Allen Hahn]

Of course we remember.

[Don LaGreca]

That one is classic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, I got to tell you, if I'm just putting myself in my situation, if I were being drafted in the NFL and the camera was in my living room and my dad was there, and I was dating a girl for, like, less than a year, he would be the one to say, she's not. She's not invited.

[Allen Hahn]

No, she's not coming.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She's not coming.

[Allen Hahn]

She can come over after.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on, dad.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, sweetheart, come over here in the kitchen. You go with the family. You sit over here with the cousins.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My father's like, did you buy a ring? No. How do we know five minutes from now, she's still gonna be your girlfriend? Oh, but, dad. Dad, I really care about. Do you love her? Well, come on, dad. I've only known her for a year. Well, exactly. This is a forever moment.

[Allen Hahn]

This is the forever moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're gonna. If you become a great player, they're gonna always circle back to this, and you're gonna say. And you're gonna come to me and say, dad, why didn't you tell her not to go?

[Don LaGreca]

Magic. Imagine Marco saying to you, dad, who's that woman sitting next to?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Exactly.

[Don LaGreca]

Why is she hanging all over you?

[Allen Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Allen Hahn]

I don't know. I barely remember.

[Don LaGreca]

Damn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Damn. Did you see what dad was dating before you? Man, you lucked out. What happened to her? Did she die? Why didn't you marry her? Because that's the thing with the kids. Everything's seven. Are they still alive? Are they dead? You know, so be like. Mark will be like, did she die, Mom? My father be like, no. So if you. Unless I don't see a ring on her finger, she's not invited.

[Allen Hahn]

It's so crazy, too, to think about like this. Like, you have these kids. Like, let's suppose they're 21 years old. Their parents raised them right. Your whole life from birth, which now I appreciate in a different way than I did more than three months ago. And so you have your parents sitting right next to you. Then you have siblings who have. They had to get dragged along to every game. Your life became more important than ours.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's be honest.

[Allen Hahn]

In a lot of the cases here, the one kid who's sitting there getting drafted, their stuff became the family priority. So everyone in that family deserves to really get that Moment. And just because some girl that you started hooking up with was willing to do some things that she learned on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

X videos, now she gets to sit there. Wow. That's.

[Allen Hahn]

That's it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow. And the great chance about my father would be she wouldn't be allowed in the house. So there's not even a debate, like, keep her in the kitchen. No, she's not invited. And my father would be the one to volunteer to tell her.

[Allen Hahn]

But he'd enjoy it. He'd enjoy it.

[Don LaGreca]

Is that the role, though? That's your role as a dad, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it is.

[Don LaGreca]

I'll be the bad guy. You don't be the bad guy. You even can put up a fight, and I'll be the guy like you can.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want you to tell her that I'm the reason why she's not invited. He would be very proud of it. No, it's such a great point because you work your whole life and listen, these opportunities are because of the sacrifices parents make. Taking you to practice and doing all the things. Canceling vacations and everything for tournaments and all that stuff. Alan's going through it now. I'm hopefully going to be going through it soon with Marco. And you're going to know with Maya, you know, and. And yet the, you know, the, the. The girl that you're probably gonna dump five minutes after you drafted is the first one that gets the hug and the kiss and the camera time.

[Allen Hahn]

Although, let's be honest, half of these guys, they. They don't dump the girl. They marry them five minutes later. I mean, the amount of players that are married 22 and have a kid.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At 23 still doesn't make it right.

[Allen Hahn]

I mean, it really does show you, though, that how little game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, what was kind of lost a little bit in the analysis of the Game 2 loss at the Garden was just how critical the Knicks were on the officiate. Now, we saw something similar last year when the Pacers went right at it, and it seemed to work. Do you think we're going to see early in this game tonight, Allen, the Knicks get some calls because of the Thibodeau complaining after Game two?

