Hour 2: Knicks Fatigue

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary Episode: Hour 2: Knicks Fatigue
Release Date: March 21, 2025

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Introduction to Knicks Fatigue

In this episode, hosts Alan Hahn, Don LaGreca, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into the New York Knicks' recent struggles, attributing their performance issues primarily to extreme fatigue from a demanding travel schedule. The discussion outlines how back-to-back games, extensive travel across time zones, and insufficient rest have adversely affected both the players' physical and mental states, leading to subpar performances on the court.

Challenging Travel Schedule and Its Impact

Alan Hahn sets the stage by describing the grueling travel itinerary the Knicks have endured:

“[00:36] Alan Hahn: ...fly out to San Antonio after spending the previous week out west in LA. Home. We were home for a day and a half, two days tops. Came home Sunday, played a game Monday, left, Tuesday, right. All right, that's a legit thing.”

The constant travel between the West Coast and the East Coast has left the team with minimal rest, resulting in severe exhaustion. Don LaGreca echoes these sentiments, emphasizing the physical toll:

“[08:39] Don LaGreca: ...if you were ever an athlete... fatigue is a real thing. Why the hell do you think load management exists in the NBA?”

Critical Analysis of Recent Games

The hosts analyze the Knicks' recent losses, particularly focusing on the defeats against San Antonio and Charlotte. Alan Hahn criticizes Coach Tom Thibodeau's decision to stick with an eight-man rotation despite the evident fatigue:

“[06:17] Alan Hahn: ...this was a mistake. This was the game that you say to yourself, I got to give my guys a little bit of a break... But he played this thing straight.”

Don LaGreca adds that Thibodeau's reluctance to utilize bench players has hindered the team's ability to recover and perform optimally:

“[16:16] Don LaGreca: ...you are if you were ever an athlete... fatigue is a real Thing.”

Debate Over Coaching Decisions

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Coach Thibodeau's strategies. While Alan Hahn defends Thibodeau's legacy and past successes, he questions the current coaching approach amid the team's fatigue:

“[06:17] Alan Hahn:... you're heading in the wrong direction right now.”

Don LaGreca challenges the coach’s old-school mindset, advocating for more rotation and trust in bench players to mitigate fatigue:

“[20:45] Don LaGreca: ...Tibbs is still too old school. It's one game at a time, and tonight's game's the most important game.”

Player Performance and Team Morale

The conversation shifts to individual player performances affected by fatigue. Alan Hahn highlights how key players like Jalen Brunson are instrumental to the team's success and how their tiredness is palpable on the court:

“[14:08] Don LaGreca: ...they have to fight through fatigue... the loss is not a lack of talent, lack of effort, and that's fatigue.”

Don LaGreca emphasizes the mental toll on players, referencing post-game comments from Josh Hart:

“[19:25] Alan Hahn: ...Josh Hart worried about where the team is right now. Mental toughness... we have to come out next game with more intensity, more desperation.”

Listener Calls and Perspectives

The episode incorporates several listener calls, reinforcing the themes of fatigue and coaching decisions:

• Marco from Queens criticizes the bench’s defensive performance and supports the need for Coach Thibodeau to utilize bench players more effectively.

  “[25:35] C: ...your bench is terrible. Guys don't even play defense.”

• Dave from the Car discusses the importance of Jalen Brunson and expresses concern over the team's reliance on a limited player rotation.

  “[27:24] Don LaGreca: ...if you're already down your best player, any team in the league is going to be in trouble.”

• Dan highlights the physical and mental exhaustion from back-to-back travels and its impact on game performance.

  “[30:50] D: Happy Friday, boys... fatigue is certainly a factor in how you play.”

Implications for the Future and NBA Scheduling

The hosts and callers ponder the broader implications of the Knicks' fatigue on NBA scheduling practices. Alan Hahn draws parallels with other sports, questioning why the NBA hasn't adapted its schedule to accommodate the modern athlete's needs:

“[35:13] Alan Hahn: ...the days of Cal Ripken Jr. Playing every game, Michael Jordan playing every game, that just seems to be over now.”

Don LaGreca supports this viewpoint, suggesting that the NBA needs to rethink its scheduling to prevent player burnout:

“[36:10] Don LaGreca: ...they have a schedule of 16 days or 22 days where you're on the road for 16 nights...”

Conclusion and Forward Look

The episode concludes with a consensus that the Knicks' current trajectory is unsustainable without significant adjustments to coaching strategies and scheduling. The hosts express concern over the team's ability to recover and perform in the postseason, urging for changes that prioritize player health and effective rotation.

Additionally, the hosts hint at upcoming topics, including Sam Rosen’s retirement, signaling a shift towards celebrating long-standing sports personalities.

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Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn [00:36]: “...fly out to San Antonio after spending the previous week out west in LA... that’s a legit thing.”

• Don LaGreca [08:39]: “Fatigue is a real Thing. Why the hell do you think load management exists in the NBA?”

• Alan Hahn [06:17]: “This was a mistake... give my guys a little bit of a break.”

• Don LaGreca [20:45]: “Tibbs is still too old school... tonight's game's the most important game.”

• Marco [25:35]: “Your bench is terrible. Guys don't even play defense.”

• Dave [27:24]: “If you're already down your best player, any team in the league is going to be in trouble.”

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This comprehensive discussion emphasizes the intricate balance between managing a demanding schedule and maintaining peak team performance, highlighting the New York Knicks' current challenges and potential pathways forward.

