Hour 2: Tim Bontemps Previews Knicks-Hawks

In this episode of the Bart & Carlin podcast, host Tim Bontemps, senior NBA writer for ESPN, joins to preview the Knicks vs. Hawks playoff series. Bontemps emphasizes that the Knicks hold a significant structural advantage due to the Hawks' lack of size inside, particularly with Jock Landale out with injury. He highlights Carl Towns and Mitchell Robinson as key to dominating the paint, and stresses that the series will hinge on tempo control—whether the Knicks can slow down Atlanta’s fast-paced attack. Despite the Knicks' inconsistent regular season, Bontemps believes their playoff expectations remain sky-high, set by owner James Dolan’s public statements, and that a deep run is now the only acceptable outcome. The conversation also touches on broader Eastern Conference dynamics, with Bontemps noting the Pistons-Hornets matchup as the most exciting first-round series due to its potential for physicality and emotion. Later segments shift to a nostalgic deep dive into wrestling history, with Bart and Carlin passionately discussing legendary figures like Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, and the Steiner Brothers, lamenting the decline of in-ring storytelling and larger-than-life personas in modern wrestling.