Hour 2: Knicks Concern & Fraud Alert Friday - Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast – Episode: Hour 2: Knicks Concern & Fraud Alert Friday

Release Date: May 2, 2025

Introduction

In this lively episode of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into the New York Knicks' recent performance, their upcoming playoff series against the Boston Celtics, and engage listeners with their signature segment, "Fraud Alert Friday." Combining insightful sports analysis with humorous fan interactions, the trio offers a comprehensive and entertaining discussion for sports enthusiasts.

Knicks Performance Analysis

The episode kicks off with Peter Rosenberg celebrating the Knicks' latest victory:

Peter Rosenberg ([00:14]): "Knicks win. Knicks win. The Knicks win. And will face the Celtics now starting on Monday, and a best of seven."

However, beneath the celebration lies concern about the team's offensive strategy. Peter critiques the Knicks' inconsistency on offense, especially when key players underperform:

Peter Rosenberg ([01:50]): "This is not a good offense. There are just so many periods, Allen, where they cannot get any offense that looks like anything."

Alan Hahn responds by contextualizing the Knicks' struggles against a strong defensive team like the Pistons:

Alan Hahn ([02:15]): "This is a Pistons team that in the second half of the season was one of the top five defenses in the league... They know what you're running. Do you execute better than they can?"

Discussion highlights include the Knicks' offensive efficiency during the regular season versus their playoff performance. Despite finishing fifth in offensive rating and being top 10 in scoring, the Knicks falter against elite defenses:

Alan Hahn ([04:18]): "Open threes are critical and when you miss them, they're even more critical because you don't get a lot of them in the playoffs."

Peter adds concerns about turnovers and bench depth:

Alan Hahn ([06:34]): "The Knicks really had a bench issue in this game... They have to figure out how they run their offense and not allow Carl Anthony Towns to completely disappear."

The hosts also discuss specific player performances and the need for strategic adjustments against the Celtics:

Alan Hahn ([12:14]): "It's about shot making and I know that sounds like a cop out, but I'm telling you, open threes are critical."

Fraud Alert Friday: Assessing Fan Loyalty

Transitioning from the Knicks' performance, the podcast enters the humorous "Fraud Alert Friday" segment, where the hosts evaluate whether certain fan behaviors qualify as "fraudulent." This segment features real-time interactions with listeners, blending sports talk with playful banter.

Listener Interactions:

David's Call ([09:04]): David commends Peter for maintaining gentlemanly behavior despite being a Celtics fan.

David: "Peter, I want to give you your flowers because you're a gentleman."
Tom's Debate ([16:45]): Tom challenges Alan's alleged favoritism towards the Celtics, sparking a spirited exchange about fan loyalty.

Tom: "You just accused Peter of being a Homer with the Boston Celtics."
Michael Grodsky's Inquiry ([26:13]): Michael questions whether wearing a "Fanatic" shirt while being a Mets fan constitutes fraudulent behavior.

Michael: "So basically, it's impossible to find one. Am I a fraud for loving the Fanatic while being a Mets fan?"

Hosts' Responses:

Peter Rosenberg ([15:57]): "Sometimes there is something that happens that is bigger than your team allegiance. And I think when those moments happen, I can't call that a fraud."
Alan Hahn ([31:52]): "He is a five. That's a five. Five alarm fire, no doubt."

The hosts introduce the "Wahlberg scale of fraudulence," humorously rating fans' loyalty based on their adherence to team allegiance.

Notable Quotes

Peter Rosenberg on Knicks' Offensive Issues ([01:50]):

"This is not a good offense. There are just so many periods, Allen, where they cannot get any offense that looks like anything."
Alan Hahn on Defensive Challenges ([02:15]):

"This is a Pistons team that in the second half of the season was one of the top five defenses in the league... They know what you're running. Do you execute better than they can?"
Peter Rosenberg on Fraudulent Behavior ([15:57]):

"Sometimes there is something that happens that is bigger than your team allegiance. And I think when those moments happen, I can't call that a fraud."
Alan Hahn on Fan Consistency ([36:52]):

"The fraud behavior, the first evidence of it is the lack of consistency and commitment."

