Hour 2: Knicks Expectations & That Guy Thursday

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 2: Knicks Expectations & That Guy Thursday

Date: October 16, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York

---

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode revolves primarily around the looming start of the NBA season, exploring expectations for the New York Knicks in light of injuries, coaching changes, and heightened fan pressure resulting from the underperformance of other local teams. The second half of the hour jumps into the recurring "That Guy Thursday" segment and a spirited breakdown of the latest headlines and fan reactions across New York sports.

---

Key Discussion Points

1. Broadcast Challenges & Don’s Frustration

• [00:33 - 04:09]
  The show kicks off with Don in a noisy arena, leading to on-air technical and environmental frustrations. The banter highlights Don's irritation and how the broadcast environment for live sports coverage can sometimes be chaotic.
• Memorable moment: Don's silent on-screen rage and threats to "log out" become a running joke, with Peter suggesting fans watch Don's facial expressions on YouTube.

“I really hope someone goes through this YouTube and isolates Don and makes a time lapse video of the anger over the last 30 minutes because it has been... fantastic.” — Peter Rosenberg [03:34]

---

2. Knicks Preseason Status: Injuries, New Coach, and Expectations

• [04:09 - 14:09]
  Alan reviews injury concerns:
  • OG Anunoby (ankle, day-to-day),
  • Josh Hart (back, hasn't practiced with team yet),
  • Mitchell Robinson (absent, workload management),
  • Karl-Anthony Towns (quad, day-to-day).

Discussion of how the Knicks, under new head coach Mike Brown, are introducing unfamiliar load management principles (“a word I want everybody to get used to,” Hahn notes [06:34]), unlike the Tom Thibodeau era.

• Worry arises about whether the Knicks can get off to a hot start with key rotation players unavailable for the preseason finale and possibly Opening Night.
• Pressure Point: With other New York teams floundering, the fanbase has shifted all its hope and scrutiny to the Knicks.
• Notable quote:

“There's this anxiety from the fanbase... Are we going to get any good teams? The pressure... is going to be on the Knicks to win opening night against the Cavs... Everyone else has frustrated us. Now, what can you do for us? It’s unfair, but it’s reality.” — Alan Hahn [11:19]

• Coach’s Tone:
  • Mike Brown preaches patience:

    “We know this is going to be a process. It's not going to happen game one, game two... We’re going to have our highs, we’re going to have our lows. Can’t get too high if it’s going good, can’t get too low if it’s not.” — Mike Brown (played by Peter/Alan) [08:44]

  • Don interprets this as preparing fans for a possibly slow start, warning:

    “If we’re sitting here and the team's like 3 and 5 to start the season, people are going to complain. People are going to have a problem with it.” — Don La Greca [09:39]

---

3. Realism About Knicks’ Ceiling & Load Management

• [14:09 - 19:57]
  Hosts examine realistic expectations for the Knicks’ win total and seed.

  • Load management means “no 60 wins.” “If you’re going to tamp down expectations… that’s a team that’s not going to win 60 games.” — Don [15:23]
  • Home court advantage (top three seed) is vital.
  • Team’s regular season fortunes might mirror the broader East, as Cleveland and Boston are also dealing with injuries.

• Quote on intensity for NY teams:

  “When you're a New York team and everybody's hyping you, it's almost as if they're the defending champions... they're gonna have a target on their back.” — Don La Greca [19:44]

---

4. Fan Caller’s Optimism & Hosts’ Pushback

• [20:29 - 23:39]
  A call from Nina in Los Angeles asserts the Knicks are “an easy lock for first in the conference,” praising chemistry, depth, and Mike Brown’s offensive philosophy.
  • Hosts counter that the Cavs still present problems, and the radical system shift is a genuine concern.
  • Alan highlights how both Detroit and Orlando could be the “annoying needle in their side” teams, comparing them to last year’s surprise baseball teams.

---

5. “That Guy Thursday” Segment

• [26:42 - 37:49]
  The hosts introduce the humorous and cathartic “That Guy Thursday,” where each shares nominations for individuals behaving in uniquely irksome ways in sports.

Notable That Guys:

• Brian Cashman (Yankees GM):
  • Called out for his evasive, noncommittal answers in the postseason press conference:

    “What areas of weakness do you want to attack in this off season?”
    “I'm not going to unpack that today.” — (paraphrased) Brian Cashman, [32:01]

  • Alan: “Just be regular for five minutes and just point out the obvious... Instead, you’re doing the ‘all is well’ thing... It’s an absolute disconnection with the fan base.” [33:00]
• Aaron Glenn (Jets Coach):
  • Criticized for defensiveness with media, deflecting questions about QB usage and decisions:

    “If I throw more and he gets interceptions, then you'll complain about that...” — Aaron Glenn (paraphrase), called out by Don [35:13]

  • Don: “Are you making decisions based on what the media is going to ask you in the press conference?”

Humorous & Memorable Banter:

• Don’s environment becomes a meta “That Guy” example. Peter jokes that Don’s desire for an in-arena background leads to unnecessary stress, stating Don could have had a private room “like a gentleman,” but chased the “good look out in the stadium and he nearly had a coronary” [29:57].

---

6. Jets & Giants Schedule Strengths — Hope & Caution

• [40:29 - 47:48]
  Alan outlines why the Jets could still manage a few wins, citing their “fourth-easiest remaining schedule in the NFL” [41:04]—and projecting about a 3-14 finish.
• Peter underscores that Jets fans should take small improvements as a win, hinting at the draft.
• The Giants, by contrast, face the “third hardest remaining schedule,” and while the defense and rookie QB Dart have shown promise, the hosts warn fans not to get irrationally hopeful for playoffs.
• “Don’t let the potential for the playoffs... get in the way of what you really want to do, which is just build this season and develop something.” — Peter Rosenberg [47:48]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Knicks’ pressure:

  “The pressure… is going to be on the Knicks to win opening night… so that everybody can just exhale and say, okay, we can settle in now, enjoy the season. Because if they don't, you're going to get that frustration whether they like it or not.” — Alan Hahn [11:19]

• On Cashman’s press conference:

  “Just give them something. And he didn’t do it.” — Alan Hahn [34:33]

• On Giants fans' temptation for unrealistic hope:

  “The difference between next Monday being 3 and 4 and 2 and 5 is two different planets.” — Peter Rosenberg [48:36]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:33 – 04:09: Arena/background technical woes, Don’s frustration
• 04:09 – 14:09: Knicks preseason injuries, practice updates, Mike Brown's cautious approach
• 14:09 – 19:57: Knicks win projections, load management, pressure as NY’s “hope” team
• 20:29 – 23:39: Fan optimism call, hosts’ concerns, surprise threat teams in East
• 26:42 – 37:49: “That Guy Thursday” (Cashman, Glenn, Don), fun banter
• 40:29 – 47:48: Jets’ soft schedule/the need for “small wins,” Giants' tough road and fans’ psychological rollercoaster

---

Tone & Atmosphere

• The conversation was candid, often irreverent, with the usual blend of sports expertise and comedy. They maintain relatability by framing fan anxiety as both rational and ridiculous, matching the mood of the New York sports community.
• Hosts are transparent about media routines and acknowledge both their own biases and the shifting, sometimes irrational optimism or pessimism of New York fans.
• “That Guy Thursday” gives a platform for light-hearted rants with genuine critique.

