Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Knicks Struggles & Let's Talk About It

Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Episode Overview

This hour focuses on the New York Knicks’ recent struggles—a sudden downturn after a strong start to the season—analyzing potential causes and future implications. The trio debates what’s gone wrong (fatigue, team chemistry, the effect of chasing the NBA Cup), scrutinizes individual performances, and discusses the overall state of the NBA playoff race. The latter part of the show shifts to “Let's Talk About It Tuesday,” where they riff on everything from parking etiquette in NYC to NFL playoff rules and classic rock debates. The tone is candid, passionate, and loaded with New York sports flavor.

Knicks: What’s Gone Wrong?

[00:14 – 15:39]

Key Discussion Points

• Knicks' Losing Streak
  The Knicks, after looking dominant, lose four straight—including a blowout to Detroit, an especially demoralizing defeat against a team seen as inferior.

  • “Is it just. Are they getting out physical? Did they miss Josh Hart that much?” – Peter Rosenberg [00:36]
  • “They started to lose their edge… they were winning, but you saw the defense slip.” – Alan Hahn [01:55]

• NBA Cup Hangover
  The hosts discuss whether going all-out to win the NBA Cup took too much out of the team.

  • “They really spent a lot of energy doing it… and somewhere along the way, they started to lose their edge.” – Alan Hahn [01:55]
  • “The post-cup thing is a real thing, but … it’s just now being exposed in the worst way.” – Alan Hahn [05:59]

• Defense Slipping Hahn details a trend of defensive lapses masked by strong offense, finally exposed in recent games.

  • “They gave up 70 points in the second half at Atlanta and then 75 in the first half at New Orleans. 145 points in consecutive halves. That’s like—okay, this is not right.” – Alan Hahn [02:45]

• Teams Targeting the Knicks
  Other teams, sensing the Knicks’ success and exhaustion, are circling games against them.

  • “Everybody wanted a piece. Knicks were sort of punch-drunk at that point.” – Alan Hahn [04:26]
  • “Cade Cunningham after the [Detroit] game: ‘We wanted this game. We had this circled.’” – Alan Hahn [05:19]

• Individual Accountability Alan singles out the Knicks’ all-star big man (Towns) for using “the system” as an excuse for poor play, calling for accountability.

  • “It’s an excuse he keeps leaning on rather than having some accountability about this.” – Alan Hahn [05:58]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Jalen Brunson’s Off Night:
  “Brunson had his worst game I’ve ever seen him play last night. And that was all because the Pistons were like, you’re not beating us… zero assists for the first time as a Knickerbocker with six turnovers.”
  – Alan Hahn [10:31]

• On the NBA Cup's Lasting Effects:
  “If this season gets derailed and the theme is that they regret going for the NBA Cup, expending so much energy to win it—that’s not going to be good for the future of the NBA Cup.”
  – Peter Rosenberg [08:40]

• On Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT):
  “His offense affects his defense, his intensity to rebound, all that stuff is affected when he’s not getting the ball.” – Alan Hahn [17:49]

• Caller Manny’s Critique:
  “It’s not like the Knicks are not playing hard—they just don’t play smart. Like, they can’t defend the three, they can’t even defend the perimeter… Cat needs to play better, stop making these silly ass fouls.”
  – Caller Manny [15:46]

Notable Segment Timestamps

• [00:14] – Knicks losing streak set up and Cup ramifications
• [01:55] – Defensive slippage and exhaustion analysis
• [05:23] – Motivation of Knicks’ opponents (Cunningham/Detroit)
• [08:40] – Impact on future NBA Cup strategy
• [10:29] – Jalen Brunson’s worst game
• [15:43] – Call from Manny: "They just don’t play smart"
• [19:22] – Towns’ role & trade rumors; “He just got engaged. You would think he’d just be happy, but…”
• [20:22] – KAT’s post-game comments and critique

NBA Cup: Is It Hurting Teams?

[08:40 – 15:16]

• Discussion about whether teams that went deep or won the NBA Cup (Knicks, Lakers, Bucks) tend to struggle in the weeks after.
• Speculation about teams’ future Cup strategies:
  “I wouldn’t be surprised if next season, a lot of teams silently are like, ‘Let’s get to the quarterfinals because at least we get 100 grand, and then we just—we’re not winning that game.’”
  – Alan Hahn [09:01]

Scheduling, Fatigue, and Excuse-Making

[11:00 – 15:39]

• The hosts compare the NBA’s load management culture to hockey, where condensed schedules are seen as normal.

