Hour 3: Knicks Expectations

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Host/Authors: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 3: Knicks Expectations
• Release Date: May 8, 2025
• Description: The first voice of ESPN New York and New Jersey, Don La Greca, alongside long-time sportswriter and New York Knicks broadcaster Alan Hahn and the highly opinionated Hip Hop veteran and WWE personality Peter Rosenberg, delve into New York sports and beyond.

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1. Series Overview: Knicks vs. Celtics Playoff Series

The episode centers on the New York Knicks’ performance in their playoff series against the Boston Celtics. With the Knicks leading the series two games to none, the hosts discuss the potential outcomes and the significance of this lead.

Notable Quote:

• Don Hahn [05:27]: "The Knicks, I believe, have won five of the six."

2. Historical Context and Statistical Insights

Don Hahn provides a deep dive into the historical rarity of the Knicks’ current standing. He highlights that the Knicks are the 290th team in the play-by-play era to take a 2-0 series lead, a rare feat that underscores their surprising performance this season.

Notable Quotes:

• Don Hahn [05:10]: "The Knicks are the 290, 239th team to take a 2-0 series lead in the play-by-play era."
• Peter Rosenberg [06:48]: "They're the 290th team... That's a lot."

3. Player Performances and Tactical Adjustments

The conversation shifts to individual player performances, particularly focusing on Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. Alan Hahn critiques Brunson’s shooting efficiency, while Peter Rosenberg praises Anunoby’s defensive prowess against Paul Pierce and Jayson Tatum.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn [35:21]: "Jalen Brunson is going to go an entire series here against the Celtics having a true breakout game."
• Don Hahn [36:53]: "Holding Paul Pierce to 13 points is like limiting him."

4. Coaching Strategies and Adjustments

The hosts analyze Coach Tibbs’ strategies, especially his handling of OG Anunoby and defensive plays. They discuss how Tibbs’ adjustments have been pivotal in the Knicks’ recent successes.

Notable Quotes:

• Peter Rosenberg [41:12]: "Tibbs has done a great job so far... he’s locked in."
• Don Hahn [39:49]: "Tibbs took him out and OG came in and played the rest of the game."

5. Odds, Predictions, and Betting Insights

The discussion delves into betting odds, with the Celtics remaining favorites despite the Knicks’ strong start. The hosts debate the likelihood of the Knicks covering the spread and the Celtics' potential to adjust and dominate the series.

Notable Quotes:

• Don Hahn [14:19]: "Celtics lay in five and a half."
• Peter Rosenberg [14:24]: "I took two because I just believe these games are just down to the nub."

6. Pressure, Expectations, and Psychological Factors

Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg explore the psychological pressure on both teams. They debate whether the Knicks can handle the mounting expectations after taking a significant lead and how this pressure might affect their performance in upcoming games.

Notable Quotes:

• Don Hahn [11:59]: "All of the pressure's on them. 99% of the pressure is on them."
• Alan Hahn [19:09]: "If the Knicks lose the game, things will be a little bit more tense on Monday."

7. Callers’ Insights and Fan Perspectives

Throughout the episode, callers share their perspectives on the Knicks’ season and their playoff performance. One caller, Mike Bayside, provides a detailed analysis of a specific late-game incident, praising Coach Tibbs’ foresight and strategic fouling to manage player fatigue and prevent free throws.

Notable Caller Input:

• Mike Bayside [39:27]: "I think that just showed that they were really, really locked in and that they really have a sense of how to handle this particular series."

8. Final Thoughts and Future Outlook

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the Knicks’ journey, the dynamic of the current team compared to past iterations, and the potential paths the series could take. They emphasize the unpredictability of the NBA playoffs and the hope that the Knicks can continue their unexpected run.

Notable Quotes:

• Don Hahn [32:15]: "With our fear of losing."
• Peter Rosenberg [31:12]: "This is a different Nick team than all the other ones we've seen over the last 25 years."

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Conclusion

In this engaging episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," the hosts provide a comprehensive analysis of the New York Knicks’ unexpected and impressive performance in the playoffs against the Celtics. Through a blend of statistical insights, player performance evaluations, coaching strategies, and psychological discussions, they paint a vivid picture of a team that has defied expectations. With historical comparisons and betting discussions, the hosts offer listeners a multifaceted view of what the Knicks' future in the series might hold. The inclusion of caller perspectives adds depth and authenticity, making this summary a valuable resource for fans keen to understand the intricacies of the Knicks' playoff journey.

Highlights:

• Knicks leading 2-0 against Celtics, a rare occurrence in NBA history.
• Critical analysis of key players’ performances and coaching decisions.
• Exploration of betting odds and the psychological pressure on both teams.
• Insightful contributions from callers, enriching the discussion with fan perspectives.
• Reflective thoughts on the Knicks' evolution and potential future in the series.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Don Hahn [05:10]: "The Knicks are the 290, 239th team to take a 2-0 series lead in the play-by-play era."
• Alan Hahn [35:21]: "Jalen Brunson is going to go an entire series here against the Celtics having a true breakout game."
• Don Hahn [11:59]: "All of the pressure's on them. 99% of the pressure is on them."
• Peter Rosenberg [41:12]: "Tibbs has done a great job so far... he’s locked in."

This summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights from the "Hour 3: Knicks Expectations" episode, providing a clear and comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

503 in the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg. It's a big nick day. Knicks up two games to none. Got a chance to do the unthinkable. Take a 3 nothing series lead on Saturday and the game can be heard right here on 880 ESPN coverage beginning at 2:30. And the tip off is at 3:30 on ABC, which is a, which is an odd time for Knicks Celtics, but I kind of like it. I guess they're playing the warrior game in primetime.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. Which without Steph Curry it not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If they knew that then this would.

[Alan]

Probably be aging terrible.

[Don Hahn]

It's too bad they can't flex it right. But they can't at that point because that's hard to do. So moving to the big game like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This, it's just incredible that, you know, and if you're just getting out of work and are you guys going, it's just incredible. I'll be there Monday because we're gonna be doing the broadcast on 33rd but.

[Don Hahn]

You know, so you can't make Saturday you Pete?

