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- [00:03]
Don Legreca
At New Balance, we believe if you run, you're a runner, however you choose to do it. Because when you're not worried about doing things the right way, you're free to discover your way. And that's what running's all about. Run your way@newbalance.com Running.
- [00:31]
Peter Rosenberg
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [00:35]
Don Legreca
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:36]
Peter Rosenberg
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. All right, here we go into the big five o'clock hour with Don Leggreca and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776 is the number. We got tons of calls. This is great. We'll get to them momentarily. We just love the interaction. And a lot of people, I mean, they're sticking with it, you know, they're not just like giving up on us. They. They're waiting for their opportunity to talk with us. You will get that opportunity. St. John's will play Marquette in the semifinals tomorrow, 6:30 Madison Square Garden of the Big east tournament. We will be across the street to do our show from 3 till 6:30. Note the ending time. We're done at 6:30 at Irish Exit, which is the bar in Moynihan Train hall, which like I said, is across 8th Avenue right from the Garden. We're gonna have special Big east guests throughout the show. You never know who's going to come by and hang out with us. You need to be part of it. So get there and hang out with us. We'll have giveaways as always, drink specials and more. Spend your Friday with us at the Irish Exit. We'll see you there. We'll have a lot of fun. 800 now we're 93776 on the calls. We started the show, guys talking about the Knicks win last night. Mikhail Bridges hit a three at the buzzer in Portland while you were sleeping somewhere around maybe quarter to one or something like that in the morning here in New York. And it was a stealing a win. This is literally, you know, victory from the jaws of defeat. They look like they were giving that game away. A mistake by heart gives the ball back to Portland. They get a three point play on a put back to take a two point lead. The Knicks had a lead, couldn't score, couldn't do anything with it. But then Bridges saves the day. And the day started out with Bridges with some very interesting comments about minutes and minutes distribution with the team. It's stuff that you heard on yesterday's show. Peter Found it. And he had read some of the quotes on the air with Tom Thibodeau before the game, said never had a conversation with Bridges about this, even though Bridges said he had talked to him and then explained why the minutes were what they were. And then we get a report earlier today from Ian Begley, our good friend Ian Begley from sny, who said that he's being told that before the game, after Tibbs met with the media, Tibbs reached out and brought in Bridges to the coach's office and had a one on one with him. So at least they got on the same page. So that was a good sign. But it doesn't mean that there are some people who are looking at this as a sign of trouble within the Knicks, where we know that the biggest issue that people have, people meaning fans, mostly some media, with Tom Thibodeau is how he likes to play his best players a lot. And the Knicks do have a lot of players in the top. They have three players in the top 10 in minutes, in the top 25. All their starters are in the minute, are top 25 in minutes. And there's concern that he overplays his players. Well, Stephen A. Smith, who's a noted Knicks fan on First Take today, had this to say about the Tibbs Bridges discussion and the issue that it might be causing.
- [03:58]
Stephen A. Smith
Tom Thibodeau is in trouble. He's in a world of trouble. Prior to the game, Mikel Bridges revealed he had had a private meeting with with Tom Thibodeau about the starters playing too many minutes and the bench playing too little, saying, quote, sometimes it's not fun on the body. Tom Thibodeau proceeds to play this brother 41 minutes, put the ball in his hands. He delivered the goods and they won the game, which is a good thing. But then Tom Thibodeau refused to acknowledge that there was a one on one conversation. He said it never happened. That's a player that the Knicks sent five picks away for to bring to New York to pair with the superstar for the team, Jalen Brunson, his former teammate at Villanova. Okay. Saying something opposite that the coach is saying when everybody and their mother knows that Bridges is right. And here's where Bridges has the credibility. He's one of the iron men of the league. He's always playing. He doesn't miss games and he doesn't play minimal minutes.
- [04:57]
Don Legreca
Oh, come on, man.
- [05:00]
Alan Hahn
I don't know. I thought it's not a terrible take.
- [05:04]
Don Legreca
No, that he's in trouble. He's in Trouble.
- [05:08]
Peter Rosenberg
I can tell you, I can tell you with full confidence he's not in trouble.
- [05:13]
Don Legreca
Peter, you know what bothers me about the NBA? Honestly, it's like, go ahead. Why does everything have to be like a soap opera?
- [05:19]
Peter Rosenberg
Dramatic.
- [05:19]
Don Legreca
Why does everything have to be over the top? All right, he made his comments. I thought Tibbs could have handled a little bit better by not calling out the fact that there was no meeting, but instead of talking about what was a great win and we kind of know that they're not going to be able to, you know, check all their boxes till they get to the playoffs and meet the Celtics. It feels like we're trying to make this out to be something that it's not just for the.
- [05:40]
Alan Hahn
Oh, I agree with that and I don't. And I also agree he's not in trouble. I think that I, I, I what I what I.
- [05:45]
Peter Rosenberg
That was the first thing he said. The first thing he said was, tom Thibodeau's in trouble.
- [05:49]
Alan Hahn
No, what I was agreeing with the last thing that he said, which is that you can read into, with some credibility from Bridges with being the kind of player he has been generally. I think that's a fair statement. I agree that Tibbs is not in trouble. The NBA people, NBA media and Twitter loves drama. It's part of the fun. It's true of the NBA during the regular season.
- [06:11]
Don Legreca
Is it fun when you.
- [06:13]
Alan Hahn
I think so. I think people are in.
- [06:14]
Peter Rosenberg
It is when it's not your team.
- [06:15]
Alan Hahn
I get it might not be for us.
- [06:18]
Don Legreca
But you know what it does tell you, though? And this is. I don't know if this is going to get me in trouble or get off my lawn comment.
