>>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS".

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWRATZ AND BY JANET SCHNEIDER.

JUDY AND JOSH WESTON.

DR. ROBERT C. FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO METRO FOCUS.

THE ELECTION FOR NEW YORK GOVERNOR IS WELL OVER A YEAR AWAY BUT THE RACE IS ALREADY HEATING UP.

JUST YESTERDAY ANDREW GUILIANI ANNOUNCED HIS BODY FOR THE STATE'S HOIHIGHEST OFFICE.

HIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES WEEKS AFTER THE FBI RAIDED HIS FATHER'S OFFICE AS THEY LOOK INTO HIS WORK IN UKRAINE AND POSSIBLY BEYOND.

TO WHAT DEGREE DOES THIS RAISE HI INTEREST TO RUN AND WHAT WOULD HIS PRIORITIES BE IF ELECTED GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE.

THE ANSWERS, ANDREW JOINS US NOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I'M VERY EXCITED TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.

>> LET ME BEGIN WITH THE OBVIOUS YESES.

W -- QUESTIONS.

WHY ARE RUNNING AND WHY SHOULD NEW YORKERS VOTE FOR YOU INSTEAD OF ONE OF YOUR POLITICALLY EXPERIENCED OPPONENT WHO IS ARE SEEKING THE PARTY NOMINATION?

>> THE REASON WHY I'M RUNNING FOR DPOEF IS I BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW IS A POTENTIAL TURNING POINT IN OUR GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK.

I THINK IT'S BEEN MISSERVED OVER THE LAST TEN AND A HALF YEARS.

I BELIEVE OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR, ANDREW CUOMO HAS SERVED HIMSELF AND NOT SERVED THE 19.5 MILLION NEW YORKERS.

I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN THE MOST RECENT BOOK DEAL THAT'S COME OUT, $5 MILLION FOR HIM.

I LOOK AT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER HE SIGNED THAT 9,000 NEW YORK SENIOR CITIZENS TO THEIR DEATH.

I LOOK AT THAT AS COMPLETELY AND EGOTISTICAL ORDER HE SIGNED.

THERE WAS SPACE IN THE CENTER.

HE DID NOT WANT TO GIVE ANYONE ELSE THE POLITICAL WIN BUT HIMSELF.

THAT'S WHY HE DID THAT.

WHEN PUBLIC POLICY COMES AT THE COST OF LEADERS EGO, THE OTHER 19.5 MILLION NEW YORKERS WHO HAVE TO SUFFER WITH THAT ARE TOTALLY MISREPRESENTED.

I WOULD PUT THOSE 19.5 MILLION NEW YORKERS FIRST.

WHY VOTE FOR ME, ASIDE FROM THE FEW OTHERS YOU MENTIONED?

I MAY ONLY BE 35 YEARS OLD BUT I HAVE SPENT PARTS OF FIVE DIFFERENT DECADES IN POLITICS OR PUBLIC SERVICE.

THIS TRULY IS IN MY DNA.

I SPENT PARTS OF 32 YEARS CAMPAIGNING, BEING AROUND CITY HALL, WORKING IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND I'VE SEEN FROM THOSE LEVELS TURN AROUNDS THAT NEW YORK STATE WILL NEED.

FROM NEW YORK CITY CITY IN THE 1990s TO WHAT I BELIEVE WAS FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, A VERY SUCCESSFUL WHITE HOUSE.

I KNOW SOME NEW YORKERS MAY AGREE WITH THAT.

THEY WILL HELP NEW YORKERS, WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE RED OR WHETHER YOU'RE BLUE.

>> CLEARLY YOU'VE BEEN AROUND POLITICS FOR MOST OF YOUR LIFE OR ALMOST ALL OF YOUR LIFE BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS THERE IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND POLITICAL EXPERIENCE THAT SHOULD GIVE NEW YORKERS A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN HANDLE THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH BEING GOVERNORS WITH ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND BIGGEST STATES IN COUNTRY?

>> I WORKED IN AN OFFICE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE OFFICE CALLED THE PUBLIC OF LIASION.