[Alan]

Well, I'll be in St. Louis on Saturday. I'll be watching that from the building.

[Don Hahn]

But, but I'll be by myself.

[Alan]

But Monday I maybe try to go after our old. If I can get in, I'm sure.

[Don Hahn]

We can work something out.

[Alan]

Well, you know, you're the, you're the one who owns that building. You guys, you guys, Magic passes. Just Don's the one who goes, you know, I can walk wherever I want. You say that I drive a Don Stratus, remember? I walk right on the floor. I walk right on you. Tell me. So one of you guys should be able to walk me in, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, I'm not bringing anybody in. They know it's me letting you in.

[Don Hahn]

You don't think we can like sneak them in? Get like one of those little like, like, you know, like the little Bags that, like, when you want to bring your dog on the plane, skip Peter and put him in there.

[Alan]

I don't think I'd fit in one of those, like, really big dog.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He could be like Baby Fester, like, without that Bugs Bunny cartoon. Right. Just because your infants get in for free.

[Alan]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just put you in a stroller.

[Don Hahn]

Maybe that's what we do.

[Alan]

Or Alan wears a really long trench coat, and I sort of like, connect my, like, tape myself to his chest.

[Don Hahn]

Do that, too.

[Alan]

And he puts the Baby Bjorn, like a baby moment.

[Don Hahn]

Just do that.

[Alan]

A whole Baby Bjorn thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not that invested in getting Peter in the building.

[Alan]

It's a lot of work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, there's a lot. There's a lot on the line. Alan, all of a sudden, they find out that you're smuggling Peter. Now they might. You might have reevaluated your entire MSG career.

[Don Hahn]

Speaking of orange, blue skies. And also speaking of a lot on the line. So you remember when we talked to Spike Lee?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And I told him how Mike Greenberg said, wait, you didn't. You didn't go to Game 1 because he was at the Met Gala and the Knicks one, so you can't go to game two. And Spike kept saying, like, listen, I was at night. I was there in 1970.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan]

I can do whatever I want.

[Don Hahn]

Right?

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So I had to ask him because they didn't show him on the broadcast. So I said, were you. Were you at game two? He told me, dear Alan, watch from my home.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what? I think every Nick fan will hope that that's the way he decides to consume the game on Saturday.

[Alan]

Well, no, no, no.

[Don Hahn]

Front row. In his difficult seat row. Aa.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's the thing.

[Don Hahn]

He's already confirmed that he will be there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't. I can't knock him for that.

[Alan]

How could you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because the seats are paid for and he's an institution there. But there's something going on here that people really can't put their finger on. So everything's up for grabs if he's in that building. And he will be on Saturday and they lose, and then they, God forbid, lose game four when he's there.

[Alan]

Oh, just do I actually want to push back here? I think the only story here was the Boston games. The New York games are a non story. Yeah, they're his seats. Like, you're not skipping no matter what he's training.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, this is Greeny's rule.

[Don Hahn]

I'm going to ask him tomorrow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Green, he's a Big Nick fan.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan]

That gets lost bike.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And not like the Jets. I mean Green, he's such a Jet fan.

[Alan]

Oh, that's the thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You forget that he's a big Nick Met fan.

[Don Hahn]

Really? His team.

[Alan]

Yeah. You don't even really get to give him credit for much more because it's, it's like my non commanders teams. It's a different level.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It does seem to be a different level. But he was the one that's, you know, calling out a legend like Spike Lee and tell him to stand down.

[Don Hahn]

So here's a couple of things off of what we've seen so far now in this series. Right. For the Knicks especially because we want to spend so much time on the Celtics and the whole what the hell are they doing? Right. Like you can imagine what they're saying right now up in Boston.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean they're skewering Missouri, but they're also like, you know, it's a fluke.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. But yet they still don't believe it. And that's something like, like Brian Windhorse was saying the locker room after the game is that they are in disbelief. Like how is this happening? Like they're stunned right now. And if you think about it, you can understand why. So the Knicks are the 290, 239th team to take a 20 series lead in the play by play era. So this is again, they can only go back to 1998. This is just how it is with what we're keeping track of. But 239 is still a lot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A lot.

[Don Hahn]

They've led the series for just over 12 minutes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Crazy.

[Alan]

Now that's a stat.

[Don Hahn]

It's the fewest of any of the teams to have taken the 2o lead. Nobody has ever held the lead for that small of amount of time and still had a 20 series lead in a best of seven. That's remarkable. But it also says something else about this next team which goes beyond this series because you remember what we saw in that Piston series which was a nail biter. The Knicks now have been in six straight games decided by three points or fewer. Like you talk about anxiety every single game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You're at the edge of your seat. What's going to happen? It's the. It ties the longest streak in NBA playoff history. The only other team to have done this is the 81 Celtics. And they also went six straight games three points or fewer. They won four of them. Of the six.

[Alan]

They won a championship.

[Don Hahn]

The Knicks, I believe, have won five of the six. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it's five of the six, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. It was two here in the last three. Last three games of the Pistons series. And the one was only one loss. Right. So it's pretty like you're talking about this is a rarity that these. Every game is life and death in the last two minutes. And they have almost grown comfortable with it. Is that a real thing? Can you just say. Well, they are just so used to this pressure that they now really don't flinch when they get in these moments from both sides.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. The Knicks feel like they can't lose, and then the team they're playing, in this case, the Celtics, are probably thinking, well, they never seem to lose in these situations.

[Don Hahn]

So remember, they never got to a six game last year in their run.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, never needed to.

[Don Hahn]

Four.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One. Four, four. Yeah, there was two. There was three. Four ones. And they had the one sweep.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And again, no disrespect to the Pacers of the Mavericks. They caught breaks in both of those rounds.