Transcript

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. All right, it's the 4:00 hour. We go with Don Lagreca. I'm Alan Hahn. Hopefully we get Peter back on Monday. We have been texting with him, which is good, but hopefully we get him back on Monday and we can be whole. Once again, I apologize for the last couple of days, but the, the travel schedule, Donnie, like, there was just no way to do everything right. Like that couldn't fit it in. And it goes along with what. I mean, just think about it. The travel that I've had to deal with with the Knicks, it certainly pales in comparison what the players have had to deal with. It has been a crazy schedule. And just to let you in on it, fly out to San Antonio after spending the previous week out west in la. Home. We were home for a day and a half, two days tops. Came home Sunday, played a game Monday, left, Tuesday, right. All right, that's a legit thing. And you played Monday and then after San Antonio, you could see it just knowing anything going like, you just see it physically, you're looking at the players and it's like I'm calling the game and I'm thinking to myself, if they can just get a little run together, I think they can win this game. And I thought they were going to win that game. Watching the third quarter, OG gets going, they. They make a run. And now in my. As I'm calling the game of Tyler Murray, I'm saying they can get this game. They cut it to 8, but then that kid mama just went nuts, couldn't miss. They. They decided maybe we should. Like, I couldn't believe that the guy makes two or three and you're thinking, okay, let's turn the water off. Let's just stick to him. I'm not helping off this guy. That never happened. So he kept getting open. So that is the reason why they couldn't make what would have been a great comeback if they didn't do it. Get on the plane after the game and Don, I know you've done this and fly from San Antonio to Charlotte. Now understand it's a different time zone. So you're losing an hour and the flight itself is like two hours. So it's a three hour basically for the body. Three hour flight. Land at little after 2am by the time you get, you know, into the buses, pack everything up, get to the hotel, get out of the hotel. By the time I got to my room and got ready just to go to bed, I was exhausted. It was 3am I didn't have to play the next day. The players did. All I kept thinking to myself was like, I'm mentally shot. I don't know how these guys are going to do it now. I had a 6am I had the 6am Wake up early flight to get back to New York because they needed me in the studio for that game. I wasn't going to stay to do the game in Charlotte. I had to be in the studio. So I remember as I'm driving to the studio, I'm forgetting what day it is. I can't remember things like my. I had brain fog. It was brutal because it's just so much moving around. And so pregame they asked for keys and I said the key to the game is the depth. This is a game when you look at the schedule and you look at how much they've been through and you look at the way your players physically looked in the second half of the game in San Antonio. Your main guys, this was one of those, I am going to throw minutes out there like it's raw meat and see who off the bench is going to be the hungry dog that wants it. Who's the guy that doesn't get a lot of burn or maybe none at all, that's just going to be like, give me this game. I want this. I got this. It's the Charlotte Hornets. They suck. They have one of the worst offenses in the league. They're playing guys you've never heard. There's a lot of G league type players. They're not very good. They're missing like some of their key guys that are any good are missing. Now they do have Lamelo ball, but he hadn't guard anybody so you could easily score against him. Like there's no reason why you wouldn't think that you could get somebody off your bench that just might have a magic, a little magic going and you ride that magic and maybe get a win and just get the hell home. Right? And instead, Tom Thibodeau played eight man rotation. He knew Mitchell Robinson was going to play because it's a back to back. And they're managing his, you know, return from the surgery. And it was eight guys, three guys off the bench. That's it. They had nothing from start to finish. And Don, I have defended Tom Thibodeau. I always will. I still think he's best coach they've had in 20 years, 25 years. He has done amazing things with the franchise, setting standards. I can tell you the players do respect him. This is not about any of that stuff. But this was to me, a mistake. This was to me the game that you say to yourself, I got to give my guys a little bit of a break, but I also got to see if somebody on the bench wants to be a hero. But one way or another, I know we don't like to give away games or sacrifice wins, but there's a night sometimes where you go, let me see if I throw some red meat out there. If anybody's going to come get it, maybe someone will surprise us and we can get one because I've got to give my guys a break. Didn't happen. He played this thing straight. And I think it was a mistake.

[Alan Hahn]

And you just wonder what a negative byproduct that is because they gave you nothing. And not only did you lose a game against the lousy team, you got blown out. So you looked at the schedule and you said, all right, listen, that's a tough schedule, West Coast. Come home for a day against Miami. Go back out to San Antonio in Charlotte. Time zone difference, back to back games. By the way, the first of five back to backs, they have the rest.

[Don LaGreca]

Of the season, which is nuts.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't even wrap my mind around that. I don't know why. At least hockey's got the. The four nations excuse for why things are condensed in the second half. But I don't know why the NBA's got this. But fine, but at least you're playing the Spurs. Wemby's gone. No pop. All right, then you play Charlotte. A team should be able to beat up on. So maybe it won't look pretty, but you should be able to win both of those games. And then you got Washington coming up, that the worst team in the league on Saturday. Get yourself a nice winning streak here.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Deep into the season and you lose. Not only lose them both, Allen get blown out in both. And this Shows you this is the problem with Tibbs is that he didn't play his bench because he obviously doesn't trust the bench and he desperately wants to win the game, like every game. And I love that about him. But sometimes you gotta lose the battle to win the war, man. You got bigger fish to fry. And if you went out there and played your bench and lost, at least it gives a little cover for your starters and say, hey, listen, I know the bench is weak, but take a look at our schedule. They, they maybe, just maybe, as you said, the red meat angle of I don't get a chance to play a lot of minutes, I'm going to try to ball out here and prove to the coach that I deserve more minutes down the stretch. But he so desperately wants to win. And I'm wondering, is this a statement from the starters? Because you go back to the, to the bridges comment from last week, like, see what happens when you play us too much, Coach? See, we can even get blown out by the spurs and the Hornets. Now, I don't know if there was some kind of message being sent by the players, but, man, did they not come through for their coach. I was pretty ugly, man. Those are ugly. 48 hours for the Knicks. And now, don't look now, but now that lead for the three seeds down the three, Indiana got off the mat last night, beat the Nets in overtime. So now we know we can't just sit here and say, oh, well, they're locked into the three anymore, can we?

