Don La Greca (2:36)

So number one, they're. They're as healthy as they've ever been. Heels back. Kreider's back scored last night. You know, Panarin got a couple of goals. He only had one in the last eight going into the game. You've got Igor now in a bit of a run here. Hasn't lost in regulation since coming off his upper body injury. So they're healthy. So that's number one. Number two, they were very good five on five last night. Not great on the power play, but again scored another shorthanded goal. So the kill has been good. I just think you feel good about this team putting six consecutive games together in which they've earned a point and they're five one and two in their last seven. So they're playing every bit as good as they were at the beginning of the season. Although I think they're actually better than they were in the beginning of the season. Like, they're not winning games by Fluke now. Now, it wasn't a great effort. Give Utah credit. But the Rangers came back. But when trailing in the third period for the first time this year. They did that 12 times last year, so they needed that game. They outscored the hockey club three nothing in the third period and they did what they had to do. So listen, it's scary. You're down three, two going, oh, my God. They're not going to lose this game.

Peter Rosenberg (3:40)

Right.

Don La Greca (3:40)

And they found a way to win it. So I thought that was good. Being good in the third period is really important.

Peter Rosenberg (3:46)

Great response. Especially that third goal. I mean, you know, we've been talking about Keandre Miller. What do you do? Like, what are you doing?

Don La Greca (3:52)

Well, too many times that's been the case.

Peter Rosenberg (3:54)

Floating around like, are you. Are you covering an area? Like it's. I'll tell you what. Because I. And the reason why I couldn't remember the score, because it's the same as the Islanders Flyers game that I was bouncing around between those two games. And it's the same thing with, like, with the Islanders. I'm watching them and you look at the. Look, look at Patrick Wallace face and he's reached a point now where in the beginning you would see him kind of get a little annoyed. He'd have conversations with the team. Now he has a look on his face like he's disgusted he's like, I can't believe these guys. Like, see, there's certain players that, you know, he's just like, I'm sick of this dude. And it's. When I watch Miller with the Rangers and I watch Noah Dobson with the Islanders, I think the same thing. It's two guys that have a ton of talent, that are young, and they clearly sometimes forget you're supposed to compete every minute you're out there. Like, they really do. They just lose focus on the defensive, whatever it is. Because I watch Miller in that goal, and he's floating around. He's not really doing anything defensively whatsoever. He gives it that. But then later in the. In the third period, I watched him lead a rush that looked just incredible because he had speed, generated speed, able to get into, had got off a great shot. And I'm thinking it's. That's the stuff that's got to be maddening. It's not that the guy is bad. It's got to be mental. So they end up getting that win. I think the Crowder goal was a great shot. And now we'll see. All right. Are they building something? So something certainly, to keep an eye on. Meanwhile, tonight at the Garden, again, you can hear the music. There's everybody practicing all the different stuff that they do, like halftime. And all that stuff all gets done in the afternoon, the dress rehearsal. But it is Knicks and the Timberwolves. The Knicks coming off the win in overtime in Philadelphia, but, you know, it's Timberwolf, So that certainly means it's now Julius Randle's official return to the Garden. He did come here in the preseason. They did do a little video for him, but this is a little different because this is the real thing. And he's playing in the game. No, Dante DiVincenzo, he's not playing for the Tim Wolf. He's coming off a really good game the last time out. He has played really well, I think at 26 against Golden State, but he's got a toe thing, so he's not going to play. And I think most Knicks fans, Don. Miss him more than they miss Randall. That might sound crazy, but DiVincenzo did have a bit of a. An edge to him, a toughness to him. He made big plays and big shots for the team last year. And I'm just wondering this. What should be the reception? Because it's. So now it's halfway through the season. It's not like, you know, this is still fresh. Randall's been gone for a while. Towns has played so well and fit in so well that the fans have already fallen in love with him. What kind of reception, if any, should Randle get tonight? Should it be a polite applause like, oh, hey, there you are, good to see you. Should there be an ovation because your two time MVP helped you to the playoffs? Or you know, is it indifferent because you know what, let's be honest, we're better off without you. What should it be?

Don La Greca (6:48)

Well, I mean, even if you're better off without him, doesn't mean he can't get arousing applause from the crowd because he was a part of the turnaround.

Peter Rosenberg (6:57)

Right.