- [06:25]
Peter Rosenberg
No, no, go.
- [06:26]
Don Legreca
But are there people that just don't enjoy the sport? Like, is this, is this keeping you, does this keep you awake? Because the regular season is that boring. I think you got a fun Nick team that's enjoyable to watch every night. They bring it. They're the anti NBA team. They don't load manage. They take every game very seriously. But we need this kind of drama to kind of entertain us. Is the sport Alan hurting that bad?
- [06:52]
Peter Rosenberg
It's not that.
- [06:53]
Don Legreca
The only thing that we can get conversation over is not the actual game and the strategy of the game. It's gotta be, you know, who called out who? Who said this? Who said that? Who wants to get out of this town to go play in that town? I have always enjoyed sports, man, and the games are enough for me. I enjoy sitting down. I'll enjoy watching the Ranger wild Game tonight. I don't need some kind of soap opera when things come up. I guess you could spice it up a little bit. Not every game is great. And there are times during the course of the game.
- [07:26]
Alan Hahn
It's a long season, Don.
- [07:27]
Don Legreca
It's a long. This seems to happen way more. And it's happened in the NFL too. Like, because we only have one game a week, so we got to have the drama of during the week to build up. Like, I don't know, maybe it's not enough for people, Peter. But for me, the sports was always enough for me. But it just seems like to a lot of other people, the sports aren't enough. They need all the extra stuff to get them through because they must be blindly bored by the sport that they follow.
- [07:52]
Peter Rosenberg
Basketball wives became a thing because of drama, right? Basketball players by nature like, and trust me, like, this is. I don't think it's enough. They're divas. They. Honestly, they are, they're. They're. Why do they. They call it baller lifestyle? What do you think that came from? Like that. That's what it's from. It's from. It's basketball players who make a lot of money, who are famous and, and adored by fans, and they are, they. They are different than everybody else. But with that lifestyle, you know, of the rich and famous, it comes drama because people are so interested in them and they want to know what that life is like. And then what happens is with all of this praise on these players is now you want to see, but they can't. Everything can't be just great in their lives, right? Something has to be bad. There has to be conflict. There has to be something. It just builds up to a point where that's what the story ends up being. Basketball by nature has always been a trash talk sport, which is why I think some people don't understand. Like, when Kevin Durant goes on social media to clap back at fans, it's not him being sensitive. That's the culture of the sport. When you play the game, you watch a game and you'll see two guys just join at each other and you think they hate each other, when in fact they probably go back to childhood played against each other for years, and this is just what they love to do. It's not a personal thing. It's just, this is what you do. So I, I'm with you, Don. It feels like at times we get dramatic with this, with this sport. But I will say, as I said earlier in the show, when it comes to Tom Thibodeau. The one topic that is the greatest sensitivity is minutes allocation. And when one of your players. Because like Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart have mocked this thing, they both love Tibbs, they've both dismissed it. Josh Hart has told the story about. Listen, what he does is he gives us off for practice because I want to play in games. I don't want to practice. So our rest days are the practice days. We don't have to do as much. And that's what you like. You prefer that than load management where I can't play in a game because the team is sitting me tonight. No, I want to play in the game. So he has explained that to people. So the fact that a player came out publicly to kind of push back and almost join the narrative against the head coach feels like the torches and pitchforks came out fast yesterday. And now people can't wait to see it turn into the bonfire that some have been praying for ever since this guy took the job and all he's done is win.
- [10:30]
Don Legreca
And don't get me wrong, I get it, all right? And we made it a thing. It is a thing. It's a talking point. But come on. Did Stephen A. Say he's in trouble because he's really in trouble? Or he knows by making it that dramatic that it becomes even a bigger thing than it is? Because if he says it's much ado about nothing, then it's not. Then we're not playing. He doesn't get any traction. It doesn't go viral. Like my opinion earlier, where I think, hey, listen, I think it's a good thing. Not everybody's got to get along with each other. Not every. Not every season everybody's going to be singing Kumbaya. There's going to be. There's going to be things that happen. And maybe it galvanized him to go out there and hit the game winning shot. Good for the Knicks. But he's in trouble. Give. Show me where. Show me where there's any evidence that Tibbs is in trouble. Bridges has been here for five minutes. There's a very good possibility this will be the only season he's a Knick, Right? Very good possibility. He's had trouble fitting in. He might be moved during the offseason. Show me where this now shows that he's in trouble. Come on. Or is that just the way? Is that a kind of clickbait moment to make it seem like there's something there when everybody and their mother knows nothing's there? No, come on, man, if what he.
- [11:47]
Alan Hahn
Means is he's his. He's literally in trouble in terms of his future with the team because of all people, Mikhail Bridges said something I.
- [11:57]
Don Legreca
Would find that shocking right now. Could this mean that Nick's. Are the Knicks going to lose to the Celtics, Peter. Because of this, like, trouble, then could mean if he's not in trouble losing his job, he's in trouble, he's going to lose the team. No, Alan, you're around the team, you travel with him. Does it look like he's in trouble of losing the team?
- [12:19]
Peter Rosenberg
No.
- [12:21]
Don Legreca
Not even Brunson said it. You know, maybe there's something there. Brunson's not going hard.
- [12:27]
Alan Hahn
If Brunson and Hart went on their roommates podcast and started burying the coach, then we can have a conversation. That's not what.
- [12:34]
Mikhail Bridges
Trouble.
- [12:35]
Peter Rosenberg
I would definitely think that's trouble. Yeah, right.
- [12:37]
Alan Hahn
That would be a problem.
