Hour 3: Knicks-Thunder

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Knicks-Thunder

Date: March 5, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Platform: ESPN New York

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Overview

This hour of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" spotlights a classic sports talk balance of humor, insight, and sharp local flavor. The segment weaves through candid banter about marriage and personal lives, then pivots to thorough breakdowns of the Knicks' narrow loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA playoff prospects, refereeing controversies, and New York’s broader sports landscape. The episode also features audience interaction and a shoutout to a behind-the-scenes marketing win, capturing the full range of what makes this trio so compelling.

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Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

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1. Candid Banter: Life, Marriage, and Honesty (01:35–06:40)

• Opens with some light (and at times, irreverent) discussion about balancing family, parenting, and the elusive quest for couple’s time after kids.
• The trio joke about “living your truth” in marriage, particularly around the often-exaggerated topic of marital intimacy.
• Notable Quote:
  • Alan: “Every marital sex situation is vastly different.” (03:13)
  • Rosenberg: “A lot of people lie. Yeah, people lie all the time about how much they have sex. Oh, that’s like a known.” (03:16)

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2. Movie Talk: "Argo" and Political Subtext (05:45–07:41)

• Alan is partway through watching "Argo." Don and Rosenberg discuss Ben Affleck’s performance and the film’s relevance to modern events, especially regarding trust in authority and historical context.
• They focus on the opening embassy scenes, and Alan draws parallels to current skepticism about what the public is told by institutions.
• Notable Quote:
  • Alan: “To believe the things that are being told to you is interesting because this film reminds you that there were just things going on…” (06:35)
  • Rosenberg: “You mean trust no one.” (06:46)

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3. Behind the Scenes: Teamwork and Shoutouts (07:44–10:21)

• The show introduces Maggie, who just closed her first big account supporting Alan’s daily Knicks talk videos in partnership with SUNY Canton.
• Highlights the collaborative, grateful ethos of the show’s off-air team.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Maggie: “It felt great. But it felt even more great when the partner actually got to meet Alan over a call. He was ecstatic... it felt like it was all worth it.” (09:24)
  • Rosenberg: “‘You’ll never forget the first one. Did you celebrate? How’d that feel?’” (09:09)

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4. Knicks vs. Thunder Analysis: Breaking Down the Game (10:54–13:46)

• Alan and Don dig into the Knicks’ close loss to OKC, focusing on the team’s resilience despite poor shooting.
• Emphasis on defensive improvement, mental toughness, and the process of building trust among teammates.
• Alan notes the importance of being able to “win ugly” and the trust required in high-stakes scenarios.
• Notable Quote:
  • Alan: “…as bad as we were offensively that our defense allowed us to have a chance to actually win this game. That said something.” (13:34)
• They reference the Knicks’ “Gauntlet” stretch—10 tough games to close out the regular season.

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5. Playoff Outlook: Knicks' Chances & Pathways (13:55–14:21, 29:20–37:57)

• Rosenberg and Don agree that the Knicks have proven themselves, are playing “elite” basketball, and can realistically target the NBA Finals.

• The official NBA bracket and Vegas odds are referenced, with both hosts weighing the odds of multiple NY teams reaching finals relative to one another.

• Outlines possible Eastern Conference playoff routes (Sixers, Celtics, Pistons) and the confidence from beating top Western teams.

  • Don: “I think they’ve kind of proven what they need to prove. They know they’re good. They know they’re an elite team.” (14:21)
  • Rosenberg: “It’s not outrageous, but right now Vegas has them with the fourth best odds.” (29:30)

• Comparison of the Knicks’ chances to Yankees’ and Islanders’ prospects.

  • Don: “Who do you think’s got the better chance of winning the next championship? Like with the Knicks this year or the Yankees winning the World Series?” (33:19)
  • Rosenberg: “I think the Knicks winning this year. And I say that because of the presence of the Dodgers.” (33:40)

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6. Refereeing and NBA Officiating (14:21–18:21, 27:41–28:52)

• Extended chat around the refereeing in the Knicks-Thunder game, especially regarding calls (or lack thereof) impacting Jalen Brunson.
• Alan and Rosenberg break down the actual charge/no-call situation, referencing league-wide conversations about officiating.
• Cites both fan and team frustration, and how this anger shapes the mood at MSG.
• Notable Quote:
  • Rosenberg: “There’s no way a referee in that moment is thinking, 'he’s got two [fouls]. I can’t give him three.' We assume that a lot, but I don’t believe that.” (16:32)
  • Alan: “It did feel early in the game, there were a lot of whistles that the Thunder were getting and then the Knicks weren’t getting.” (17:40)

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7. Listener Call-Ins: Fan Perspectives & Podcast Shoutouts (26:04–29:07, 42:18–45:39)

• Call from “Blanderson Hooper,” who reveals he’s actually Jason from East Northport and jokes about his Anderson Cooper-inspired nickname.
• Detailed fan breakdown of the Knicks’ game against OKC, with focus on second-half effort and matchup prospects.
  • Blanderson: "I never blame the referees. I'm not one of those kind of people. However, I thought that the refs last night were atrocious." (27:41)
• Further calls analyze whether NYK can get past Detroit, regular season's predictive value, and discrepancies between regular season and playoffs.
  • Rosenberg: “I hate that notion. Right, but that’s the argument. And there’s so many, so many pieces of evidence that give you that idea of, of like… It’s copium.” (45:16)
  • Don: “I just thought so flippantly, you just say, well, I'm not worried about Detroit. Well, I am. You should. Yeah.” (45:46)

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8. Devils Trade Deadline & New Jersey Sports Updates (19:58–20:59, 46:02–49:16)

• Hockey segment discusses the New Jersey Devils' unusually lengthy homestand and the trade deadline outlook (lack of UFA contracts, little need—or room—for deals this year).

• Depth at center highlighted as the team's principal need.

  • Don: “They may not do anything. They're not gonna be buyers. That doesn't make a lot of sense for this year unless it's somebody that's under contract for next year.” (47:07)

• Quick mention of Tate McRae/Jack Hughes relationship as a “Page Six” note, with tongue-in-cheek speculation about the team’s playoff outlook.

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9. College Basketball: LIU & Rod Strickland (24:24–26:04, 49:16–50:17)

• Celebration of Rod Strickland and Long Island University (LIU) reaching the NEC semifinals.

• Lighthearted lament about student turnout, with Rosenberg and Alan joking about efforts to boost attendance from LIU’s various campuses.

