NY Knicks

Just about every year for the last seven or so years Brooklyn Nets fans will start the "New York In Nets country now" discussion. Even though the New York Knicks haven't had the talent or success of the Nets over that time frame, New York is and always will be Knicks country! If you don't believe me just take a look at ticket sales for the NBA Playoffs.

The New York Knicks are back in the NBA Playoffs for the first time in eight years! As if that isn't enough reason to tune in and get excited they'll be facing the Capital Region's Kevin Huerter and the Atlanta Hawks. The only way this would be better for us here in Upstate New York is if Huerter was on the Knicks. Host of ESPN Radio's Bart and Hahn (as well as just about every other show on the network right now) and super Knicks fan Alan Hahn joined Levack and Bahl to preview the matchup and give an overview on just how the Knicks made such an amazing turnaround this year.

Here are five things that happened or were popular in 2013 and 2014, the last time the Knicks finished at least 4th in the Eastern Conference.

Last night when the Boston Celtics lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-94 the New York Knicks locked up no worse than the 6th see in the Eastern Conference playoffs. No play in games and no saying "there's always next year" before the regular season even ends. For the first time since 2013 when the #2 seed Knicks beat the Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs before the Indiana Pacers sent them packing in the Conference semi-finals, the Knicks are in the postseason!

Great news for fans of the Nets, Knicks, Islanders, Rangers, and Albany Empire. In today's coronavirus press briefing, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the current 10% capacity limit set on all indoor sports arenas in New York state will increase to 25% on Wednesday, May 19th. This is great news for teams like the Nets, Knicks, and Islanders who all appear to be headed to postseason play. The Rangers are far from a lock for the postseason but still alive thanks to a four-game sweep over the New Jersey Devils. This also confirms the reports that the Albany Empire would be able to host 25% of the Times Union Center for their home opener now scheduled for Saturday, May 29th.

The New York Knicks are back over .500 and getting ready for a prime time matchup with Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans tomorrow night. Marc Berman covers the Knicks for the New York Post and is making his first trip to cover them out of market this season not only because they're playing Zion but also because they're playing well. What can a matchup with Zion mean for Julius Randle and RJ Barrett?

The NBA All-Star game might actually be my least favorite of all the All-Star games BUT I love the Slam-Dunk Contest. I get that the All-Star game is nothing more than an exhibition but it's just so far from what I like about the NBA while still kinda looking like a game. Meanwhile, the Skills Challenge and the Dunk Contest are clear and pure exhibitions. It's all about the fun and exciting facets of the game. So when I see how badly last night's was screwed up it sucks. Knicks Rookie Obi Toppin should have won that contest!

Any New York Knicks fan will tell you that we've been waiting A LONG TIME to feel good feelings about our favorite NBA team. So even though we know this isn't a team that's going to be playing for the NBA title any time soon, I'm pretty pumped they're winning games. Not only are the Knicks winning the games they're supposed to win, they're crushing bad teams so bad coaches are throwing temper tantrums on the court.

It's been almost a month since the last time we had Newsday's Steve Popper on the show. In that time the Knicks have gone 7-4 and Julius Randle has become a real candidate to start in the NBA All-Star Game on March 7th. Popper seemed less than optimistic at that point about the Knicks talent both now and in the near future. Have the Knicks and more directly Forward Julius Randle showed enough in the last few weeks to change Popper's opinion of them?

As one-third of ESPN Radio's national morning show "Keshawn, Jay Will, and Zubin" also known as "KJZ" Jay Williams has made a lot of adjustments over the last six months but the way he judges athletes isn't one of them. Jay Will knows all about the pressures of playing in the NBA and now all about how the media will direct athletes comments for a story. So now that Jay Will is with the media how does he see the comments of a controversial NBA star like Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving?

As many of us not so patiently wait to return to live sporting events it might be time to start saving. On a list of the "Most Expensive Stadiums For Sports Fans," the average trip to a game for the "Big Four" of NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA could run you an average of anywhere from $67 to $157.

Anyone that listens to DCR - DiPietro, Canty and Rothenberg weekday mornings 8:55 am to 10 am right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio you know there isn't a bigger sports fan or should I say New York Sports fan than Dave Rothenberg. Rothy joined Levack and Goz to catch up, Talk about the shows new schedule and of course cover all the latest New York Sports news.