- [12:39]
Peter Rosenberg
Right. But it does it to me. It does open up something that I'm not sure Bridges realized. You got to think he's. He's got to be aware of that narrative, right. About the coach. So he. What he did, though, was he opened up. He opened the door, and that creates a distraction. And the drama that you're talking about, Don, that it's like, that's completely unnecessary. That didn't have to happen. There's enough going on with the pressure of trying to win, the getting healthy, all the other stuff that they're trying to figure out on the basketball court that now you invite this kind of outside thing that might suggest that there's internal issues now every team's got internal issues. You think everybody's happy with their role. Like, you don't think this is. There's a. There's a guy that, like, pressures at you. It's not like, one night I played three minutes, the next night I'm playing 15. Like, what am I doing here? What's my role? So you're going to have guys who are frustrated privately, but, you know, you're. You're. Like, you said, Don, you're never going to have a perfect situation where everybody's happy, but still, like, this opens the door for the detractors who want this guy out to start getting louder about it and feeling like, now we got an in, now we got a reason. There's that little piece of thread that we can pull on the sweater.
- [13:55]
Don Legreca
Now the noise definitely won't go away because this is plenty of ammunition for them. But what it has to do with the Knicks or bringing them down or having Tibbs be in any kind of trouble. Listen, this is the one thing you can apply to everyday life. We all, we all work in offices, we all work amongst other people. Not every day is perfect. There's always some sort of confrontation. There's always something that happens during the course. And can you imagine somebody on the outside looking in saying, oh, they must be in trouble over there. You laugh at it like, come on, give me a break. You know, people in close proximity to each other on planes, hotels, basketball court. 20 guys all working together for the same common goal. There are going to be times you're going to have issues with management. There's going to be times you have issues with your coach. And the difference between an NBA team or a sports team and us is that there isn't like 20 people after it happens with microphones and notepads to document it. So I just think this is, this is just life, man. But we, the media decide to blow these things up and I'm saying we because I'm not above anybody to make it out to, you know, bigger than it is. But I think there has to be some accountability. I. If we had Stephen on. Give me, give me a reason why he's in trouble.
- [15:12]
Alan Hahn
Listen, I'm on first take tomorrow. Should I bring this up as a topic?
- [15:15]
Peter Rosenberg
Why not?
- [15:16]
Don Legreca
I would.
- [15:17]
Alan Hahn
Tibbs in trouble. So that's a bit 42 and 23 trouble.
- [15:22]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
- [15:22]
Alan Hahn
Or you might Budenholzer. I mean, normal teams are not in trouble unless you have a very unhappy Giannis. Normal coaches don't get in trouble when they've been this good. They just don't.
- [15:35]
Don Legreca
And it also is a shame too. Right. Like coming off one of the most thrilling Nick wins they've had in years. I was there. Their first, their first walk off bucket. What, like three years? Allen.
- [15:45]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. RJ Barrett against the Celtics in January, I think at 22.
- [15:49]
Don Legreca
Yeah. So listen, I get it. We're in the middle of February for a 500 team that doesn't look like it's going anywhere. This team's giving you things to talk about. Basketball wise. Actual, like X and O is an exciting game and, and this clogs up the narrative. It's a shame.
- [16:07]
Peter Rosenberg
800 now. 93776. Well, as we mentioned, because this is a hot topic with a lot of people want to talk about this. So let's get back to the conversation with them. Nick is in Woodbridge. Nick's been waiting a while on line nine. We'll bring you up now. Nick.
- [16:23]
Ian Begley
Hey guys, thanks for taking the call. So as I'm thinking this over and I'm kind of listening to everything you're saying, like Alan, it kind of brings me back to a conversation that we had probably two or three years ago about building the culture of this team and what you want it to look like so it's sustainable long term. And you brought this up a few other times. You brought it up when they traded RJ and quick. You brought it up this summer when they traded for Bridges. And then you brought it up again when they brought Cat in and making sure that you're bringing the right pieces in, the right building blocks so that you never working backwards, you're constantly progressing, you're moving forward. And to Don's point, that's what I want to see right there's. The only reason I'm staying up till 1 o'clock in the morning on a weekday to watch the Knicks play a regular season game against Portland is because I love this team and I want to be invested and believe that, yeah, maybe if this even, even if this isn't the year, maybe next year is. But I can't imagine that Tibbs is on the hot seat. To me, the hot seat points to Mikhail Bridges. And it sucks to say that because last night was awesome and he gave us a memory that many of us are going to remember forever. Right. It was always really great game. But by doing that and going behind what I feel is going behind Tibbs, his back and going to the media, you now put the spotlight on yourself. And you got to ask yourself, is his body of work so far worthy of that extension this summer? I know they give up a ton of picks, but does anybody really, really, truly believe that, yeah, Mikel Bridges is worthy of that right now, or could you move him? I don't know the answer to that. So I hope he proves us all wrong. I hope he has a ton More those 30 point performances. But it's frustrating to see a player like that do kind of act the way he did, knowing that we've been so intentionally careful about building the right culture. So I appreciate you guys, that's a.
- [18:08]
Alan Hahn
Fair, Nick, totally fair point and all. But I will say I'd also offer there is a chance that the weirdness of yesterday and because it did end in such sort of heroic fashion for him, maybe it leads to us, you know, a conversation and amending and things being better with Tibs. I wouldn't rule that out either. Like Alan, I don't necessarily think just because yesterday played out that badly that this is an issue we're talking about in the playoffs.