  • Alan: “It’s difficult for them to all go into games... you want to see your students going crazy.” (25:27)
  • Rosenberg: “If there’s a fleet of Ubers, if there’s a championship game… we’re going to need to pack the place.” (25:56)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On MSG Atmosphere:
  • Rosenberg: “It became… an angry crowd. And you know, Don, how that is when the New York crowd gets angry and now they've got a villain… it created a real aggressive atmosphere that was a lot of fun.” (17:40)
• On Playoff Aspirations:
  • Rosenberg: “We don’t really get to do a lot of this—talking about legitimately how can this team win a championship. And we are in that conversation right now with the Knicks…” (32:16)
• On Regular Season Value:
  • Don: “That call is why I opened with the way I opened it… You just conveniently said, well, we could play with the Thunder. We can win a championship. Look how we played last night. We only lost by three.” (44:22)

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Timestamps for Important Sections

• Marital Banter and Life Talk: 01:35–06:40
• “Argo” & Political Commentary: 05:45–07:41
• Maggie’s Shoutout/SUNY Canton Partnership: 07:44–10:21
• Knicks-Thunder Game Breakdown: 10:54–13:46
• NBA Playoff Picture & Knicks Prognosis: 29:20–37:57
• Refereeing/Officiating Discussion: 14:21–18:21
• Listener Call-In Highlights: 26:04–29:07, 42:18–45:39
• Devils Trade Deadline/Local Hockey: 19:58–20:59, 46:02–49:16
• Rod Strickland/LIU Segment: 24:24–26:04, 49:16–50:17

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Tone, Style & Takeaways

• Tone: Familial, irreverent, self-deprecating, candid, with classic New York sports radio energy and camaraderie.
• Style: Conversational, inclusive of both expert analysis and fan perspectives, punctuated by punchlines and occasional bickering.
• Takeaways:
  • The Knicks are a legitimate contender, with championship aspirations taken seriously by both the hosts and local fans.
  • The balance between regular season performance and playoff expectations is fluid, with both the hosts and fans acknowledging the unpredictability of the postseason.
  • Refereeing and officiating continue to be a hot-button topic, with a broad consensus around missed calls but skepticism about conspiracy theories.
  • The wider New York sports landscape remains lively, with both hockey and college basketball adding layers to the conversation.

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For diehards and casuals alike, this episode is an energetic, authentic slice of New York sports talk—equal parts locker room, press conference, and neighborhood bar.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

Spring is here and there's a whole

[Rosenberg]

new way to chai at Starbucks that's made perfect for you. Choose your sweetness, dial it up or keep things light. Add a touch of pistachio, a hint

[Don Hahn]

of strawberry or vanilla, or make it

[Rosenberg]

a spring classic with lavender. Because this season there's endless ways to chai at Starbucks. This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Rosenberg]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[Don Hahn]

Game time is brought to you by Telemardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, fellas,

[Maggie]

You

[Don Hahn]

know the Rangers play host to the Leafs coverage immediately following us right here on 880 at 6 30. The Nets visit the Heat at 730 and the Islanders are way out in LA facing the Kings at 930 on ESPN.

[Rosenberg]

I'll be up.

[Don Hahn]

I will definitely watch the first period of this game.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, I won't make it to the end, but I'll have Lakers Denver on of course, because I got a scout doing the work. And then I'll make sure the Islanders are there. God bless on the second screen.

[Don Hahn]

God bless. Bellamore, do the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore Dew or try the new Telemore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. Is that my first one today? That's a bad job. That's a bad job by I disagree.

[Rosenberg]

We have plenty of time. Mm, not really.

[Don Hahn]

Now I'm trying to think what the tease was again. Remember you said argo, Argo, Argo.

[Alan]

Bleep yourself.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Now. All right. Did you at least make an attempt? Was it on your started it about

[Alan]

25, 30 minutes in and then. Oh, it's great.

[Don Hahn]

I'm enjoying.

[Rosenberg]

Then what?

[Alan]

Bedtime? Just, you know, listen, you know what we're doing. Dude, come on. You know.

[Don Hahn]

I know.

[Alan]

Listen, I put in a good 30 minutes. We really enjoyed it.

[Rosenberg]

And it was mommy daddy time. Is that what you tell me?

[Alan]

No, I wish it was mommy daddy. It was daddy pillow time, that's all.

[Don Hahn]

You won't be able to rub two experiences together until she's 17.

[Alan]

So yeah, it was this guy.

[Don Hahn]

He's a maniac.

[Rosenberg]

That's why God made locks again.

[Don Hahn]

It's not about locking doors. It's about creating time that doesn't exist.

[Alan]

And moments it doesn't.

[Don Hahn]

And also it just takes double over with exhaustion because there was a period of time I told I told Nancy when we first met, like, when we first started.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. I started. Never.

[Don Hahn]

Will I ever turn it down because I'm too tired. Oh, no, Never. Never has. Never has passed.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

And she said, sounds good. I'm all set.

[Don Hahn]

Well, she never said it then. Like, when I said that, she. That's good for you.

[Rosenberg]

Did you ever remember the joke growing up? It was the whole not to not have a headache thing was a joke.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And I always grew up thinking, like, that's gonna happen. It's like, thank God.

[Alan]

Well, it didn't happen for you.

[Don Hahn]

He's just living lives. Honestly. You're living in a space that, for most marriage people.

[Alan]

Well, I think everybody's situation. I think everybody's situation is different, is what I. Is what I'm learning. Everybody's situation is different, I guess. No, no, no. I guess. 100%. Every marital sex situation is vastly different.

[Rosenberg]

And I can.

[Alan]

There's a lot of lying that happens. Of course. I'm not suggesting that about you, but a lot of people lie. A lot of people lie. Yeah, people lie all the time about how much they have sex. Oh, that's like a known.

[Rosenberg]

You mean like when you're single? No, people make up.

[Alan]

Married couples lie about how much sex they have. That is a known thing.

[Don Hahn]

Really? Because.

[Alan]

Because they don't want people to think they're unhealthy.

[Don Hahn]

They don't want to be judged. What have you.

[Rosenberg]

Are you. Hello. What am I reading? Welcome to the world. What am I reading That I need to get that information.

[Alan]

No, not reading that.

[Rosenberg]

Like, I'm curious about when the girls.

[Don Hahn]

Like, for.

[Alan]

When the girls all talk, for example.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan]

I think there are times when, like, people like to keep up appearances. Like, Don is right here on the radio telling the entire world I'm never getting any. Okay. Most people aren't as forward about that, so they.

[Don Hahn]

Because I'm on the radio, I need to give you some.

[Alan]

Correct. And so why not just live your truth? So. And I feel you.

[Rosenberg]

You'll see.

[Alan]

I don't see. What do you mean, see? I know. Natalie and I have been together for three weeks in six years, like, it's. Once you get to a few years in. It's years. It's not like the honeymoon literally lasts 10 years. You know what I mean? I guess for some people, it does. Listen, John Winthrop's gonna come back with more kids off this trip.

[Rosenberg]

He's odd.

[Alan]

No, he literally. He treats. Let me be delicate. Yeah, please. He treats intimacy with his wife. The way he discusses it. The way most men would discuss intimacy with anyone but their wife.

[Rosenberg]

You see what I'm saying?

[Alan]

Like, oh my God, I can't wait

[Don Hahn]

till I get home.