Don La Greca (6:57)

I mean this team was going nowhere. And you go back, even though that was a bad series in Atlanta and he didn't play particularly well, that Kai was part of the team that kind of put the Knicks back on the map. And then he was used to get to the next level. But he was also a part of what was a pretty significant turnaround for this franchise. So I would think he would get some really nice applause. I don't see any reason to. Boom. His relationship was much better than it was during that whole, you know, gesture to the crowd and all that. He overcame that. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be arousing applause. I think he played well here and yeah, you're better off without him, but that doesn't mean that you didn't enjoy the time with him and he was a part of a Knicks turnaround.

Peter Rosenberg (7:46)

So. All right. So in your opinion, So I know you're not a diehard Knicks fan, so I know the feeling, you know, is a little bit harder to ask you, but I'm curious what people think at 800-9193776 I am. So. Yeah, Jake, you say that again.

Don La Greca (8:04)

For what Julius has done for this.

Peter Rosenberg (8:05)

Team, where we were before, he's got here into where we are now, you.

Don La Greca (8:09)

Absolutely have to applaud it. Yes.

Peter Rosenberg (8:11)

So you're saying ovation because it's. Applause is you can do the polite applause of yeah, he's back. Hey, no, no, no standing. You think ovation, stand up, give him a full, like during a timeout, you know, they're going to play a video, you're going to do something. Right? So it's during the first time out, whatever it is, or even during the introductions, you know, pregame introductions, he's going to get introduced, you know, do you do the. Does he get the loud Garden roar at this point? I was just wondering. I'm only asking because It. It's not like it's October or November, like it's. It's halfway through the season now you have moved on from him. It's not like you miss him because Towns has been great. He actually seems to fit better. And if you're paying attention to Minnesota, ask me if you've heard this before. One of the quotes that they've said with the reason why they've had some issues with Minnesota this year offensively is they said the ball sticks. There's not a lot of great ball movement. It sticks. And sometimes there's old guys over dribble and all this stuff. Does that sound familiar? Oh, very familiar. Everything that was said about the Knicks over the last couple of years. So I wondered if some fans see what's happening there and realize, like, we don't have to deal with that anymore. Right. And I'm wondering if that's taken a little bit of the appreciation away because, you know how, you know, time. Time goes by and you kind of forget.

Don La Greca (9:29)

I give Nick fans a lot of credit. I think they're among the most educated of the local teams. Like, I think they understand the history. I think they understand the game of basketball. They understand the moment you were. It was right outside your window across the street. When they took to the streets after that win against Atlanta, like, he was a part of that because it had been so long. Like, fans, don't forget about that, Alan. So. And he was a part. He was a major part of that now. It didn't end well. They ended up losing that series to Atlanta. But you were there. You looked out the window, you saw the fans out in the street as if they had won a championship.

Peter Rosenberg (10:06)

Yes.

Don La Greca (10:07)

And their chant, we want that went viral and it was a big deal. And so because like I said, he was a part of the turnaround. They were. They were feeling. Sensing things they hadn't felt in a decade. You had to go back to 2013, the last time they felt something like that. And Randle was a major part of that. And I think the fans that are in that building are going to be a lot of the same fans that were in the street outside your window when you were trying to do the post game show that are going to remember that moment and appreciate it and show him that appreciation tonight.

Peter Rosenberg (10:36)

People have remembered, too. The Knicks were a bad team in 2019. They were trying to get Kevin Durant. They had cleared cap space. They were going to have a high draft pick. The thought was, they're going to get Zion. They're Going to get kd, like, this is all going to come together. Well, they didn't get Zion and they didn't get Kevin Durant. And so in the end, you had to settle for Julius Randle and R.J. barrett. And what did those two be put. Now, let's not be mistaken. Tom Thibodeau, who, by the way, today's his birthday. Tom Thibodeau is the reason why things really did turn here, right? He brought his culture, he brought his coaching, like. And everything did change with Tom Thibodeau. But Thibodeau looked at Randall and he said, no, I can make you something. Like, there's some talent here. We can do something with you. I need a horse. You're my horse. And Randall had the best year of his career, and he became an All Star. So I think you're right. I think that. I think there's going to be this sense of appreciation, and I do think he certainly deserves it. But I also think that there has to be some recognition to the fact that this trade, while so many people, when it happened, felt a certain way about it, felt bad about it, wasn't sure about Karth ne Towns. I mean, I think. Can we rubber stamp it at this point that this trade was a fantastic trade for the Knicks? I mean, do we feel like that. Are we there yet, or do you want to get to the playoffs and see what. We'll see what he does.

Don La Greca (11:57)

Well, obviously, that's what's going to tell right now. I think you feel really good about it, but if you lose to Indiana in the first round for some reason, that's going to change the perception of it, because I think this deal was made to be good in the playoffs, to establish yourself something in the postseason, so that can't be answered yet. But you still feel good about it.