OUR JOB WAS TO FOCUS ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WITHIN A MONTH OF WORKING IN THERE, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT WHERE HE SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED ME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DRIVING OUR PUBLIC POLICY NOT FROM BUREAUCRATIC WHO HAVE BEEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR 30, 35 YEARS BUT FROM BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCCESS.

SOME FAILURE AND SUCCESS AGAIN.

THEY UNDERSTOOD THE RISKS, WHAT IT TOOK TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC POLICY THAT WAS GOING TO CREATE JOBS FOR ALL AMERICANS.

WHEN THE WORLD WAS SHUTTING DOWN DURING THE CORONAVIRUS, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH TRUMP CREATED SOMETHING CALLED THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

THAT WAS ADVISED BY MANY OF THE CEOs OF OUR COUNTRY.

YOU SEE THAT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REOPENING AMERICA LIST.

I WAS IN CHARGE OF DEALING WITH ABOUT 40% OF THAT LIST, THOSE CEOs.

MY ROLE IN THAT PROCESS WAS DIRECTING, I SHOULD SAY ADVISING SECRETARY MNUCHIN AND THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT ON THE EXACT FEEDBACK FROM THOSE CEOs THAT WOULD MAKE THAT POLICY WORK SUCCESSFULLY THAT WOULD GET BUSINESSES AND THEN PEOPLE WHO WERE TEMPORARILY UNEMPLOYED THERE.

DOLLARS THAT THEY NEEDED IN ORDER TO SURVIVE.

I LOOK AT THAT PROGRAM AND THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

IT WASN'T A PROGRAM.

IT WAS ROLLED OUT IN SIX DAYS AND WE MADE SURE THAT LOCAL BANKS WHO KNEW THEIR EMPLOYERS BETTER THAN ANYBODY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE DOLLARS OUT.

IT'S UNHEARD OF WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ROLLED OUT IN SIX DAYS, NONETHELESS.

THST ONE THING.

SECONDLY FOR NEW YORKERS, THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT AS THINGS WAS SHUTTING DOWN.

THE MTA NEEDED FUNDING TO KEEP THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS EMPLOYED.

I BROUGHT THOSE PAPERS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE MADE SURE THE MTA KEPT THOSE THOUSANDS OF JOBS.

THIRD, THE ANYTHING ELSE HEALTH COMMISSION, IF DOUGH REMEMBER BACK IN SEPTEMBER, THE 9/11 HELD COMMISSION ENDED UP LOSING 3.9 MILLION DOLLAR.

THEY TOOK OUT THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY TOOK OUT 3.9 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE 9/11 HEALTH VICTIMS FUND.

THAT WAS AN ERROR BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE PAUSE THE TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS WITH MEDICAID AND THE 9/11 HEALTH VICTIMS FUND WERE COMINGLED.

WHEN WE REALIZE THAT WAS AN ISSUE, I WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE SERVICES AND SECRETARY MNUCHIN DEPUTY SECRETARY TO MAKE SURE THOSE $3.9 MILLION THAT WERE TAKEN OUT OVER THREE ADMINISTRATIONS, OVER 13 YEARS, NOT JUST OVER PR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION WAS COMPLETELY REIMBURSED AND SEPARATE TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS.

THERE'S JUST THREE THINGS.

I CAN GO ON AND ON.

>> WE DON'T HAVE TIME.

WOW HE'S FACING SOME REAL POLITICAL PROBLEMS BUT IT'S NOT AT ALL CLEAR THAT HE'S GOING TO BE THE CANDIDATE COME NEXT YEAR.

IF HE ISN'T, YOU OR ANY REPUBLICAN PREVAIL IN GENERAL ELECTION IN STATE THE DEMOCRATS WERE 2-1.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR HASN'T BEEN L ELECTED SINCE 2002 AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MOVING TO THE LEFT RATHER THAN THE RIGHT.

>> I THINK IF WE PUSH THE POLICIES THAT WILL HELP ALL NEW YORKERS.

NOT JUST RED NEW YORKERS BUT HELP ALL NEW YORKERS.