[Rosenberg]

Isn't that beautiful?

[Don Hahn]

It's amazing.

[Rosenberg]

It's beautiful.

[Alan]

Now, it's. It's unusual. It's unusual.

[Rosenberg]

Really? Yeah, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You're the minority. I'm sorry, you're in the minority of married. Now listen, you've got older kids and your youngest is your last is. It's like four deep. So when my twins came obviously together and that's it. And. And Peter's on his first. So I. Maybe there will be an awakening. Maybe there will be a resurgence. I'm looking forward to that day.

[Alan]

I think.

[Don Hahn]

I think for you right now there's a. There's a hibernation period.

[Alan]

I think for you, I'm willing to call it at this point.

[Don Hahn]

So am I. Thank you. Because at some point I might call it.

[Alan]

No, you're calling.

[Don Hahn]

I might get to a point where I'm like, I'm good.

[Alan]

No, you gotta call at some point. At a certain point you're calling.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

To Alan, you're a guy who can't even watch a TV show where people over 60 are making out.

[Rosenberg]

Well, you don't need to encourage this. Yeah, I don't have to watch.

[Alan]

Oh, yes you do. Do you support or not?

[Don Hahn]

You have an hour and a half left in argos. It's a two even two hour movie. Hour 20 if it's a day.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

The one thing about the movie that impressed me is that that look on Ben Affleck's face is the same look the entire movie. He will not crack a smile. Nothing stoic. He is stoic character I've ever seen.

[Alan]

I'm only just getting to know him at the stage I met in the movie. Like he's kind of just showed.

[Don Hahn]

So it's such a good movie. I remember when it came out. 2012. So the movie's been out.

[Rosenberg]

It's like almost like the accountant. It's the same thing. It's the same face.

[Alan]

It's a.

[Rosenberg]

He doesn't change his expression.

[Alan]

It's a troubling. It's a trouble. I'll say this, let me, let me say this very tell. I'm going to say this very delicately because, you know, I don't like to say things are political.

[Don Hahn]

What's the matter?

[Alan]

I recommend, I recommend. I reckon it's a very good film to give you insight into things that are going on now.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, very much.

[Alan]

And a reminder that to believe. To believe the things that are being told to you is interesting because this film reminds you that there were just things going on.

[Rosenberg]

You mean trust no one.

[Alan]

I mean, the second the movie starts, the opening of the movie, as. As the riots are happening and the embassies being bombarded, what is the American Embassy doing? They are burning every single paper and document that they have because no evidence. I mean, yeah, why would a. Why would one of our foreign embassies need to burn every.

[Don Hahn]

Should have burned them. Because you'll find. I don't want to give up too much, but, yeah, they should have burned. They didn't burn. And they didn't burn at all. And no shredding. Back to burn.

[Alan]

Shredding. Come back to burn because they shredded. They burn. They wanted to burn, but they also were shredding.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And.

[Alan]

But also, even as the opening.

[Rosenberg]

Even.

[Alan]

Even the opening. First, just five minutes of the film where they set up the history of Iran is a very interesting and compelling thing to keep in mind for what's going on.

[Don Hahn]

Right up your alley. It's, it's, it's. And it's very, very well made.

[Alan]

Really good stuff.

[Don Hahn]

I would definitely try to finish it if you can.

[Rosenberg]

Absolutely. I'm just congratulating Maggie for closing her first big account. Oh, hold on, hold on. I think it's a big deal.

[Alan]

So.

[Rosenberg]

And she kept walking past the window, and I was waving, and every time she'd walk by, I couldn't get her attention. So I do videos now for SUNY Canton. Okay. And they are Nick's. Nick's. Nick's. Talk daily for. On game days. So everybody that you can get, like, my. Just a take on the game before the game. So each day that there's a game, so tomorrow I'll do one. And it's a. It's a great partnership. And. And Maggie's a great teammate who put a lot of work and effort into this, and it's fantastic. So I just wanted to.

[Alan]

Oh, we got a shot. We got a shot of her on camera.

[Don Hahn]

I wanted to get her in.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan]

You want to put her in the air?

[Rosenberg]

Why not?

[Don Hahn]

Why not?

[Alan]

I don't know.

[Rosenberg]

I don't know. These are teammates.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan]

I don't know how that works. Sure. I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

Sure.

[Alan]

I've been to it. No, no, I didn't say.

[Rosenberg]

I really wasn't trying to embarrass her. I just wanted to say congratulations.

[Don Hahn]

More of this, the better for everybody.

[Rosenberg]

Before she went home.

[Alan]

You know what?

[Rosenberg]

Hold on.

[Alan]

They're giving Her a microphone.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, boy.

[Alan]

She's on the camera.

[Don Hahn]

And she should also know this is, this is the. The sacred five o'.

[Rosenberg]

Clock. I also love the fact that she's holding the headphones like it's. We are the world.

[Alan]

They're not going to fall off. You're okay.

[Maggie]

This is like my dream situation.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Maggie]

We are the world.

[Don Hahn]

Come on.

[Alan]

Oh, the we are the world being on the show.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, that, that, that first and

[Alan]

then we are the World.

[Don Hahn]

That song might do a little better than this show.

[Rosenberg]

Right, but how, like you put a lot of work into this and I know everybody is putting a lot of work into, you know, obviously getting as many accounts and getting as much support for what we do. But for you, like the first one, you'll never forget the first one. No. Did you celebrate? How'd that feel?

[Maggie]

It felt great. But it felt even more great when the partner actually got to meet Alan over a dream, over a call. He was ecstatic. He's been a fan of Alan for years. So it was just really, really cool seeing how excited he was. And it felt like it was all worth it.

[Alan]

Yeah, exactly. And it's also like a hint that sometimes the. Sometimes that's the secret sauce.

[Rosenberg]

Right, right.

[Maggie]

You know, 100%. And I also want to shout out all of you guys because he's actually a listener from about nine hours north of here, all the way in Canton, New York. So he listens to the show daily and loves you guys.

[Alan]

That's so cool, man.

[Maggie]

Yeah, thanks for all you guys do.

[Don Hahn]

That's very cool. We really appreciate that.

[Maggie]

Wouldn't be able to do without you.

[Alan]

Enjoy. Enjoy a nice adult beverage.

[Maggie]

Yeah, we're going to the happiest hour tonight.

[Alan]

There you go.

[Rosenberg]

Perfect.

[Alan]

As you should.

[Rosenberg]

Congratulations. Celebrate tonight and tomorrow get back at it.

[Maggie]

I will.

[Don Hahn]

All right.

[Maggie]

Thank you, guys.

[Don Hahn]

I'd like to say here, get back to work. That was still.

[Alan]

That was cool.

[Don Hahn]

That was great. And thank you for doing so.

[Alan]

SUNY Canton, you said?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah. It's very cool. They have an online school as well. So that's the whole idea of getting to the tri state area and reaching people down in this area. And it's beautiful, beautiful up there. St. Lawrence area up there.