[Don LaGreca]

I don't. I don't know, because, you know, The Pistons coach, J.B. bickerstaff, yesterday, he leaned into it. It's almost as if they're trying to use the criticism of the officials to their advantage as if to say, like, we have no problem with it. But he said, like Bickerstaff said, we can survive physicality. We've got no Issue with it. Let the referees keep calling the game that way, the way they've been. He said, it gives us an opportunity to defend and our guys can play through it. That sound like a little shade. Does that sound like him telling the reps, we have no problem? Now, keep in mind, guys, Detroit has committed the most fouls of any team in the playoffs so far. Through two games, they lead the NBA in fouls. The way it sounded after Game 2, it was as if they were getting away with anything they wanted to. Not necessarily the case. And the weirder stat that I found is that the Pistons have taken the most free throws than any team. How is that? They foul the most, but yet they got the most free throws. Here's why they're defending better. They're not fouling you on shots. They're just. They're making you feel it. And J.B. bickerstaff is kind of using Thibodeau's complaining as if, like, maybe he could lean into it and say to the refs, we have no problem. Keep doing what you're doing. We love it. So I'm curious to see if that. If it changes or if it just stays the same. And the Knicks have to figure out a way to play through it and also to play smarter than fouling on shots and giving. Putting them to the free throw line at a rate that right now is leading the NBA.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, they're going to have to, right? I mean, this is just a huge, huge game.

[Allen Hahn]

I guess. I know if they were to lose tonight, I don't think any of us come away going, oh, my God, series is over.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I would see the way it looks.

[Allen Hahn]

Of course we're fine. We're fine with a split splitting back, which would give home court back to the Knicks. We're all good with.

[Don LaGreca]

Right? Yeah, that. But you still. I think the offense needs to show something. You. Honestly, guys, it's two days, like, you got to have figured out something. Watching film. I. Not to sound like a psycho, but this is my job. So I watched the game over as I always do. But then today, because I'm, you know, I'm here, I'm calling the game. I. I watched that fourth quarter back, possession by possession, and I charted it, which is something Brendan Brown showed me how to do. The late, great Brendan Brown. And I wanted to see what was happening. Two things I saw. One, the Pistons gave the Knicks the game back. They were terrible. And they were letting the Knicks. The Knicks blew that game. That was a. You should have won that game. The Problem was the Knick offense was God awful for several reasons and it's all the things that everybody's been talking about. One, Brunson, too much dribble, just dribbled the air out of the ball too much. Got a little too fixated on, give me a screen, let me draw fat like he was not. They weren't running offense anymore. Two, Karl Anthony Towns literally was in the corner almost every possession. He went into pick and roll with Brunson like twice and both times he set half hearted screens as if he wasn't really as locked in as he should be. So everyone's at fault here. That offense should have scored enough to win that game. They had possessions where they gave them away with just bad basketball possessions. Not, oh my God, what a great defensive possession there by the Pistons. No. And I'm not trying to like disparage Detroit or anything like that. I'm just telling you what, I watch it twice because I'm like, what am I seeing? And it literally was some of the worst offense I've seen this team play all season. And I'm the guy that told you halfway through the year, this is one of the best offensive teams the Knicks have ever had. For some reason that went away and it turned into a lot of bad body language and a lot of I'm going to do it myself mentality stuff. And they still almost won the game. They've got to get, if they can get that, there's no reason why they shouldn't win game three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the way you kind of described it tells me if they were to lose tonight, that they didn't fix it despite having two days to fix it.

[Don LaGreca]

And then I'd be worried.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And now you're down to one. All right, so now you're in, you're in a. Now you're going to have to win a game in Detroit. And now you wonder, is it ever going to be able to come back?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, think about national TV too. When's the last time they won on an exclusive national TV game?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, there you go. And now on top of all that, the dirty little secret in the room is, okay, maybe you do find a way to win. Or maybe the Pistons just choke it up and you still win in spite of yourself. Well, if it goes six, seven games and you win, you know, Boston won last night without Tatum.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, they're already up two games to none. If they end up sweeping Orlando, which I think is definitely on the table, then you gotta play, you know, you gotta play an extra week you're not giving yourself the best chance up against Boston in the second round. So it was never just about winning it. It was also, you know, taking care of your business. So you give yourself a shot in the second round. If the Pistons hand it back to you, and you have to go six or seven games, and certainly six feels like it's on the table, and it has to be. If you end up losing tonight, well, then you're not giving yourself that advantage.