Peter Rosenberg (12:17)

And open up the offense. I mean, this offense is one of the best in the league, and he and Brunson are both. I mean, he's gonna. He's gonna be named an All Star starter. He's getting enough votes. He's over a million. Well over a million. I think it's like two and change almost votes. It's. He and Brunson will be All Stars this year. I think that's a. That's a given. So it is something that is. That is a trade that really, right before the season, really caught everybody off guard, and he has fit in seamlessly here, while Randall and the Wolves have kind of struggled with making that work. We'll see how it looks tonight at The Garden.

Don La Greca (12:50)

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Don La Greca (14:11)

I'm trying to think of a comp of a local team that had a player that was. That was well liked, really good player. But the trading Kelly Kissio, trading him was the turnaround. But you could still appreciate the player when he was here. The only one I can think of in the time you were just talking and I don't know if it's a direct comp, and I don't really remember the reaction when he came back with the Expos. But like Hubie Brooks coming back to the Mets with the Expos, he was a popular player and he's a good player.

Peter Rosenberg (14:44)

Yes, he was.

Don La Greca (14:44)

Yeah, but they got Gary Carter, so you'd make that deal 100 times out of a hundred. But you still appreciated him as a former Met, right? I don't know if it's direct, calm, just trying to think of a player that you liked, like Tony Amante wasn't to that level with the Rangers.

Peter Rosenberg (15:02)

Nobody knew he was going to be what he became. He was right. He became good. You know, Doug Wade, I think people knew Doug Waite was going to be good. You could see he was already good with the ring, but he hadn't done.

Don La Greca (15:11)

Anything significant the way Randall did. With the Knicks, like somebody that did something really for us.

Peter Rosenberg (15:17)

Freewell.

Don La Greca (15:18)

That's a good one.

Peter Rosenberg (15:19)

What about that?

Don La Greca (15:20)

That's a good one.

Peter Rosenberg (15:22)

And he actually ended up coming back. The funny thing is he and Sprewell ended up being great friends, which is funny. But for Starks, you know, that he took that personal, that they dealt him the golden state for, for Sprewell and the fans loved John Starks.

Don La Greca (15:34)

I loved him.

Peter Rosenberg (15:35)

But you know, I mean, it's, it's the Charles Freewell and you got to take a minute. But he fit in. Yeah, that's one. That's when I, that, that's a, that's an interesting one. But it's. These are tough to, to discuss because it's like there's a guy you loved. But again, was Randall loved like Starks was loved?

Don La Greca (15:55)

Yeah, no, Randall was appreciate. From a love. I know he was appreciated. I don't know how loved he was. Yeah, because, you know, you're critical. Randall handle. People were criticizing him, but I think they.

Peter Rosenberg (16:05)

Right.

Don La Greca (16:05)

But he still was a part of it. Pretty significant moment in recent Knicks history. So do I think it's going to be, you know, Maurice Richard at the Forum where it's a 10 minute ovation. No, it's not going to be crazy.

Peter Rosenberg (16:17)

It's going to be Jockerman.

Don La Greca (16:19)

People will get. Yeah, no, it's going to be Eddie Jockey come back with a red one. They almost had to stop the game. No, no, but you'll hear it. I guess that's the goal. Like, if you're watching the game, are you going to hear the appreciation? I think you will.

Peter Rosenberg (16:31)

Yeah. Okay. Andres in Lindhurst, what do you think? Andres?

C (16:35)

Yeah, I think, hey, first of all, guys, great show so far, but I think Randall deserves a rousing ovation today. When you think about New York City basketball, that's Randall. Randall's a dog. He played hard every single night. He didn't take days off. This guy exemplifies New York City basketball and what New York City did for him, what Sibs did for him. It unleashed his potential, which he didn't. Didn't unleash on the Lakers. It didn't unleash when he was on the Pelicans. He came to New York and unleash his potential. So I believe tonight he's going to receive a huge ovation, a lot of ovation tonight because he put the team back on the map. You know, he helped the team get back into the playoffs. And that night that we beat the Cavs in game three for our first win in a decade in the playoffs. I was in the building that night and we partied like we won the NBA Finals on 7th Avenue.

Peter Rosenberg (17:22)

So you mean the Hawks. That was game two against the Hawks you're talking about?

C (17:27)

Yeah, game two against the Hawks. And then there was another one the year after against the Cavs.

Peter Rosenberg (17:32)

Oh, that.