[Alan]

Oh, yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And. And again, it's so on Nick game days, I have been posting videos giving you a little like Nick's daily Knicks talk daily. Give you a little something about tonight's game and we'll have that stuff on all our socials. So look forward to that.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the other big story Today was the Knicks win over okc. And I got it out of my system about people picking and choosing what games are important, what games are not important. But that aside, it was still a fun game.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And the Knicks had it. And I guess it really just always comes down. The secret sauce of winning in the NBA is how you do with threes and when they lose games with threes. But they got the looks at the end of the game and, you know, Brunson, you know, missed a shot that. He said it himself, more times than not, he's probably going to make that shot.

[Rosenberg]

He said, I missed a lot of shots that I normally make, including that one that was a clean look, great play. Six seconds left. They didn't foul up. Three. Usually you foul and not let him go to three. They not only got one, they got two. Anunobi got the offensive rebound turn around, and he had a chance, too, and he fell short. His funny because his brother who played in the NFL goes to a lot of games. His brother was standing next to me at the end of the game, and I'm standing up because if they, you know, if they make the shot, like, you never know, like. Like I have to be ready. And when he missed the shot, his brother kind of let out like, one of these, like, ah. And then he. They made eye contact and he just started. They both started laughing like you had it. Like you had it. You know, they walked off the court of that game not satisfied. It wasn't like the sense of, like, the moral victory thing. It was more of this. Like, this is where we need to be. Does that make sense? Yeah. Not. Not like we lost the game. It's more of. They have spent two thirds of the season having a great offense, but having defensive issues that they knew they were masking a lot because their offense was so good. And on those days, like you said, Don, when they couldn't make a three, they'd probably get blown out. And this was after this, the spurs game, where their defense was phenomenal. They wanted another. Like, we got to keep proving that even when we aren't shooting the ball well, that we can still stay with a great team because of our defense. And that's what I think they started to realize, is the trust in each other to show up, to prepare. All that stuff was so important. It. I know it sounds trite. I know this stuff sounds probably, you know, corny, but when you're a team that is trying to trust in each other, believe that we can make a run, we can be what we what we want to be, which is a championship team. I gotta be able to look at a guy like Towns. I gotta be able to look at a young player off the bench. I gotta be like Diawara. I've gotta look at Mikhail Bridges. I've got to look at all the different players and I've got to know that we're all going to be locked in on the scouting report and what we need to do and I think that's what they got out of that game is that as bad as we were offensively that our defense allowed us to have a chance to actually win this game. That said something.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And now they've lost, you know, this game and now. But they still are in good shape for the Gauntlet. Denver, Louisiana close it out.

[Rosenberg]

Five and three with two to go in the Gauntlet. The ten game gauntlet. I was telling you.

[Don Hahn]

And then it's going to be, you know, cruise control.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

I just want to get to the playoffs because last year was so much fun and, and we're going to be on top of it because Alan's all over it. And if we get another Knicks Celtics and obviously we can pick another Knicks Pistons, that's going to be so, so selfishly, I'm just, I just want to get to the playoffs.

[Rosenberg]

Agree.

[Don Hahn]

I think they've kind of proven what they need to prove. They know they're good. They know they're an elite team. Now the officiating was another topic of conversation.

[Rosenberg]

It was a major topic of conversation.

[Don Hahn]

So where, where does that come from, do you think?

[Rosenberg]

Where does what come from?

[Don Hahn]

Well, not getting calls. Is that come from like the history, the reputation even going back, you know, a few years of, you know, they've got some players that do complain. Jalen doesn't complain. He'll give you a stare, give you that death stare. Cat complains.

[Rosenberg]

He never gets a text Cat. He complains all the time.

[Don Hahn]

And so do you think that has something to do Cats is more of

[Alan]

a whine than a complaint. You know what I mean?

[Don Hahn]

But there's still something. I'm sure he throws his arms.

[Alan]

A lot of arms.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. But this. See two things that you saw last night. Number one, Brunson never gets texts.

[Don Hahn]

Never.

[Rosenberg]

And he had gotten one recently. Mike Brown never. Not only does he never get a tech. Mike Brown never argues calls. Never. He'll challenge them, but he doesn't argue them.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

He'll talk to an official during a timeout rather than yell and scream at them. So when that charge that everybody thought was an offensive charge from Shea, Gilgas, Alexander. Early in the game, Shea had two fouls on him. The crowd, and that's what you love about the New York crowd. His second foul. There was like this applause, like, ha, ha. We just got the reigning mvp. He's. Now they got to take him out. Then he comes back in, and that play happens. Brunson, who's the best in the league at drawing charges, he's leading the NBA in drawing charges. He, in fact, he had three last night. And he steps in and he takes the hit. And it's a play like the whole crowd's like, okay, that's a charge. No whistle, basket made. Keep on playing. And the whole Nick bench went nuts. And that's when Brown lost it because he started, like, realized you weren't going to put air in that whistle because you didn't want him to get his third foul. And that's where I draw the line. I know people, look, it's easier for me to go off on refs and say all this stuff. It's easy because that'll go viral. And I'm not doing it because I don't know a referee to be counting fouls in his head, oh, SJ's got two fouls. I can't give him.

[Don Hahn]

That's a good point.

[Rosenberg]

There's no way a referee in that moment is thinking, he's got two. I can't give him three. We assume that a lot, but I don't believe that. Not in a regular season game. Not in the first half.

[Alan]

No way.

[Don Hahn]

But they know five to six if

[Rosenberg]

they know you've got five. Especially because a lot of times a player gets five. Sometimes coaches who, like, let them know, like, that's his fifth.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Like, they'll say to the ref, like,

[Don Hahn]

two to three, that was weak.

[Rosenberg]

That's his fifth now. You gave him his fifth.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Two to three, that's tough.

[Rosenberg]

But, like, once you have too early, no one's going to be thinking, I don't want to give him his third. There's so much game left. I don't believe that was one of those situations where it's, we can't let him get his third foul. I don't believe that. But I still believe you got to blow that whistle you got and whether or not they want to challenge it. And maybe you could argue because NBA official on Twitter gave a whole dissertation about why that actually wasn't a charge.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

Because he caught the ball. You have to give him time to catch it and make one step and Brunson didn't do that. They're saying whatever. But we all know in the speed of the game you're calling that every time. And they didn't that time.

[Don Hahn]

And there's no two minutes. It wasn't the last.

[Rosenberg]

No, there's no game.

[Don Hahn]

So there's no way to look at that.

[Rosenberg]

So that's one. But it did feel early in the game, there were a lot of whistles that the Thunder were getting and then the Knicks weren't getting. It was just a feeling. And that I thought led it lent to the atmosphere that I thought ended up being a phenomenal atmosphere because it became, it went from being an audience to an angry crowd. And you know, Don, how that is when the New York crowd gets angry and now they've got a villain and now every good thing that happens for the Thunder, they. They're angry at you. It just, it created a real aggressive atmosphere that was a lot of fun.