[Allen Hahn]

Just remember, though, the Celtics do like to occasionally give one back in the.

[Don LaGreca]

Middle of a series just because Orlando. Orlando will be interesting in Orlando, because as we've. We know, it's a new building. It's a nice building, but when Northeast teams go down there, it's 50, 50. You know, the Knicks. It's. The Knicks own the building. I imagine when Boston was down there, it's kind of the same thing. A lot of. A lot of New Englanders probably down there. So that. That's, you know, the home court advantage thing will be something to. To watch. They're a scrappy team. They're going to punch and fight, which they literally are doing to try to bloody up that series, which they literally did with poor. How about that Porzingis? The scene of him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

The blood immediately just. That looked like a horror movie, Right. Like when he covered his head, and all of a sudden you see the blood just start squirting down his. His face and onto the court.

[Allen Hahn]

Man, I'm going to be in Orlando tomorrow night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ooh.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Allen Hahn]

Too bad. The reason I'm there is to work at the exact time that the game is tipping off.

[Don LaGreca]

The game is Saturday night, right?

[Allen Hahn]

No, it's Friday.

[Don LaGreca]

Friday night.

[Allen Hahn]

A Friday night vehicle.

[Don LaGreca]

And when you're done, they're done. Yeah.

[Allen Hahn]

By the way, you know, it's crazy.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm building.

[Allen Hahn]

I'm looking right now.

[Don LaGreca]

Mm.

[Allen Hahn]

There are. Floor. Floor. Like the actual. It looks like first few rows. Row three.

[Don LaGreca]

Give me the number. How much?

[Allen Hahn]

1500 for row three. That. That is a very affordable row three for an everyday playoff game.

[Don LaGreca]

Playoff game. First round. That's. You know, it's first round. But yeah, that. That's. That's. I mean, 1500. You barely get into the Garden at this point.

[Allen Hahn]

You can do either side of the court. And then if you want to just go up slightly.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Allen Hahn]

And jump up to the first section off the floor, which is row 16 overall. 500 bucks. Center. Center court.

[Don LaGreca]

Center court.

[Allen Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

15 rows and a good view. 16 rows up means nobody's playing blocking you.

[Allen Hahn]

There's no.

[Don LaGreca]

Like, no courtside cameras. No, none of that. Yeah, that's a good seat.

[Allen Hahn]

That's a really. I'm looking at it right now. It's a nice seat for 500 bucks.

[Don LaGreca]

Peter, you sound a little under the weather. I don't think you're gonna work tomorrow night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just odd that he still was able to make the trip.

[Allen Hahn]

Yeah, made the trip, but then said, I can't.

[Don LaGreca]

I can't work plane. I had vertical, by the way.

[Allen Hahn]

Natalie would like that, too. I traveled for work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't work. Now what's interesting is the way the series goes. Orlando, Boston will play. Play their potential game five on the 29th. So that. That's when the Knicks game five would be. Yeah, so they. They kind of coincide together. So even if they did play with their food a bit, you know, the Knicks would have to play on that Thursday for their potential game six. So even if. Even if they. If the Celtics gave Orlando a game, if the Knicks have to play game six, that's still two additional games.

[Don LaGreca]

That'd be a Sunday, 3:30, game one. No doubt. And so you Celtics would be Sunday, game one.

[Allen Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you're looking at the Celtics with three days off and you having the quick turnaround, especially Thursday.

[Don LaGreca]

Thursday's your game six. You got to get out of it in six. Seven. Seven, by the way, is on Saturday night. So then there's no game one on Sunday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. But you're still only less days off having to play an additional game. And that's if the Celtics give up a game. The Celtics could still end up sweeping that series and. And then being well rested, where poor Zingis and Tatum can kind of lick their wounds a little bit.