[Don Hahn]

The Pacers were an overwhelmed team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why I think it's a conversation to talk about. All right. They're the defending champions. They've got the heart of a champion, all that. But this is a team that before they won the championship, they look like they didn't know how to close. As you, you've referenced a few times when they lost to Miami and obviously they went to the final. There's nothing wrong with that, losing to the warriors, but they could they close. Were they good enough to win a championship? Well, now you start to wonder what would have happened if the Knicks weren't banged up. How would it have gone? We all just assumed all you would have lost. Look what they did. They disposed of the Pacers and the Mavericks. They won the championship. That wouldn't have been you. Now when you see the way these things went, even though it's a bit of a different team, you start to wonder if, you know, the Knicks would have, I think, have been a tougher test than the Pacers, and they didn't take on the best team over the Mavericks, a five or a six seed coming out of the west last year.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, they were. Yeah, they, they. It was. Who did they upset? Was it the Thunder? I think they upset in the second round.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So they weren't that. The Thunder had a great regular. Denver was the defending champions going into that season. They. They didn't go. So they caught some breaks here. So they're facing some adversity for the first time. And now, now they look like a Celtic Team, like before the championship are. So the Knicks are better than we thought. The Celtics, maybe we overrated. I mean, Vegas usually gets these things right. And when they're favored by, you know, a minus 900. But we're starting to talk now about that. This could set up to be one of the biggest upsets ever. But is it really? The Knicks were a three seed. We're basing it all on biggest upsets ever.

[Don Hahn]

They're the third seed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know, but it's a 2, 3.

[Alan]

As good as they appear.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But honestly, I mean, you'd have to do the homework. How many teams are a minus 900 dog?

[Don Hahn]

Well, that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To win a series.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Granted, you say, well, how would a 2 beating a 3 be that big of an upset? But when you going into this series, it felt like it was David versus Goliath.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, it did. And based on what you saw in the regular season and over the last two seasons.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, based on two things. The Celtics are the defending NBA champions and how it went down in the regular season.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, now you look at the regular season and go, well, in three of those four matchups, we didn't have Mitchell.

[Don Hahn]

Robinson, and one, you didn't have OG Anunoby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. And then when we were healthy, we lost an overtime the last regular season game, and that we won the first two in the playoffs. So maybe the regular season didn't mean anything at all. And now the defending champions, well, maybe you could poke holes in that based on who they ended up playing last year to win the championship. It's all obviously after the fact, but looking at it now, maybe this was a lot closer than we all gave credit for.

[Don Hahn]

And now though, that, like, you get over the euphoria of last night, like, oh, my God, this is now, like, this is real. And saying things like I did in the post game, which is the Knicks are two wins away from the conference finals after. Now all that stuff is digested and you inhale and exhale. Now you have to start looking at, okay, what's ahead. Two home games this weekend to glory. And now it's. The narrative that started almost immediately is, oh, now there's a lot of pressure on the Knicks. Cause we went into the series and you're like, oh, house money. Not supposed to beat them. Right. Should play free. That's one thing that Josh Hart said. But now all of a sudden, why is there this sudden palpable feeling of pressure? Well, you better win now. You gotta win the series. Now. When we went into it going, boy, if. If they take this to six, that's almost like a win. And maybe that saves Tibbs job was some of the things we talked about. But if you win the first two, is there greater pressure suddenly on the Knicks to say, well, now you gotta win the series? Because if you don't, it's gonna feel like a failure because you took the two wins on the road. This is it. To me, the emotional roller coaster is something that's so hard to keep up with.

[Alan]

There's more theoretical pressure because you don't.

[Don Hahn]

Know which one's real anymore.

[Alan]

There's more theoretical pressure now.

[Don Hahn]

It's still pressure on the Celtics.

[Alan]

No, no, no.

[Don Hahn]

All of the pressure's on them. 99% of the pressure is on them.

[Alan]

I agree.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan]

I'm saying you just said this whole thing about, like, well, now that they've won both games, there's pressure, like, you have to do more. This is your time.

[Don Hahn]

You know what Shaq said on tnt? He said they have to win game three. Must win for the Knicks. For the Knicks. Must win games.

[Alan]

I don't believe. I don't believe the first of all. That's just not true. I know what he's saying, but it's not true.

[Don Hahn]

What's he saying?

[Alan]

He's saying that if you give the Celtics that one, the pressure is then going to mount in Game 4, and you're going to remember that the Celtics are the Celtics, and everyone's going to kind of turn back into a pumpkin. But what I'm saying is, while I understand.

[Don Hahn]

But you saying that means you don't trust what you just saw in the first two games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But why would nobody.

[Alan]

Okay, you just gave the statistics. They led for nine seconds. So there's good reason to not fully.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Believe the first team ever to come back from 20 points down and back to twice playoff game. Yeah, like there. There is that, like, forget about what the prognosticator said, upsets and all that. It's the way that they've won that's so baffling to me because, again, they haven't played great. No, they've hardly led down 20 points in both games on the road and won.

[Alan]

So even.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even Legler admitted, not as far as Shaq saying it's a must win, but the reason why tomorrow is so big or Saturday is so big is that the Celtics all of a sudden hit their threes and they win the game by 20. It's gonna be like, all right, well, now we. Now this is really how it's supposed to look. So now it's just on what Celtic team is going to show up. And now they made the adjustments and they're finally back. And then if you put yourself in a situation where game four, you were to lose, now you gave it all back and then it's back on the Celtics. Everything's going to be fine. There is a, there is a part of me that feels like. And that's why I brought it up earlier in the show. Odds of them losing the next four as opposed to the odds of winning. And you gave the Vegas stat. The odds are them winning the series way better than the Celtics winning the next four. But you'll see those odds change dramatically.

[Alan]

But they're already not. But I mean it's, it's minus 110 either way.

[Don Hahn]

Either way. Now for the series.

[Alan]

The Knicks are still for the series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but I'm still not favored compared to losing four straight.

[Don Hahn]

But here's, here's, here's the crazy thing. Do you know what the line is for game three?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sure Celtics are still favorite.

[Don Hahn]

Celtics. Celtics lay in five and a half.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I'm not.

[Don Hahn]

It was ten and a half a game too. There's still a five and a half point favorite on the road in game three.

[Alan]

So basically didn't change at all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No trust, no belief. Because they still believe that the cell jokes are going to show up.

[Don Hahn]

Would you take the Knicks and take the five and a half?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I will because I. Because I've done it the first two games.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the ten and a half is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Easy because I just.

[Don Hahn]

Five and a half.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, eight and a half. I took two because I just believe these games are just down to the nub. That's the way that they are.