- [18:34]
Peter Rosenberg
You would hope not, no. But the right thing to do for a head coach when you have one of your top players speak out like that is to just have that personal conversation. As I mentioned, Ian Begley of SNY did say that the two of them did meet and discuss whatever needed to be hashed out before that game, before tip off, I should say. So that's something that is important. Communication is everything. We know that. Right. But what, what I think Nick was just saying is, is really the true thing here. And with any team you have, that's what you want. You want a group that, as you add pieces, you see they're all kind of like minded. That's what I think Leon Rose has done is he's found a lot of guys that are, you know, the gym rat types that aren't really about some of the other stuff. In the NBA you kind of find teams that have guys that are about the lifestyle, that are about other things, you know, that they want to. They have ambitions to do other things that just like the party, you know, that, that kind of like not every, they're not going to play every game for whatever reason. Like that just. There's different guys. This is a group of guys that all they want to do is play basketball. No one wants to know. I was talking to Towns about this and Towns came from Minnesota where a lot of people thought he was soft. And he's a guy that, oh, he gets hurt and he misses time. And I, you know, with his knee, I remember asking him about his knee and he just said, yeah, I could have sat out, but I want to play. He's like, and they let me play. In some places they would, they would make you sit and they let me play. I want to play. And so that's the kind of players that you want. And when you put them together, you generally get a pretty, a pretty cohesive group that just all has that same mindset. Like Don, like when, when we've seen teams that we've covered, when they all kind of have that, like, that's the culture word that we use, because it really does. All it just describes is everybody kind of buys into the same mindset. We're all the same way. And you can, you can win more. When guys all kind of think the same way, you have to get along. They don't have to be the same people. But when you all have the same mindset towards something, it definitely leads to winning. And I think that's kind of been what they've done here. And Tibbs has been at the, at the start of it because he's a guy that believes in playing guys, too.
- [20:46]
Don Legreca
And he, and I thought he did a great job explaining why.
- [20:49]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, right.
- [20:50]
Don Legreca
You know, he's just not out of his mind. It's the way I do things. If you complete detail on why it is what it is.
- [20:58]
Peter Rosenberg
Let's continue with some calls. Actually, no. Tell you what, we'll take a break here. 800 now, 19377. We had so many calls to get to on this. A lot of people have opinions and different thoughts on it. So we will get to those. So we'll get back to your calls. But first, Peter, a message.
- [21:13]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, absolutely. A message. I'm so glad you brought up that message. And that message is probably about fanduel. Yeah, damn right. It's about fanduel and the incredible opportunity that you have right now during the tournament. Why? Because you get down with a big underdog. That's right. This is one of my favorite things. The Dog of the Day Profit boost. Now, I tried to go up against Duke earlier. I'll probably try it again tomorrow. But it's always fun to pick a dog to take out one of the big teams in the tournament. If you've been waiting to join FanDuel, there's no better time. This app is easy to use and you get paid instantly. Just visit FanDuel.com Peter and download America's number one sportsbook today and back your dog of the day with a profit boost. Because after all, anything can happen in March 21and over in physically present New York Opt and required wage of at least 100 odds. Required bonus issued is not withdrawable. Profit Boost tokens restrictions apply, including any token expiration and max wager amount. See terms@sportsbook.fanduel.com for help with a gambling problem. Call 877-8-HOPE NY or text hopeny467369.
- [22:16]
Peter Rosenberg
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- [22:46]
Jalen Brunson
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- [23:14]
Don Legreca
It's time for basketball. And Uber Eats is dropping deals on game day favorites to keep you locked in on the action. Like when you're craving a buzzer beater but also Buffalo wings or when an upset makes you want to ugly cry into a pizza. And right now, Uber Eats has game day deals from McDonald's, Popeyes, Pizza Hut, Wendy's and hundreds more local favorites so you can keep your eyes on the ball and your hands on a hamburger. Order now only on Uber Eats. Product availability varies by region. See app for details.
- [23:44]
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [23:48]
Alan Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [23:49]
Peter Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. What you want to know is that we're going to be at the Irish Exit in Moynihan Train hall tomorrow, across the street from Madison Square garden across from 8th Avenue, right, just right there in the train hall. Irish Exit's the big bar. We're gonna have special Biggie's guests throughout the show, giveaways of course, drink specials and just come hang out with us. So spend your Friday with us and then St. John's plays Marquette at 6:30. Our show ends at 6:30 tomorrow, so you can march on over and check it out. 800 now, 193776 to get into the conversation. Back into the conversation with you here. Let's continue. A lot of people been waiting on hold. Let's get to them. Line 5 is Joe in Yonkers. Hey, Joe.
- [24:38]
Nick
Hey guys, how you doing? Thanks for taking the call.
- [24:40]
Peter Rosenberg
You got it.
- [24:41]
Nick
All right. So I was thinking maybe, I mean I've been a Knick fan for a while, I call you guys before and I was a Nick season ticket holder for a couple years. But what I think Thibodeau, he hasn't done anything wrong. The only thing they could probably say is that is that he plays the players too much. That's it. And I think maybe the other guy sent bridges say hey here. You say it since you just got here, say that we playing too many minutes. That's the only thing I could say. But other than that I think they're doing good. But I just wanted to see your thoughts on maybe what they can do to get better for next year, maybe. What do you think about Booker?
- [25:20]
Peter Rosenberg
And, yeah, Booker's an interesting name. Definitely what I've been watching over the years, Joe, because Phoenix, like, I think KD is going to get moved. And once he gets moved and you see it's not a good roster, Right. The owner there has been a little too aggressive, and Booker has been a guy that's always kind of flirted with the idea of playing in a big market. I think he's. He'd been a bigger star if he was somewhere else. He did get to the Finals a couple of years ago. Remember, that was a really good team. But, you know, does. Does he get fed up? Does he want out of there? How do you get him? I mean, there's a lot of questions there, but that's. That's the name I'm watching. Giannis, Everybody's watching that name as well. And, of course, you know kd. So, you know, again, all things to keep an eye on.
- [26:07]
Don Legreca
You've been saying Katie for a while.
