Duke’s Late-Game Meltdown & more w/ Casey in MT

Duke’s collapse against UConn sparks a hard look at coaching, composure, and what happens when a team tightens up late. We move from March Madness to big-picture predictions across the Final Four, MLB, the NFL Draft, and the NBA postseason.
• Duke blowing another double-digit lead and what the final inbounds sequence reveals
• Coaching temperament and “mental toughness” as the real separator in March
• Final Four reactions plus who we think wins it all
• Debating where the UConn freshman shot ranks among the greatest college basketball shots
• MLB Opening Day takeaways and early World Series picks across both leagues
• Chicago Bears draft needs with an emphasis on defense and pass rush
• Los Angeles Chargers roster holes and what they should target in the draft
• NBA Finals picks plus why the Lakers feel hard to trust
• Women’s Final Four picks with UCLA getting the nod
• Quick Tiger Woods Masters update and closing thoughts

Transcript

Duke’s Collapse Vs UConn

SPEAKER_03 0:00

And welcome everybody to another episode of Real Talk Doc. You doing all right today?

SPEAKER_02 0:05

Yes, yes. We're blessed to have a special guest, a long time, Carl. He's been on here many times before, so do the intro, brother. I'm ready.

SPEAKER_03 0:16

We weren't able to get on last week, but we're on this week. This tournament's been absolutely crazy. Uh right now with the Final Four is set. Um but um KC uh in Montana, he's a he's a big dookie, and and he's uh you know not too happy about his uh his his his his uh his team, but uh we're gonna dive into that in a second. But KC, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Thanks for having me on being off to the test.

SPEAKER_03 0:46

Of course. Absolutely, absolutely. So Doc, um you know I actually we'll we'll do this. Doc, you'll get it off your chest in a second. But uh KC, we've got to talk about Duke uh and and uh what is what conspired uh uh at the end of the game. Some people say it's coaching, or you can put it on the booster kids or whatever, but uh this is your your time, this is your team. You can go ahead and get anything off your chest that you want to get off. I know it's a rough time for you, but the floor is yours, my friend.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

I mean, so and all it sucks. It is you know, another gut punch. Here we are, second year in a row, blowing a double digit lead, you know, in a tournament game, you know, deep in the tournament, especially. And you know, they dominated the first half the other night. You know, they were they were up 19 with little under two minutes left. They they were rolling. But then even at the towards the end of the half, you know, UConn scored a couple buckets and Duke went in up fifteen, but even then I didn't have a good feeling just the way they ended that first half. Even them scoring those last two points giving it up, I kind of felt the momentum shift and I didn't have the the warm and fuzzies about going in the second half. UConn, they'd got that championship pedigree. You know they were gonna make a run. And I knew it was coming, but I I wasn't expecting a a meltdown like that. I mean I I figured Yukon would make it a game. But the way it transpired was just it's it was devastating. I and thing is I didn't even get to watch it live. I was driving home, we were coming back on vacation, so I had the game recorded and I didn't get home until after it had already ended, but I didn't know what happened. So I turned it turned it on and started watching, and you know, even getting it over three hours after it actually ended, it still hurt just as much. And and I I think with how everything ended, it it all falls back on coaching. I mean, I love John Shire. I think he's a great coach, he's got a bright future ahead of him. But he's got a problem, especially in the tournament over the last couple years, with his team's just becoming real tight especially when they're when they have a lead for some reason. He doesn't coach with a lot of fire, like he's not real energetic, he doesn't show a lot of emotion on the sidelines, and you know, your your team takes after your persona, your personality, and yeah. That isn't that isn't how it you know should be in those times. Like I'm not a big fan of Dan Hurley. I mean I respect the hell out of him and the kind of coach that he is, especially the success he's had. But he has the ability because he's a very fiery, passionate coach, he keeps his boys locked in and he keeps them fighting to the end, even when they're up big. And that was the difference in the second half. I the UConn just they kept chipping away, they kept chipping away, they kept chipping away. And Duke did the opposite. They they looked like they were wound tight, they were struggling to run their offense. And when it got down to it, you know, they made some costly mistakes. And looking at Shire a few times, you know, in some cliffs since Sunday, um, in those last few minutes he looked like himself, like he wasn't quite sure what to do. He didn't know how to tell the boys that you know it now's time to lock in, you you gotta get this done. Especially his reaction on that last turnover with Caden Boozer. Like, I don't understand why he directed Isaiah Evans and Pat Gongla to go to the other end of the floor. I mean, it looked like they were trying to get the ball over the top, but there was ten seconds on the clock. I mean, you could have gotten away with a win add you to just hold the ball for an over and back. The clock would have ran out. Just stand there and hold it. And the way that he reacted and tried to throw the ball over the top, you could tell that that's what they were telling him they wanted to do if it was there. I don't like the what they were trying to run on that. And I said that all falls back on Shire. You know, he he's had a great regular season, he's had a great few years at Duke, but he deserves the criticism. He deserves everything for how that game went, and also for how every game that they lost in your series went, because it's all been the same. They've all been double digit leads that they've blown in the second half. That's a good point.

unknown 5:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

It's a trend that you don't want to have, and it's something that he's gonna have to try and shake, and the only way he's gonna do that is to win a championship. But it's gonna be hanging over his head for a while now.