[Alan]

And you think the Knicks are winning game three?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, because I just think the Celtics. The Knicks aren't going to go away. They just don't. But I think the Celtics will shoot better and they'll. They'll win a game.

[Don Hahn]

I gotta be honest. You guys heard me say game two. I did not feel good about game two. Right. I had this, the same feeling you had. I just had a feeling like they're going to turn it on. Like the game one might have been an aberration when it happened again. That's not an aberration anymore. That starts to become like, this is who you are. And I, you know what I think about game three and we'll talk more about it tomorrow, of course, previewing everything. But I kind of feel like this feels like the Knicks have not had their breakout game of the playoffs yet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

True.

[Don Hahn]

And now that they know this is not a, you know, a physical, nasty series and in that building the energy they're going to have, I think they might, I think this might be their breakout game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But here's the thing. And this is why I would pick the Knicks to cover and lose for everything you just said. They are due to have their breakout game. But the Celtics are not going to shoot 25% from three. That's the thing, is this is one of the best three point shooting teams.

[Don Hahn]

Just no Don, no high volume.

[Peter Rosenberg]

High volume.

[Don Hahn]

They were 10th in the league in three point percentage. Below the Knicks actually shot a higher percentage than the Celtics did from three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you're looking at all star guys just being miserable in their shooting percentage.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That the worm's going to turn. I mean 25%. That's, that's not them. So they're bound to eventually hit their three. So the Knicks could actually go out there and play great. Celtics start hitting their threes and it ends up being a close game but just looking different where it's a competitive game the whole way.

[Don Hahn]

There's a million different scenarios. I agree.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So there is a scenario where the Knicks can play their best game of the playoffs and still lose because the Celtics show up and they play their best game.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And also let's not forget the Knicks have not been great on home court. Right. They've already lost a couple of games.

[Don Hahn]

They got a master that. See, that's the other reason why I'm optimistic. Because they're aware. Like if they had blown through the pistons and played great at home, but they're aware that they have not actually played well. And they're also aware and they've gotten.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Kind of rattled in Game 5 that they, they missed the opportunity Philadelphia and the same thing ended up happening.

[Don Hahn]

Don't let it happen again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then you. The Celtics lost just eight games on the road all year. So the knicks for a three seed, we have 14 losses at home is not nothing but, you know, eight losses on the road for the Celtics during the regular season, they were the best road team in the NBA, so.

[Alan]

And down the stretch they were unreal on the road.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I think the Knicks will play great. Celtics will have their breakout game of the series and it'll end up being a close game and the Celtics win. And I think that's fine because the Celtics are going to go from shooting 25% back to back games to all of a sudden finding it and shooting lights out the rest of the way. Or they will they revert back in game four.

[Don Hahn]

That's what I mean. We don't know if it's in their head. We know there's a lot of stuff going on here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Because as much as you're proud of what they've accomplished, I still think the Celtics are the better team. Now, maybe it's not a great matchup, but there's some really good players that have.

[Don Hahn]

Illness is a huge factor.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a very.

[Don Hahn]

That's him not being available for more than 13 minutes and not having any.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That is interesting.

[Don Hahn]

They are missing a huge, huge piece.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, but we don't know what's happening. Game three, extra day, not that much travel. Boston to New York's pretty easy.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. But hey, it's just. It's so much fun. They don't have to sweep the series. That's why I said, if you can get just a split here.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're going back to Boston, up 31 with three cracks to beat them. I think you'd have to be satisfied with that. Right. You'd have to be satisfied if. If they lose game three just because of the law of averages. But you come back and win game four and you're up three one. But that's clearly on the table.

[Don Hahn]

I still don't think the expectations and the demand has to suddenly be what Shaq said, which, oh, well, you better win game. Like, I find that to be silly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's a nice thing to say, but no, that's a little like.

[Don Hahn]

Because you know what happens now. Everybody's just like, you know, well, you gotta win the series now. You don't know, like, you have a great chance to win the series now.

[Alan]

And it will be hard to lose it.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan]

And you'll be heartbroken now as opposed to being like, ah, you now. It will be heartbreaking.

[Don Hahn]

But the notion that it's like the expectations change is insane.

[Alan]

Yeah. No. Vegas is telling you it is a must win game on Saturday.

[Don Hahn]

For Boston.

[Alan]

For the Boston.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan]

That is if.

[Don Hahn]

I'm glad you agree.

[Alan]

If the Knicks lose the game, things will be a little bit more tense on Monday. That's not a must win.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan]

Now, would you say if they lose Saturday, Monday becomes must win?

[Don Hahn]

Monday feels more like. Yeah, Monday does give you that. Yeah. Because you think. Because then it's a best of three.

[Alan]

And you and you erased.

[Don Hahn]

And they've got two home games.

[Alan]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Right. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that would be an issue because now you would have lost four straight games at home, which gives you no Confidence for a game six.

[Don Hahn]

But didn't I say like if you told if, would you have signed up for a game six?

[Alan]

Of course.

[Don Hahn]

That, that it's, it's three. Would you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've, I would have signed up for.

[Don Hahn]

Hell yeah, I'm signing up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But not now. Come on.

[Alan]

No, not now.

[Don Hahn]

You can't. Like I said, I still think the pressure is on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, wait, wait. What's the going to game six? What, three two Boston or three two Knicks?

[Don Hahn]

But either way I don't care. If you had told me that you're going to get a game six at the Garden, obviously it's three two some way, right? Yeah, but I mean I would have signed up for that before the series.

[Alan]

But these days you can't.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't ask you how I got there. I just.

[Alan]

Now you can't sign up for it because you would have lost three straight.

[Don Hahn]

But I said before the series.

[Alan]

Sure, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Before you.

[Alan]

Of course you would have taken.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Things have changed when you win two games on the road to take a two nothing series.

[Don Hahn]

They led for 12 minutes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

John Winthrop, our pinhead suit. A great question off the air. I want to ask you guys on the air 1-800-919-377.

[Don Hahn]

Lots of calls too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have got A Peter led Enn coming up at 6, by the way.

[Alan]

And also there's a, there's a forgotten statistic that we have not mentioned.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh no.