[Don LaGreca]

I'm still not worried about it. I still think it worse. You're the four seed. Like, I, I honestly, I, I think, I think they're going to need 50 wins to lock the three seed. I do think they're going to need 50, 50 means seven and six to finish the season. For a minute I was like, seven and six is nothing. But now, like I said, when you look at the fatigue factor, you know Jalen Brunson is out of the walking boot, which is a good sign. But they're not going to rush him back.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

Or they desperately need him. But I've, like, you're, you're right. By the way, this is Knicks recap driven by Ramsey Mazda. Like, I just feel like there's a, There are times where I've seen teams do this and I know we hate load management. We all hate it. I'm not trying to advocate for it. I never will. But there are times in the NBA season where the schedule as you're looking at it, because you, you always look For I've learned this from coaches. The long seasons like this, you take them in pockets and Tibbs always talks about 10 game, 10 game sets. Let's see how we did. Let's see how we did. I also think you look forward and you say, okay, what do we got coming up? How we want to manage this? How do we hand? Like, we know a rough schedule is coming. We knew March going into March. Remember, like, remember I would tell you guys, guys, March is going to be rough. You're not going to see me march. Like, it's just too bad. But this is the way it goes. Like, I. Because I knew I had a lot of running around to do. Now, if you're a coach, wouldn't you look at the month of March and see we have a lot of travel, we're on the road. It was, by the way, 22 days. They were in a hotel room 16 nights down like that. That's insane. So you, you have to know going into it, there's going to be a few games where we're gonna have to look at them and say, can we win this game? Oh, like, this team's not very good. Can we get them by mainly using our bench? Can we coach a couple of guys up to get them ready to be main pieces in this game? You're never telling Josh Hart to sit out tonight. Let's just come up with an injury and sit you out, because he doesn't want to do that. Towns is the same way. I've talked to Carl. I've talked to him about it. He's like, I want to play. I don't sit out. If you ask me to sit out, I don't like doing that. And Tibbs doesn't believe in it. But this is where I feel like that's a part of coaching that I think, where Tibbs is still too old school. It's one game at a time, and tonight's game's the most important game. Like, he said that in San Antonio when we asked about Mitchell Robinson's availability the next night, because, you know, the spurs didn't have much size. They were small, they didn't have wembanyama, so they're not playing big. So maybe this is the game where you don't play Mitchell and you play small and try to, like, beat him that way. And his whole thing was one game at a time. We're worried about tonight's game. Well, that means you really weren't planning for the next night, were you? And that's why I was really Surprised and disappointed that he did what he did with eight man rotation. Second quarter was to me when you're watching and you say they got nothing. Shamet, Payne, they got nothing. Achu is not ready to play. You can see he's mentally he's not right. Can't catch a ball, turned it over like he didn't look right either. And I'm not using minutes, excuses or fatigue for these guys. No not doing it. They should have known. Like I'm getting in this game. I'm going crazy. I don't want Tibbs to take me out. Like I know I could play a lot tonight because this team imagine they're not a good team. Can you imagine how bad their bench is? And their bench had like 37 points. So that's to me where the coaching for the first time. And I said in the post game and I rarely will go after coaching but that was the first time that I thought to myself, I don't think this team was prepared for this game the right way. Not X's and O's, not matchups, not scouting Port. Donnie, I feel like this was more of. You should have known that this was going to be a tough game mentally and physically for your team. They said all the right things afterwards. I'll play you some Josh Hart because I thought he took it very personal. He said what leaders say. But Dom, before I play all that stuff any 800 now and 93776, by the way for the Knick fans who want to sound off on this, but I just feel like they weren't for the first time I felt like they weren't properly prepared for this game. And I don't want to see this have residual effects mentally, physically and even just with how they feel about themselves as a team. They lost six of the last nine games. They're heading in the wrong direction right now.

[Alan Hahn]

And listen, I don't. I can't see them losing on Saturday. I mean you've got the worst team in the NBA. And the Wizards, they're playing tonight. So they'll be on the second of back to back.

[Don LaGreca]

They don't want to win.

[Alan Hahn]

They have no interest in winning. God forbid they lose that game on.

[Don LaGreca]

Saturday, but they'll get booed off the court.

[Alan Hahn]

So is it just, hey, I want to win every game so I don't trust my bench or is it just a collective let's just get to the damn playoffs already. We're playing without our best player. We've got a load managed Mitchell Robinson until we know he's back to 100%. We've got some easy teams here. It's not that big of a deal. These games don't matter. I was calling them the dog days because I know it's late in the season and you should be engaged. But can you understand them not being engaged because they realize these last 14 games or whatever. What, what do they mean? You even watching them play, covering the two games that they played where they were blown out by inferior teams, still don't believe they're going to fall to four. And even if they do fall to the four, hey, maybe, maybe they luck out and avoid Boston in the second round if things shake out. So is it just a case of what are we doing here, guys? Yeah, we could be blowing everybody out. It's not going to make anybody believe in us anymore.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't think so.

[Alan Hahn]

If we kind of fall apart, what's the big deal, you know, we're still locked in. We'll still be ready for the postseason. We still have the built in excuse of no Brunson. What would be the reason why you, you see the effort that you saw?

[Don LaGreca]

I'm telling you, there's only one reason. It is not, you know, oh, well, what's the use? It doesn't matter. No, I, I think that, I think they want to win as many games they can. This is a, that's all they care about. Like I, I'm telling you, this is not a, you know, well, we're in third anyway. We're not going to lose it. I don't think this, that sounds like complacency. I don't see that. I just think there's, there's just, there's nothing there right now when it comes to what it takes for them to win. You know, the, the effort level, the they run, they aren't running, you know, there's a loose ball, they aren't getting it. You know, Josh Hart blamed himself. He said, I'm the guy that's supposed to bring energy. I've been atrocious lately. You know, he's putting it on himself. They have not been good. Their bench has not been good. Carl Anthony Towns will get hot for a few minutes and then when he goes cold, he's bad, you know, and his rebounding is not what it used to be. They got, I remember 14. They got a rebounded by 14 last night to that team. Like it just, it's just stuff that makes sense.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, we've all done it. I know how exhausting travel it. I get it.

[Don LaGreca]

But I'm telling you, it's fatigue. It's nothing more than fatigue. But I think they needed other people to play last night.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

And instead he made them play, so.