IF PARENTS HAVE SEEN MORE AND MORE OF THEIR CHILDREN'S CURRICULUM.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

THE TRUTH IS, I THINK THAT HELPS MORE NEW YORKERS THAT TRADITIONALLY VOTE BLUE AND NOT VOTE RED.

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?

LOOK, IF YOU ULTIMATELY HAVE THE MEANS AND YOU ARE UNDERSTAND SATISFIED WITH YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION, YOU HAVE OTHER OPTIONS.

YOU CAN SEND THEM TO PRIVATE SCHOOL, HOME SCHOOL THEM.

LEARNING POD.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MEANS, THAT'S JUST NOT AN OPTION.

THAT'S WHERE CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.

THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED TO SEE ANDREW CUOMO WHO CLAIM TO BE CHAMP KION FOR CHARTER SCHOOL GET COMPLETELY ROLLED OVER.

A GOVERNOR GIULIANI WILL WORK TO CUT THE RED TAPE TO MAKE SURE ANY COMMUNITY THAT WANT A CHARTER SCHOOL WILL GET A CHARTER SCHOOL.

>> YOU'RE VYING FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC ENDORSEMENT OF TRUMP.

IF YOU GET IT OR WHOEVER GETS IT WILL HAVE A BALLOON.

IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THEM IN THE PRIMARY SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS POPULAR AMONG REPUBLICANS BUT IT MAY BE MORE OF A KRURS THAN A BLESSING SINCE HIS APPROVAL RATING IS STILL AROUND 30% WITH OVERALL NEW YORKERS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> WHAT I SAY IS, I'M GOING TO RUN AS ANDREW GIULIANI.

PART OF ANDREW GIULIANI IS I DID WORK FIN THE WHITE HOUSE.

HE'S A FRIEND AND I STAND BY MY FRIEND.

IT'S UP TO NEW YORKERS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES THEM WANT TO VOTE FOR ME, MAKES THEM NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR ME OR WHETHER THEY THINK THE POLICIES THAT I'M GOING TO CAPABLE OF PUTTING FORWARD IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO BE ENOUGH FOR ALL NEW YORKERS.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORTED PRESIDENT TRUMP OR NOT.

I MENTIONED SCHOOL CHOICE.

LET'S ALWAYS GO INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NOW THAT WE END UP MENTIONING THAT.

THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION PUSHED FORWARD AND WHAT THAT MEANT IN 2019.

IN 2019, WE SAW THE LOWEST RATE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY, FOR HIS MANIC AMERICAN, ASIAN AMERICAN UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE LOWEST RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN TOTAL IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY SINCE BEFORE MAN LANDED ON THE MOON.

I THINK THOSE ARE SUCCESSFUL POLICIES FOR NEW YORKERS.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PARTICULARLY LOVED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWITTER FEED OR DID NOT LOVE IT.

>> I'M SURE VIEWERS KNOW AT TEND OF APRIL THE FBI RAIDED YOUR FATHER'S HOME AND OFFICE.

TO WHAT DEGREE DID THAT EVENT IMPACT YOUR DECISION TO RUN?

>> IT MADE ME LEAN IN EVEN MORE.

WE'RE AT A TIME AND POINT IN HISTORY WHERE I THINK GOOD MEN AND WOMEN NEED TO STEP FORWARD AND NEED TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT MORE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN STAND, MORE MORAL MEN AND WOMEN.

THAT'S NOT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT THING.

THAT'S TRULY A MORALITY THING.

THE MORE GOOD PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY, SERVING OUR STATE, SERVING OUR LOCALITY, SERVING ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD, THEY CARE TRULY ABOUT THEIR CONSTITUENTS, THE BETTER OUR COUNTRY IS GOING TO BE.

I'VE SAID STATEMENTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY FATHER ON THE DAY SINCE THAT HAPPENED.

THERE ARE TWO BIG THINGS THAT GIVE ME EVEN MORE CONVICTION.

WHAT I SAID IS RIGHT.

NBC NEWS, WASHINGTON POST AND THE NEW YORK TIMES HAD TO RETRACT, CORRECT STORIES ABOUT THEIR ORIGINAL REPORTING ON THIS.