[Don Hahn]

A lot of fun and that shouldn't be lost. And we, we build everything, be up the end all be all. There's nothing wrong with just saying, hey, that was fun game and can't wait. And I think every Knick fan would sign for a best of seven with the Thunder because that means it's the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 for the Knicks. And hey, who knows this Thunder team's got, you know, we're talking about will the Knicks be there? Will the Thunder be there? Because they can't seem to beat the spurs in a big spot either. So who knows? And we know the Knicks can beat the spurs, so should be a lot of fun down the stretch once we get to the postseason. 1-800-919-3776. Got lots to get into. Want to let you know that ESPN New York is taking over Calandra's Italian Village in Caldwell, New Jersey on Wednesday, March 18th. Join us live starting at 3pm for a special happy hour that you don't want to miss. Come hang out, talk sports and get ready for a huge night on the ice. Then stick around for the Rangers and the Devils. Watch party at 7pm when the puck drops. Big screens, great food, unbeatable atmosphere and the best fans in hockey, all under one roof. Reservations are recommended. To book your table, call 973-226-8889. I've had people ask me, do you really need to book a table? Yeah, do it. 973-2268. 8889. See Don on a Rosenberg live at Calandra's Italian village in Caldwell, New Jersey. That's Wednesday, March 18, starting at 3pm Devils trying to make it interesting. They won three in a row. That was a big win for them last night. They've still got a lot of work to do, but still in the midst of a seven game homestand, their longest not just in team history, franchise history. It's the third time since they came into the league as Kansas City.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, you mean that.

[Don Hahn]

That they've had a seven game homestand. The other two times they were in Denver is the first time as the New Jersey Devils they've had a seven game homestand.

[Rosenberg]

What was the homestand early in the season though? Didn't you have like a. I thought there was a pretty long home stand to start the season.

[Don Hahn]

It was long to start the season.

[Rosenberg]

Five.

[Don Hahn]

It was five. Yeah. This is okay.

[Rosenberg]

Seven.

[Don Hahn]

And they had won there for seven at home. But it wasn't all second.

[Rosenberg]

Maybe that's, you know, it's great for you home.

[Don Hahn]

You know, it's interesting too. I heard Chico talking about it last night. Teams don't like that. Yeah, they don't like to be home that long.

[Rosenberg]

Get a little too comfortable.

[Don Hahn]

Get comfortable. I think sometimes teams bond a little bit better on the road.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. And it's, we all know what happens to when you're home a lot. Can you go pick them up?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. You're home. You're home tomorrow, right?

[Rosenberg]

You're home. Right. You just have, you just have practice. Right. Like I'll be at the facility for like five, six hours.

[Don Hahn]

But it's a. Be there all day and see if the Devils can take advantage of it. They got the Rangers coming up on Saturday. That's an ABC game. And I've been told Bob with shoes in his calling.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, we love Bob the shoes.

[Don Hahn]

We love Bob.

[Alan]

Quick time out, some breakfast intel you want to know about. Kodiak frozen power waffles and flapjacks are built for busy mornings. Heat it, eat it and you're out the door. No long prep, no complicated game plan. They're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving. A good source of fiber and and crafted with 100% whole grains, not refined white flour. So you're getting something that actually fuels you and there's depth on the roster. Buttermilk and vanilla blueberry chocolate chip. Even gluten free options. Breakfast that delivers, snack that delivers. Find Kodiak frozen waffles and flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box. Save money and get a better view of the road when you replace your worn out wiper blades at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Or right now, save $10 on a pair of Rain X Latitude wiper blades. They feature beam blade technology to improve windshield contact for maximum visibility. The professional parts people will even install your new wiper blades for free. Choose Rain X Latitude wiper blades at your local O'Reilly Auto Parts store or

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[Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

See us live from the Irish exit at Moynihan train station, Friday, March 13 before the semifinal round of the Big east tournament. Stop by before heading into the Garden or before your commute home. Don Han and Rosenberg live from the Irish exit of Moynihan Train station starting at 3pm Friday, March 13, just steps away from Madison Square Garden Penn Station, Brought to you by Schweppes above the Rim Refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schwepped Seltzer or Schweppes Ginger Ale Sad Adams and Sun Cruiser Vodka iced tea available at Bourbon and Branch and Taylor. Pub must be 21 or older to purchase. Please drink responsibly.

[Rosenberg]

Can I shout out Rod Strickland and Long Island University?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, sure.

[Rosenberg]

Got a quarterfinal win onto the semifinals. Nec, they are the top seed hosting again. They play Wagner on Saturday at 2:00'. Clock. I know. Look, you throw out the record. You throw out.

[Alan]

When those two get together.

[Rosenberg]

Say it.

[Alan]

Come on. You throw out the record.

[Rosenberg]

Throw out the record.

[Alan]

It's the only thing you can do.

[Rosenberg]

But you know what else you throw out? Student section sad. It's. It's like Barstool had a really funny post because they're, they're trying to show like this is the time of year where all the students come out and support the college tournaments, right? And in that quarterfinal game there, there's a guy, God bless him, who was trying to do the Fins up thing, you know, okay, Sharks.

[Alan]

It wasn't.

[Rosenberg]

And he, God bless him, he gave it all he had and the three people that were there all went along with him. Well, it's a commuter school and it's like, come on. No, it's not a commuter school. It's two campuses. In the Brooklyn campus where the men's basketball team plays, it's. There's not as many people there, okay, that live there, right? So the other campus, which is where I went on the island, that's where all the students are thousand. But it's difficult for them to all go into games. So that part of it's kind of frustrating because this is where you want to see your students going crazy. This is. They're the top seed. They have a great chance to get to the NCAA Tournament. Rod Strickland was coach of the year. This is a big year. And yet, of course, we're being mocked because it's like, you know, so can't

[Don Hahn]

they bust them there or something? Can't they do something to kind of enhance it a little bit?

[Rosenberg]

I'm efforting.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, Alan's effort.

[Alan]

Oh, there's efforting going on.

[Rosenberg]

I don't know what to do, but I'm trying. It's like if there's a fleet of Ubers, if there's a championship game to be played in our. We're going to need to pack the place.

[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-3776. Blanderson, Hooper, you're on ESPN, New York.

[Blanderson]

Good evening, gentlemen.

[Alan]

How are you, Big Blando?

[Blanderson]

Good. I'm doing well. Before I get to my points about the Knicks I, you know, you guys had a conversation last week after we spoke and in reality, I am Jason from East Northport, so you didn't have

[Don Hahn]

to give it a say. Told you.

[Blanderson]

Listen, I don't, I don't mind, but you know, there was question about whether or not it was, you know, my real name.

[Rosenberg]

Where did you come up with Blanderson?