[Don LaGreca]

Like, we're looking at it that way, and I get it, but we can't. We can't do that until, like, this. This game is going to tell us a lot about this team and what they're made of. And can, you know, what they did with their time over the last two days in two things. One, stop making it about the officials, and two, stop making it about you and get back to this. This idea that team. First, if it's a play for you or if it's a play not for you, executed at a high level. There's stuff that I saw in that fourth quarter I didn't love, and it wasn't one person. It was a collection of people that know better and should know better, and they got it. Like, I hope they've had some personal conversations in these meetings, because if you don't have it out in moments like this where we get on the same page and we understand each other, then this is just going to keep happening because no one is strong enough to say something that might piss off the room. But I'm saying it because I care about us winning and losing. That's what I want to see. We'll know tonight if they've had those conversations by the way they play, because Carthagh Towns, he can't go a whole quarter without, I think he touched the ball three times. He made the right play on all three from what I charted. He made passes and he made the right play. But he also, his body language was not great when he knew, oh, here we go again in the corner. Here we go again, I'm in the corner. Like there wasn't enough intensity in him regardless of that. So he's not completely exonerated. Brunson's not exonerated either. And then of course, Tom Thibodeau is the head coach for not recognizing what was happening out there and just calling the same thing over and over again. That can't happen. Race the rudders. Race the sails. Raise the sails.

[Allen Hahn]

Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching.

[Don LaGreca]

Over. Roger, wait, Is that an enterprise sales solution? Reach sales professionals, not professional sailors. With LinkedIn ads, you can target the right people by industry, job title and more. We'll even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign. Get started today at LinkedIn.com results, terms and conditions apply. 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 do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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 DOL dollars per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee. Full [e-mail] McDonald's meets the Minecraft universe.

[Peter Rosenberg]

With one of six collectibles and your choice of a Big Mac or 10 piece McNuggets with spicy nether Flame sauce. Now available with a Minecraft movie meal.

[Don LaGreca]

I participate in McDonald's for a limited time.

[Allen Hahn]

A Minecraft movie only in theaters.

[Don LaGreca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Allen Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to wherever you get your podcasts. The time continuum has been disrupted, creating an alternate 1985. This is.

[Allen Hahn]

Hey, doc, are you telling me you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Built a time machine?

[Don LaGreca]

The Thursday rewrite time. Oh, I love it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You won me.

[Don LaGreca]

So perfect. It's so perfect. Michael J. Fox, noted die hard Knicks fan. We see him all the time at the Garden. Please, beloved celebrity at the Garden.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's beloved celebrity. But let's stop with the die hard Knicks.

[Don LaGreca]

He's at every game. He's at Ranger games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's a Canuck game. He's a Canadian from British Columbia. What does he know about the Knicks or basketball?

[Don LaGreca]

He loves the Knicks. He does.

[Allen Hahn]

It's been done. It's got to be at least 20 years he's been going to Knicks.

[Don LaGreca]

Always at games. He loves them.

[Allen Hahn]

I can't believe. I can't believe Don just ripped Michael J.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right out of the ripping Allen.

[Allen Hahn]

I don't know if.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know if Michael J. Fox ever said it. Well, because he's at the Garden all the time. But why would you on courtside freebie tickets to get. Get on the freebie, John.

[Don LaGreca]

Freebies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on.

[Allen Hahn]

I think. No, I think they're definitely freebies. But. But still he goes all the time.

[Don LaGreca]

Hey, hey, there's no such thing as a free lunch, boys. You know that.

[Allen Hahn]

That's right.

[Don LaGreca]

Always something. You pay some way.

[Allen Hahn]