SECONDLY, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY STARTED THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO MY FATHER THE MONTH, THE MONTH THAT HE STARTED REPRESENTING PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THAT HAS TO RAISE RED FLAGS FOR ANYBODY WHO IS INDEPENDENT MINDED.

>> IT MAY RAISE RED FLAGS BUT YOU HAVE SAID SPECIFICALLY THIS IS THE RESULT OF A POLITICIZED JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS RAID UNTIL THE REST OF US FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.

ARE YOU JUST CONNECTING THE DOT OR DO YOU HAVE SOME INSIDE INFORMATION THAT THIS WAS A POLITICIZED INVESTIGATION?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE PRESIDENT BIDEN.

I THINK I BELIEVE HIM AS MUCH AS WHEN HE WAS SAID IT WAS A VALEDICTORIAN IN COLLEGE AND WAS THE BOTTOM THIRD OF HIS LAW SCHOOL.

THAT'S IN THE STATEMENT OF WHERE THAT FALLS.

THERE'S COMPLETE MOTIVATION BY PRESIDENT BIDEN TO TEAR DOWN RUDY GIULIANI CONSIDERING THE INFORMATION THAT RUDY GIULIANI HAS ON HIS SON, ON HUNTER.

I STAND BY THAT COMPLETELY.

DOP I HAVE INSIDE INFORMATION, WAS IT SITTING IN THE OVAL OFFICE WHEN HE WAS INFORMED OR IN THE RESIDENT ROOM?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I KNOW HOW THIS WORKS.

I'M NOT NAIVE ENOUGH TO THINK THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND MERRICK GARLAND DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

HOW IS THIS CASE AGAINST YOUR FATHER GOING TO PLAY OUT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE OUTCOME?

>> I THINK HE WILL BE COMPLETELY VINDICATED.

I THINK MOST AMERICANS THINK OF RUDY GIULIANI, THEY THINK OF GREATEST U.S. ATTORNEY OF OUR COUNTRY.

THEY THINK OF THE GREATEST MAYOR NOT JUST IN NEW YORK HISTORY BUT ALL OF OUR COUNTRY.

I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN RUDY GIULIANI AND COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN ALL NEW YORKERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE TO END IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINENING US TODA.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> HI, I'M JENNA FLANNIGAN OF "METROFOCUS."

FULLY VACCINATED KNICKS FANS WILL GET THEIR OWN SECTION.

IT WILL BE EXTENDED TO METS FANS IN BROOKLYN.

IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER OR NOT THE OFFER WILL GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED, WHAT IS CLEAR IS THE EXCITEMENT AND QUITE FRANKLY, SURPRISE THAT THE KNICKS WERE IN PLAYOFFS A TT ALL.

LONG SUFFERING KNICKS FANS DIDN'T THINK IT WAS LIKELY GIVEN THE LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE AND INABILITIES TO SNATCH DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE POSTSEASON NOBODY THOUGHT WAS COMING TO THE GARDEN IS CHRISTIAN WINFIELD.

CHRISTIAN COVERS THE KNICKS AND THE NETS AND PROVIDES AN OVERALL PERSPECTIVE ON THE LEAGUE.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ALL KNICKS TALK.

VERY QUICKLY FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE BIG INTO THE NBA, BIG IN FANDOM FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY IS THE KNICKS MAKING THE PLAYOFF SUCH A BIG DEAL.

>> IT STARTS WITH LONG THE FRANCHISE HAS GONE WITHOUT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS.

YOU HAVE TO THINK BACK UNTIL 2012, 2013 WHEN CARMELO ANTHONY WAS THE HEADLINE ATHLETE IN NEW YORK TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHEN THE KNICKS HAVE REALLY BEEN RELEVANT AND SINCE THEN THINGS HAVE TAPER OFF.

HE GOT KICKED OUT.

THERE'S NO CLEAR PATH FORWARD FOR THIS KNICKS TEAM SINCE THEN UNTIL TOM THIBODEAU COMES THROUGH AND ESTABLISHES THAT HARD WORKER CULTURE THAT'S BEEN MISSING IN NEW YORK NOR SO LONG.

THAT'S WHAT FANS HAVE RALLIED AROUND.