[Blanderson]

Well, I. On my podcast, which I know Alan mentioned. And you pretended Peter, you forgot about it, even though I've tried to have you on many.

[Alan]

Forget about it.

[Rosenberg]

As big as Peter now this is how he treats.

[Alan]

How did I forget about it? I didn't say I didn't remember he had a podcast, did I?

[Blanderson]

I, I do the news. So it's just a play on Anderson Cooper. That's it. That's all it is.

[Alan]

What did you think it was, Alan?

[Rosenberg]

I like it.

[Alan]

You didn't know it was a play on Anderson Cooper?

[Rosenberg]

Of course I did.

[Don Hahn]

Okay. I don't think he did.

[Alan]

I don't know if he did. You big handsome idiot.

[Rosenberg]

He said, I've been called that many times a Hooper because he likes basketball.

[Don Hahn]

I like it.

[Alan]

I didn't think about that part. I didn't think about that part.

[Rosenberg]

I thought it was all about that.

[Alan]

Oh, you were only thinking about the hoop. I was only thinking about the Anderson.

[Rosenberg]

You're always thinking about this.

[Don Hahn]

At least between the three of us, there's one brain.

[Alan]

You thought of both.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't think of anything. He was thinking at all.

[Rosenberg]

He checked.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I checked out. What do you got, Flanders?

[Blanderson]

Now, about the game last night.

[Alan]

Here we go.

[Blanderson]

I want to make two points, man. Number one. Number one. I never blame the referees. I'm not one of those kind of people. However, I thought that the refs last night were atrocious. And there's been a lot of noise around the league this year from fans and from players and from even coaches about ok, seeing that whistle. And I think we got to see that right up front and close and personal last night. Now, I'm not saying it's the reason they lost the game, but I do think it was a contributing factor. Now, in terms of how the Knicks played, I think we had a horrible first half, huge third quarter, 15 point comeback. Landry Shamet, Jalen Brunson, they played so hard. But by the time we got to the fourth, I think their legs were dead. They had that 83, 79 lead and from that point on, OKC just dominated. They got two good shots off at the end, really good looks. They just didn't Fall. And with the way we've played against these Western coast teams this year, I think if we get to the final, we might could win that thing. But I think it really is going to come down to whether or not we can get out of the East. And I just, you know, I'm still struggling with the way we fight against Detroit.

[Don Hahn]

And you know, you really committed.

[Rosenberg]

Just not, not sure he stays.

[Blanderson]

Oh, I'm committed. I do. I do what I got to do.

[Rosenberg]

You need to be committed.

[Blanderson]

Listen, you all have, you all have a wonderful rest of the evening. God bless and enjoy yourself.

[Don Hahn]

I appreciate it. Again, we're having the conversation about matching up with the spurs and Thunder. A lot of work to be done before you can worry about that. I mean, three rounds of basketball now, the Celtics are emerging as a threat. You know, the Pistons are a threat.

[Rosenberg]

Is it that outrageous though? Like, is it completely outrageous to say that the Knicks could get to the finals? Is it outrageous?

[Don Hahn]

It's not outrageous, but right now Vegas has them with the fourth best odds.

[Rosenberg]

But when you're. Okay, but what I'm saying is, is that when you're trying to decide, because there was a thought of, well, you're not beating the Thunder, you're not beating this team, you're not right? There was, there was almost this affair accompli, like even if you don't get out of the east, you're not beating any of the Western teams. So don't even bother thinking about it. To me, this almost becomes like a, you know, if they can get there, they might have a shot, right? Like that's what you want to think if they can get there. And the one thing you got to do, obviously is get through the, the fight of the east, but it's not nearly as hard as the west would be. Like, I don't think it's outrageous. I think what you've done against the spurs, what you've done against Denver, you'll see again on Friday night. And what you've done against okc, even though in a loss like those are reasons to say can the Wicks, can, can the Knicks win a championship? The answer is they could.

[Don Hahn]

They could.

[Rosenberg]

Getting out of the east is the hardest part.

[Don Hahn]

Well, just because you've got at least two hefty rounds. I mean, right now, the way the bracket lies, they'd play the Sixers in the first round.

[Rosenberg]

Would you take that?

[Don Hahn]

Of course. But I'm not saying that they're going to, you know, cruise with double digit wins in four straight and then you would advance to take on. It could be the Celtics and then you might have to go through the Pistons. If everything works out right.

[Rosenberg]

It all depends on who Boston because Boston, like if you think about who gets the seven seed, if everything stays the way it is right now it's Orlando, Miami. I don't believe in either one. I think Orlando probably could get seven. Charlotte though. I'm trying to warn people. They're like this dragon slayer that's just hiding in the weeds.

[Don Hahn]

Right. But they still have the extra layer because of the plane.

[Rosenberg]

Yes, but they, they could get a seven seed if they just get high.

[Alan]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Because I'm just saying as of right now, the Knicks would play the Sixers in the first round. They'd play the winner of Celtics and whoever the seven seed would be. So in all likelihood they would play the Celtics and then they would either take on, you know, the Cavaliers, Pistons or Raptors, depending on how that all goes and most probably Detroit so that the heavy lifting is there. If you tell me they beat the Sixers, the Celtics and the Pistons to get to the final, why would you be scared of the spurs or the Thunder now? I think they shouldn't be a dog because those teams are going to have to go through a gauntlet to get to the final. They would because the west is bad.

[Alan]

They'll be a dog against OKC or San Antonio.

[Rosenberg]

Okc, not San Antonio.

[Alan]

No, because the season.

[Rosenberg]

Because they.

[Don Hahn]

The head to head tells you that it'll be interesting. Because the head.

[Rosenberg]

But I like this. Here's what I like about it. So you tell me there's a chance. How many. When was the last conversation we had about this with the New York teams? This is a real thing.

[Don Hahn]

But I will tell you the last two times we had talk about the going to the final or the finals is last year when they beat the Celtics. Like it was like a fait accompli. Well, of course you could beat the Pacers and they didn't.

[Rosenberg]

They were supposed to beat the Pacers. Right.

[Don Hahn]

You know, and what was that a couple of years ago before that when they were playing the Heat, Michaels guaranteeing they'll go to the conference final because of course they're going to beat the Heat and they didn't got to six. Right. So we do have a history. Maybe it's unfair because things change. Different codes, some different players.

[Rosenberg]

But I'm talking about in general we, we have two set sack NFL franchises that we're just talking about drafts and hope and all that stuff. Right. You have the Yankees who are always good every year. And every year we talk about how they win a World Series. You know, you have the Mets that you're trying to get there as well. Hockey teams. Not so great. Like, we don't really get to do a lot of this talking about legitimately how can this team win a championship. And we are in that conversation right now with the Knicks with a month and a half left in the regular season right now.

[Don Hahn]

That's a good thing Right now then. And you're a fan of both. Cover the Knicks. Fan of the Yankees. Who do you think's got the better chance of winning the next championship? Like with the Knicks this year or the Yankees winning the World series?