No, he's got to get on the screen and, you know, hype everyone up. Everybody see him, you know, meet all the people. Anyways, I'm excited. Let's go back in time.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's go back in time. Uh, let's go as far. We're not going too far back in time on this one to kick it off some. Sometimes when we do this, we'll go way, way back in the wayback machine, but just take a dip into the hot tub time machine with me, if you would. To June 30th of 2022 at 6pm, Sham Sharania tweeted. Free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein has agreed to a two year, $16 million deal with the New York Knicks. Fully guaranteed deal for Hartenstein. Let's rewrite this tweet. Free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein has agreed to a three year deal. And if we're doing the math, we'll go to 24 million fully guaranteed deal for Isaiah Hartenstein. Now why is that significant? Here's why. That three year deal would have not only kept him on the roster, but it also allowed the Knicks to give him a bigger extension going forward. So that there was no way he would ever want to leave. He loved it in New York. He fit perfectly. What happened was why they gave him the two year deal was because it allowed him and his agent really would work this out too. It allowed him because only 16. Think about it, for a player like him, $16 million, that was a steal. $8 million a year for him. But at the time, nobody knew who he was. He kind of bounced around. He was in Houston a little bit. He had a cup of coffee with the Clippers, they liked him there, but the Knicks loved him. They thought he'd be a great backup center, a perfect fit. So they gave him a two year deal because the ability for him to play well enough to get a better contract after two years, never in his imagination would he think that anybody would want to offer him what he got from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now why did he take that deal and not stay with the Knicks? Because by rule, when you sign a player to a two year deal, that's early bird rights, you have a limited amount that you can sign him to, percentage to your cap. That's it. Like you, that's it. You're stuck on that number. But another team can sign up to whatever the hell they want. And that's what the Thunder were able to to do. And the Thunder knew it. They targeted him. And it was up to him to decide, AM I leaving $20 million on the table to stay in New York or am I going to a team that's got a great future and taking more money? Well, he took the obvious choice. And how's it working out for him? Pretty good. But if you went back in time and the Knicks decided, why don't we just put one more year on this deal and maybe even bump the money up a little bit, none of this would have happened. He still would be a Knick, so would Dante DiVincenzo, so would Julius Randle, and Mikhail Bridges would still be on this team as well. So consider what that bench would look like with him at center. Mitchell Robinson and a different looking team playing this Pistons team that when Barbara Barker of Newsday asked Tobias Harris, I don't know if you saw this, remember Tobias Harris last year played for the Philadelphia 76ers. That Nick team went in there and smacked them around. So Tobias was asked what's different about this year's Knicks team, personality wise than last year that he saw. He said, it's a different dynamic for sure. That's all I'm gonna say. So if I could rewrite a Headline. As much as I love Carl Anthony Towns, that's the headline. I'd rewrite that. It was a three year deal, not a two year deal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And boy, does this roster look different. And this feels different. It's so. So how far will you take it, Allen? How would this roster look? Because obviously they don't make the Towns deal. So is Randle still here? Would Randle be dealt someplace else?

[Don LaGreca]

I think at some point he would have been. Again, he had to get an extension, but I don't think they would have given it to him here. I think at the end of this year it would have turned into a thing where he, they would have had to figure it out. I think you would have played the year out with, with Randle in the contract. DiVincenzo, if we remember, there were reports that he wasn't thrilled with the idea of Bridges taking his spot in the starting lineup. But if, if we just let all that play out, knowing the Villanova guys, you know, they're like brothers. They would have handled, they would take care of each other. And by the time the season started, DiVincenzo would have done whatever role they would have asked because that's the type of guy he is. And if Bridges had struggled at all, even Schenzo would have played. We all know he would have played. So the team still would have the edge that we're talking about that we're not seeing. And would they even be playing this Pistons team as a three seed or would they have gotten a couple of wins off of Boston and Cleveland and maybe even found themselves at a two seed or something better? It's all stuff, it's hypothetical, we don't know. But we can't ignore the elephant in the room, which is the personality of this team changed dramatically. And it did the minute they gave Isaiah Hartenstein a two year deal rather than a three year deal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And here's what's fascinating about three years later.

[Don LaGreca]

Who knew that almost three years later that that decision would be one that, you know, now they're good. Who knows what this offseason is going to bring in, decisions that they might be forced into because of a decision that they didn't make three years ago?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now let's go even deeper, which makes these types of segments fun. What does OKC look like? What does Minnesota look like?

[Don LaGreca]

That's really good. Minnesota will actually probably be better because remember, they were a team that got from the conference final, now they're a six seed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So they're better.