[Alan Hahn]

But how did. How does Tibbs not see that?

[Don LaGreca]

I don't know. That's my whole point.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. That's why, again, unless it's just a case of. He is just so addicted to winning.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

That he just refuses, even if it's better for the team moving forward, to lose a game.

[Don LaGreca]

He'd rather lose what is best than lose with, like, a bench to give his best a break. I think he doesn't like the excuses. I think he just feels like. Like he blamed everything on the. Here, listen to that. Here, we'll play this one first, because this is the one that I. No one asked about playing more of the bench, but the. The question was about the bench being so bad. They didn't score till the fourth quarter. The three guys he played off the bench, they were not. Not good. They were like three for 16 combined, and they only scored seven points total. And so he was asked about the quiet night from the bench on a night where you probably needed some production there. But listen to what he says at the end. Listen, I don't want to put it on the bench.

[Alan Hahn]

It was like, you know, everybody. It was all of us.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, you win together, you lose together.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, our margin of error is tight. You know, we're on a back to back. You have to get it done with your defense and your rebounding, and we didn't.

[Don LaGreca]

That's where we fell short. You have to get it done with your defense and rebounding, and we didn't. Well, why do you think defense and rebounding weren't there? Is it because nobody wanted to defend and nobody wanted to rebound? Or was it defensive rebounding or two things that take, what? Effort, focus, determination. So those things. Wayne, when you don't. When your energy isn't there, that's a real thing. Anybody out there listening to the show right now is if you were ever an athlete. I don't care if it was in high school, if you were ever an athlete, you know what that feels like. The day you're not, you just don't have it and, you know, like, I'm better than that guy or we're better than that team, but they got us. Why? Because we just weren't right physically, mentally, whatever it is, it does happen. It's a real thing. Fans don't ever want to buy into this, Don. But fatigue is a real Thing. Why the hell do you think load management exists in the NBA? Because of this. Because people are afraid to put games like that out there on tape. And the Knicks did last night. And now everybody thinks they have no chance to win and they're heading in the wrong direction. And the sky is falling, all because of one factor, not lack of talent, lack of effort, and that's fatigue.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, I could buy into that. You've outlined why there would be fatigue, and that kind of explains what happened in San Antonio. So wouldn't you think after what happened in San Antonio, you were embarrassed by an inferior team, You've got an opportunity to play the very next day against a team that's worse. And I thought I said it on the air yesterday. I feel sorry for the Hornets. I think the Knicks are going to slap around after what happened in San Antonio. And then you get blown out again. So Tibbs doesn't see it. Because Tibbs probably thinking, listen, back in my day, man, we used to play all the time, all right? But you got to adjust to the modern athlete. Apparently, the modern athlete does not play to the level you want. He needs to know that better. But still, to get blown out. Blown out after you were embarrassed the night before, man, I understand fatigue is certainly a factor in how you play, but pride should help you fight through that, man. Again, you're not taking on a really good team if you're taking on the Celtics. All right? You don't have a kick coming. It's the Celtics, it's the Cavs. But you got to be able to fight through that, man. And I know that the schedule in the NBA for the postseason isn't at that arduous. You're not going to play back to back nights. You're not going to. You're not going to have that kind of egregious travel. I get it. But it's still hard to win four rounds to win a championship. And that means playing through pain and playing through exhaustion and playing through nights where you don't have it. I will give them the benefit of the doubt against San Antonio, but I don't care if you feel worse after you get embarrassed, man. You gotta fight through that. Tibbs is wrong. You're absolutely right. He's wrong. He should have played more of the bench. He should have leaned into how fatigued they were. But at the same time, it's Charlotte that doesn't care. They're depleted. Come on, man. And get blown out.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that's embarrassing.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, that building was all Nick Fans can't go there.

[Don LaGreca]

It was all Nick fans. It wasn't like you were playing environment. It was the friendliest environment you could find on the road. Everything was. Everything was there for you. And you just saw like there were just guys that just couldn't bring it. Here's the Josh Hart quote. I was. This is the postgame with Josh Hart where he uses some phrases and wording that did catch my attention. Here's Josh Hart worried about where the team is right now. Mental toughness. I think that's my big concern right now. You know, we can make all the excuses in the world, but. But there's highs and lows in the season. No one's 82 0. But the way that we're losing games is embarrassing. We have to find a way to, you know, right the ship. We gotta come out next game with more intensity, more desperation. Starts with myself as someone who's supposed to bring energy. I've been, you know, atrocious the last several weeks. So we have to get our minds prepared for the end of the season. So it's not strategy. Right. It's not talent. You see all the things he's talking about? Where are all the buzzwords he's using there, Don? All the buzzwords he's using there are just like. It sounds like a team that right now is a shot and they gotta find it. And they can't right now because they can't take a breath because the road won't let them, the travel won't let them, the schedule won't let them. And you just said it. They still got four more back to backs coming in the last 13 games.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So it's not. It's not like it's gonna get easier now. They're home for a week, which is nice, but, man, like, he's saying it like, we got to get right. Because if we're not right, Wednesday, I mean, Saturday night at the Garden against the Wizards, who are bad team, we're going to get embarrassed again. And so that's what I mean. I don't understand why you're not looking at it and saying, okay, we're already without Brunson, so we already know we're going to struggle. And it shows you how much they need Brunson. Yeah, but you can't possibly just look at the schedule and say, we're home for a day. Like, I thought Monday night they would have lost to the Heat because it's schedule, but they didn't. And then you look and you think, all right, we've got to work something out with the San Antonio Charlotte thing. There might be a night there where we just say they're bad enough that maybe we could put together a lineup that if we lose, we can at least just sort of, you know, excuse that one away. But he didn't do it. He's just trying to get wins and as many as he can using only his best players.