---

Conclusion

This hour provides a full-spectrum view of New York sports fans’ lived reality — hope, dread, high expectations and endless analysis — with the hosts predicting an unpredictable Knicks season and calling out sports figures for tone-deafness and lack of accountability. The episode’s playful combativeness, concern for realism, and sharp humor make it perfect for New York sports diehards and casual listeners alike.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans. Send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets. Mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail] this is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers. Oh, if this is playing the rock, which it wouldn't surprise me. It is Bon Jovi.

[Don La Greca]

It is New Jersey. I'm hoping it was just an opening night thing. They've got a band and he had the rehearsal.

[Alan Hahn]

This is every time. Well, again, from my experience, Don, at the Garden, when you guys remember this last season when I was doing some of the shows from the booth before games, which I'm, I'm contemplating whether or not I should continue that or do it in a, like a sound room, which is, you know, which would have less distractions.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But they, they have that point. It's usually around this time, 3:30 is 4. Where they do all the game op stuff, which includes like for me it was the halftime show and they would do like three times the same song. Three times. Like that can be annoying. But once that's done, it's generally gonna be quiet. Now, Don, for you, at least until. But that's something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But then it's back.

[Don La Greca]

Something.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, not as bad usually though. But they don't actually. Hockey doesn't have warm ups like that. Like basketball. They start coming out at 5 o' clock and they're doing shooting and all that other stuff.

[Don La Greca]

Peter will tell you that during my years with Michael, you know, there'll be times something would happen. An anthem or some kind of testing, something like that. It would be irritating. It sounded like I was in a disco, but like Columbus and here it's been ridiculous. And I think it's just because it's opening night, hopefully.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's hope so. Well, you're excited though, right? Opening, opening night. It's like home opener now. It's not any different. You're on TV regardless. It's not like you're in the arena, but. But still, like there's a little excitement, A little added excitement to this. Or did you get that out of the way with the season opener or at least your season open last Saturday night?

[Don La Greca]

This is ridiculous.

[Alan Hahn]

Sorry, guys.

[Don La Greca]

The anticipation.

[Alan Hahn]

Peter, Peter, I'm telling you, sometimes this is better than a full rant.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, listen, because it's.

[Alan Hahn]

You have to watch this. The. Those if you haven't already go to YouTube. You got to be face and just how angry and frustrated he is. Is he going to take up. Is he logging out?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is he gonna turn. No, please don't leave the video.

[Alan Hahn]

Tell me, tell me. He's just logging out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's frozen. Please don't leave. Don. Please don't. Come on, man. People, you got. Whenever he comes back, go get on our YouTube and watch this. Live this man. And by the way, listen, come on. This is a very Don. This is a very Don thing. But it's okay. It's our first time in the situation. I'm sure the Devils will work with him. We'll find a place, we'll figure it out.

[Alan Hahn]

He can't because this is his like he, this is the team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the dream job.

[Alan Hahn]

And they're doing this for him, letting him use this. He can't flip out right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And, and, and, and they did give him the option, it sounded like of being somewhere else.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he thought this was the better choice.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think one you live and learn, that's all you can do, right? It's like, it's like the Yankees. You just got to try to glean whatever you can from the situation and move on. But if you're not in front of a computer, I recommend you get there because if Don comes back to camera and melts down again. And I really hope someone goes through this YouTube and isolates don and makes a time lapse video of the anger over the last 30 minutes because it has been. And by the way, I don't know if you guys have noticed, I'm now back in the show. I was borderline ending. I almost ended myself. And it's no fault of Alan or Dons covering the. Well, yeah, but it's not just baseball talk. It's the same postmortem I've done for nine years.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

It's just hard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just hard.

[Alan Hahn]

I completely get it. I understand. And except the Yankees. There are. Right. There are times though where there are things that we, we, we have to do because it's the postmortem, it's the end of the season. Yes, yes, it's the same things. Yes, it's the same people and yes, it's the same reactions and everybody all feels the same way, but it's our job to cover this. There are other things to get to, and I promise you we're going to do that while we also wait and see. Did Don just pack up now and go to that room that is more of a soundproof room. So I wonder if he's doing that because he's just had it in the meantime. Again, 800-93776. We have calls to get to, but I also wanted to get to this part of it now. Again, NBA season starts next with Tuesday. Now Wednesdays, when the Knicks season begins Wednesday night at the Garden against the Cavs. We're gonna be out Stout that afternoon. Next Wednesday, for anybody that's gonna be in the city or if you go into the game, our show starts at 3. As always, yes, we will have the YouTube vehicle as well, but we'll be live at Stout right there on 33rd Street. It's steps away from the Garden. It's definitely worth your time to come hang out. I'm already getting the guest list. I'm sending out texts to people to see who we can have come through. And it'll be a great time. You won't want to miss it. So come hang out if you're in the city. But the Knicks play their last preseason game tomorrow night at the Garden. And usually, guys, this is the one. As Don is back with us, the headset's on. And now hopefully it's quieter in the arena. But the final preseason game, which is unlike the NFL and everything else, is generally, it's used as your your dress rehearsal. It's like, okay, now we're going to play our rotation. They'll probably take you through three full quarters, fourth quarter, probably when you sit people, because it's nobody cares about winning and losing in the preseason. You want to be healthy at the end of it. Health, though, that's the concern right now. Today in practice, the Knicks were missing car Anthony Towns, who had a little quad issue. That's Og Anunoby, who. Yes, Katza, you and I. Og Anunoby, an ankle issue that he tweaked and practiced the day before. He didn't practice. Josh Hart's still not practicing. As you know, he had the back thing from the first preseason game. They're ramping him back up, but he's only doing individual workouts. He has not joined the team yet. So this is almost the entire training camp that he has missed with a new system and a new coach. And then there's Mitchell Robinson, who we haven't seen since the first half of the third preseason game against Minnesota where he played terrific and then didn't return in the second half while the rest of the starters did. And we were like, what, what's going on with Mitch? And it's. Oh, it's just, you know, managing. It's all workload management, which is a word I want everybody to get used to. In the Tom Thibodeau era, we never heard words like this load management and, and all that other stuff. This is something you're going to have to get used to. And I don't blame them with Mitchell Robinson because he's had a ton of injuries, but it doesn't mean that you don't like your antenna doesn't get up and go, is, is he going to be all right? Because he did not practice again today as far as that's what Mike Brown said. Will he be ready for opening night? You kind of hope so. You expect it because they're not saying anything more than just, oh no, no. Just managing him, bringing him along slowly. But how different does this team feel if we've got some guys that are banged up now? Again, to be clear, Adenobi and Towns are day to day stuff. They're not going to force these guys into practice. This is a long play kind of thing. On the season that they expect to be a long season and they hope be one that takes you into June for the first time in 25 years. But it's still, this is. We're talking about four players in the top nine on the roster. And with tomorrow expected to be the last preseason game, the question is who's even going to be available to play in this game to get one last look before the season starts in a new system and whatnot. So with that in mind, as guys, we talked about how important a fast start to the season is for the Knicks with added pressure of a lot of the New York teams aren't really exciting anybody. And so there's this concern. Everybody now is focused on the Knicks and maybe the Knicks can, can save the day and, and have a great start, make everybody feel good. Mike Brown said something yesterday after practice that caught my attention. Listen to this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We know this is going to be a process. It's not going to happen. Game one, game two. Could we come out blazing? Yeah, who knows? But it's going to be a process. We're going to have our highs, we're.