[Alan]

That bodes well for the Knicks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How about that?

[Alan]

I'm going to tease you all of that coming up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don Hahn and Rosenberg till 7 o' clock here on ESPN New York and the ESPN New York app.

[Alan]

But first, let me talk to you about my friends over at FanDuel. That's right, FanDuel, because it's the best place to find all your favorite player props. And now you can do things like the smarter play the new performance trends. You want to see if a guy's hitting that over the latest stats right inside the app and see who's heating up. It's all right there for you. Plus, once the game starts, boom. You can parlay for a chance to win big. If you don't already have FanDuel, it's not too late to get on the action. Get started with $200 in bonus bets. If your first $5 bet wins, just visit FanDuel.com Peter to join today, make every moment more with FanDuel, official sports betting partner of the NBA 21 and over and fizzling President Europe first online real money wager only $5 first deposit required bonus issued as non withdrawable bonus pass that expires seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See [e-mail] for the gambling problem, call 877-8-Open Y or text open wide 467369.

[Don Hahn]

Abercrombie's shorts and swim sale is live and they're giving Spotify listeners an extra 15% off with code SWIM AF. Abercrombie shorts and swim trunks come in so many fits and fabrics, it's easy to find your go to pair prep for summer during Abercrombie's Shorts and Swim sale excludes clearance Online price reflects discount. Use code SWIM AF to get an additional 15% off almost everything at checkout from May 8, 2025 through May 12, 2025. Offer valid in US and Canada. Exclusions apply. See details online. Lowe's Nose to bring your vision to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

See Associate for details. Program subject to terms and conditions.

[Peter Rosenberg]

[e-mail] Terms subject to change hey there travelers. Kaley Cuoco here. Sorry to interrupt your music great artist BT Dubs, but wouldn't you rather be there to hear it live? With Priceline, you can get out of your dreams and into your dream concert. They've got millions of of travel deals to get you to that festival, gig, rave, sound bath or sonic experience you've been dreaming of. Download the Priceline app today and you can save up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off flights. So don't just dream about that trip. Book it with Priceline. Go to your happy price.

[Alan]

Priceline.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So quickly before we get back to the calls, John Winthrop, our program director.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Big Nick fan.

[Don Hahn]

Excuse me. Oh, wow. Yeah. Yes.

[Alan]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, He's a big, big Jet fan.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Also big Nick fan. He had said that he would rather lose to the Celtics, then beat the Celtics and lose to the Pacers in the conference final.

[Don Hahn]

Oh God, we're going to do this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it's lunacy.

[Don Hahn]

We're going to do this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And first of all, it's lunacy because it would be the first times in since 2000 the Knicks would make it to the third round. And I understand losing to the Pacers and being a big favorite would be.

[Don Hahn]

Upsetting, but isn't this such a New York thing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But here's the thing, as upsetting as it would be because his logic was, well, I don't want to lose to the Pacers. We'll be the favorite. Why? Guess what? You're the favorite now against the Celtics. You. So if you lose to the Celtics in the second round, but no, they are the favorite right now to win. Vegas has that attitude, is minus 110 to win.

[Don Hahn]

What is this attitude, though?

[Alan]

Minus 110.

[Don Hahn]

Please help me. Why do we do this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because he's John.

[Don Hahn]

Why do we do this Is such that we are scared. When our teams have success, we get into fetal position. Because now we worry that the success is going to stop but not reach a point where we can feel good about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I agree. It's still success.

[Don Hahn]

You get to the final.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But what I argue is the paces.

[Don Hahn]

Are playing great basketball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Technically, it's even now both minus 110. But the point is, is that if you lose to the Celtics, it would hurt a lot more because of the position that you're in. You've just won two games on the road. You're up two games to none, Believe me. I'm sorry, Nick fans, here's the thing is that now you're in Hertzville. If you had lost this series in five, you'd be like, all right, Celtics are just a better team. You now are in a position where if you lose this series, it's going to hurt. So get ready for it. If you win, it's going to be exhilarating. You're going to be in the conference final and maybe have a trip to the finals. But you have to be invested to. The point is, if you are proud and you got your chest out that you're up two games to none, that means if you do not win this series, it's going to hurt.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. And, Don, if you get to the conference finals, isn't that farther than you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Got last season, Farther than you've gotten in the last 25 years? Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Remember what fans said, You've hit your goal. You want to just keep getting better. One win better in the regular season, one round better. So the. So get to the. All right, so now you look at the pace and you think, well, we're supposed to beat Them. But what if we lose to them?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's.

[Don Hahn]

Do you go into the off season and think, oh, well, we suck, blow it up. Or do you think, well, we. One thing we know, we can beat the Celtics now. We don't have to worry about them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's the same logic I would get from people when the Giants got destroyed by the Ravens at Super Bowl 35.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jesus, you pro. You should have just lost to the Vikings.

[Don Hahn]

Oh my God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was a championship game. I was there. They were home. They humiliated the Minnesota Vikings. They won their conference. They went to the super bowl for anything.

[Don Hahn]

Oh my God. I really think we do do this as like a way to cope.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, exactly.

[Don Hahn]

With. With our fear of losing.

[Alan]

I guess. So I. So by his logic, would I have rather have lost to Detroit to have not had to lose like to a division rival in the conference?

[Don Hahn]

Better to have love and lost and never loved at all?

[Alan]

Yeah, like I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you said it to me with the Giants. Well, wouldn't it have been better just to not make the playoffs than to go to the playoffs and get humiliated?

[Alan]

Well, humiliated. Well, hold on, he didn't say that though. If the argument was I'd rather lose to the Celtics in a tough series, then we advance to the conference finals and lose four straight by 25 plus. Well, because the Giants equivalent.

[Don Hahn]

Did he say five plus?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, he's given the Giants equivalent.

[Alan]

Of what happened in Philly would be getting swept and losing by 30 a night if the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If the Knicks beat the Celtics and get swept by the Pacers. It's still better than losing to the Celtics at this point because at least you beat the Celtics, you're in the conference.

[Alan]

But I'm actually. Now I'm going to reverse course. John would end up being right. No, what I'm telling you, it would be. End up being a loss for Thibodeau if they got swept by the Pacers. No. Oh, they'd be mortified.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it'd be a disgrace. Listen, it'll be a nightmare.