[Alan Hahn]

And I admire that. I've said it many times. The frustrating thing about the NBA is that the regular season doesn't matter to a lot of these teams. Load management mail in games. It's really difficult. That's why you have the in season tournament to try to keep fans engaged in a regular season that quite frankly doesn't measure up to the other sports for all the reasons you're talking about. And the Knicks are the anti load management. They're the anti minutes police. They bring it every single night. And that's what you love about them, and that's what I love about Tibbs. But this is going to bring out all those anti tip guys now. See what happens now? You play all those minutes now. They're, they're dragging and they're losing games. Now. See, I told you. But there are times, I don't care at a long season where sometimes you got to you, as you said, you got to manage things and you got to think about the next game and the game after that. And if it means letting one slip through your fingers, so what? Because it's all about the season and making yourself prepared for the postseason. And if that was the case, well, guess what, Tibbs, you were so worried about losing, not only did you lose both those games anyway, he got embarrassed and blown out. And now you created something on the heels of what Bridges said last week. Now something's getting created here that doesn't have to be. Yeah, I, I think that this, as much as we're Tibbs fans and we, and we believe that he longs he belongs here.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

That, that, that, that was a tough, that was a tough spot.

[Don LaGreca]

Much as we, you know, we're gonna praise you. We're gonna praise you. We're gonna praise you because of all the things that he has done for this franchise. But there are times where know you got to call them out. And I think this was, this was one time where I know a lot of fans have always wanted to nitpick about things and I think it's stupid, but this is one time where I just kind of watched and I thought, yeah, I think this is one you're going to have to have some accountability. That was the Knicks recap driven by Ramsey Mazda. It's the experience of driving a new Mazda and buying a new Mazda from Ramsey Mazda. Choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. All right, we have a lot of people that want to talk about this. 800-93776. We'll get to your calls on the Knicks coming up next. But first, Don, a little more about Mazda.

[Alan Hahn]

You want to get the most for your money. That's why more Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda. Lease a new 2025 Mazda CX30 all wheel drive, only 179amonth or buy and get 0.9% APR financing for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax, title, registration, zero security deposit. Vin SM 808128 MSRP 27105 ends 3 hours and 25 calling all sightseers and selfie takers.

[Don LaGreca]

Welcome to Texas, where a day at our hiking trails will lead to a lifetime of memories and family road trips become family legends where thrill seekers make a splash into spring fed pools and picky eaters will clean their plates. This is your invitation to visit Texas and see it for yourself. Visit traveltexas.com and plan your family's trip today. Let's Texas thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan 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 podcasts. Sam Rosen's gonna join us at 5. That's gonna be a lot of fun. Donnie. Yeah, I mean, I know you. You're very close with him. I grew up listening to Sam Rosen, honoring him and his final season. Like this is going to be so much fun tomorrow. A big night or a big afternoon, I should say at the Garden as he's going to retire after 40 years of calling Ranger games. So that's at five. But right now it's about the Knicks and the fans and reactions to what we've seen over these Last couple of games. 800-919-3776. Let's begin with Marco in Queens. Marco, you're up first.

[C]

Good afternoon, gentlemen. How are you?

[Don LaGreca]

Good, good.

[C]

I just want to talk. Nick, I heard your remark on Precious and I get it. You know, he doesn't. He doesn't get to me. He don't get minutes. Oh, geez. Your best defender, Brunson. Doubt you should play OG and precious on the best opposing two players. And let ridges, the hearts adapt to that. OG's your second best defender in the league. I mean, not, I'm sorry, not in the league. On your team. Your bench is terrible. Guys don't even play defense. Everyone just wants to get the ball and just shoot it up. I've been watching this team for a long time. Something's got to change. There's no excuse. You shouldn't lose to Charlotte. That Miami game, when they went on that 120 run, right? Tibbs was like lost. He started going to an eight man rotation. He needs help. He's a great coach. I'm not saying he's not. He develops players, I get that. But he needs help, man. That's the only answer the Knicks got. If not with Bridges, he's a good defender, but when you play the elite guys in this league, you know Bridges ain't the answer. You need og, you need Precious. I'm telling you, that's the only answer.

[Don LaGreca]

Marco, thank you for the call. If that's the only answer, they're in trouble. I mean, Precious Achua is a nice player, but I would not consider him like a this is going to fix everything kind of player. Like, I. I wouldn't go that far. He's also like a 6, 8 guy. He can defend at times. I think the biggest issue with Achua is that he's not consistently there. There's some games where you watch him and he's playing great, his energy is great. But there's some games like Don. We've seen players like this in different levels, like he's got talent, but for some reason, it's not every night. Something's missing.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

So I don't know if I'm agreeing with Marco on that. But look, I think, you know, I understand. Fans watch and they always want to come up with answers. Let's go to Dave in the car. What's up, Dave? Hey, what's up, guys?

[C]

Thanks for having me on. Han, you weren't here when I brought this up with Don, probably yesterday, maybe the day before. And I was talking about how I felt like Cat was lumbering a friend of mine who's been following him for a long time, he says his explosion is not it used to be. Here's the deal. Very simple. I hope. And I want your take on this. I hope behind closed doors, Brunson is talking to the higher ups and saying, I know I'm the guy, but I can't take a pay cut and then have the team Collapse when I'm not in. I need help. And I pray that Cat Williams does not go down before they hit the playoffs. Because if Cat goes down before they hit the playoffs, ankle injury, or even if Brunson hurts himself again, I hate to say it, the coach is going to be in hot water, and I think he's a great coach. But right now, things right now aren't shaking out too well for them. What are your thoughts on that?

[Don LaGreca]

Thank you, Dave. Well, I mean, look, if you're already down your best player, if you lose your second best player, any team in the league is going to be in trouble. You know, J.J. redick. I remember on Get up like two weeks ago, Don, we were talking about J.J. redick as a coach of the year candidate because they trade for Luka Doncic and they play Luka with LeBron, LeBron James, two of the greatest players in this generation playing together, and now they're winning games and they look great and it's like, What a job JJ's done. How'd the Lakers look since LeBron has been hurt? They're a little different, right? Like coming back to earth now.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, they were number two in the west, you know, like, for a minute. So, you know, I, like, trust me, injuries are what everybody worries about, what everybody's afraid of. But, you know, it's. It is a real thing. I. Don, is Jalen Brunson the most important player to his team of anybody in New York? Like, right now? If anybody in New York who's more important to his team and his team success than him. God, even Aaron Judge could probably be out of the lineup. And the Yankees could, you know, they. It's not like they have. Well, no, that's.