[Alan Hahn]

Going to have our lows.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can't get too high if it's going good. Can't get too low if it's not.

[Alan Hahn]

We Got to stay even keeled and know that this is a marathon and not a sprint.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At the end of the day.

[Alan Hahn]

Does it feel like tamping down expectations or is that just kind of coach speak about any season?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's more than tamping down? That's like, that's like, that's like someone just says it's a little bit warm outside. They didn't. There's not a fire. They just said, is it warm out today? And someone just came with a bucket, did the ice bucket challenge out of the blue. I mean, that was, that was, that was taking it way back. What's, what are you expecting here, Coach?

[Don La Greca]

I was hearing Allen throughout the summer whenever I would bring up, well, you know, the Knicks play every night. You know, the Knicks don't believe in load management. And Alan be like, well, wait, let's see, we got a new coach here. We don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

And then you got the injuries. It really sounds like he hopes they don't get off to a slow start, but he wouldn't be shocked if they did. So he's kind of giving you a little bit of a warning. It may not be win the first 12 games and blow everybody away, but God, we need this, guys. And if we're sitting here and the team's like 3 and 5 to start the season, people are going to complain. People are going to have a problem with it.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm worried about that, Don.

[Don La Greca]

And then you're going to be, oh, you're Nick boy. When you're telling everybody, listen, it's a new coach, it's a new system. Give them time. Fans aren't going to want to hear that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They've been disappointed by their football.

[Don La Greca]

They've been disappointed by their baseball. You know, Islanders haven't won a game yet. Ranger been shut out three straight home games. I, I think people are really hungering for the Knicks and if they get a soft open, it's it. Fans are going to be ticked off and rightly so.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, who wins first, Islanders or Jets?

[Don La Greca]

But I don't have the schedule in front of me. I go island big Islanders.

[Alan Hahn]

But, but, but, but it is something as of course, Don's theme music begins again. It is something though that you kind of like there. The team can't control this. The team doesn't like. They shouldn't care about this. But it's something I'm kind of like, like saying to them because, you know, like Michael does like I do like Donda, like, like we all that, that, that cover an individual Team on this. On a. As our side hustle, this job that we do here, getting to talk sports, all the sports, and talk to the fans in New York, we get that temperature every day, right? We got the thermometer out, Peter. We're sticking it right in there. We know the temperature of the fan base rectal. You're saying every day. Well, that's the best way to take a temperature.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, if you want a real temperature.

[Alan Hahn]

And what. No, not that digital nonsense. Not the silly digital thing. But. But what we know is, is that there's. There's sort of like this anxiety of the fan base. Like, is anybody going to be good? Are we going to get any good teams? And so the pressure, whether they like it or not, is going to be on the Knicks to win opening night against the Cavs, to say, okay, they're better than another team that's supposed to be good in the east, and then just rip off a bunch of wins to start the season so that everybody can just exhale and say, okay, we can settle in now. Enjoy the season. Because if they don't, you're going to get that frustration whether they like it or not. It's almost like, you know, a city turns its lonely eyes to you because everybody else has frustrated us. Now, what can you do for us? It's. It's unfair, but it's a reality.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I remember it's almost like Mike Brown knows that and is like, hold on. Before everyone heaps their anguish over the Yankees onto us, just give us a moment to get out of the gate here. We gotta get. Get warmed up a little bit. Sorry, Don. You were saying?

[Don La Greca]

And, you know, and Peter, even though I include myself in this as a member of the media, okay, so this is like media on media crime is that the media eats that stuff up. You know, lose to the Cavaliers and that'll be the headline. That'll be the conversation, like, what's going on with this team right away instead of being a little bit more understanding. I think, you know, they'll be looking to pounce, because we've seen that time and time again. Every time the Yankees or Mets get off to a slow start or lose on opening day. Hey, it's not one of 162. It's. Oh, this is it. This is. They. They blew it. This was opening night and screwed it up. I. I really think, especially the first game and who it's against. It's the defending one seed in the. In the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team you couldn't beat last year.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

I Think even if he got off to a slow start, maybe the fans be a little bit forgivable. But that first game, if you come out of there with a loss, I. It could be a tough day on the radio the next day because I think fans will be really hot.

[Alan Hahn]

800 number 3, 7, 7, 6 for the calls on this as well, because I'm curious about. We haven't really done a lot of Knicks, so we haven't done a lot of. Take the temperature of Nick fans going into this season as well because there was some talk in the summer, then we've gotten away from it. But now as we're just days away from the start of the season and next week will probably, you know, we can definitely dial it up. But just because there's one more preseason game to go tomorrow and just because there's a couple of guys that are now being held out of practice, there's a lot of things being said that we weren't. We haven't been used to over the last four or five years because of Tom Thibodeau. This was a team that everybody always played. No one sat out. There was no such thing as loads load management to. To the extreme. And some fans got frustrated by it. Right. And that was their badge of honor. You know, we don't sit out games. We play every game our guys want to play. Like that was always the badge of honor. So with this, with a different approach, especially like Robinson's importance to the team is almost at the level of Igor Shusturkin. Like I. Does that sound crazy, Don?