[Alan]

No, it's a worst case scenario.

[Don Hahn]

Here's what I can promise.

[Alan]

He's right.

[Don Hahn]

Here's what I can promise.

[Alan]

You lose now.

[Don Hahn]

Never happening.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, never happening.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, it would.

[Alan]

Exactly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But don't rule the scenario.

[Alan]

Yeah, we know, Alan. It's definitely not.

[Don Hahn]

No, no. But no, because like there's so many things to this. Right. Like the sweep and what like, like we said about what does it look like? You know what, what if they get to 7? What does it look like? It's the same thing as that it.

[Alan]

Matters like what it looks like.

[Don Hahn]

Did they have to go through such a brawl with Boston that they had nothing left in the tank and they were just dragging themselves? And the Pacers once again got to play a beat up team, but we don't know.

[Alan]

But even so, if it was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you don't think it would be humiliating to blow the two, nothing serious, lead to the Celtics and you're out in the second round again. You know, typical Knicks blowing a series, losing in the second round again. At least you'd be in the third round. And what aged very well for your opinion on the Giants is what's happened since. Yeah, right now maybe I'd agree with you. If they get swept by the Pacers and then for the next three years don't make the playoffs, Tibbs gets fired, they're an embarrassment of a franchise. You might look back and go, geez, it would have been just better if you lost to the Celtics. But we don't know how it's going to age. I don't think it's going to age like that.

[Don Hahn]

Why don't we dream other ways? Because you know, get to the finals and how do you beat the Thunder? Because you know that Thunder team ain't losing anybody.

[Alan]

Even if you said that. Should people really start be fantasizing, starting to fantasize about playing in the finals?

[Don Hahn]

Well, you're telling me that you're two wins away from the potential of playing a team like the Pacers that you feel like you match up with and you have history with already from a year ago. That took some juice into that as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Allen's point.

[Don Hahn]

Give me that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

John Winthrop's attitude is this team's gonna stab me in the chest at some point, so I'd rather have it happen now than later like. But don't think that way because this is a different team. I know it's hard because you're living in this moment, but this is a different Nick team than all the other ones we've seen over the last 25 years. They're run well, they're coached well, they've.

[Alan]

Actually got a point guard. We calm down here, Don. They were two weeks ago. They were garbage. They were playing like hot trash. Two weeks ago they had no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, not hot trash. They did the season trash.

[Alan]

Oh, yes, Alan. They ended the season losing to everyone who showed up to play them.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, the last week, you mean? Yes, when they were looking to win.

[Alan]

But those weren't giveaway games.

[Don Hahn]

An overtime loss.

[Alan]

They lost to everyone A blown lead.

[Don Hahn]

And then a blown lead.

[Alan]

Correct. That's what bad teams do.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, no.

[Alan]

Now the Celtics are the bad team and the Knicks look great, but I'm just saying if we're. Don, calm down. Let's not. This is a different team for, for four days. You know, they haven't been on some. They look bad last week against Detroit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no.

[Don Hahn]

I just told you. They have won six straight games decided by 3.5.

[Alan]

They're well coached, they've got a front.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Office that knows what it's.

[Don Hahn]

Hot trash is aggressive.

[Alan]

But Allen, they were bad against. Let's not recreate history, guys. They were bad last week. Don, I'm making a point. They were not good last week, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They'Re still a good. They're still a well run franchise.

[Alan]

Agree with that. That's a different point. They are. They are now a well. So if you're comparing it for a psycho like John, who's speaking of 20 years ago, you're correct. But also, let's calm down and not say all of a sudden they've exercised every demon. This team's got everything. They should have lost the first two games. They were worse for 47 minutes in each one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But just overall, it's just. Why are you making me be this guy?

[Alan]

I don't want to be this guy. But let's, let's all come to reality here. Come on.

[Don Hahn]

When. When what part of anything that I've said did not include all that, which includes the nice statistics that I gave you about how few minutes that they actually led.

[Alan]

No, it wasn't you.

[Don Hahn]

It is the opportunity of it. But what I'm trying to push back on is the, the anxiety of like, oh my God, now that they won. This is terrible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But even if they.

[Don Hahn]

I can't stand. No, that's the worst energy. Oh my God, we've won. How awful is this now? Well, it's not. Just enjoy it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nick fans out. Even if they were to lose this series or even if they didn't win the two games, it's still different. It just feels different. It's a different Nick team than we've seen over the last 25 years.

[Don Hahn]

This is the third year that this time of year they're giving you some memorable moments and some memorable games and, and some entertainment and this hope that boy, if they get it right and they hit at the right time. Yeah, the 99 team played like hot trash for most of that lockout shortened season. And then they got into the playoffs and they got into a Slugfest with Miami and they outlasted them and then everything broke for them.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And they find themselves all of a sudden in the finals against of course the spurs team that ended up being one of the, you know, epic multigenerational.

[Alan]

Teams that could be this year too.

[Don Hahn]

That's the point we didn't know. My point is the 99 script feels more accurate than anything else. It feels like that.

[Alan]

I hear that it's setting up for.

[Don Hahn]

That and I'm looking at it that way rather than oh my God, what if they lose in the like why would I even think about losing in the conference finals?

[Alan]

And by the way to John Winthrop.

[Don Hahn]

You beat the Celtics. You're going to tell me.

[Alan]

No, no you can't.

[Don Hahn]

Nobody is going to think, oh my God, they're going to lose now. It's going to ruin everything. Hell no.

[Alan]

And to the John Winthrops of the world and the Knicks fans.

[Don Hahn]

Poor John.

[Alan]

And the Mets fans. Guys, at some point it changes.

[Don Hahn]

It's going to work.

[Alan]

I don't know if you know this, a lot of you are too young but John, you're not. I mean the Patriots were not even a real franchise. Okay. The Indianapolis Colts, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, we could go chapter and verse. The Cleveland Cavaliers have won a championship. Yeah, you know the world every.

[Don Hahn]

The New Orleans Saints were once called the Ain't because they were that bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A lot of, a lot of teams turn it around.