THAT'S WHAT LED TO THIS TEAM DEFYING THE ODDS.

YES HE'S AN ALL STAR BUT A LOT OF THE OTHER PLAYERS ARE NOT PLAYERS YOU SHOULD ASSOCIATE WITH PLAYOFF TEAM BUT THESE GUYS HAVE WORKED ON THEIR CRAFT.

THESE ARE GUYS THAT HAVE PAID EXTREME FOCUS TO THE DEFENSE END.

THEY PUT THE WORK IN ON SHOOTING THE BALL.

THIS IS A WELL ROUNDED BASKETBALL TEAM THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE IN THE PLAYOFF BECAUSE THEY MIGHT OUT WORK THEM AND GET GAME OR TWO ON FLOOR.

>> DON'T GET MY HOPES UP TOO MUCH.

NOT EVERYBODY IS A KNICKS FAN.

I KNOW, THAT'S SHOCKING TO ME.

TOM THIBODEAU IS.

>> THE HEAD COACH OF THE NEW YORK KNICKS.

COACHED IN MINNESOTA.

HE REALLY BROUGHT THAT HARD WORK, THAT BLUE COLLAR PLENALTY EVERYWHERE HE WENT.

HE EVEN PICKED AUDIOTAPE NEGATIVE STIGMA ABOUT HIM.

HE WOULD PLAY SOME OF HIS GUYS 32 MINUTES.

WHETHER THEY GRINDS THEM INTO THE GROUND.

THAT'S ONE OF THE FEARS A LOT OF N KNICKS FANS WHEN HE SIGNED INTO NEW YORK.

HE WAS A STAND OUT ROOKIE LAST SEASON TAKING MORE STRIDES THIS YEAR BUT IS TOM GOING TO PLAY HIM 45 MINUTES A GAME OUT OF A POSSIBLE 48.

THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE.

HE'S A GUY THAT WILL GET THE MOST OUT OF HIS PLAYERS BE P HE'S NOT GOING TO GIVE ANYBODY MINUTES.

THEY HAVE TO BE EARNED.

KNICKS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SAW THIS COMING.

>> DEFINITELY DID NOT.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE TOUCHING ON AND PEOPLE FOLLOWING THE TEAM, WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED IS WE'RE SEEING A TEAM OF GUYS GEL AND PLAY TOGETHER ADD POSED TO A BUNCH OF GUYS MAYBE AUDITIONS FOR THE OFF SEASON.

IS THAT THE DIFFERENCE THOOES BROUGHT TO KNICKS.

>> SURE.

WHAT THE KNICKS HAVE IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE NETS HAVE.

THE NET VS THE STAR STUDDED GROUP OF PLAYERS THEY MISHMASHED ALL SEASON.

THEY ARE TRYING TO BUILD THE CONTINUITY THEY HAVE.

THEY ARE BEST THREE GUYS ONLY PLAYED EIGHT GAMES TOGETHER ALL YEAR.

KNICKS HAVE HAD THIS SAME CORE SINCE LAST YEAR.

THEY ADDED A COUPLE OF GUYS BUT THEY HAD THE SAME TEAM AND BROUGHT IN GNAW HEAD COACH.

YES THEY HAD THAT FAMILIARITY FROM A LOT OF PLAYERS GOING BACK AND HAVING PLAYED WITH EACH OTHER LAST YEAR.

TOM THIBODEAU WILL NOT JUST GIVE A GUY MINUTES BECAUSE HE HAS BIG NAME.

HE SET THE TONE BY COMING IN TRAPI TRAINING CAMP AND BEING THE FIRST PERSON TO COME IN.

WORKING ON EVERY PART OF THE GAME.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE BEST PLAYER HOLDENING EVERYBODY ELSE ACCOUNTABLE TO PLAY AT THAT STANDARD, THERE'S NO SURPRISE THEY ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS.

THESE GUYS HAVE PUT IN THE WORK.

>> GIVEN FACT AS OF RIGHT NOW WE EXPECT THEM TO TAKE THE COURT AGAINST THE ATLANTA HAWKS, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT THE FIRST ROUND TO LOOK LIKE?