- [26:08]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, I. I fully expect that he's going to be on the move, maybe even on draft night. That is just something to watch.
- [26:15]
Alan Hahn
How could he not be? It doesn't make sense that he's.
- [26:17]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, but the different options. First of all, he made it sound like the Golden State thing was not something he was interested in. So, like, what are the. What are the other great options? Does he really want to go to Miami at that state, this stage of his career? And the way they'll demand, you know, like, there's a lot they demand of you when you play there. It's not meant for everybody. You know, where else would he go? There's some talk of Dallas. Put him back with Kyrie. Play him there, you know, with. With AD and see if they can win a championship because you know how desperate they're going to be.
- [26:53]
Don Legreca
True.
- [26:54]
Peter Rosenberg
But I would. I definitely keep an eye on Kevin Durant on the move. Let's continue with the calls. Let's go to our good friend Javier in Queens. Javier.
- [27:06]
Javier
Hey. Hey. What's going on, guys? Thanks for taking my call. I'm really excited. I'm coming to see the live show tomorrow. I'm coming out with my boys.
- [27:12]
Mikhail Bridges
Cool.
- [27:12]
Peter Rosenberg
Awesome.
- [27:14]
Javier
Yeah, man. And before I get into the next talk, I don't want to give my opinion on counting pros, but I was just picturing, you know, young Allen Hahn in a sea of, like, gorgeous women and then a gang of nerds. So, of course, Alan is going to remember that concert in like, the most special way.
- [27:32]
Peter Rosenberg
A great point, gang of nerds.
- [27:35]
Alan Hahn
No, you know what? You know what you did? You made it make sense. Like it wasn't an insult to Alan to say he was one of those guys. It was to say he didn't make sense at the concert. That's all it was.
- [27:46]
Javier
Yeah, every woman at that concert must have been like, wow, thank God Alan's here, because.
- [27:54]
Alan Hahn
Does this help?
- [27:55]
Peter Rosenberg
All right, good try, though. It's not.
- [27:58]
Javier
It's not an insult to you, Alan.
- [27:59]
Don Legreca
All right, thank you. And I. I hear what you're saying.
- [28:02]
Peter Rosenberg
Okay, see, we lost Hobby.
- [28:09]
Alan Hahn
That was a good conversation.
- [28:11]
Peter Rosenberg
That was a good conversation. We lost them. Let's continue. Oh, Mike from Brick is back. Remember, we had him and then we didn't get through to him, so we got him on line six. What's up, Mike?
- [28:21]
Nick
Hey, guys, can you hear me?
- [28:22]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, we got you now.
- [28:24]
Nick
First time caller, big fan. Alan, I've been watching you for over 10 years with the Knicks. Finally glad to see that you're getting your, you know, national recognition that you deserve. I think you're one of the best in the business. Anyway, I think the previous two callers hit the nail right on the head. I don't think Tibbs is the problem at all. Since I've been watching the Knicks, he's the best coach we've ever had. I'd play for the guy, you know, he gets the best out of his players, and he's made us respectable, you know, I mean, before he got here, we were kind of a joke. I mean, we were in, you know, we were, like, in the same, you know, conversation as the Jets. You know, I'm a Jet fan and a Met fan, so I know all about, you know, heartache. So, yeah, I mean, like I said, he's a great coach. And also, too, going back to the previous conversation you guys were having the other day about great cover songs I got.
- [29:17]
Don Legreca
We didn't lose him again, did we?
- [29:18]
Alan Hahn
Come on. Not again.
- [29:19]
Peter Rosenberg
Mike. The signal. Mike's gonna have to tweet at. Tweet us or something, because we can't go three times in the same. Though. Maybe call tomorrow.
- [29:26]
Don Legreca
Mike, I don't think he meant anything by. But it just. It's interesting to hear, you know, Tibbs is not the problem. Is there a problem?
- [29:34]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, right.
- [29:34]
Alan Hahn
They're only 20 games over.500.
- [29:37]
Don Legreca
I get that, I guess.
- [29:38]
Alan Hahn
Why not 30?
- [29:39]
Peter Rosenberg
It's really amazing that you just noticed that, right? Like, yeah, he's not the problem. I didn't realize there was a Problem?
- [29:46]
Don Legreca
Yeah, like, honestly, like, is there a coach that would have this team, this, this roster win a championship? If Pat riley, you know, 20 years ago, if you were able to go into time machine and he, and he took over this team, would they win a championship? Allen, I don't think it's a coaching issue. I think it's just that he's not ready yet.
- [30:09]
Alan Hahn
But, but even you, Don, are doing what the fans are doing. Let's not get to the. There's no championship. Here's how I feel.
- [30:16]
Don Legreca
No, I'm just saying, I'm assuming when they're saying he's not the problem. The problem is they're not ready to win a champion.
- [30:21]
Alan Hahn
I think they think.
- [30:22]
Don Legreca
I don't see that as a problem.
- [30:23]
Peter Rosenberg
No one wants to give it another year. Like this is a window.
- [30:28]
Alan Hahn
No, I'm sorry, but real quick, I think I want to give the fans a little bit more credit. I don't think it's just about assuming they won't win a championship. I think it's about their putrid record against good teams and on national television this year. Right. I think they're saying, look, we're not seeing him now. I'll just say this in return and let you go, Alan. I can kind of relate to this team. I have a team that never really competed in this past year, all of a sudden started to compete in football. If you guys recall, the Commanders beat no one good all year. They really, they beat all the bad teams and then they generally struggled against.
- [31:02]
Peter Rosenberg
The good teams, which is what an up and coming team usually does.