[Alan]

The Red Sox have won four World Series since 2006. Things change.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go to Mike and Bayside. You're on ESPN New York.

[Don Hahn]

Come on Mike.

[D]

Hey, love the show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm calling it right now.

[D]

I think the Knicks would win by.

[Alan]

30 and let me tell you why.

[D]

My dad was at the Willis Reed game and he passed away 18 months ago. He told me we were at some other like intense games like game six.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When I was nine years old, the.

[D]

Mets and we were at that jets game where they, they beat the Colts, the Peyton manning Colts like 41 to 3.

[Alan]

And that was an intense crowd, right?

[D]

Yeah. So he told me when Willis Reed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hit that shot there was no way.

[D]

The Knicks were going to lose. And all I know what's going to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Happen Saturday at 3 o' clock is.

[D]

That'S going to be a coronation times a championship crowd like that place is.

[Alan]

Going to be insane.

[D]

And they're going to psych out the Celtics and I think the Knicks are going to win this game by 20. I don't know where they come up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

With this five point thing like because you know what? That's the thing is the Knicks don't blow teams out like that. I mean, come on. Come back to me. Can the Knicks win? Yes. But the reason it's five and a half is they're still looking at the Celtics being due and being the better team.

[Don Hahn]

And the Knicks play close games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Knicks play close games. And the Knicks also have not played well at home. And the Celtics are historically good on the road. So I'm sorry, the Knicks. The Knicks. I'm not trying to be anti. Nick. The Knicks, I don't think are beating anybody 20, 30 points. I'm sorry. In the playoffs. That's not happening.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan]

But I will. The Wizards, maybe the stat I didn't. I didn't get to. That bodes well.

[Don Hahn]

Give me this. For the New York Knicks, now we got some optimism.

[Alan]

We're talking about, you know, all the things that could turn the other way for the Celtics. Right. And when's the other shoe going to drop? How about things. Let's not think about the last 30 seconds of games. Let's think about whole basketball games. Jalen Brunson is 9 of 23 in Game 1. What was he 3 of? I'm sorry, I missed the number 6 of 16. His shooting percentage is awful over this series.

[Don Hahn]

He's off a little.

[Alan]

He guys. No, he hasn't had a great game yet. He ended up with 29 in Game 1. He was 9 of 23 from the floor. He hasn't cracked 30 points yet. You're telling me Jalen Brunson is going to go an entire series here against the Songs, having a true breakout game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right. I really think the Knicks are going to play well, but it might not be enough to win the game.

[Don Hahn]

That's fair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Mike, you talk about coronation. What was a better coronation than finally getting a chance to wrap up a series at home for the first time since 1999? A week ago. And then losing to the home.

[Don Hahn]

That building was a nervous energy in game five. I remember it. I was there. It was a nervous energy. I'm curious to see if Saturday is more of just a rabid, like, blood thirst crowd. I'm sure it will because it's a much different scenario. So let's see.

[Alan]

It was. It was 6 of 19.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan]

And 9 of 23. That's what Sprunson's done in the first two games. And they've won both games.

[Don Hahn]

But when it mattered, he was. He was getting buckets. It was early in the game. He just. His rhythm was off so it'll be.

[Alan]

Interesting to see whether he does that. And also will OG Anunoby continue to just make life miserable for Paul Pierce? I'm Paul Pierce for for Jason Tatum.

[Don Hahn]

And also Paul Pierce. If he keeps predicting that the south that's a great point.

[Alan]

He had to walk 15 miles but Tatum we really haven't spoke spent that much time on it.

[Don Hahn]

OG has been bottled up phenomenal defensively.

[Alan]

Tatum just looks lost.

[Don Hahn]

I had the numbers with the matchup numbers that I had.

[Alan]

I think he got like one one shot on 39 possessions or something. It's a crazy stat.

[Don Hahn]

It is 13 points on 94 half court matchups, four turnovers. So the shooting percentages I don't have. But holding him to 13 points in 94 matchups and four turnovers is like limiting him. Who's one of the top this guy averaged 30 a game against the next.

[Alan]

Tatum was five and 19 yesterday, one of five from three. He had 13 points.

[Don Hahn]

They're seeking out for him matchups with Brunson or Towns. They don't want to see an anoby. That's why they keep screening him off. And Anobi finds his way back on him. So that has been he has been phenomenal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This episode is brought to you by Chevy Silverado when it's time for you to ditch the blacktop and head off road, do it in a truck that says no to nothing. The Chevy Silverado Trail Boss get the rugged capability of a Z71 suspension and 2 inch factory lift, plus impressive torque and towing capacity thanks to an available Duramax 3 liter turbo diesel engine. Where other trucks call it quits. You'll just be getting started. Visit chevy.com to learn more.

[Don Hahn]

She's made up her mind to live pretty smart.

[Alan]

Learn to budget responsibly right from the start.

[Don Hahn]

She spends a little less inputs pouring.

[Alan]

Through savings keeps her blood pressure low.

[Don Hahn]

And credit score raises curtain debt right out of her life.

[Alan]

She tracks her cash flow on a spreadsheet at night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Boring money moves make kinda lame songs, but they sound pretty sweet to your wallet. BNC bank brilliantly boring since 1865. McCrispy strips are now at McDonald's. I hope you're ready for the most dippable chicken in McDonald's history. Dip it in all the sauces. Dip it in that hot sauce in your bag. Dip it in your McFlurry. Your dip is your business. McCrispy strips at McDonald's thanks for listening.

[Don Hahn]

To the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I didn't listen to Anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Line up the calls at 1-800-919-3776 on the Knicks at 6 o' clock. We'll have ENN take up 7 o' clock and then it's Dan Grossett will take you up until nine. Let's dive back into it. Blanderson, Hooper, who had a tremendous tweet by the way. How's it going for a while.

[Don Hahn]

That was good.