[Rosenberg]

So in 2026.

[Don Hahn]

Right. I mean.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like what. What would you say is a better chance of happening? The Knicks winning this year or the Yankees winning this year?

[Rosenberg]

I think the Knicks winning this year.

[Don Hahn]

Really?

[Rosenberg]

And I say that. And I say that because of the presence of the Dodgers.

[Alan]

We talked about this, didn't we?

[Rosenberg]

And the presence of the Blue Jays, like there are true. This is the same Yankee team. So we kind of know who they are.

[Don Hahn]

Right. But it is a team that has gone to the World Series.

[Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Right now the Yankee. The. The Yankees rolled it back. The Knicks didn't. They changed their coach. Right. But the Yankees have been to a World Series in recent vintage.

[Rosenberg]

But what we don't know about the Yankees is what we didn't know about the Knicks this season is we talked about all the caveats. Health. Right. That's important. How healthy can they be? Matchups, all those things. It's a long season. Things can happen. But because of where we are this late into the season and what I already know. I know more about the Knicks than I do about the Yankees in 26. And what I know about baseball in 26 is that the Dodgers are a juggernaut. And there are teams that the Yankees look at that you look at on as matchups for the Yankees that are not good matchups for them.

[Don Hahn]

Let me expand this out all right now. And I won't even say championship odds of Knicks making it to the final. Mm. Yankees making it to the World Series. Islanders making it to the conference final.

[Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Don Hahn]

Don't sleep on the Islanders going to the conference final.

[Rosenberg]

I know. My only fear is that I would

[Don Hahn]

still rank it third.

[Rosenberg]

I need to see.

[Don Hahn]

But I think it's worth the conference.

[Rosenberg]

Darsh. Get one more piece before the deadline. They have the goalie and you always have a chance with the goalie.

[Don Hahn]

I think if it ended today.

[Rosenberg]

Conference final is a little bit.

[Don Hahn]

That's why I just say conference, because again, I'm not gonna be a massive

[Rosenberg]

dog three and I got to put my money down on something. I probably would put my money down on Islanders in the conference final.

[Don Hahn]

It's. It's one less round. Yeah, but we talked about this the other day. I just want to get an update on the standards.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. What's their magic?

[Don Hahn]

Very, very fluid right now. Again, they'd be. They'd be taking on the Penguins in the first round. You listen, they could lose, they could win, but I would think they could win that. And then you take on the winner of Carolina and whoever the wild card would be, whether it's Boston, Montreal, Boston playing really well. So then I said, I'm not going to. I'm not going to put at the same level with the Knicks and the Yankees as far as getting to the end.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Because there will be a massive. Unless you're telling me some underdog, but if you're taking on the Lightning, you're gonna be a dog.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

I still don't hate the Knicks though, as the most likely because of what they were able. If you believe that the coaching decision was good, and I think that's a huge if at the moment.

[Rosenberg]

Of course it is.

[Alan]

Then why not believe as a team that was in the conference that was right there last year, that they can't win one more game and go to a finals and beat teams that they've shown they're able to compete with.

[Rosenberg]

And we also talk about the heartache that teams have to go through right to when you get on a run, there's got to be those losses that sting, that stay with you and all that stuff. You also want to think about a season where this goes back to your theory, Don. On the regular season, the regular season means nothing as far as matchups sometimes. But the regular season is sort of your build up to where it matters most. It's very Yankee. Like for the Yankees, it's always about October. Don't tell me how good you are in July. Don't tell me how good you are in August. Remember, we always would say that regular season is frustrating with the Yankees because it really doesn't matter until you get to October. No matter how much success you have, it doesn't matter till you get to October. For the Knicks, they are in that realm now. It doesn't matter if The Knicks had 60 wins this season. Nobody care. Because it still matters what you do. April, May, June.

[Don Hahn]

But a lot of that opened up because of the loss of Tatum and Halliburton. I wonder how it would have been if Tatum and Halliburton never got hurt.

[Rosenberg]

Well, I think they'd still be in the same place because they already.

[Don Hahn]

I don't think they would be in the same place.

[Rosenberg]

What are you talking about? They'd be in the same place.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know.

[Rosenberg]

They're the fourth best odds. How would that change?

[Don Hahn]

Well, I'm just saying with the expectations going to the season would not be a clear path. Okay, so that would change now quickly before I go to break the odds. Knicks still have the best odds of my scenario. Plus 400 as we know to go to the final.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

The Yankees to go to the World Series. Plus 450. So close.

[Rosenberg]

Very, very close.

[Don Hahn]

Islanders Conference Finals Plus 700 if I'm betting, I'm bet from a value standpoint, I bet the Islanders plus 700 want

[Maggie]

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[Alan]

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[Rosenberg]

FDIC thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

Game Time is brought to you by Tullamardu Irish Whiskey when it's game time,

[Alan]

guys, it's Dolly time.

[Don Hahn]

Rangers host the Maple Leaf, which coverage immediately following us right here on 880 at 6 30, Nets visit the Heat at 730 and the Islanders are out west to take on the Kings. That'll be at 9:30 and it's on ESPN. I've been through that. So that means the MSG guys had to go out there for the Duck game. Then they get a day off on the road. Yep, they get the day off at home. But what are you going to do? They're probably the guys will all go to the game.

[Rosenberg]

Wow. Okay,

[Don Hahn]

Tullamore. Do the original triple distilled triple blend and a triple cast matured Iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly.

[Rosenberg]

So you acknowledge the Tate McCray Jack Hughes relationship? As Page Six has reported officially, they are big. Good for them. And apparently Us Weekly did a little story about it with an insider telling them this that McCray and Hughes were first romantically linked December 2025. They were seen together in New York City after she attended one of his games. Here's this very interesting quote Don. They're making it work during this busy season, but hope to have more time together next month when his season ends.

[Don Hahn]

No, that's. I mean the math tells you.

[Rosenberg]

Oops.

[Don Hahn]

It's probably going to happen. But. But there's. Listen, they've won three in A row, but, you know, you're still talking about 11 points out of a playoff spot. Hey, listen. But still, I'm glad. Hey, I'm glad they looked at the standings, so good for them. All right, let's. Let's crush these calls until 6, and then we've got ENN.

[Rosenberg]

Crush them.

[Don Hahn]

So let's do it. Eddie is in the South Bronx. You're on ESPN New York. It's up. Eddie.

[Rosenberg]

Eddie.

[Blanderson]

Hey, guys, it's Eddie from the Bronx. Can y' all hear me?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, sure, here we do.

[Blanderson]

Hey, this is what I got, man. I. I have a mixed point, right? Check it out. The only problem I have with Mike Brown is that teams used to have them ready to play every game they wanted to win. You know, sometimes, you know, just looking at what I see when I'm watching them on tv, it's like, some games, it's like they just nail it in, you know, I'm not worried about the Knicks. I know they could beat Detroit. But those three games that look like they just melded in, you know what I mean?