SPEAKER_02 5:39

Well well, I'll tell you, brother, uh I feel you're paying. I played basketball all that. They teach you that in a little league. Hold the ball, you know, and then take it from there. And and and I know the kid, the younger boozy, when you jump it up in the air, man, uh once you do that, you know, you you're stuck because if you come back down with this traveling and they get the ball anyway. But, you know, you just hold on to the ball and and and they have to foul. You know, you heard earlier interviews, they were gonna hold for a turnover, but eventually you're gonna have to foul them. And you and even if the the older boozer that's going to the draft, even if he holds the ball, they're gonna foul because the kids panic for UConn. This is a devastating loss, man. This is three years in a row, brother. You lost to NC State. They won five games in a row, including AC and Beat Duke. And last year, you know, it's one of those things where he had another double-digit loss. You would think at some point this coach who was handpicked by Sheshewski would get it right, man. You got too much talent. Last year you had um uh the kid that's in Dallas now. You had him, and that was talent up to win a. Yeah, Cooper Flag. And now this year you got two boozers and Evans. Now, even given that, what the hell was Evans, Isaiah Evans' hands doing down on defending the young kid, the young freshman. You know, if anything, instinctively you're gonna guard the ball and and then put it. You could have deflected the shot or altered the trajectory, anything like that, but I'll feel for you. You know, the Duke fans, you know, they want them out, some of them. I got a manager that's a Duke rad. But, you know, it's one of those things where I don't know if you can recover, man. At some point, some of these recruits are gonna go the other way, you know, and uh even no matter how much money you had to pay an NIL, they see the TV too. But it's a bad loss, brother. And uh Marlon, and I it's it's instead of you know getting it off your chest relatively, because Casey don't want to hear that anymore, it's one of those things where, you know, you you know, you know, knowing basketball that uh that this is one of those things where you know it should never happen, you know. And and and uh your big man boozer, Casey, is he skilled enough to know even if he dribbles the ball instead of passing it to his younger brother, you know, that they're gonna foul anyway. I don't know, brother. I don't know. There's three years in a row, bottom line.

SPEAKER_01 8:02

You know, so I can I can nitpick the hell out of that, out of that last inbounds play. I mean, I don't know why you don't have Caleb Foster on the court, who is your most experienced player. I mean, I know he gave off an injury, but still you want him out there trying to, because he would have, in my opinion, had an idea of what to do. I mean, he would have known to hold the ball and not try and force anything. And I know I said I don't know why you have Isaiah Evans on the other end of the floor, too, is who is your best free throw shooter. Why don't you have him trying to take the ball up too? Like I yeah, I I I don't understand it.

Final Four Teams And Upsets

SPEAKER_02 8:40

Yeah, that's it, brother. We hear you, man. Uh, and take it from there. Now the other games in and of itself were you know, I expected more Marlin, if I will, out of there is Acuff and Arkansas, you know, and Calipari. They got blown out, man, by Michigan. They were leading by three at the half, and then set to set the bar, set the wet the bed. And St. John's, man, uh I am a little disappointed in the Red Men, the Chinese, but that they they struggle to score offensively. He kind of knew. But gentlemen, Illinois, in case you know basketball, Illinois out of nowhere, man. I didn't really watch Illinois. Did you? You know, the bigs, the European guys getting NIL, and here they are, Final Four. Your take, gentlemen, on Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:27

Yeah, I was gonna say I've I've watched Illinois uh a few times this year. I mean, they're a very potent offense. I mean, they're a top five offense in the country. They have been all year. They they struggle defensively, and that's where they lost a lot of their games, and they just they get shootouts. And yeah, I'm I'm a little bit shocked by their run too. Um, but they seem to put it together. They put some complete games together on both ends of the floor, and that's why they're in the final four.