C (17:32)

Yes, we have full capacity. Yeah. So that one was huge as well. So he's going to get a loud ovation tonight. He's. The guy's a dog. He's done a lot for the city. He's donated, you know, for every three pointer that he made back to his schools in the Bronx.

Peter Rosenberg (17:47)

School. Yes.

C (17:49)

Yeah. He's New York City basketball, so he's going to get a lot of ovation. I want the New York. The Knick fans to show love to him tonight. And, you know, probably other players can see this. And, you know, once the Knick, always the Knick. And I hope Randall can hear this because we appreciated his time here in New York.

Peter Rosenberg (18:05)

All right, Andrews, that's a good one. I mean, you know, again, we're going to see it tonight for sure. And I think it'll be. When they introduce him in the starting lineup. I think you'll hear, you know, well, Chesky, would he. He will. You know, he's one of the best. I think he'll put a little something extra into it, like he did with RJ Barrett when he. When he came back as well. Justin in Brooklyn. Justin, your thoughts?

C (18:26)

Yo, what's up, fellas?

Don La Greca (18:27)

Hi.

C (18:28)

Welcome back. My condolences to your family. But just a quick point on the. Yeah, the situation. I mean, when you think about it, we show love to everybody. Like, you might see Steve Francis from baseline in a few weeks. Like, everybody who was a Nick at some point, they get that standing. Right. Like we're welcoming back, you know, once you put on that blue and orange.

Don La Greca (18:49)

Man, we appreciate you.

C (18:50)

And we show love. And granted, the situation with Julius, like, we knew what it was, but like you said, he was that turnaround piece for us. And he, you know, he showed boldness coming here and taking on New York City city. And so that was a, you know, it's a big feat and we appreciate him for that. Now, granted, do we want him back ever? No. But at the same time, you know, we're happy with the trade, but, yeah, I think the right thing to do is definitely to show him love for sure. And thank you guys for taking the call.

Peter Rosenberg (19:14)

Thank you, Justin. Appreciate it. You gotta love that, Don, right? It's like yeah, we love him. Do we want him back? Oh, no, no, no.

Don La Greca (19:20)

But it was accurate, right?

Peter Rosenberg (19:22)

Yeah, I think it is. I think it's that. Thanks for helping us get here now. Have fun wherever you are like that. That's one of those things. Chauncey in Westwood. Hey, Chauncey.

Don La Greca (19:33)

Oh, what's up, guys? So as far as Randle's return, I say you cheer him once, whether it's in the tribute video or the starting lineups or whatever, and then nothing else after that. However, if he start, if he does.

C (19:48)

Anything towards the crowd or towards the team, then it's booze the rest of the way.

Don La Greca (19:53)

Like you said, Alan, he was never loved.

C (19:56)

He was appreciated. He helped the turnaround.

Don La Greca (19:58)

We get it.

C (19:59)

But after you do the thumbs down to the crowd two years ago, we.

Don La Greca (20:03)

Forgave him for it. But you can never be loved after that in New York.

C (20:08)

What's done is done.

Don La Greca (20:09)

It's hard to come back from that.

Peter Rosenberg (20:11)

What do you think of that, Don? Did that moment kind of ruin it for. I mean, Lindor came back from that.

Don La Greca (20:17)

Well, you can come back if you do what Lindor did. And that's, you know, help your team, you know, make a run that you didn't expect. Yeah, you could always get up from it. But I think that's the reason why he's appreciated, not loved. I thought that was a great point. There is a different way to put it, too.

Peter Rosenberg (20:34)

Yeah, that's the best way to put it.

Don La Greca (20:36)

Loved means that, you know, it's. We're good no matter what. We're just gonna love you, but we're gonna apologize for you. We're gonna defend you to the hill. Appreciate means we respect what you did here, but we're gonna also keep you at arm's length, okay? We remember all the other things, too, and you weren't a great player, and we didn't win a championship with you, but we appreciate you and we're going to give you some motivation. You're going to get your due, and then it's going to be over.

Peter Rosenberg (21:02)

Give me a comp. It's not a rod, right? Like Yankee fans and a Rod. It's not quite that, because a rod did have that amazing, you know, the 2009 and the great ALCs. And of course, they did get a ring. He won MVPs, but I don't think Yanky Vance ever really truly embraced a rod. No, but you respected him because he, you know, you knew he was good.