[Don La Greca]

Well, just on the surface it does because he's not the player Shusturkin is.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But his impact similar in the fact that he does so many things to keep them in a game because of what his defense does. His. His. The length lob there. Like there's so many little things about him that you take for granted that they've learned about him that you got to get him through. And I said this. If you'll take. Dave and Rick were doing this this morning and it's a lot like what you and I were doing the other day, Don. If I gave you 55 games this season with Mitchell Robinson and healthy for the playoffs, you sign him for that or do you want more?

[Don La Greca]

Well, I would like more, but I have a feeling I'll sign for it just based on the history.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, you have to because you know this. He has. He's a guy that does struggle to stay healthy. And so can. Can Nick fans embrace the idea of Load management, which is the dirty word in the NBA, but a reality with a player like this who's got that much importance because of what he unlocks for everybody else. He. He helps Hunthe Towns be better. He helps Brunson be better. Like, it's just. You're going to have to live with that word or that phrase this year. We never had to say it before.

[Don La Greca]

Listen, it was one phone call, Javi, early in the show, you know, can this team win 60 games? Well, no. If you're going to load, manage, if you're going to tamper down expectations early because you've got a new coach and a new system, then that's a team that's not going to win 60 games. Teams that win 60 games are consistently good all year. They stay healthy all year, and they start hot. And more importantly, Allen, they want to win 60, right? So, hey, listen, maybe you live with 57 if you, if you finish with the one seed. I think the one seed is more important. I think. I think they'd rather have the one seed and we have 57 wins than 62 wins and be the two seed, right? So. But I think. I don't know how important it is to the Knicks to be the 1 seed and have home court, but if you're saying all these things, Alan, that doesn't sound like a team that's going 60 games.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, again, it's. You got to get off to a hot start. 60 is hard. Like, that's a hard number to get to. And it does take a hot start. Like, so you start there. If you have. If they had the same coach in the same system, you could argue like, that you can make that as an expectation. But because. And you heard that's why I wanted to play that Mike Brown, because he's seeing it probably, like, it's a new system. There's a lot to learn. There's a lot to catch on. There's a lot of little moving parts and pieces that we've got to figure out along the way. And it could hit right away, but it might not. And you might, like, just play two or three games over.500 to start the year in the first 20. First 20 is everything, guys. So, you know, like, that's kind of how I feel too, you know. What, what, What Javi asked. You said it, Don, I'm with you. I don't see 60. And I'm like, to me, it's like, is. Is just between 50 and 55 is a more attainable goal. But, you know, you still Gotta get off to a decent start to get there. But you want. You. You can't be. You gotta be top. 1, 2, 3. You can't be any lower than that because you gotta have home court at the least in the first two rounds, at the least. It's too important for this team, and the Garden is too important to them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But with a new coach, he's already.

[Alan Hahn]

Letting you know, don't get too excited.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. And it's interesting, though, because we'll see as the season goes on. Alan, obviously, you'll get a gauge of, you know, by the time we get a little past the All Star break, how realistic the one seed is, and you'll get an idea of that's what they're really going for.

[Alan Hahn]

I think you might know about Christmas. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Honestly, you might. Well, you certainly know if you have no shot at it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And keep in mind, Cleveland's got injuries, too, so, you know, last year they jumped out of the gate and just took off and everybody was chasing them right from the start.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That may not happen this time.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't. Yeah, it might not. So it might be better if the east is what everybody thinks it is. Everybody might be sort of just meandering through the start of the season. It might work out for the Knicks. We don't know. There's a lot of unknown because there isn't, you know, there is not one team that looks like fully healthy, fully operational, and they're going to run everybody over. Everybody's got an issue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The sneaky potential bummer that's sitting out there for you, by the way, is obviously everyone's thinking about, you know, night one against Cleveland.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't forget. And I'm not being that guy. I know the Celtics are not going to compete for the title this year. I highly doubt they're going to completely roll over for the whole league. So you also, Allen, would not want to lose game two against Boston. Minus.

[Alan Hahn]

I gave you the start of the season, the first couple of games, like it's. It's what. It's what, you know, the networks wanted. They wanted those matchups. I think. I'm not going to argue with you. I don't think you're being Celtics boy. I think, you know, it's reasonable now. Jaylen Brown's got to get over a hamstring issue he's dealing with right now. But I. If, you know, Joe Missoula, you don't think he's going to turn that into the motivational speech of all motivational speeches. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everyone's prime. It's telling us nothing. Let's shot. We get to have the rare position of going from being the hunted to the hunter. It's a totally unique circumstance, and Missoula is the kind of psycho who will enjoy that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, I really.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think you're right.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah, it's. It is something. You know, early in the season, you watch those little things. At some point, it'll catch up to Boston. They just don't have enough healthy bodies and talent. They're going through a bit of a gap year kind of thing with that roster. It's fine as Tatum, you know, is going to be out, but I can't argue it. I can't argue it.

[Don La Greca]

Everybody wants to beat the Knicks, too.

[Alan Hahn]

It's almost.

[Don La Greca]

When you're a New York team and everybody's hyping you, it's almost as if they're the defending champions. They're gonna have a target on their back. You know, they didn't even make it out of the Eastern Conference to the final, and yet they're gonna have the target on their back because everybody's been talking about how good they're gonna be, and they're gonna come out of the Eastern Conference. They're the favorites. And I think there's gonna be teams that go in. You're right into the Garden, especially with a bit of chip on their shoulder, and Cleveland's probably thinking, like, all right, listen, we were good last year, man. Nobody's talking about us. Everybody's got Boston dead, everybody's got Indiana dead, or Orlando and Detroit. They're not ready yet. Milwaukee's cooked. You know, there's a lot of pressure on the Knicks to kind of, you know, fulfill this thing, so. And I think a lot of teams around the league are looking very anxious to try to put them in their place.