>> THE HAWKS ARE A VERY ELECTRIFYING OFFENSIVE TEAM.

YOU LOOK AT THE GUYS AROUND.

THEY PLAY REALLY FAST AND GETS UP AND DOWN.

THAT CAN POSE LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR THE KNICKS.

WILL THAT BY ABLE TO MATCH THE HAWKS OFFENSIVE FIE POURER.

IT'S GOING THE -- O HAVE TO BE THE POINT.

IF I'M CORRECT, THEY ARE THE BEST SHOOTING TEAM IN THE LEAGUE WHICH IS GREAT COMPARED TO WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR.

MAYBE THIRD OR SIXTH.

COMPARED TO WHERE THEY WERE LAST SEASON, IT'S NIGHT AND DAY.

I THINK THE KNICKS HAVE CHANCE ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN LOCK IN ON THE DEFENSE IFR END AND MAKE THINGS UNCOMFORTABLE UNLESS THEY COME ACROSS HALF COURT AND SHOOT AS SOON AS HE GETS AN OPEN LOOK.

IF THEY CAN TAKE AWAY, THEY HUNG 141 POINTS IN BROOKLYN EARLIER THIS SEASON.

I KNOW WHAT TYPE OF OFFENSE THEY CAN BE.

WE KNOW WHAT KIND OF DEFENSE TOM THIBODEAU HAS INSTALLED.

IT'S A BIT OF A CHESS MAMP.

THE KNICKS HAVE A CHANCE.

IT'S NOT OPEN AND SHUT THAT THE KNICKS ARE OUT IN FRONT ROUND.

WE COULD SEE THEM IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFF.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO PULL UP THAT A LITTLE BIT.

NOT EVERYBODY IS A BASKETBALL FAN.

FRANKLY, I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY.

THAT'S FACT.

I KNOW THEY CAN HEAR THE EXCITEMENT IN YOUR VOICE.

I HOPE THEY CAN HEAR IT IN MINE.

FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T PAY THAT CLOSE ATTENTION, I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THE KNICKS HAD BEEN REALLY BAD FOR REALLY LONG TIME.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH A BIT OF HOW IT GOT TO THAT POINT WHERE THE TEAM JUST BECAME THIS ALMOST NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT?

>> IF YOU ASK ME, I THINK DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT WENT WRONG IN NEW YORK.

WHEN YOU ASK ME, IT STARTS WITH NOT PUTTING THE RIGHT PIECES AROUND -- IT STARTS WITH NOT PUTTING THE RIGHT PIECES AROUND CARMELO ANTHONY.

FROM THAT POINT WHEN YOU HAVE A SO-CALLED CONTENDER THAT MAXES OUT MANY THE THE SECOND ROUND AND DON'T PUT ADDITIONAL PIECES AROUND HIM TO GET TO THIRD ROUND OR THE FINALS, YOU LOSE TEAM MORALE.

YOUR TEAM LOSES FAITH IN THE ORGANIZATION TO MAKE THE MOVES TO PUT THEM IN POSITION TO WIN.

ON TOP OF THAT, WE SAW HOW THEY KICKED CARMELO ANTHONY OUT OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT LAST SEASON.

THAT TRIGGERS DOWN TO CHRIS WHO IS NO LONGER WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND ASK FOR A TRADE.

NOW YOU HAVE A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT BECAUSE THE TEAM CLEARS CAP SPACE AND FAILS AT THAT.

NOW YOU END UP WITH TEAM THAT YOU HAVE NOW AND HONESTLY, I WROTE THAT THE TEAMS THAT HAVE RIGHT NOW IS NOT THAT BAD.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK TO LAST SEASON, MISSING PART WAS HEAD COACH.

YOU HAD A REVOLVE DOOR IN THE HEAD COACH.

YOU HAVE DEREK FISHER A WHILE AGO.

NOW YOU HAVE STABILITY AS A HEAD COACH WITH GUY BHO HWHO HAS DON BEFORE.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

O I'M NOT HERE SAYING THEY CAN WIN THIS YEAR.

THEY HAVE THE DEFENSE DOWN PACK.