[Alan Hahn]

Judge is up there.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Durkin is up there. But you listen, he's. He's your best player. I mean, any team, any NBA team that lose their best player, they're going to be in a lot of trouble.

[Don LaGreca]

A lot of trouble. And it just. Anybody that's. And it hasn't been too many people left, but anyone around the NBA, the national media, because I think locally, everybody really does appreciate Brunson. But anybody outside that doesn't now acknowledge that this is one of the best players in the league, like, this is a top five player in the league because of everything he does for this team that goes beyond points and assists. It's the standard. It's like there were games, there were moments, even against Golden State. But also, I'll just go with the spurs game two nights ago. And then last night in the Hornets, there were moments where I'm like, if Jalen was here, that he'd put a stop to this. Like, Jalen would find a way to get a couple of buckets and get his team back on track. He would be a little more determined. He just has a bulldog in him that you knew in certain moments when things were starting to slip. He doesn't let it happen where you take him off the court and it happens. They just don't have that guy. Dan and Old Bridge Dan, you're up next.

[D]

Happy Friday, boys. How we doing?

[Alan Hahn]

What's up?

[D]

Good. Good. Yeah, it was, it was definitely a frustrating loss last night. And I agree, Don, I agree with your point as well. You know, like, as a die hard fan, watches every play and every game and just wanted to see like more fight and snarl out of a team. But I got a side with Alan as, as a former, like high school and college athlete myself, because I saw a lot of fatigue. Like, I saw a lot of guys who were getting like a lot of open looks but just couldn't hit a shot. They couldn't hit a bucket to save them, to save their lives. And you know, anyone who's dealt with time differences and lack of sleep knows that that has a lot to do with it in those kind of situations. But like, even regarding the grit narrative and how, like, you know, some people, you know, they say last team had more grit and snarl. They were still 1 and 3 without Brunson. And even just going back to Alan's point right there, I think it just highlights, you know, how important Brunson is to this team. And, you know, when I first saw him go down, it was kind of like a sobering reminder to me, guys, that the most important thing right now is just honestly, you know, being healthy going into the playoffs and hopefully he can come back and get his feet underneath him and, you know, get into the grind and, you know, hit the postseason, you know, in the right kind of stride. But, you know, I think they're. I think they're going to be okay, but hopefully, you know, like I said, he could get some games under his, under his belt before the postseason begins.

[Don LaGreca]

Thank you, Dan.

[Alan Hahn]

He's going to need that.

[Don LaGreca]

I tell you what, Don, how big is that week off that the NBA has now because they play the play the. The play in. Right, right. That's going to be huge to do the play in when the regular season ends on a Sunday, the first round, the for game ones of the first round are usually Like Friday. So you get like a, like you get four days to practice a little bit and recover, refresh and get yourself ready for your, for your playoff series, which for this team is going to be, I mean, extremely valuable.

[Alan Hahn]

But just I, I love you want to win every game, but if they're that fatigued.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

To where they play at that level, don't you almost get concerned that if somebody's fighting through that, that somebody's going to get hurt?

[Don LaGreca]

There's all of it. Like, or how does this mess with a guy's head mentally? Like how? Like this guy's going into a slump. I can't afford to let him go into a slump. I can't afford to see him put his head down. His body language is bad. I got to sit him down. It's almost like a parent like you. Like, I'm watching and I'm almost watching like a parent as OG had one play last night where his shot got blocked that he got stuffed badly because he just couldn't elevate. And then his body language, his hole, his shoulders went down, he put his head down and he didn't run back on defense. And you could want to scold him for not running back on defense. They always say this thing, you can't let the missed shots affect your defense and your effort and all that stuff. No, that sounds nice, but human nature, it does happen. And that's one of those moments where like, oh, just sit down. You got to reset, get your head right. You know, like, just take a breath. You clearly are frustrated. Or you know, Deuce McBride, like missing wide open threes. Like, like, just take a minute. I know you're getting frustrated. Take a minute. And that doesn't happen. It's the biggest flaw, and there aren't many of, of Tom Thibodeau is that I don't think he recognizes there is an emotional part of the game that happens. And sometimes you just got to give your players a break and tell someone else, I got some minutes on the floor. How bad you want it? Show me how bad. Like PJ Tucker, you just got signed to your second 10 day. You're a 39 year old. You're on your way out. We brought you in here. You want to, you want to show me something? You want to make a case? Here's your chance. Make a case. You know, Delon Wright, we brought you in, nobody knows why. You've been in the league for over 10 years. You're a defensive specialist, you've been a good player in rotations. Earlier in your career. What do you got left? Show me. I'm going to give you some minutes right now. Can you make a difference? Right? Like, there's Tyler Kolek, you're a rookie, everybody loves you. All you, all your fans want you to play. I'm going to give you some minutes right now. What are you going to bring? What are you going to do? Like, I mean, I would put it in their heads like, you want to play. Show me. Show me something right now. Get out there and show me something. And that's the one thing Tibbs just doesn't do, Don. But what, does it sound too cliche? Am I being cliche?

[Alan Hahn]

No, but, but here, here's the issue for me. And we can bring baseball into this too. Like, obviously the new age sports tells you playing every single day, playing a ton of minutes doesn't make sense. The days of Cal Ripken Jr. Playing every game, Michael Jordan playing every game, that, that just seems to be over now. This generation of athlete, they got a load, manage, you know, day game after night game. You don't. Certain guys got to get rest because it's a long, arduous season. And you just. The analytics, which the NBA has embraced as much as baseball has, tells you it doesn't make a lot of sense to play every minute of every game. It doesn't make 10, some sometimes to actually play every game. When do these leagues start to assess, hey, maybe we got to change the schedule. Like, does it make sense that we're beating up Thibodeau because he played his starters too much, too many minutes?