[Alan Hahn]

800-919-3776 we'll get back to calls. Nina in Los Angeles. Nina, sorry, but how are you guys doing? Big fan. What's happening? Listen, I don't know why you guys are so worried about the New York Knicks. I think you guys are easy luck for the first in the conference. I think last year you guys dealt with Karl Anthony Towns coming in late. You guys have better chemistry now. I like the depth pieces. I know Brogdon just retired, but I really like the depth pieces of Clarkson and adding a little bit more around, I think Mike Brown's going to open up that offense much more compared to last year in order especially that cutting offense to get you guys some more easier Shots and shots around the basket. Less focus on Brunson and maintaining the ball and possessing it like so often. I think you guys are easy lock for one. I'm not a big fan of the Cavs and I think you guys have their number and I wouldn't be surprised if you guys come out and get the one seed and go to the Finals. Well, I mean that's the optimism every Knick fan is looking for. So I appreciate the input. Now, having the Cavs number is not accurate because they couldn't beat the Cavs last year. Even late in the season when the game really didn't mean anything for the Cavs, they still brought it for the same reasons. You want to set the tone, but as I mentioned, they are also dealing with injuries to key players to start the season. The Knicks could still have like their full team ready on opening night. We don't know what Hart's situation is. We just know he's not yet practicing full with the team. He is doing stuff on the side and you can't dismiss him. I think he's a really valuable piece to this team for all the little things that he brings. And the change in system is not just the change in like a different system. It's a whole different philosophy. Running more, cutting harder, like it's a. It's like changing the way they play. So it's, it's starting over again for this group.

[Don La Greca]

It's so weird to be talking about a team so hyped coaching change too. I mean, you never see that. You don't see a team go to the conference final too often. I know it happened in Dallas and the NHL, but to have a team have that kind of a year and now a coaching change and still that have that kind of hype. But you know, the, the Yankees are making it out of the American League. Remember the start of the year, who's going to. Who do the Yankees have to worry about in the American League? Who was thinking. Who was talking about the Toronto Blue Jays as being better than them? Who had the Boston Red Sox making that kind of a little leap? Right. So I think the NBA is a little bit more predictable than baseball, but still, you know, is Detroit ready to pop? Is Orlando ready to pop?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, those are the two teams I worry about the most. Like if you want to do that comparison like the baseball one that you just did, who's this year's Toronto Blue Jays? Like, I would look at, I would look at Detroit and Orlando as two teams that, that could be that kind of Annoying needle in their side kind of team.

[Don La Greca]

And look in the NBA, who had the Cavaliers be in the 1 seed last year.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, nobody saw that coming.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, it's supposed to be the Knicks and the Celtics. Right. So we hope it's the Knicks. It should be the Knicks. But I could understand there should be a little apprehension with a new coach and already talking about, hey, well, slow start, load management, guy's not healthy. It'll be interesting and Wednesday will be all over it.

[Alan Hahn]

How bad, how bad does New York need it, though, after everything you've been through and the frustration off the Yankees, the football teams? Like, honestly, it does feel like there's, like there was already anticipation, but because is it, does it ever happen where because the rest of New York's teams aren't living up to expectations, that it just puts added pressure on the one team that actually does not to throw.

[Don La Greca]

Shade at the nets. But if you are a fan of football and baseball and you have a basketball team, I would say 80% of those people that the team that they root for are the Knicks. Right? So if you're a Jet fan, if you're a Giant fan, if you're a Yankee fan, if you're a Met fan and you're also a basketball fan, then you've been, you've been really hungry to watch the Knicks for a long time, especially all the hype that's around them. So, yeah, I would say a large percentage of this city needs the Knicks to get off to a good start.

[Alan Hahn]

Amazing. All right, we have your call to 800 now, 193776. We'll get them stacked and racked and we'll get to them. But we have that guy Thursday coming up, which is always a lot of fun if you have that guy to share with us, of course. Call in and let us know if you came across that guy that you need to point out that more coming up. Damien Woody, 5 o' clock hour. Stay with us. Don Han Rosenberg, ESPN New York this episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast. Smart move.

[Don La Greca]

Being financially savvy. Smart move.

[Alan Hahn]

Another smart move. Having State Farm help you create a.

[Don La Greca]

Complete competitive price when you choose to.

[Alan Hahn]

Bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with a.

[Don La Greca]

Personal price plan like a good neighbor.

[Alan Hahn]

State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state.

[Don La Greca]

Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and.

[Alan Hahn]

Eligibility vary by state.

[Don La Greca]

Upgrade your laundry routine with a durable and reliable Maytag laundry pair at Lowes.

[Alan Hahn]

Like the New Maytag washer and dryer with performance enhanced stain fighting power designed.

[Don La Greca]

To cut through serious dirt and grime. And what's great is this laundry pair.

[Alan Hahn]

Is in stock and ready for delivery when you need it the most. Don't miss out.

[Don La Greca]

Shop Maytag in store or online today at Lowe's. Imagine fast hydration combined with balanced energy. Perfectly flavored with zero artificial sweeteners.

[Alan Hahn]

Introducing Liquid Ivy's new energy multiplier. Sugar free.

[Don La Greca]

Unlike other energy drinks, you know the ones that make you feel like you're glitching. It's made with natural caffeine and electrolytes so you get the boost without the burnout. Liquid IV's new energy multiplier.

[Alan Hahn]

Sugar free hydrating energy.

[Don La Greca]

Tap the banner to learn more.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. We all have that one friend.

[Don La Greca]

I'm talking about the Yo Yos who set themselves on fire and bathe in pork and beans.

[Alan Hahn]

Or know that one person. I'm here with my family who can't help but be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's not cool. His voice is weird. He's kind of a dork. His brother's a tool. His girlfriend's annoying.

[Alan Hahn]

That guy. I didn't know it was banner night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We won't be out for that.

[Alan Hahn]

It's time for that Guy Thursday. Hey, guys. Anyone want to play some ball with Don Han and Rosenberg?

[Don La Greca]

He's just being that guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, it's the best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just the best intro there is.

[Alan Hahn]

You love that intro, don't you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is very good. I don't even know what my favorite part is, because there's the. There's the Don.

[Alan Hahn]

What do you say? The pork and beans line.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but what are the. What do they do.

[Don La Greca]

They.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They do what and bathe themselves in.

[Alan Hahn]

Bathe.

[Don La Greca]

They set themselves on fire.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, who. Who are those people?

[Don La Greca]

The Bills fans.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then you bathe in pork and beans. And then you have Allen's. Hey, guys, want to play some ball? I mean, there's. It's fantastic.

[Alan Hahn]

Really.

[Don La Greca]

Very few times can you actually circle the greatest thing you've ever done. And whoever made that open and that's it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't speak for. I can't speak for Mike Brown of the New York Knicks, but I can speak for Mike Brown, sure. Of ESPN New York. And that's his best work. Right. That's a masterpiece, by the way.

[Alan Hahn]

Can we turn Don back up because, by God, they're playing Don Lagrequer's music.

[Don La Greca]

It is nice. It's almost like now he can't even be mad.

[Alan Hahn]

But he's not mad now.