- [31:05]
Alan Hahn
But then they got to the playoffs, things came together and they beat two good teams to make it to the championship game. I just because they've struggled so far in the regular season against the best in the league does not mean that they are doomed to fail when they make the playoffs.
- [31:23]
Peter Rosenberg
Detroit Lions. Could you say Detroit Lions equals Cleveland Cavaliers?
- [31:27]
Alan Hahn
Basically twice.
- [31:29]
Peter Rosenberg
Like failing in the playoffs has been their, their Achilles heel, incredible regular season stuff just dominated this year.
- [31:36]
Alan Hahn
They were the best team, maybe the best team in the league this year. Like Cleveland.
- [31:40]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, yeah, that's something. But, but, but you know, the point to be made, and again, the Commanders are a great example of this, is when you're an up and coming team, you generally just smash all the bad teams. You kill them, right? You beat them all. All the bad teams. You beat them, you find ways to win or usually blow them out. And then what happens is the first time around, you catch the good teams by surprise because they're Used to you being bad. Then when they realize you're good, especially when you're in a big market like the Knicks, who get a lot of attention now you got their attention. Now you get their best game because they don't want to lose to you. That happens too. You get the extra motivation part of it that goes the other way. And so you're still beating the bad teams, but you have a harder team beating the good teams because you got their attention. Now I think the Knicks are at that stage right now where they have everyone's attention that's good. So when you go in their building, like by the way, on this road trip, and I was out there, every game they've played in so far, all right, the first three games, three different arenas. Now because there's two arenas in la, every single one of them, half the building is chanting, let's go Knicks.
- [32:45]
Don Legreca
Oh, yeah.
- [32:45]
Peter Rosenberg
Like this is a thing that they are, they've done all over the league. And it is something that I think when you're the home team, you're realizing this and the good teams, they don't like it. So you're getting their attention. And the hard part is now from now you're playing the good teams and getting their attention. Now you got to be better than them. That, to me, is that last step that makes it so much more difficult to do.
- [33:06]
Don Legreca
I mean, this is going to make the small market fans upset because it's going to sound like I'm saying, you know, New York's better or whatever, but I'm not saying that. It's just different. New York's not better. It's different when the Knicks are good. Even if they're not a championship caliber team. There's another layer when they're good.
- [33:20]
Peter Rosenberg
There's.
- [33:20]
Don Legreca
There's always a lot of light on them.
- [33:22]
Peter Rosenberg
Yep.
- [33:23]
Don Legreca
So they're going to get more national exposure. When they do well, it's going to be a topic of conversation more than other teams. And so you feel like you want to beat them. And we've talked about that building going to Madison Square Gardens, not like going to any other place. So that becomes an obstacle for the Knicks. I see with the Rangers in the NHL too. Obviously it's that way for the Yankees when it's been a long time. But when they're up and coming, it's like, oh, everybody's talking about the Yankees. Let's shut these guys up. Tired of hearing about the Knicks and how they're this or they're that, you know, so let's let's, let's pay a little bit closer attention to the Knicks than we would any other team with the same record in the same place in the standings. That just kind of happens when you play in New York and there's a lot of attention on you.
- [34:05]
Peter Rosenberg
That's why all the national games that the Knicks have had this year, people make a big deal about the fact that they haven't won those games. Like I mentioned, I think they've lost the last five in a row when it's a standalone national game. And that leads to, as Don just said, a lot of other markets saying they're only on national TV because they're New York. Right, Right. Like, it's like they, they're just. We don't need to watch this team. They never win. Like, we're not impressed with them. And that's what you're going to get. Why. Why don't we see more of Memphis? They're really good, you know, but it's. The reality is with whatever. The bigger following, the bigger audience, it.
- [34:41]
Don Legreca
Is a topic around the country whenever. Well, why did it. Why does New York get all the attention? Why does LA get all the attention? Why don't anybody care about us? You know, because that's just, that's just the way that it is not right or wrong. It just. It's the way that it is.
- [34:55]
Peter Rosenberg
Blame the audience.
- [34:56]
Don Legreca
We never found out about it because Rogers got hurt. But you don't think that that would have happened to the jets with Rogers. Like, they were on Hard Knocks, all the attention on the jets, you were going to get extra attention every game that you play because of that. The defending champions get it automatically. There's always a target on their back. But I think in New York, it's, it's almost to that same level. And when you're not good enough to be a champion, then it's difficult to overcome.
- [35:21]
Peter Rosenberg
That's true. Because now you become that team that's sort of in that no man's land where you're. You're too good to be bad, but you're not good enough to be great.
- [35:29]
Don Legreca
Right.
- [35:29]
Peter Rosenberg
And then you get. Either way, you're going to get hit. Hit for it. Ron in Connecticut on line one. Ron?
- [35:37]
Don Legreca
Yeah.
- [35:37]
Mikhail Bridges
Hi. Thanks, guys. Regarding Bridges and his comments, you know, I think if you look at the last few years when he was on the Nets. Right. Underachieving team, he may have developed some habits. I know he's a Nova guy, and I'm happy that Tibbs pulled him aside before the game last night and gave him a talk and probably said to him, hey, listen, you know, let's limit the noise outside this locker room. You have an issue, you come to me. And if you look at the post game and I was wired, like many Knick fans, I was wide awake, you know, till 2:00am because of that game. Because I'll be honest, you know, Alan, you mentioned it was a must win going into the game with 3, 4 minutes left. With how that game was back and forth and the league changes and some of the physicality, it felt like a game seven of the playoffs. It surely did. So it was like very much a must win. I think the season, you know, winning cures everything. And if they had lost that game, what would we be talking about today? This Bridges thing would have been blown out of proportion even more than it already has. But at the post game, Mike Green asked Bridges about the minutes and he, he kind of gave a stone cold face, very stoic and said, I'm good, I'm good. So I think like he realizes that's a teaching moment for him. I think Bridges realizes not to do that moving forward. But I wanted to just mention one more thing. When it comes to Brunson being out, you know, silver lining and every kind of unfortunate situation, Bridges is automatic from mid range. And I think the issue is Brunson likes to operate on the court in many of the same places that he does. Top of the key elbows. We need to find a way to get Bridges the ball when Brunson gets back so that he starts making more shots and taking more shots. Because I think, you know, it's a small sample, three, four games, but he is automatic. He can be our Jimmy Butler from mid range in the playoffs. And then the last thing I know, Cat said he's approaching Saturday's game with love. With Draymond Green's comments, that doesn't really sit with me well. And I'm wondering who's going to be the enforcer for the Knicks. I'm not saying Matt Renpy, but someone has to give Draymond Green a hard foul.