[Don Hahn]

But why you ready to play? See, this is, this is what's interesting. Why do we just chalk up every loss to. They're just not ready to play? Maybe Detroit's just better. They were angry, you know, maybe Detroit's a bad matchup for them. Like, if it's just. That's flipping the switch.

[Alan]

Detroit, to me, it's, It's. There's clearly some sort of matchup situation.

[Rosenberg]

You know what the matchup is? And I'm being dead serious because, like, it is. They, they. That first game I was watching, like, my God, they're really mad. Like they wanted revenge. You're not getting back a whole six game series in one regular season game. But it looked like they were trying to. They bludgeoned the Knicks. And I don't know if you've ever, like, had like the experience of playing pickup and younger players come in and they want to play, and you're like, all right. And so you're like, you know, like after college, and these are like, either college guys or high school guys. And, man, they just. It's like, you're like, dude, slow down, bro. Like, let's pick up. Like, you don't. We don't need to go this hard. We don't have to play this hard.

[Alan]

No, they're. That.

[Rosenberg]

They're those guys and they're just there. I mean, so they're. That guy Thursday, and you're like, we're not doing this now, right? And I think a veteran team runs into a team like that in a regular season and you're just like, guys, guys, like, like, what are we doing? It. It's not, you're not trying or it's, it's, you're not giving up. It's more that they were just at some different speed that you're like, man, it's too soon for this.

[Don Hahn]

But that call is why I opened with the way I opened it.

[Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

Where now you just conveniently said, well, we could play with the Thunder. We can win a championship. Look how we played last night. We only lost by three. We could have won that game. And now you've disregarded three blowouts by saying, ah, we can still beat him. So it's regular season, doesn't matter.

[Rosenberg]

I never agreed with that.

[Don Hahn]

You can't. I'm sorry. You lost every quarter of the season series. Every quarter, Even the Boston series last year you managed to win five of the 17 you1 game was in overtime.

[Rosenberg]

But if I told you, Don, the Knicks lost two of three last year to Detroit as well in the regular season.

[Don Hahn]

Okay. And Detroit gave him a handful in the playoffs.

[Rosenberg]

Right, they did, but they won all three games on the, on the road.

[Don Hahn]

Right. So. So what you're saying is the regular season is a different animal, but apparently last night doesn't. Isn't a different. Again, you're not you. I'm talking about in general.

[Rosenberg]

I hate that notion. Right, but that's the argument. And there's so many, so many pieces of evidence that give you that idea of, of like. That's why you can say these things, because it makes you feel better. It's copium. Right. That's what we do. But I don't. When you, when you watch these matchups in the regular season, you watch for matchups, you see within the game what's happening that can be exploited. That, that there's no answer for that no matter what you do.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

And right now the biggest concern is there's no answer for Kate Cunningham.

[Don Hahn]

Doesn't seem.

[Rosenberg]

Just don't have a guy that can guard him.

[Don Hahn]

I just thought so flippantly, you just say, well, I'm not worried about Detroit. Well, I am. You should. Yeah.

[Alan]

I don't know who said it.

[Don Hahn]

Jimmy and Montclair. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Jim?

[Blanderson]

I love the show, guys, as always. Happy Thursday. Hey, Don. So obviously with the trade that line

[Don Hahn]

tomorrow, I mean, it's been such an infuriating for a double fan, you know,

[Blanderson]

obviously a game like, yesterday was amazing because it was well fought. But what are we doing?

[Don Hahn]

Are we buying? Are we selling? I mean, that article was pretty funny. You're not buying. But I could also see not selling either. Because what do you do, guys, at the deadline in any sport, when you. When you're out of it, you trade guys that your contracts are up.

[Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

So that other teams can get rentals

[Rosenberg]

and you can get some, like, just easy draft capital.

[Don Hahn]

The Devils do not have any unrestricted free agents at the end of this year.

[Rosenberg]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

They have a restricted free agent in Nemes. That's why there's a lot of rumors that maybe they like him, though. But they like him. He was the second overall pick in the track.

[Rosenberg]

And if you're moving on from Dougie Hamilton at some point.

[Don Hahn]

Well, Dougie Hamilton has a no movement clause. Dougie Hamilton's got years left on his contract. Dougie Hamilton has played, I thought, lights out over the last few weeks. The point I'm trying to make is they may not do anything. They're not gonna be buyers. That doesn't make a lot of sense for this year unless it's somebody that's under contract that can help them next year.

[Rosenberg]

But somebody's trying to unload.

[Don Hahn]

But when you talk about when I was in Pittsburgh, they're like, who do you think they're trading? I don't know if they're trading anybody. You know, maybe they'll trade somebody that's under contract beyond this year in a big deal for the future. But usually this is where. All right, guys, you know, unrestricted free agent. He's leaving at the end of the year. We're not going to resign. Let's get a pick for him or something. They literally don't have anybody in that situation. They've got two restricted free agents. Gritsuk, who I don't want to give up on, and Nemetz, who I don't want to really give up on. That doesn't mean I wouldn't take a call. But at the same time, if they don't do anything, I wouldn't freak out. If I'm a Devil fan, I wouldn't.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, I think that's the awkward place they're in, because that's what. Like, you've said that people, several people have said to you, they have a lot of talent on this team. Why aren't they better? Right, Right. Like you've heard that people have said that about this Devil team. If that's the case, you're trying to say, when we go back next year, we'll hopefully be healthy and hopefully you got off to a good start but now be able to maintain it and believe in the team. So you're not just, you're not moving deck chairs, right? You're not just trading just to trade. I think if you like your team, you just don't like what happened this year, that's all you can do. But if there's a need though, Don, what is it for the Devils? If there's an obvious need, I would

[Don Hahn]

think there's the need of depth at center.

[Rosenberg]

You need center, right? So you might have to then move something like if you have depth somewhere

[Don Hahn]

to get a center or wing for Hughes. And that's a lot easier to get than depth at center.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

But you know, we'll see. Should be a lot of fun deadline tomorrow and we'll see how active Trocheck,

[Rosenberg]

what time's the deadline?

[Don Hahn]

What is it again? Anthony? Six?

[Rosenberg]

I think it's three o'. Clock. Three o'? Clock?

[Don Hahn]

Is it three? Anthony Just double check. It just. Is Trocheck playing tonight? Because if he's not playing.

[Rosenberg]

Great question, Don. And as Mike Sullivan said before the game or in his pre game press

[Maggie]

conference, which is at like 10 o'

[Rosenberg]

clock in the morning, everybody is a game time decision, which aren't we all?

[Don Hahn]

So but it'll be interesting to see who's scratched and who's not. And that means who's going to be on this team tomorrow or not. ENN next Don on Rosenberg, ESPN New

[Alan]

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[Rosenberg]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. 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 a New York app and your smart speakers.

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