Don La Greca (21:23)

The difference there, that makes a rod a difficult comp is the People that didn't like a Rod took Jeter's side. Like, there was always a rift, but it felt like that there was a divide between the two. I think they appreciated his talents, but it's like, dude, Jeter's not warming up to you. I'm not going to either. And it became a convenient argument, like, yeah, you win all these MVPs, but what are you doing in the postseason?

Peter Rosenberg (21:47)

Yeah, exactly.

Don La Greca (21:48)

And then when you think about it now, you fast forward, he did win a championship, right? Jeter hasn't exactly embraced his post Yankeedom. Right. He went go, you know, put hard on, you know, working with the Marlins on Fox tv, where I think Jeter's been a little bit more available to the fans post career. And now I think you got a generation that doesn't care about the whole PD stuff, where I think he's a little bit more loved now and kind of forgive and forget thing. But at that time, it was like you were either in Jeter's camp or a Rod's camp, and it was really difficult for Yankee fans to be in anybody's camp other than Jeters, right?

Peter Rosenberg (22:23)

So I got a theory on that. I got a tell me if you can. And you probably know way more than this from talking to Michael. My theory on the Jeter thing post. Post Yankee life, where he sort of. He seems aloof, right? And, you know, he did come around last year, right? Old Timers Day and all that stuff. But he does seem. Is distant. The right word. Like, he's not completely, like. Like Carmelo Anthony. You can't get him out of this building. He's here every night. Like, they love him. Like. But I think my theory are two things. One, I don't think he wants to linger. I think he feels like, look, I'm done. Like, I'm not coming here and, like, gonna steal everybody. I want to draw attention to myself. Like, I'll. I'll come to events when I can, but I'm not gonna make this like, oh, I need everybody's adulation. I don't need your cheers. You cheered me already. I'm done. I think he does have that mentality. That's one my. My other theory that. That I couple with that Brian Cashman's presence. And I think he's just like, I don't want to be around with this. Like, if you get rid of him, you want to bring me in, I'll come in. I really do think they could bring him in if they wanted to if Cashman was gone.

Don La Greca (23:27)

Yeah, I Think there is still a rift there for Go, you know, see if you can get that. That comment from back in the day. But just quickly. I think Jeter wants to be something. Be known for something other than a football. I think that's why owner of the Marlins with doing TV now. Like, I don't think he wants to spend the rest of his life being the former shortstop of the New York Yankees. And so I think that's why he's kind of kept the organization at arm's length, because I think he kind of wants to move on and be something else. And maybe someday in his life he'll realize, okay, I'm going to embrace it. But right now, pretty cool. I don't want that to be my future.

Peter Rosenberg (24:01)

I think that's the. I do. And I don't know if anybody can really quite grasp what we're saying. And I'm glad you. You understand what I was explaining. You explained it better than I could. It's. It's. I was Derek Jeter the player, and it's nice, but I don't need to be that 24 7. Like, I can turn it off because a lot of guys can't. You know, the. The career ends, and you sort of, like, just still want to live in that character because it's the easiest thing. It's the only thing you've known. So I'll come around and hang around, because I know I'm going to get love here. And I. I think you're right. I think Jesus is sort of like, I. I don't need the love. I just want to do something else.

Don La Greca (24:35)

Yep.

Peter Rosenberg (24:36)

But I do think that if Al Steimer ever reached a point in life where he's like, all right, we got to make a change at the top, and I need to put somebody in charge of this or this franchise that has blood in the ground, that cares and all that. And I think. And they moved on from Cashman, and they asked Derek Jeter, would you come and be, you know, president of baseball operations or whatever you want to call it? I think he'd do it.

Don La Greca (24:57)

I think he'd be open to it.

Peter Rosenberg (24:58)

Yeah, I think you'd. I think you'd see him around again. I just don't think he wants to be somebody that is in the organization. And I answer to that guy. Am I crazy? Because that's what I feel. That's the sense I get. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

Don La Greca (25:16)

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

Peter Rosenberg (25:17)

Catch the show on demand whenever you want, just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. So ESPN New York, along with our friends at Yuenling, are giving away a pair of Devil's tickets when they face off against the Flyers in Philadelphia on January 27th. It's for Yinling Night Out. You can head to the contest tile on the ESPNY app for your chance to win. Now you must be 21 years of age to enter. It is brought to you by Flyte by Yinling, the next generation of light beer. It's for those who don't follow trends, but craft them. Flight by Yuenling is 12 ounces of uncompromised refreshment from the oldest brewery in America. With only 2.6 grams of carbs and 95 calories, this is premium refreshment six generations in the making. So don't just raise a glass, raise a Flight by Yin link thanks for listening to the 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.