[D]

Question just for you guys. So you were talking about coaching before and I think Tibbs has done a great job so far. And there was something that happened in the fourth quarter last night that that really made me think that he and the coaching staff are just kind of locked in. It didn't end up affecting the game, but little under three minutes to go. The starters are out on the floor except for OG and Mitch is in for him. The Knicks were inbounding, I think in the front court. I think Brunson throws it in and immediately Tatum fouls Mitchell Robinson.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[D]

And you know, Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan start talking immediately about how Hackemich is coming and he's got to get out of there asap. And they immediately cut to the bench. OG is up at the bench, goes to the scores table and then the next thing you know they call him back and they sit him back down and then they throw the ball in again and Al Horford thousand itch immediately, which I think put them one away from the boat. And then Tibbs took him out and OG came in and played the rest of the game. Now they didn't end up committing an off the ball foul the rest of the game, so it didn't end up affecting anything. But I think just the fact that he was able to or that he was thinking as far enough ahead that he was able to coax an extra stupid foul out of the Celtics just because he knew, you know, that they were looking to maybe get the Knicks into the bonus and maybe send Mitch to the line. I think that just showed that they were really, really locked in and that they really have a sense of, of how to handle this particular series.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it's how they reacted to it after game one. And then remember they were JB Bickerstaff was doing it in the Pistons series as well. And they at first were reacting as oh, we got to get him off the court, you know, like, and you heard even and like Reggie's saying they got to get him out of there. He's going to. He can't make free throws and all that stuff. But when they're not in the bonus and you're going to foul them. And we've had callers say they should play him early in the quarters.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So that if they're going to foul him, they put him in the bonus. And so, as you saw, Tibbs started to do that. And I think that is definitely something that you'll see as a strategy. And that's the adjustments that fans always argue about this. Tibbs doesn't make adjustments. Well, there's one, and you take it. It's like, oh, you want to foul him? Put yourself in the bonus. Great. Go ahead and do that. And we'll just leave him out on the floor. But once they're in the bonus. Yes. Now you got to take him out because he's shown you. He just. I mean, my God, that. That one free throw, I think it went eight feet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, you can't have an air ball on.

[Don Hahn]

That wasn't even an airball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's nothing.

[Don Hahn]

It looked like a pass.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I could do that.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you.

[Don Hahn]

You might even do better than.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think I probably have a chance to do better than that.

[Don Hahn]

It's. He's got it. He's got to get better.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So check out social media, because Blanderson sent out the.

[Alan]

Of Peter.

[Don Hahn]

Peter. Peter and the Baby Bjorn. I love it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't reflect well on Peter, but.

[Don Hahn]

I might make it well. But here's profile pic.

[Alan]

Here's what's crazy about it. It's somehow like an old photo of me when my facial hair was, like, shorter, but the. But like, did they create that? Like, that looks like fat me as a baby.

[Don Hahn]

Love it.

[Alan]

But I don't think that photo exists anywhere. You know what I mean? It's definitely partially AI. It's hard to explain, but it really is good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's baby fat. Don't worry about it. You'll work it off as you get older. It's very true. But I also have glasses.

[Alan]

Then it's also impossible. I didn't have glasses when I had that look. It's wrong.

[Don Hahn]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, it's Blanderson's vision.

[Don Hahn]

I think I look great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

Alan's just had his headshot superimposed on here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There really isn't a bad shot of Alan, apparently, right?

[Alan]

Well, no, I've seen all those.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He made sure that those don't end.

[Don Hahn]

Up in our very bad shots.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Brian in the Upper west side, you're on. Don on. And Rosenberg hey guys, how are you?

[Alan]

Hey, Brian.

[D]

I have to tell you, it's been hard to watch the Knicks all year. I was so sort of enthralled with last year's version scrappy, overachieving fight for everything they got. The Philly series was incredible. You know, I felt strongly that had they not had the injuries that they would have beaten the Pacers and gotten to the conference finals. Fast forward to this year. They're a completely different team. They, you know, they're sort of like no contact. You know, Josh Hart's the only guy that really mixes it up, at least in the regular season. And they don't really know how to play defense. And frankly, it's just for me as a basketball fan, it was hard to watch them because every time they played a good team, they got their asses kicked.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[D]

So, you know, now you see that they're sort of scrapping and helping on D and everyone's sort of playing like Josh Hart, like he's sort of the alpha now. And it's, it's just such a joy to watch. And, you know, it helps that the Celtics sort of, I don't know, lost their, Lost their way, continue to do so.

[Don Hahn]

But Brian, let me, let me point something out like that. I think we've tried to talk about throughout the season and a lot of times with fans and it's. With all sports, we do this all the time. It's what a team is at the start of the season or the middle of the season is not what they're going to end up being. The whole idea is to just, you know, the obvious things that need to be fixed and adjusted, the injuries. So you're missing a player that might give you that, that edge or whatever it is you're missing. It's a lot of times an NBA season or like a baseball season, like a football season, sometimes even though it's shorter, it is a, like a, a development process of getting yourself to a point where by the end of the year you're the team you need to be. And I think that's kind of what happened this year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But like, to Peter's point though, like the last week when you think they were building towards something, it looked like they had taken a step back. Yeah, I think the thing with the NBA that makes it frustrating is their regular season is just not relative to what happens in the postseason. Clearly, I think a football, baseball and hockey, you might be able to look at the regular season and have it. Have some value in prognosticating what's happened in the playoffs. I think. I think it's. It's futile. It's a futile exercise to do it in the NBA, man. Who's on what schedule? Who doesn't care?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, the regular season just doesn't matter as much. It just doesn't. You're seeing it in these playoffs.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Alan]

This team is so damn lovable to.

[Don Hahn]

Be hot at the right time, man. It's.

[Alan]

It. I just. I'm watching the video. I just reposted the video that's moving around of Josh Hart greeting Knicks fans who showed up in Boston.

[Don Hahn]

Oh. Signing autographs. You see the kid dropped the pen and then he couldn't find it, so he took somebody else's pen and came back inside.

[Alan]

He goes and finds. He comes back. Remember this? But again, I pointed this out multiple times. It didn't even get enough play. When this team lost and was in their worst moments, they hit 7th Avenue to greet all the fans. That's who they are. Like, fundamentally, this team's core.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's really cool.

[Alan]

Is incredible. It's too bad we have I don't know one of them because we haven't interviewed literally a single player since we got here. But I love watching them on tv.

[Don Hahn]

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.