[Don La Greca]

I don't. I'm not mad at this.

[Alan Hahn]

Now he wants to let loose. Morphing, baby. Oh, wait a minute. Little birdie told me you were singing Maroon 5 during the break. Is that accurate? I was just saying.

[Don La Greca]

I didn't even notice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was.

[Alan Hahn]

I might have picked you up.

[Don La Greca]

That's how captivating it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You getting know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You.

[Alan Hahn]

You was getting to the point you were so frustrated by the music, you get here under your breath.

[Don La Greca]

Real foul.

[Alan Hahn]

Jacob is not protecting you, Don. I'm just going to let you know.

[Don La Greca]

No, no, I know he doesn't have my. I still love him, though.

[Alan Hahn]

Enough people can love you. But. But you had your silent rants today have been fantastic in the meantime. Oh, this is so you. I've heard Don sing this before. Yeah. Didn't you do this at a beach bash? No, I did.

[Don La Greca]

No, I never did this, but same. Same vibe.

[Alan Hahn]

I think they're playing this for you.

[Don La Greca]

This sounds really good coming out of the jumbotron.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm gonna say. This is not going to get monetized, this video. We can't get in trouble for this. We can't control.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't matter.

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't matter. No, there's no trouble. It just won't monetize.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Bring Don down. That's enough. Just watch him headbang instead. You got.

[Alan Hahn]

You guys get the picture. You know the song my.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That guy Thursday.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, you got to get. Okay, good. Go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, it has to be the Prudential Center. They're doing too much. I love the Prudential Center.

[Alan Hahn]

The rock too much. The rock to you and me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The rock to you and me, as it's known.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Although really, that guy should be Don, because from what I'm told, Don was offered a quiet room where he could have closed the door and done the radio show like a gentleman. And Don, of all people, Alan, you think you would say no frills. I don't care about the look. I don't care about being in the. I just want to have.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm doing a radio show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I'm doing my radio show. This isn't some TV show. And here he is. He wanted to have the good look out in the stadium, and he nearly had a coronary today with all the.

[Don La Greca]

Because I never. Peter, how many years. It never was this Bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But this is your first time being a Devil's man.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but I've been at the Rock before.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you don't remember ever being this bad?

[Don La Greca]

No. Hey, Marty. So that's yours. Is the prediction.

[Alan Hahn]

The fact that you have the scoreboard behind you and all the histrionics is great. Meanwhile, like, you'll see me tomorrow with again. I'll be in that dark room with the black wall. Wall behind me, you know, hostage, video style. But can we get you a light at least? Can we get you a light?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's tough.

[Alan Hahn]

Nope.

[Don La Greca]

You get a newspaper with today's date.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll just hold it up so we know.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Bring the Post with you, please. I've got a that guy.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, good.

[Alan Hahn]

If I bring any paper, it's news day. I've got a that guy. It's a guy that we were talking about. It's Brian Cash. He was being that guy today. Let's be honest. He was looking like, you know, he was walking into that press conference ready for the fight. That he was. Oh, you know, he was going to be defiant. The only thing he was going to allow were just little moments of, you know, yes, you know, we didn't reach our goals. Those types of statements that he would make, right. The season wasn't good enough. Good enough. When you say good enough, that suggests it was good, but it wasn't good enough. Right. Not it was a bad season or disappointing season or that that's what it was. But how about this? Beyond him saying that the Blue Jays just rolled us all year. Beyond, you know, talking about the season not being good enough. Beyond talking about the issues of the season. How about what area? Because he talks like the job of a GM is always to advance the cause, right? Improve the team, correct the weaknesses. So when he was asked what areas of weakness do you want to attack in this off season, his answer, I'm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not going to unpack that today.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, we'll have some free agency that's going to hit that'll create some vacancies. We have, you know, got away the available marketplace via free agency or trades with the committed payroll versus the available payroll thereafter, you know, and again, measure opportunities. Some players is. You're knocking on the door, earning the right maybe to take the next step down below. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Is that that guy?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, he can't. It's. It's kind of built into the job. He's that guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Why is it built into the job, though? It's a simple question. What Areas of weaknesses. If you're a general manager, it's a very easy question to answer. I don't need time to assess or talk to my staff. You all saw it. I could tell you too. This is what I see that we need to be better at.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I suppose there is probably a way that you one could answer that without being completely that guy. You could pick a couple of things where you feel like you could all safely agree.

[Alan Hahn]

Just give the people something to give them. Just give them like what I felt like today was a big fu to the fan base. Instead of, you know what, I need them to feel included and let me just give them a little. Just put a little something. Just sprinkle something out there for the guppies in the water. Just sprinkle it out. Little bit of fish food, something to bring them to the surface and fatten their belly. Right. Instead, you're doing the all is well thing and you're doing the well. We've got to do our process and go through it. Come on, man. Just be regular for five minutes and just point out the obvious. But bullpen wasn't good enough. We tried to fix it. Didn't work. That's got to get better. Bottom of our lineup, got to get stronger. Some of our young guys, we got to keep developing, get them better. Right. We're going to have issues starting pitching to start the season, so clearly we're going to have to be ready for that. Like just. He could say the most obvious things, but at least as a fan, you're just sitting there, you can lap up something instead of leaving them angry. And that's what he. I feel like that's what he's doing when he does stuff like this. We're going to talk about it right now. No, this is the exact time to talk about it. That's how I feel. It's just. It's an absolute disconnection with the fan base. And today wasn't about media. Today was for the fans. They wanted to hear from the leadership of the organization of why once again, we don't have a parade this year. Just give them something. And he didn't do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. No. Year after year, it's become sort of the same thing.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Am I wrong?

[Don La Greca]

No, you're 100% right. And I like. I like where you're coming from with that. I'm gonna stick with New York and I'm gonna stick with the head coach this time. And I'm gonna go with Aaron Glenn as that guy. I love him. We didn't dive into it too much yesterday when we were talking about Glenn, but again with the feistiness with the media and you know, you're owing six. And you know, when someone asks a question about, you know, why don't you throw more with fields, and his answer is, well, if I throw more and he gets interceptions, then you'll complain about that. I'm sorry, are you making decisions based on what the media is going to ask you in the press conference? I am.

[Alan Hahn]

And I know it did sound like. That's a great point, Don. It did sound like I knew you'd ask me and I didn't want to have to deal with it. Why don't you worry about winning the game?