[Don LaGreca]

And you could argue that they, they Actually could be better because they still have cat. That all worked out well. Like that whole. They knew what they were identity wise. It took them half a season to figure it out. And there are times they still haven't completely figured it out, but that's one. But Oklahoma City, that's the interesting one because Holmgren was hurt a lot throughout the season. He does get hurt a lot. And Hardenstein, if you look, if you watch their team, while of course Shay Gilgamesh Alexander gets all the attention, you know, J Dub and all those guys are, those are the stars. He feels like such a glue player for that Thunder team and he does bring that little piece of grit that I thought last year they were missing in the playoffs, which is why they got knocked out in the second round.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, one little move, one extra year.

[Don LaGreca]

Amazing, isn't it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Changes the Knicks, Peter changes okc, Minnesota, and it's still evolving as we speak.

[Allen Hahn]

I just think it's so unclear with this team, though, because I still don't know what their potential is as currently constituted.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Allen Hahn]

Like, I mean, I guess it just depends what we see from Karl Anthony Towns over the next few games.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Allen Hahn]

Because there's a chance in which we're going, oh, my God, I wouldn't want it to be any other way. They needed what Karl Anthony Towns brings offensively. He's such an upgrade.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, their offense was way better. Like, again, I don't want to completely dismiss the fact that their offense this year compared to last year's offense night and day, but for some reason, in the first two games of the playoffs, that hasn't been the case like it was for most of the season. And for, I don't know what it is, but they got to figure it out.

[Allen Hahn]

And, but also if they end up getting smoked because they're soft, I mean, that really is going to lend itself to this whole concept. Yeah, and that's on the table too, man. Tonight's a big night. I, I, I. It would be fun to come on here tomorrow talking about how they played like straight up gangsters in Detroit tonight.

[Don LaGreca]

And they need to. I, I don. If you don't mind, can we take Justin in Brooklyn?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Don LaGreca]

My tune.

[Allen Hahn]

Live for it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Justin, you're on ESPN New York. What's up, buddy?

[D]

What's up, boys? It's almost. Yo, I don't, don't jump me, Al. You my guy, bro. But I just, I just feel like, you know, there's a little bit of the tune changing here when it comes to, you know, where the team is at. And the patience aspect of everything. And really, what I'm trying to say is we use the comparison with the Eagles a lot, right? And how Howie Rose makes a move kind of before we even see it coming, and. And when he feels like something isn't a good fit, you know, he makes the adjustment. And I feel like, for us, you know, it. We think about the Mikhail Bridges trade, and we think about, like you just said, losing Hartenstein. When we push into this offseason, regardless of how this series goes, I think. I don't think it's too early to say, like, the, you know, the Bridges situation hasn't worked out. So I think, you know, I don't. I don't know what the. What the prompter just said. My point was. But my. My point is actually that I just. I agree with you now, but I do feel like before the series, you a little bit maybe too optimistic about what the team would be able to do, and it's still early in the series, so I get where you're coming from, but, you know, that's. That's. That's what I'm trying to get at here.

[Don LaGreca]

All right, Alan, as a season evolves and you get more time to watch a team, you know, like that, that's allowed to happen just because you say something in October based off of what you project, and then after watching in April, you change it. What does that mean? That just means that I'm paying attention. I'm a student that's watching, learning, and evolving my opinion on something, right? Like, that's what we're supposed to do. I'm not gonna be stubborn and just keep holding on to something I believe in or believed in just so I could be right. I don't care about being right. I want to be right right now.

[D]

I'm talking about last week, like, before the series even started, like, about two weeks ago, when we were calling in, not really feeling the greatest about the series and, you know, was like, all right, we'll be patient and see how it goes. And, you know, now it's kind of more again, to the tune of, like, all right, well, there we are, missing those key pieces, and we recognize that now. And there.

[Don LaGreca]

I had to see it, but, Justin, I had to see it, but we.

[D]

Saw it all season.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, well, then you, Justin, are way smarter than I am because I saw things.