- [37:40]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, you know, I. Thanks for the call, Ron. A couple of things is they've staggered the minutes with Bridges and Brunson. They try to give Brunson Bridges the minutes with the four other bench players to let him be the man offensively. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It's up to Bridges to be more consistent. But that's a longer conversation about him also chasing around the best player on the perimeter. And that could also be a factor in his inconsistency on offense. But when it comes to the Saturday game, like I've already mentioned this one, they brought in PJ Tucker on a 10 day contract. Now, PJ Tucker's 39. He. I think he's officially, like the second oldest player in the league. Now. He hasn't been in the league all season. I mean, you brought him in for a reason that goes beyond, hey, let's just get a really good veteran leader to have on the bench. I mean, why. Why not in this game, Give him, you know, to use a hockey term, give him a shift. Now, I know he and Draymond go back. You know, they've, They've had their, Their, Their playoff wars, but I think there's. There is a mutual respect between the two. So it's not like there's a big rivalry of hatred. But PJ Tucker also understands the assignment on most nights, you know, you mess with one of mine, I'm taking out two of yours. And, And I wonder if just for whatever reason, Tibbs decides this would be a good night to debut him, if anything, just to have that factor on the court. Not to say he does anything, but just to kind of let people know, don't mess with our guy. Because, you know, Towns isn't going to do anything.
- [39:10]
Alan Hahn
I was going to say that. Of course, the best case scenario, not his names, that Towns actually does something.
- [39:14]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, but that's not in his nature.
- [39:15]
Don Legreca
All right, it's not his nature, but don't say that. I'm gonna approach it with, like, don't say anything.
- [39:20]
Peter Rosenberg
That's what he is. That's. He's. He's a nice guy.
- [39:23]
Don Legreca
I know, but I understand being a nice guy. But this guy called you out. Nice guys get up in a bad situation.
- [39:29]
Alan Hahn
He called you out. The. He got it completely wrong and then didn't apologize. Didn't apologize. It was a situation that was very personal and serious for you and your family. I'm not saying you have to say you're going to beat the guys. You know what? But to Don's point, I'm a pacifist. But, I mean, you don't have to sound like. I don't. This is a competitive sport, and the guy deserves to get some.
- [39:49]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
- [39:50]
Don Legreca
See, the way I take it, Peter, I think we're on the same page with this. Yeah. All right, you're a pacifist. You're not someone that's going to drop the gloves. You're not someone that's gonna get into his phase it's just not your nature. But you sound like a doormat when you say I'm gonna approach it with love now, now you seem scared now that's what, that's, that's the way that can be Take. Don't say anything, hey, whatever.
- [40:13]
Peter Rosenberg
Right?
- [40:13]
Don Legreca
Yeah, I'll go, I'll go out play the game on the court. We got bigger fish to fry. Whatever you want to deflect all you want. But when I love it, it just comes across. I'm too scared to do something.
- [40:22]
Alan Hahn
Don't.
- [40:22]
Don Legreca
Why would you ever want to do that? There's something different between being a pacifist and being scared.
- [40:27]
Peter Rosenberg
And what you don't ever want to do though is also premeditate. You don't want to go out and say like yeah I got something for him or any of that kind of stuff because then now the league if the minute you do something flagrant one. So he's got to be careful. But you're right. The, the approach of it love thing is, is, is kind of cute but it's very on brand if you know him. If you know him, it's just very on brand. Doesn't mean that as he's going to the basket somebody's going to smash with an elbow and that might be accidental. You ever see him drive to the basket? He's all knees and elbows. So you know it's again something just to watch. Saturday night ABC 8:30.
- [41:02]
Stephen A. Smith
You don't wake up dreaming of McDonald's fries. You wake up dreaming of McDonald's hash browns.
- [41:09]
Peter Rosenberg
McDonald's breakfast comes first.
- [41:15]
Don Legreca
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Don Legreca
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Don Legreca
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- [41:44]
Peter Rosenberg
I can say to my new Samsung.
- [41:46]
Don Legreca
Galaxy S25 Ultra, hey, find a keto.
- [41:49]
Peter Rosenberg
Friendly restaurant nearby and text it to Beth and Steve.
- [41:51]
Don Legreca
And it does without me lifting a finger so I can get in more squats anywhere I can.
- [41:56]
Peter Rosenberg
1, 2, 3.
- [41:59]
Don Legreca
Will that be cash or credit?
- [42:01]
Peter Rosenberg
Credit. 4 Galaxy S25 Ultra the AI companion.
- [42:05]
Jalen Brunson
That does the heavy lifting so you.
- [42:07]
Peter Rosenberg
Can do you get yours@samsung.com compatible with select apps. Requires Google Gemini account.
- [42:12]
Don Legreca
Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy.