THAT COMES WITH HAVING A COACH THAT DEMANDS THE BEST FROM GUYS EVERY DAY.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST CH CHANGE OVER THE YEARS IS THERE'S NO GAMES OFF, NO POSITIONS OFF OF A GUY LIKE TOM THIBODEAU.

>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT UP THE NOTION OF WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS WE DID A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC NOT ONLY HIT NEW YORK EMOTION MALEMOTIONALLY SPIRITUALLY BUT IT SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE SPORTS INDUSTRY.

TO HAVE THIS PLAYOFF RUN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE EAST RIVER COME BACK TO CITY, DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF ECONOMIC BOOM THIS COULD ALSO BRING TO NEW YORK.

>> HERE IS ONE THING I DO KNOW AS WE ALL KNOW, GOVERNOR CUOMO IS MOVING TO OPEN UP THE ARENAS A BIT MORE.

THAT IS GOING TO BRING MASSIVE SALES TO THE ARENAS.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS AT BARCLAYS WHERE THERE WAS NO KIOSKS OR CONCESSION STANDS NOW THINGS HAVE BECOME UNKNOWN.

I THINK JUST BRINGING THE FANS IS ONE THING.

YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE NETS HAVEN'T HAD THIS -- HAVEN'T BEEN LEGITIMATELY THIS FOR DEEP PLAYOFF RUN SINCE THEY MOVED TO BROOKLYN.

IN LOT OF RESPECT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

YES, IT'S SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND A PANDEMIC AND THE NBA TEAMS HAVE FOUND THEIR WAYS OUT BUT FANS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ARE WE ALLOWED TO EAT HERE?

WHERE CAN WE MOVE?

IT'S A NEW WORLD FOR EVERYBODY.

A LOT OF BUSINESSES MOVING THROUGH THIS THE SAME WAY.

YOU'LL HAVE A FIRST ROUND SERIES BETWEEN BOSTON AND BROOKLYN.

YOU'LL HAVE CELTICS FROM BOSTON OR ON THE TRAIN FROM BOSTON TO BROOKLYN.

YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE GOING FROM BROOKLYN TO BOSTON.

YOU'LL HAVE AN IMPORT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE FROM ALL ORNVER THE WORLD.

I HAVE NO DOUBT AS FANS KIND OF CYCLE IN FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, THE ECONOMY WILL BOOST, FOR SURE.

>> OF COURSE.

.

LASTLY, WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

JUST TRY TO GET A SENSE, WE SAW AS YOU DISCUSS HOW THE KNICKS HAD STRUGGLES, ET CETERA.

WE SAW A LOT OF KNICKS FANS DEFECT OVER TO BROOKLYN AND CHEERING ON THE NETS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SEE GOOD BALL.

IS THERE CHANCE WE CAN SEE SOME PEOPLE PUT BACK ON THE ORANGE AND BLUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WE SAW SOME OF THOSE FANS FANS LEAVE THE KNICKS EARLY.

THEY SAID KNICKS WILL NEVER GET THESE STARS.

MIGHT AS WELL BE A NETS FAN.

I THINK SOME OF THOSE EARLY FANS WILL DEFECT BACK TO KNICKS.

THEY WILL SEE IF I WOULD HAVE TRUSTED THE PROCESS, WE COULD HAVE BEEN OKAY.

PEOPLE SPLIT.

IT'S A KNICKS TOWN.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A KNICKS TOWN.

PROBABLY WILL ALWAYS BE.

THE NETS ARE COMING.

THE NETS FANS HAVE A LOT TO SAY.

I CAN'T WAIT THE SEE WHAT THEY HAVE BUT I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE HEALTHY RIVALRY BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> THANK YOU FOR TALKING AND GIVING ME SPACE THE HOPE.

I WAS A LITTLE SCARED.

>> THE NETS ARE GIVING YOU.

>> HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION FOR SECOND ROUND.

>> FOR SURE.

KNICKS ARE GIVING YOU REASON TO HOPE.

YOU SHOULD BE THANKING KNICKS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> METROFOCUS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDWARD THE THIRD.

THE PETER G. PETERSON FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

CHERYL AND PHILLIP MILLSTEEN FAMILY.

DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA FOUNDATION.