[D]

That's not what I'm saying.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no, no, clearly. Listen. Clearly, that's what it is. I'm seeing what I saw on the floor, which is a high powered offense that definitely wasn't the gritty grind team, but not a team that struggled to score or relied on one guy. Then the playoffs began and suddenly they became a team that relied on one guy and didn't have the grit defensively. By the way, don't talk to me about defense in this series when they've held Think about First of all, the point differential in this series is five and it's plus five. On the Knicks side, number two, Detroit has not exactly tore it up. They got to 100 points in game two like they were giving the game away in the fourth quarter. Again, defensively the Knicks have been fine. The problem is the defense gets you put more emphasis on stopping people when your offense sucks and this offense compared to what they were during the regular season sucks and they've got to get better at it. So that's what I'm seeing. I did not expect to see this and I like if you want to tell me that Detroit just played out of their mind defensively, they're getting after the physical, all those things I would tell you yes, but I don't see that guys. I see a Knick offense that just got stagnant and has to get back to what they were before him, which is a team that moved the ball, shared it. It's not happening right now and we'll.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See what happens tonight. Game on Our air coverage beginning at 6:30 right after Don Han and Rose. 1-800-919-3776 is the number to call. Let's have some fun. Draft on the table. Knicks on the table. So much going on but right now Peter's got something about dueling fans.

[Allen Hahn]

That's right Don, it's FanDuel. Actually if you're not familiar and they're the best place to find all of your favorite player props. Now you can make a heads up play with player performance trends. That means whether you want to bet on a player to score 30 points or put up a triple double, you could check out the latest stats and see who's hot without ever leaving the app. Plus after the game tips off you can even combine live prop bets and prop bets. That is because beps aren't a thing into a same game parlay for a chance to win big. All right, if you don't already have FanDuel playoff time is the perfect time to join you. Get started with $250 in bonus bets. If your first $5 bet wins, just visit FanDuel.com Peter to join today. Make every moment more with FanDuel official sports betting partner of the NBA 21 over in physically present New York versus online real money wager only $5 first deposit required. Bonus issues non withdrawable bonus bets which expire seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See [e-mail] for the gambling problem. Call 877-8-Hope NY or text OPENY at 467-369.

[Don LaGreca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Allen Hahn]

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 podcast. You know of course we have the Knicks and the Pistons tonight and we have the coverage right here in 880. ESPN. MSG Networks also has you covered for game three of Knicks Pistons. Tune into the pregame show which starts at 6:30 on MSG and then tip off at 7. MSG Networks has Knick fans covered with exclusive pre and post game shows and of course the game at 7 o'clock. Remember note the tip time. 7 odd tip time for usually for the playoffs you only get 7:30. 8:00 don't always get the 7. So we get a little earlier tonight here in Detroit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Game time is brought to you by telemore to Irish Whiskey because when it's game time it's early time. The Knicks look to get back on track against the Pistons with coverage immediately following us right here on 880 at 6 30. Coverage of the NFL Draft will be on 1050 starting at 7 and will also be on 880 after the Knicks Tullamore Dew the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew and try the new Tullamore Dew honey during tonight's action Glass enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. 1-800-919-3776 Number to call lots on the table Knicks draft two of the biggest things happening here in New York. Adam's in Staten Island. You're on ESPN New York. Hi Adam.

[E]

Hey what's up guys? Alan, I gotta disagree with you. You know I want to say this caveat that I'm a diehard Knicks fan. I want them to win at all costs. But sometimes when you're a fan of a team that you watch all season long, the numbers don't always tell the story. And this is the most confounding 50 win team. I mean they've had no bench all year. Their their record against good teams is not good. And I don't know how you can look at them as they had a high powered offense throughout the regular season. I mean, they scored a lot of points. But again, I don't always think numbers tell the story of a team or a specific athlete. You know, this team, if we get lucky enough to get past this round, and I know you don't like to necessarily look ahead, but I don't see how you can have much confidence in them. And believe me, I'll be rooting for them as hard as ever. But I just don't see how you look at it that way.