- [42:16]
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [42:19]
Alan Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [42:21]
Peter Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right. Make sure you make plans to be with us tomorrow. We will be at the Irish Exit, the bar in the Moynihan train Hall cross 8th Avenue from Madison Square Garden. If you're heading to Biggie's tournament, come hang out with us pregame with us. St. John's Marquette is the first of the semifinals. That's at 6:30. Our show ends at 6:30 so it's perfect. We'll be there from 3 to 6:30. We'll have special Biggie's guests throughout the show. We'll have giveaways for you, drink specials and more. So come hang out with us. The last outing we had was a great success. Let's make this one even bigger. We'll get in some football in the 6 o'clock hour. We've got some headlines to get to that include the Giants and their quarterback search and the jets and potential wide receiver reunion. We will discuss all that and more coming up. But let's back to the Knicks calls. 800-919-3776. Next up, line four Moose in Jamaica. Hey Moose.
- [43:21]
Javier
What'S good fellas? How are we? So yeah, before I get to my next point question, I just want to mention to Don and mostly Peter, considering the last time I spoke about the Knicks like I grew up with 90s late early 2000s NBA where people weren't checking up threes and they were passing the ball and actually played defense. So when I see a regular season game and 140 to 120 something I almost want to vomit. Like growing up playing basketball I was chosen for my defense and driving to the hole not so much my jumper that didn't come to like junior or senior year in high school she shoot the ball consistently. So that being said but I still listen to Nets games when I'm playing video games with my friends. But for the Knicks and the whole question about tibs and bridges, I think it's an interesting dynamic where Thibodeau likes to rest players like you said Alan on off days and play them hard. But also the importance of the matchups when it comes to primary players and wing defenders and wing players. So it's going to be an interesting balance when it comes to the playoffs where the Knicks have a legitimate chance to beat one of the top two teams in the East. But it all depends on the Effectiveness considering the regular season grind. So that's the interesting dynamic behind that.
- [44:50]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, what you have to Moose, and thanks for the call is when you get to the playoffs, everybody cuts their rotation down to like seven. Like you're, you're barely playing more than two guys off the bench. Considerable minutes. You might play an eighth or a ninth player, like five minutes, spare minutes here, there. But you are riding with your top players. You want one of them on the floor at all times. So that's where it works. You just got to get there and you got to get there healthy. And I think that's been the knock last year. Obviously injury issues, but they weren't like breakdown injuries. They were literally like freak injuries that, that happened. I mean the Randall one, that was two years in a row with Randall getting injured. So you know, like it's, it's all going to be. You know what Don? Like you know when we say that the Yankees, we only judged them from October on, right. I think the Knicks have almost reached that point now with Tom Thibodeau that you're only going to judge them from April on.
- [45:43]
Don Legreca
Well, because, you know the second round exits are getting old. You have to take the next step. And I agree, most of the time, I agree. It's just the circumstances here with Boston not being the best team in the conference in the regular season and having to meet them in the second round, I think changes that. You gotta, you gotta look at the nuance of if you give Boston all they can handle and lose in the second round. You can't say same old Knicks. Now you get swept and you're non competitive, then, then, then, then they don't have a kick coming. I get that. But then we talked about it before, the natural progression. Sometimes you take a step back before you can take two or three steps forward. Especially when you change the roster the way that you did.
- [46:28]
Peter Rosenberg
That's going to be, I think, what they look like. Whatever they do in the second round, of course got to get there. But I'm with you. I do think the judgment comes at that point. What kind of fight did you put up? They have not put up a good fight against the Celtics in the regular season. They have not looked matched. The funny thing is they were built. The reason why you got Towns was for a team like the Celtics because they had Porzingis, because how they could load up the paint against Brunson, that you needed a big man to pull their big man out. And then they changed up. All right, well, we're going to guard Josh Hart with our big man. And we're going to put like a wing player physical one on Towns and take him out of the game. And whenever he does beat the wing player, our big will come over and double. And we're going to live with Josh Hart trying to beat us. And that's, you know, that's another thing that Tom Thibodeau, as much as he loves Josh Hart, there's going to be crunch time minutes where you're going to have to say to yourself, probably can't have him on the floor because you can't afford to have a player that isn't a threat that the other team is, will live with him taking the shot. And like last night was an example of when that happened late in the game, Josh had several opportunities and Chauncey Billups literally was ignoring him. Like Donovan Clingan, who's 7ft tall was guarding Josh Hart, who's 6 4. And all Clingan did was hang out in the paint and wait for someone else to get the ball. And he went over to double, like that's the strategy. So those are also the chess piece kind of moves that you're going to have to watch in the playoffs as you play a team and try to win four out of seven. Because I guarantee you in the first round, whoever they play, if it's Detroit, they're going to do that. You know, the Pacers are going to do it, right? Like do. The Bucks will do it. Those are all the things that you're going to see. And then if they get to the second round and Boston's waiting for them, we've already seen Boston has done it all regular season. So what's the answer? What's the counter? And if it doesn't work, you go into the off season and try to figure out, well, we're gonna have to find a player that we can play out there so that Josh Hart's not out there being. And I hate using this word because Hart does so many things positive for this team that are intangible. Not just the rebounding and the, the fast break, the pat, all the stuff that he does. His leadership is so important.
- [48:50]
Alan Hahn
Totally.
- [48:51]
Peter Rosenberg
And yet it you saying liability. When you watch the last five minutes in overtime, he got two huge rebounds, but he also made one devastating play that almost cost him the game. By moving down the baseline when you're not allowed to do that to pass the inbound, he just had a brain fart. But he also was left open and missed shots. But who set the screen and did a perfect dribble handoff for the game winning shot, Josh Hart. So there's a lot of little things that still have to be figured out with this team. 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.
- [49:40]
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