Conclusion

The "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast masterfully balances in-depth sports analysis with entertaining fan interactions. By dissecting the New York Knicks' playoff challenges and engaging listeners through the playful "Fraud Alert Friday" segment, the hosts deliver a compelling episode that caters to both passionate fans and casual listeners. Their blend of humor, insight, and genuine discussion ensures a rich and engaging listening experience.

For those who missed the episode, subscribing to the podcast on your preferred platform ensures you stay updated on all things New York sports and more.

Transcript

Don Hahn (0:00)

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

Peter Rosenberg (0:04)

That sounds like heaven to me.

Don Hahn (0:05)

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

Peter Rosenberg (0:14)

Rosenberg and Alan Hahn on a beautiful Friday in the Tri State. Knicks win. Knicks win. The Knicks win. And will face the Celtics now starting on Monday, and a best of seven. Also, if you're the kind of person who might be interested, incredible weekend of boxing, including a fight card tonight in in the City in Times Square for the first time ever. And the card has Ryan Garcia in action, Devin Haney and a title fight for Teofimo Lopez for Teofimo's junior welterweight title. And Tfimo is from Brooklyn as well, so that's going to be on the zone. Canelo has a fight from Saudi Arabia tomorrow as well. So a lot of fights this Cinco de Mayo weekend. But right now, of course, we are talking Knicks and I teased it before, Ellen, you know, if, if the Knicks lose this series that they, that they pulled out, if they, if they had lost it, no matter how you feel about it, the conversation around Tibbs would have gotten very loud. And after last night, I did come away just feeling like this is not a good offense. There are just so many periods, Allen, where they cannot get any offense that looks like anything. It just so often turns into isoball for Brunson, you know, who shot the ball like 40 times yesterday, God bless him. But that it's ideally, I think, in a great offense, not what you're looking for. And then frankly, when he's not in the game, like last night, Allen, when Detroit went on that 20 to 2 run, some of which he was out for, they just look completely lost offensively when he's not on the floor. Am I, am I missing something there, to me, seems to be a bit of a problem with this Knicks offense.

Alan Hahn (2:15)

How much of the problem has to do with the Detroit Pistons? Like, you do have to weigh that part of it. This is a Pistons team that in the second half of the season was one of the top five defenses in the league. They, they match up a certain way, they play a certain way. They were trying to take the head of the snake out, which is what everybody tries to do. And it does make your offense clunky. And they get sticky. And in game two and in game five, the same things happen where Brunson missed some early shots. He got in his head and he even blamed himself where he started looking for his shot just to get himself going. And then everything falls apart around that. You so so along with looking at the team and saying what's wrong with this offense? You do have to also say what's wrong with this offense is you're playing an elite defensive team that is that knows your scouting report because they had a week to prepare for it and they've played you for six games. By the six, like by the fourth game everybody knows what you're running. Right. There's nothing new. They know what's coming. It's a matter of do you execute better than they can. So to be fair, you do have to give credit where credit's due. And that Pistons team plays really hard defensively, physical. There was a lot they were allowed to do physically this offense this year, as I've tried to tell many people for most of the season, was a top three offense. They ended up finishing. They're still top 10, but they were fifth in offensive rating, top 10 in scoring. One of the highest scoring seasons the Knicks have had in a long time. Again, efficiency, wise shooting assist, the highest assist they've had in forever. So the offense during the season was very good. But I'm not denying the fact that they, there is clearly something they've got to figure out when it comes to how they run their offense and not allow Carl Anthony Towns to completely disappear. So going forward, you're playing against another elite defensive team in the Boston Celtics. I don't think it's going to get better, right?