  • “In the NHL, it’s the same thing. They’ve got a condensed schedule. … And it’s not looked upon as an excuse.” – Alan Hahn [12:57]
  • “It just sounds remarkably soft.” – Peter Rosenberg [13:52]

• A broader discussion on whether the Knicks' post-cup fatigue is a valid excuse, or just part of the NBA’s 'softness.'

Locker Room Dynamics: Ball Movement & Chemistry

[17:49 – 19:22]

• Criticism of Knicks offense getting too stagnant, particularly in how Brunson and Towns need better communication.

  • “Brunson and Towns probably need to have, like—just get a sit down and talk it out … Towns needs to say, ‘I know the first quarter’s your quarter, but I gotta touch the ball.’” – Alan Hahn [18:38]

• Difficulties for Towns fitting into Mike Brown’s system, and his lack of transparency with the media:

  • “That’s a non-answer… He’s just being polite to the media. But there’s really—that’s not an answer.” – Alan Hahn [20:49]

Let’s Talk About It Tuesday

[23:02 – end]

New York Parking Etiquette

[25:30–29:46]

• Peter Rosenberg bemoans the complexities of street parking etiquette in NYC—how to signal drivers if you’re leaving a spot while sitting in your car.
  • “I never know what to do with my hands and mouth to say yes or no.” – Peter Rosenberg [26:38]
  • “No, you wave it off.” – Alan Hahn [27:44]
  • They debate whether to tell a waiting driver how long you’ll be.
  • “If you tell me that hazards on…” – Alan Hahn [28:39]

NFL Playoff Seeding Debates

[29:49–38:29]

• Don objects to teams with losing records (e.g., Carolina) hosting playoff games, suggesting home field be reserved for teams above .500.

  • “Can’t you just say, in order to host a playoff game, you have to finish above .500? … I can’t have an 8-9 football team hosting a playoff game.” – Don La Greca [30:04]
  • Others respond that division titles guarantee home games and money, so owners won’t change the rule.

• Peter and Alan debate the appeal of wide-open playoffs vs. dynasties, using food metaphors to compare playoff quality.

  • “This is like airport sushi.” – Alan Hahn [37:31]
  • “You have so many fun, sexy matchups that could present throughout these playoffs. And because Alan loves greatness, he’s not going to get to appreciate this wide-open playoff.” – Peter Rosenberg [36:12]

Miscellany: Rock Music “Ton of Hits” Argument

[39:38–43:36]

• The hosts jokingly argue what qualifies as “a ton” of hit songs, using Boston as a case study.
  • “Ton means more, in my opinion, than two.” – Peter Rosenberg [41:03]
  • “A bunch. A bunch could be two or three more that I didn’t know about.” – Alan Hahn [41:22]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “They really spent a lot of energy [on the Cup]… somewhere along the way, they started to lose their edge.” – Alan Hahn [01:55]
• “Brunson had his worst game I’ve ever seen him play last night. … zero assists for the first time as a Knickerbocker with six turnovers.” – Alan Hahn [10:31]
• “If this season gets derailed and the theme… is they regret going for the NBA Cup, expending so much energy—that’s not good for the future of the NBA Cup.” – Peter Rosenberg [08:40]
• “It’s not like the Knicks are not playing hard—they are playing hard. They just don’t play smart.” – Caller Manny [15:46]
• “This is sushi, but not good sushi—the basic. This is like airport sushi.” – Alan Hahn [37:15, 37:31]
• “Ton means more, in my opinion, than two. Oh, no, ton is more than seven, though.” – Peter Rosenberg [41:03]

Episode Takeaways

• Knicks’ problems are multifaceted: fatigue, defensive breakdowns, offensive stagnation, and perhaps some regression and chemistry issues atop the roster.
• The NBA Cup may have unforeseen downsides: Post-tournament fatigue could be real, and how teams approach it in the future may shift.
• Team accountability and communication are recurring themes: The need for stars to speak up and coaches to resolve friction.
• The hosts blend deep analysis with cultural context: Expect a mix of sports insight, local flavor, and classic DHR banter on everything from parking to playoff fairness to what defines a “ton” of rock hits.

This summary is for sports fans seeking the highlights and honest perspectives on the Knicks’ latest swoon and the wider debates in the NBA and NFL—complete with the irreverent, high-energy exchanges only this show delivers.