[Don La Greca]

And I, and I listen, I don't think, think he's motivated by that. But just to even bring that up, you know, give me a football answer. Don't give me like, well, no, of course. Why wouldn't they complain? Aaron, you're owing six. That was historically bad offensive performance in London. All right. I mean, come on, man. You were, you were aggressive to start, and I got that. I, I mean, I, I didn't love it, but I guess you wanted to kind of lay a new groundwork that there's a new sheriff in town. You're owing six. Don't start playing making it seem like you're making decisions based on what the media is going to be asking you. So I thought he was that guy yesterday and I don't like how he's handling this.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it is interesting that he does. He did put that back on the writers. There was a lot of things that he revealed yesterday in his address that kind of like, really caught my attention and like, just in regards to Justin Fields and how they feel about him. And when he's asked about the offense and like, you know, you're throwing it, you're having him become a pocket passer when we all know the guy is at his best when he's using his legs and he's running around and, you know, he admits that the approach is a situations by situation deal, that what the, what the Broncos were doing were, was dictating what they were going to do. And when he explained it, the one thing I will say in his defense, as we're talking about a guy that we feel might be over his head, I will say that his responses to some of the challenges to strategy, he had an answer for everything. He had a reason. And I'll at least give him that. I will say again, while I'm with you yes, Don, you know that kind of stuff is not necessary. You're being that guy. But I continue to contend when it comes to Aaron Glenn. If we all can agree that he's not getting fired in year one, and if he does, that's a Woody Johnson problem, which would continue to scream. The organization has an issue at the very top and nowhere else. But if we're allowing players to develop, if we're allowing quarterbacks to develop, living with mistakes as they go through it, why can't a rookie coach develop? You're going to tell me that he can't learn from mistakes, that he can't go through something once or twice and make a mistake and make a bad decision, and then the next time it comes around learning from it, knowing, okay, I remember when I did that, and that was dumb. Let me. Let me fix it. Why can't you do that with a coach?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why?

[Alan Hahn]

Todd Bowles went through that with the jets, but learned some stuff, and then he went somewhere else and became a really good coach.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's the thing.

[Alan Hahn]

What do you got?

[Don La Greca]

He.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Aaron Glenn will get the opportunity to do that, and I think he will be allowed that grace once he wins a couple games. You can't. No one has grace for a zero. They just. You got to get like, one of these games that they're capable of winning because, Al, there's already been two or three of them.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But how to just get a couple.

[Alan Hahn]

How many of the six losses were because he was incompetent or because the talent was incompetent?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, it's a fair question. No, no, it is a fair question. And I would. I wouldn't. I wouldn't let him off the hook. I'd say for three of them, I have him squarely in there as well. But certainly the talent's been an issue in all the games. But I think that as soon as he wins one or two of these games and they realize, fans say, okay, it's not going to be a historically bad season, just going to be a bad first season, I think they'll be willing, but until they get there, they're still viewing. Oh, my God, are we going to go 0:17? Are we going to go 1 in 16? Are we gonna go 2 and 15? I think once you get to, like, the 3 and 4 and 5 win area, everyone will calm down and let Aaron Glenn get a chance.

[Alan Hahn]

I think you're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a panic there, Allen, because of that zero, and it was sitting right there for him last week. They could have had that game it was meant for them to get. And it's like in moment at the end of the first half and the end of the game, it felt like they didn't want it. And that's, that's a tough feeling for fans.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's undeniable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whoever you're repping this season, carry the team like a pro with ultra durable officially licensed YETI drinkwear. Whether it's the NFL, ncaa, mlb, NHL or mls, YETI has you covered with drinkware in all your favorite team colors. So if you're a serious fan, now's the time to get serious about your gear. With officially licensed YETI drinkware built for.

[Don La Greca]

The long haul, find all the teams.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You root [e-mail] or a Yeti store near you. Talk about stepping up.

[Don La Greca]

It's time to level up your game. Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments.

[Alan Hahn]

The electricity is palpable. Step up your game.

[Don La Greca]

With no annual contract required. It's the ultimate fan experience.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Level up.

[Alan Hahn]

For More on the ESPN app or.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At stream.espn.com Sign up now.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right, so I got a couple of stats for you now. Again, I will acknowledge the morning show because they brought this up. It caught my attention and I thought.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And if you don't acknowledge it, God forbid, I mean emails will get sent, get upset, people will be upset.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, yeah. I mean look it, it's, it's media, it's radio. People steal all the time. But I will acknowledge I as heard on DNR this morning. If you want to be a Jets fan, here's reason for optimism.

[Don La Greca]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Do you want to believe that Aaron Glenn will actually win a game, if not more than one game? Some fans don't want them to because they want that number one pick and get the quarterback. I understand. But the reason to believe why there is the potential for the jets to escape this season with without a zero in the win column is this. Of the remaining schedule, the jets have the fourth easiest remaining strength of schedule in the entire NFL. Fourth easiest. So they've got teams like the Saints, the Browns, the Dolphins, the Bengals Panthers this week, which again and I acknowledge that all those teams I just mentioned, when you look at their remaining straight to schedule and you see their easier opponents the jets are on every one of them. Yes. And then the Ravens too, which, by the way, the Ravens are not the Ravens that we used to know. They are not good.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

So you gotta feel like if they just, if, if Glenn is true to what he says about internally and the players still connected and they are just cleaning up some messes. They felt good about their defense last week and they build off that. He talked about consistency with their defense and then still building off an offense that has been a struggle. We don't know if Garrett Wilson's even going to play this Sunday, but the schedule does provide them the ability to at least play opponents that are as bad as they are. And, and you'd think just, just by, I don't know, even by accident, you might win one or two of these games.

[Don La Greca]

They're not going to go in 17, and that's really, really hard to do. But, but I also don't see them winning all these games either. Now, I watched a lot of the, the Bengal Packer game and listen, Flacco got off slow, but the packers couldn't put him away until late. If the Bengals play that way against the jets, they'll beat the Jets Browns, you know, that's could be a win. Patriots are a lot tougher. Ravens eventually are going to figure it out, right? Falcons are a very, very good team. Apparently they just beat up on the Buffalo Bills.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, the Falcons are considered one of the strong teams that they're going to face to finish the year.

[Don La Greca]

Looking at this schedule, guys, I would say the jets are going to finish 3 and 14.

[Alan Hahn]

I think this with 3 or 14 still be bad enough to, to, to get the number one seed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, just remember, it'll be in the conversation for it. They'll be in the conversation for it at 3 and 14. But remember, 3 and 14 means they go 3 and 8 down the stretch. After going 06, I almost feel like if you're a Jets fan, I know this sounds horrible. You take that. It's better.

[Alan Hahn]

The Van Halen sounds worse.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, they don't know real quick, Don. Just. They don't know that the speakers work. They can't tell that the speakers work. I, I know for a fact it works.

