Chapter 1: What is discussed at the start of this section?
all right welcome back to the carton show chris mcmonagle craig carton and uh thrilled to have a dear friend of mine joining us in studio and i didn't realize till last night reading the new york post that james zone hasn't spoken publicly since he joined me and evan roberts three years ago and now he's back happy new year thank you for joining us happy new year this is my biannual confession
Is it that nobody asks you to speak? That's it. I want to speak all the time, but nobody ever asks me. It's like the pretty girl at the bar.
No one ever asks me outside. None of any dates. That kind of thing. Or maybe not. Or maybe not. There's a lot to talk to you since I guess you haven't spoken of a lot of your Knicks and Rangers issues in the last few years. Let me start with the Knicks. Obviously, the great run last year. Looks like they're on their way to a special season this year.
But in the process, you also made a decision, you and Leon Rose, to relieve Tom Thibodeau of his head coaching duties. And Mike comes in, has done a really nice job thus far. Can you walk us through what the thinking was at the time you made it?
If it was just Leon coming to you saying, we need a change, if you guys collectively thought the team needed a different voice in the locker room, and what was the genesis of moving on from Tom?
Well, look, you know, Leon and I talk about everything, even not basketball stuff. Got it. But, you know, The team is really built on the shoulders of Tom Thibodeau. He built that core. We went as far as we did last year. And so you really got to take your hat off to Tom and the job that he did. But we did come to the conclusion that we had an idea of how we wanted to organize the team.
And actually, it goes for both teams. And And that meant we needed to evolve, actually beyond the old traditional coaching formulas, etc. And we tried to work that with Tom. It really wasn't his thing.
I don't want to put words in your mouth. Do you mean like not using the bench that much, the style of play?
What are you referencing there? No, that's some of it, right? But it's much more about style of leadership, right? Collaboration versus...
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Chapter 2: What led to the decision to change the Knicks' head coach?
That had to be the thinking. Right?
Or be unlikely that you would. I won't say you can't win a title with Tom Thibodeau. I don't necessarily know that's true. It's just that if you want to build a long-term competitive, compete for the, you know. You needed a different guy. You need somebody who's much more of a collaborator than Tom was. But still, Tom is still a great coach. He should coach again in the NBA.
If I had a franchise that I was just starting with, et cetera, he would be a goldmine to get. And he was like that for us. When we first started and he first came in, he brought discipline. He brought strategy. He was the right guy at the time. Right. He was right. He brought us all that way. But we really felt we needed to make a change to go the rest of the way.
Now, did you go to Tom and discuss these changes, or did you just take his? No, we decided to surprise him. Well, I'm saying, like, because you mentioned it wasn't his thing. Was there discussions about possibly getting him to changes, and it felt like it wasn't going to happen, or did you just make the assumption Tom wasn't the kind of coach you could make the changes you were looking for?
We talked to Tom all the time. Right. Right. And, you know, look, so, I mean, I don't want to get too deep into what, you know, the interaction, but I would say that whole last year we were talking to Tom about where we wanted to go, et cetera.
Right.
He's a stubborn guy. I said it. He's stubborn. He'd probably tell you that he's stubborn, but he'd also tell you that he's right. Which is the problem with being stubborn.
What stubborn people say. So one of the big names that Knicks fans have fantasized about, who it's come out that he wants to be a Knick or wanted to be a Knick. How close were we to acquiring Giannis?
And I'm not saying right now, I know you can't meddle right now, he's an active player in the league, but before this season started, there were reports that came out that there was the possibility of a trade a year ago. Any truth to that?
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Chapter 3: How is player development prioritized in the Knicks organization?
Right. And I was like, OK. They did too well. I thought, you know, this is going to be amazing. great preview. But maybe that was the preview. Spurs beat them three straight? Is Nick Spurs? I don't know. But, you know, to get a chance at midseason, right, to try out what you're going to be like at the end of the season. So you liked it. It was exciting.
And I was very proud of the guys that did a great job. And so we're proud to have the Emirates Cup. But we're going to hang a championship. A real banner. A real banner.
A couple more Nick questions, and we'll get to the Rangers here in a second. Is Leon long-term committed? Do we have to worry as Nick fans that Leon Rose wakes up after this season and says, I had a good run, went to the Eastern Conference Final, maybe win an NBA championship? Or is he locked into you guys long-term? Because he's the only GM that never talks.
Yeah, we don't hear from him. Yeah, well, I mean, theā You have to ask Leon, but Leon doesn't answer questions. That's right. He's cut from the same cloth that I am. As far as I know, Leon's on with us for the long term. We don't ever talk about an end to this. We have a five-year plan. Right now, we're actually on more like a two- to three-year plan. Right.