[Don LaGreca]

You know, it's funny you say that. Yeah, that's a good point.

[Alan Hahn]

But meanwhile, people are paying good money. I'm sure there's people in Charlotte that, you know, want to see the best players come to town because their team stinks. So they want to know when the Knicks come to town that they're going to see the best players, not see a bunch of bench players or load management stuff. They want to see LeBron James play, they want to see KD play, they want to see Curry play. Like, so when do they assess and go, maybe we can't have all these three games in four nights. Maybe we can't have back to backs in San Antonio and Charlotte if we're trying to sell our sport and the best way for them to win is guys not to play. When do the league say maybe we got to change the way things are right now? We can't go old school with this generation of athlete anymore.

[Don LaGreca]

It's such a great point. They find a franchise $100,000 because they, they believe that they rested players for no reason rather than for a real. And that's the thing now they will punish you if you just sit a player out and if they find that he didn't really have an injury, they'll, they will, they will find you money. And that's how, that's how tough they are on it. But yet the team that doesn't do that stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

What do they get for it? What do they get for it?

[Alan Hahn]

They get blown.

[Don LaGreca]

They get a schedule of 16 days or 22 days where you're on the road for 16 nights and it's. And the lead just goes. Yeah, that's just how it goes. Sorry. Instead of maybe when you look at the schedule to start the season and you go hang on a second. That's a lot of travel and two trips out west in a two week span. We can't do this to them. Right. Like why don't they do that?

[Alan Hahn]

So I remember all those shows we used to do. Ripping teams for load management. All those fans that pay good money to go to their respective arena and not see the best players play to. Now we're killing a coach for playing guys too much.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I think people have now embraced the fact that kind of this is what the regular season is. And, and you want the regular season to be important, Alan. You do. You're going to play 82 games. They're not going to take games away. These teams want, these franchises want to make money. But maybe the simple answer is we, we, we don't do back to backs as much anymore. And if we do back to backs it's you know, to play the Knicks and the Nets back to back or you know, we'll play Milwaukee and Chicago back to back. Where the geography makes a lot of sense. San Antonio and Charlotte. That's not that, that's not a logistic back to back. You know, especially late in the season.

[Don LaGreca]

What was the worst you did when you got in, you were in your hotel room and you went believe it.

[Alan Hahn]

I gotta tell you the worst. We played a game in Pittsburgh.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

And we the next day in Tampa.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that sucks.

[Alan Hahn]

That's.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, by the time you get to Tampa, let's say Pittsburgh. You're talking about a good three hours. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, so we're wheel. We're wheels up for a 7 o'clock face off. We're usually wheels up at 11.

[Don LaGreca]

11. Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. So Pittsburgh to Tampa is easily two, two and a half hours.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh yeah, no doubt.

[Alan Hahn]

So we get in at 1:30.

[Don LaGreca]

Tampa's far from downtown.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, you're probably, you're probably getting into your room at 2:30 in the morning. Now again, nobody's gonna feel bad for us, Alan. We're flying charter. We're getting fed till we puke. Right. We're staying at a four, five star hotel.

[Don LaGreca]

What does that mean? But still sleep.

[Alan Hahn]

But the point is four hours of sleep is you still, you know, four or five hours of sleep is still four or five hours of sleep. I'm sorry. I'm sure there's a lot of athletes like that. I don't care how, how much my seat reclines, how comfortable the seat is. I can't sleep on a plane. I can't do it. And if it's, and believe me, it's not quality REM sleep, I might pass out for like an hour. But it's not quality sleep. Okay. And then you're on a bus and for some reason I can sleep on it. It's not comfortable. You're sitting, you're sitting up and then you pass out in your room. And I'm sorry again, the luxurious hotel, it's still not home.

[Don LaGreca]

It's still a hotel room. It's still a hotel room.

[Alan Hahn]

And then you're up, whatever, and then you got to go play. You know, again, it's not for broadcasters. No big deal. We're not, we're not, we're using our fog.

[Don LaGreca]

It's the mental fog, though.

[Alan Hahn]

But to go out there and play it at the elite level of hockey, basketball, baseball, football, whatever it is, to play at that kind of elite level. No, it's going to catch up with you. No matter how much, how luxurious the travel is. That's, that's the worst to me also they got to realize like Nashville is not that close. Like, so there's a lot of times we get back to backs. Like, you know where you're going in that and that, that hour time difference.

[Don LaGreca]

So that's what gets you too. You lose the hour.

[Alan Hahn]

It does, it does, it does get. And also there's the routine to basketball, right? Because they probably don't have a shoot around the second of back to backs, right?

[Don LaGreca]

No, not at all. They do.

[Alan Hahn]

And same thing with hockey. You don't have the more you don't have the morning skate, the second of back to backs. So it kind of takes you out of your comfort zone. The guys that like the morning skate kind of get the juices flowing, the shoot around. So there's a lot of things that are arduous for that that certainly can affect your play.

[Don LaGreca]

Definitely Click more Your calls coming up 800 now 193776 Donny tell me about bath fitter Don here.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[D]

On car insurance by checking all state first. Like you know to check the Jumbotron first before attempting to eat a stack of supreme nachos in one bite.

[Don LaGreca]

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[D]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[C]

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[Don LaGreca]

Latest in innovation from Ego, the number one rated brand in cordless outdoor power. Only at Lowe's we help you Save. Offer valid through 4:2. Selection varies by location while supplies last. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Want Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Sam Rosen's going to join us the five o'clock hour celebrating his career 40 years the voice of the Rangers. He's retiring this season. They're going to Celebrate him tomorrow night, tomorrow afternoon at Madison Square Garden. So it's going to be fun talking with him. We've got calls at 800-not-1-93776. A little football as well. Aaron Rodgers now is meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers. So having a conversation with them and that's, you know, you wait for the dominoes to fall but this whole thing is just turning into, for the Giants, it's, it's now there's still tons of time. There's no OTAs, there's no minicamp, there's no nothing. There's still a draft in a month. But like at some point you just want to know who the hell your quarterback is and they don't have that answer right now. And if Rogers chooses the Steelers and then now you're up to Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson, which I think Diana Rossini reported that that's really what they're hoping for.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Then you're clearly going to draft a quarterback.