[Don LaGreca]

Act not emotion. 5th best offense in the NBA and most of the season they were top three at one point they were number two. They scored the highest points per game in a season that they've had in a million years. Their efficiency is something we've never seen from a Knicks team going back to almost the 70s, efficiency wise. So I don't know what you didn't like by what you saw. I don't like what I saw in game one and two. Offensively I don't like because that's not the offense that they were for the majority of the season. Now remember, there were 15 games without your best player, without Jalen Brunson at the end of the season as well. So things kind of fell apart. But this is a team offensively that has been one of the best. And not just high scoring, but low efficiency. They've been a high scoring team, high assist team, which means the ball's moving. They have been an efficient team. High percentage shooting. Those are all the things that when you just put it down, you put it in a pot and cook it. That tells you it's a high powered offense. That's where I come up with that. This is not an emotional response. This is when I look at it and I see the numbers and I watch the games and I see what happens from night in and night out. That's what I saw the last quarter of the season, last 15 games or so that slipped. A lot of it had to do with Brunson being out of the lineup. So that, you know, that's how I see and that's how I come up with that conclusion.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bridges can be.

[Don LaGreca]

Does that make sense or do I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sound like I think during the regular season? But, but what you saw here is Bridges has been streaky, Hart hasn't been.

[Don LaGreca]

Graded all at three and Towns has been disconnected.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is a high octane offense, but when there is the disconnect that we've seen, it can be a struggle.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, what they are, Don, they're last year's Yankees.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, they're last year's Yankees.

[Don LaGreca]

It's all or nothing when they hit home runs. They're just a fun team to watch. But if they can't hit home runs, they don't really have much creativity to do things where it's moving people around. Get them on, get them over, get them in. You know, they don't have that kind of a way about it. And so when they lose, it generally looks pretty ugly, you know, and that's the Yankee. And they were sloppy. Like, the Yankees were sloppy, like, it's, they're very, very similar to what last year's Yankees look like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Speaking of bridges, here's Dan in Westchester.

[Allen Hahn]

You're on espn, New York.

[F]

Hey, how's it going, guys?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good.

[F]

Alan, I know you said you analyzed that fourth quarter quarter, and as you saw, if Bridges would have hit a couple of those shots or he didn't reject himself on the backboard, it would have been a much different game.

[Don LaGreca]

It was a terrible corner Three he took the, the, the one straight on was a great look. He just, it was short. Like, what are you gonna do? The corner three he took with, with Carl Anthony Towns, literally. Two, he was a foot away from him. Like chair to chair. Like if Don and I were in the studio, like, chair to chair, like, it, it's, it made no sense that whole play. And you know, if he had hit that, you just go, what a great shot. But he missed it.

[F]

Yeah. My other point is this. I mean, when you look at Brunson, you look at Hart and you look at DiVincenzo, you look at these guys, these guys are dogs. I mean, night in, night out, they are dogs. I don't see that dog in Bridges. I just, I don't, I just, I see. I know, I know. Basketball. It's like those three are playing tackle basketball and Bridges is playing two hand touch.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[F]

And it's just like, it's not wrong. It's something about him. He's, he's just, he's gotta, he's gotta have that dog. He's got to go to the hole. He's got to stop just, you know, just flimsy around at the three point line. He's got to have that Villanova dog in him for us to move on.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. You know, it's funny, Dan. It's a, it's a good point you make for those Villanova guys and the Jay Wright guys. A lot of them kind of have that, that gritty dog highly competitive personality about them. He. He doesn't have that now, is he compared? Of course he's competitive, but it's the, it's that little extra something, right? Like, that's the part that doesn't seem to equate with the other Villanova guys. And again, like I said, they have a big decision to make this offseason, and you can't get caught up in what you paid for for him. You have to think about does this. You know what, who is the caller that brought up Harry Roseman? It's a great example because the Eagles had to step back, right? They took a step back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Don LaGreca]

They didn't like what they. With their roster looked like. People were also doubting Herz at the end of two seasons ago. And it's like, all right, we gotta. We gotta just move a couple of pieces around. Some things that didn't work. Hassan Redick, they got him out of there, and then all of a sudden they're right back in it again. So you know that that's gonna be what this offseason is gonna have to look like. Watch. 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. Hear more of Don, Alan and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.