No, you're built to win now, especially with the injuries to Indiana and Boston. We didn't count on those. We were planning on playing those guys, and I wouldn't mind if we did, too. I'm happy those guys are hurt. It's been a long time without a championship. You want the easiest road possible. I don't want any asterisks. I've told you this before.
When you win a championship, five years later, nobody looks back and goes, oh, yeah, but Tatum was out from Boston. We just celebrate champions, and we need a championship.
We do.
You need a championship as much as anyone. As you know, I'm not the biggest hockey guy, but I have hockey guys and gals in my life. They want to know, knowing you're coming on the show today, Chris Drury. Obviously, you're not happy. No one is with the current record and the way the Rangers have played. Do you firmly believe still in Chris Drury being the man to make your personnel decisions?
Yes, absolutely. He and Mike Sullivan, right? Yep, new coach. New coach, right, are installing a new culture into that club. And that does not happen overnight. So you're being patient. I'm being patient. We're not out of it by any means. We're still very much in it. And we have the personnel that could, you know, I mean, if they pull it together.
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Chapter 4: What are the expectations for the Knicks this season?
And we should win the finals, right? When it comes to, you know, this is sports. You guys, this is your business. Anything can happen in sports. But getting to the finals, we absolutely got to do, right? Winning the finals. We should win. Mike Brown better know that. Listen, Thibodeau took him to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 30 years.
I would think that's the expectation, right? NBA Finals is an extreme disappointing season.
The Pistons are the only team. They don't scare you, but the Pistons are a good basketball team.
There are a couple of good basketball teams out there.
The only team I concern myself with is Detroit, to be honest.
I'm not worried about anybody else.
No one else is going to beat you in a seven-game series.
They play hard, right? So if we meet up with the Pistons.
And they play the Pistons tonight, by the way. So if you're not going to the Ranger game, you definitely check that out.
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Chapter 5: What are the key highlights from the Knicks' recent performance?
Yes. It's another to say it ruined Batman. I thought it ruined Batman. You have seen George Clooney play Batman, correct? That ruined George Clooney. Well, that's what I'm saying. That's what that means. I mean, you've seen other Batmans. Yes, yes. The three Batman, the Christopher Nolan Batman movies are incredibly well done. Here's Bernadette in Oceanside. Bernadette, how are you? I'm good.
How are you? Doing good, baby. Hi, Bernadette. Hi, Chris. How are you? I'm so happy for you. Thank you very much, Bernadette.
Chapter 6: Why is Josh Hart considered crucial for the Knicks' success?
Yes, and Craig, don't think all the lovely ladies just love you. I love Chris. Yes. Okay? Me and Bernadette go way back.
Way to crush me on my first day back, Bernadette. Thank you so much.
You mean crush you. I love you. Are you kidding?
Chapter 7: What are the implications of the Knicks' recent losing streak?
And I've been radio silent in the morning.
I haven't heard from you, yeah.
Yes, I know.
I guess I should ask the question every listener right now wants to know. Yes. What are you wearing right now?
My jacket, I was online on hold on Walgreens pharmacy line to pick up my medication. Perfect. And I was on the phone with you guys on hold. Did you take the call from the pharmacy or not?
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Chapter 8: How does James Dolan's interview impact Knicks fans' perceptions?
No, now I'm in the house and I changed it to the speaker. And I still have my jacket on. I just walked in the door. I swear to God. Okay. Chris, I'm so happy for you. Well, thank you, Bernadette. I really am. I mean, you deserve it. You killed me at night and I loved you and I still love you. and I'm wondering if Brett called you today. Brett has not called me today, no.
These are regular overnight callers, and Brett and Bernadette had a thing where they didn't all get along.
Well, Bernadette, I appreciate you staying up to watch the show and listen to it, and the good news for you is that you can listen to Chris every weekday afternoon now from 2 to 7, which is a It's a great gift to the listeners, I think.
It is a great gift.
Yes.
And look, I'm bringing fans to the show.
That's all we want you to do. Take a quick break. 888-808-1019. That's the phone number. It's the Carton Show with Chris McMonagle, Craig Carton. More after this.
And we're coming to you live from the Town Fair Tire Studios, powered by Town Fair Tire. Nobody, nobody beats Town Fair Tire. Nobody.
Yesterday late in the show, I tried to warn everybody that no matter what happens in Detroit last night, let's not overreact to Knicks Pistons. Well, what I didn't see happening was the Knicks basically not showing up and getting blown out. So we will address if Knicks fans should indeed be worried after their fourth straight loss and an absolute embarrassing effort against the Detroit Pistons.
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