[Alan Hahn]

The quote was they are hoping that Wilson or Flacco choose them. And judging by those words, that tells me that they've already made those guys offers or said, hey, we want you to be the quarterback. So the idea they're waiting for their rating for Rogers may not be that. It just might be that those quarterbacks are waiting for Rogers to determine, all right, who is going to end up be the loser here and go to the Giants. And that's coming from a Giant fan. But honestly, I mean Pittsburgh Steelers are a well run organization. They always finish above.500. There's no threat of you being challenged by another quarterback if you choose Pittsburgh. Yeah, listen, it's tough to go through Cincinnati and Baltimore and there's no guarantee you're going to the playoffs. But Giants have a tough schedule. They did some decent things with their roster during the off season. But you know, you're probably not going to make the playoffs. And if they draft a quarterback, you may not be the starting quarterback for the entire length of the season. So it's not the most attractive place to go right now.

[Don LaGreca]

And by the way, the Jackson Hayes stuff, I did I not predict this, that this guy is going to be not only a first round pick, he's going to be a top 10 pick and the Giants could be like he could still be an option for the Giants. You never know. It does feel like Shador Sanders. You mean what did I say? Hayes, it's an NBA player. My bad. But I just, it shows you. I don't know. This is the fatigue. I'm talking about. This is me missing shots.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, There just some quarterback somebody's going to throw out that nobody thought of that all of a sudden is going to go fourth overall or something.

[Don LaGreca]

Is there a guy named Hayes? Yeah. No. Jackson dart? Yes. Ole Miss. Like. Like that. Who knows? It could happen. Shador Sanders is a real thing. I don't care what anybody says about the Dion Factor. I don't care what people are trying to tell me about what he looked like in college. If anybody could handle playing for the Giants, I will put my name on this. It's Shador Sanders, I promise you. Any fan with any trepidation about them taking him, if Cam Ward's off the board, do not have that trepidation. Doesn't mean he's going to start week one of next season. No. Which is why you need a Flacco or Russell Wilson or somebody to just, you know, fill the role until he gets himself acclimated for the NFL. Which, by the way, he already knows NFL life. He grew up in it. He grew up around great players. So it's not like he's going to be overwhelmed. It's more of just get himself, you know, into it, ready. You never know. He could be ready for week one, but maybe he won't. But the bottom line is, is in time, if they give him the right amount of time, I think he's going to be a very good NFL quarterback for a long time.

[Alan Hahn]

Pick him or not pick him based on what kind of quarterback you think he's going to be. If you're a franchise that does not draft him because you think Deion's going to be a pain in the butt, or you think he's going to be a diva, then you are not a strong enough franchise to handle it. Yeah, right. I mean, you look at the great quarterbacks of all time. You know Dan Marino, right? Let's say. Let's say his dad, you know, Pepe Martini Marino was a pain in the butt. I think you'd still take Dan Marino as your quarterback, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

So the idea is, if you don't like him, I get it. You don't like his football. You don't think he's gonna be a good quarterback, fine. You know more than I do. But if your reasoning is because Deion's gonna be a pain and he's gonna be. He's gonna be saying stuff about it.

[Don LaGreca]

You're worried that all the way in Colorado, he's gonna have a press conference and make a passing comment about how the Giants didn't build their offensive line the right way, then what do you care? So what?

[Alan Hahn]

Then you're weak. That's your problem.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

They get your ducks in a row because you obviously can't handle it. So I think it's, I think there's just legit concern whether he's going to be a big time quarterback or not. And that's all just like anybody else.

[Don LaGreca]

How would you feel as a Giants fan? Would it bother you? Would it worry you? Would you be concerned? Like, are you hoping they don't go that route because of the noise that potentially could come from somebody like that Being.

[Alan Hahn]

Could there be noise? Could Dion be a pain in the butt? You know, didn't, didn't. Wasn't there a perception that, that Archie would be a pain? I mean, Archie dictated where Eli went.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, so you weren't, you weren't. Now listen, Archie was not the player that Dion was.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But was there any concern or were you, like, maybe just concerned? Let's see if Eli is going to be all that good. I mean, listen, there's, you know, remember Eric Lindros? His parents were a pain in the butt too, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Heavily. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And the only thing that really held Eric, who's still in the hall of Fame, by the way, were the concussions. But I think you live through the fact that this guy was able to lay people out and score 50 goals who care if his father was a pain.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Same thing with the ball family, right? I mean, come on.

[Don LaGreca]

The results are what matters. And I still think given the right situation, you'll get results with Shador Sanders. But they're going to need a veteran. And this continues to play out coming up. I think it's going to be a treat for both of us, Don, somebody we both really care about, really love. And it's going to be fun talking with him. The great Sam Rosen, talking about four decades of a career in New York, calling one of the favorite teams in this city and one of the favorite moments in the history of this city. Sam Rosen. Coming up next, donjon rosenberg, 880 ESPN I believe a little Mazda again.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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. In case you didn't know, these young men are driven. They are prodigies, the savants, the ones we've been waiting for. Like Damian Lillard, for instance. He doesn't seek guidance or mentorship. He's a leader. He isn't waiting for the baton to be passed to him. He's taking it for himself. He's relentless in a pursuit of greatness, always pushing to one up himself. He is accomplished, but far from satisfied. He embodies what it means to have an unstoppable drive and are shaking up the status quo in their community and beyond. And Damian Lillard drives a Toyota. A new generation of Toyota drivers are here and they want you to know one thing. You can't stop my drive.