[Alan Hahn]

I need Panama right now.

[Don La Greca]

You rehearse in the garage and then you come here and you just mic check, check, 1, 2.

[Alan Hahn]

That's it. Sibilance, sibilance.

[Don La Greca]

And then you move on, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, it does.

[Don La Greca]

I mean, it, it, it takes a set to cover Van Halen too, by the way. This guy sounds Great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But when is this band, when is this band playing pre game?

[Don La Greca]

They're probably playing in the intermission.

[Alan Hahn]

Intermission? Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't even know that's a thing. I don't know if I've ever heard a band during intermission at hockey.

[Don La Greca]

Well, they got Nashville. Hockey has bands And NBA has DJs.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, that is. Oh, yeah. If you go to connections for thing you can't.

[Don La Greca]

When you get married, do you want an NBA wedding or an NHL wedding?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you know me, I'm an NBA wedding all day.

[Don La Greca]

That.

[Alan Hahn]

Meanwhile, and again on the. If you're a Giants fan and you feel like, all right, with dart out there and. And with scatter boo and the way this defense can play, they got. They really could have won three in a row, but they've got two here. You can really build off this. We've even talked about the trade deadline. Do they get aggressive? Do they make some moves? But one thing to look at is for the Giants, they have the third hardest remaining schedule in the entire NFL. I mean, you know, we've, we've talked about this. The packers, the Lions, the Eagles, who, you know, they beat them once. Now the Eagles are going to want payback. Denver, a good defense. You're going to see them this week. 49ers team, that is always a challenge. And the Patriots guys are considered a tough opponent because they've gotten off to a really good start to this season and they got a little something going on up there in New England. So, I mean, did we get too excited about the Giants and could this thing flop because they got to play a lot of really good teams now to finish out this season.

[Don La Greca]

Well, did you, did you get excited thinking this was going to be a playoff team because they beat the Eagles, or. I was just excited because it was an entertaining game and they look like they can actually play ball. Okay, now, I heard a caller on K earlier saying, don't make a trade.

[Peter Rosenberg]

For a wide receiver.

[Don La Greca]

You're not making the playoffs anyway. Make that deal during the off season. And I'm like, well, that's somebody who's looking to see if they're going to make the playoffs. I just want to give the Giants the best chance to function and give my quarterback the best chance to be successful. And success to me, I'm going to be like the Yankees. I'm going to find different ways to succeed besides winning. But I think it fits here of just, you know, being a good team, being competitive, making sure you got yourself a quarterback. And if that means you lose to the packers and you lose to the Lions and you lose to the Patriots, so be it. Just don't lose 40 to nothing, lose 27, 24 to the Packers. I'll feel better about it, you know, over five times, Peter. And not be in the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a different story. Well, here's the hard part. If you're. If you're a Giants fan, it's not allowing your expectations to be the thief of joy. Because if the Giants win this weekend, Allen against the Broncos, and let's say the Commanders lose to Dallas, but certainly on the table, Dallas can score and the Commanders don't stop. A lot of people, all of a sudden you're a Giants fan, you're going, wait a second, we're three and four. We're tied in second place right now. We're in the division. Let's see what we can do. By the way, I totally get that mentality. If it was my team, I'd feel the same way. But what you don't want to start doing is start getting sort of irrational hopes for this year and letting that get in the way of what you really want to do, which is just build this season and develop something over time and know if at the end you do. In fact, I'm sorry, guys, I'm not able yet, even after a few games and two wins, to say you know for a fact who Jackson Dart is. You are still in the process of deciding whether you have found the quarterback and you have something to be excited about moving forward. You know what I'm saying?

[Don La Greca]

Alan?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't let the potential for the playoffs because the NFL's wacky start throwing you into a tizzy. Develop this team, develop this quarterback.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the plan all along for the Giants. That's how they've always approached this. But when you're a fan, it's very difficult to squelch anticipation when you see something that finally looks like it's going to hit and you want it to turn into that magical run, that moment that you go, okay, now we can start winning. Right? And you got to tell a fan. Nope.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you know how big this week is for that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, it's huge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you end up beating the Broncos, which are on the table.

[Alan Hahn]

They are. Yeah, it's on the table. It's not crazy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Broncos. The Broncos are not a bad team, but they can be had the difference emotionally in this city. You know, think about a Tessa, for example. Think about the biggest Giant fan.

[Alan Hahn]

Think about a day called Monday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The difference between three and four. I don't care what they say. I know they'll tell you. Oh, no, we just want to see Jackson Dart play. Well, the difference between next Monday being 3 and 4 and 2 and 5 is it's two different planets.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You almost. You almost hope they go to 2 and 5 so they could be realistic. 3 and 4, we're talking. We're going to be starting to make wild card weekend plans. I mean, that's where this thing is going.

[Don La Greca]

I guess. The thing that I fear, Peter, he's right about everything you say is that, all right, you start to win a couple of games here and you start to believe this team can make the playoffs. And then he has what most rookies will have is the Saint game again, where he turns the ball over four times.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure.

[Don La Greca]

Now, is the fan base going to be like, oh, he's just a kid.

[Alan Hahn]

Or I can't believe it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We were.

[Don La Greca]

They sucked us in. It's another bad quarter. Like, it's. It's a tough, tough city to do that in. And I'm not saying you got to react to the fans, but, you know, it's. It's part of it, too. It's like I just want to sit back and just see the team play well. I want to win games, and I'd love to see this team be a playoff team. I remember 1994. Giant fans remember 1994. The Giants got off to a miserable start. They had Dave Brown. The division wasn't very good, the conference wasn't very good. And they found themselves, like being alive for the last day of the playoffs, for a playoff spot on the last day of the regular season. They had to beat the Dallas Cowboys, but the packers had to lose. And the Cowboys mailed it in because they already clinched. So the Giants won the game, but the packers beat Tampa. And the Giants missed the playoffs. And it was disappointing, but it didn't lead to anything because Brown wasn't the guy. And 95, 96 happened and, you know, everything kind of fell apart from there. I don't want something fugazi. I want to build towards something here. And I don't want to be on the fast track. I want it to be whatever the natural progression is. And I want to get a wide receiver to help the kid grow. Not I want to sneak it to the playoffs. So I don't know what they're. With that tough schedule. I just want to see what it looks like for the Jets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But if his defense starts becoming that.

[Alan Hahn]

Defense, let's carry the boys, let's carry this. Wow. Yep, goal was scored. We hear. Don, that's excellent. Great timing. Thanks for listening to my Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.