SPEAKER_02 9:54

Yeah, yeah, and Michigan, Marlin, everybody has because they love their bigs. They better be careful though, you know, because Illinois and ain't no joking, you know, Yukon is mentally tough. That's the word I was looking for, Casey. Yeah. I don't want to blast your team like that, but your team is not mentally tough. Uh it's easy for Caravan to take the J, but he passed to the young freshman. Caravan just hit it three, 50 seconds prior, you know. So props to him for realizing the situation. This is an experience that you referenced to uh, you know, UConn and some of the other things. But I don't know, it's been an enjoyable tournament, you know, overall, and some shocking upsets of star power. You know, I really expected more Marlon and Casey out of A Cup in Arkansas because A Cup to me is the best player skill-wise in this tournament. Yeah you know, Peterson to me is skilled, but he doesn't have the heart. But you got the other cats, man. You know, it's gonna be a great NBA draft with the stock uh DeFonza at BYU. I think I'm pronouncing the man, but go ahead and make fun of me, Marlon.

SPEAKER_00 10:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:00

But uh, it's been an interesting tournament. I didn't expect Tennessee to get thrown out like that, fellas. But Doc.

SPEAKER_03 11:07

I got one better for you. What about Florida? You know, you know, against Iowa. I mean, uh that's a team that a lot of people had, of course. You know, I mean, number one Steve making it to the you know, at least a tension of game, if not the final four. So seeing them going down against Iowa, that was something that uh I know a lot of people had uh some concerns about. But yeah, it's it's been a very uh interesting tournament. Uh you know, you want to be out of fifth. You you want to have 15 center relative stories like that. Um what the number 13 going out when they did, uh, and then when you have the next one, another number one team going out targeted, but you know, when you have the counter as well. I I guess it makes for a better tournament. Um, but uh yeah, it's it's it's pretty uh it it's a good to see you love to see it. And here we are in the final four. You got uh number two uh Yukon, you got number three Illinois, you got two one seats on the other side, Arizona and Michigan taking care of business. So uh I'll ask you guys this. Uh for one, what were your thoughts on Florida? And two, uh, who do you guys got um in the final four? Doc, I'll go ahead and start with you.

SPEAKER_02 12:15

Well, I I I well I had uh Arizona win it all to begin with playing against Duke, but I like Arizona's big state, and I think you like the skill set and the team ball that they played with Lloyd, who is under fire, because he fell badly the last few years. But Lloyd's got it together this year, and they got the young guard and they got a freshman kid, but the big, I'm taking Arizona. The Yukon thing to me, Casey, is interesting because will they will they continue to ride this this this great run here after being Duke and the emotions that fire, or will they come out flat, you know, and and and get embarrassed, you know. You can't come out slow game after game after game. You can't go about 19 and in a final four and expect to win. But I like UConn to actually uh win that game and and take it from there. But I have Arizona win it at all. Uh the big kids, and they got depth. Lloyd, who might be a candidate for UNC, Casey, the Tanyos, uh, if he wins it all, I think he's gonna vote. You know, this is Tonyos. I know Arizona has a rich history, Marlon and Casey, but you know, uh Lloyd, Lloyd to meet, yeah, that's a hot bear down there in the deep south in Carolina Bill. But uh, first thing first, I did have Arizona in my bracket to win it all. And so go ahead, Casey. I'm blabbering.

SPEAKER_01 13:36

No, you're good. I I agree. I I've got Arizona winning it all too. I think they've looked the best so far out of all the one seeds anyway in the tournament. I think they've looked the most consistent. Um, I mean, they're that semifinal game with Michigan is gonna be a battle. Like that's that's gonna be a hell of a game to watch. I mean, I'm I'm excited for that. It's just the overall size between both teams going against each other, and then the guard play too. You know, I I can't wait to see Cadrill go up against Bradley. Like, I think that matchup's gonna be fire. And I think whoever no matter whoever comes out of that game, I think it's gonna be Arizona. But no matter who comes out of that game, I think he's gonna win it all. I those two are are much stronger than the other side, in my opinion. Um UConn's got the edge in coaching. I mean, I I think that's pretty evident. You know, they've with what they've done the last few years and early. But yeah, I agree with you. I I I think they're the weakest team in the Final Four. But they are playing their best basketball all year. Um But yeah, this I don't know, there's something about this Illinois team that that the run that they've been on this tournament and yeah, and I I agree that if they get down double digits in this game, I don't see them making a comeback. I think Illinois is just they're too too high powered on offense for them to give up a a big lead like that.

Where That Buzzer Shot Ranks

SPEAKER_02 14:56

And yeah, it's yeah, that's a good point. It's been an exciting tournament overall. If you go back in the previous round, Maul and K Kentucky's big man hit a great shot and it went on overtime and beat whoever they beat. And then you mentioned Acuff, who had uh 36 in the prior round, a lot of big standout performances. And uh, you know, it's one of those things where I hate to see it almost gone. I'm expecting a great Final Four, Casey. And uh, but it begs the question. I thought he posed this question on his show. Is that shot that the freshman kid from the UConn made, where would you place it? Is the top three or four ever? Uh, you know, he missing the Jordan shot against Georgetown in '82. Of course, you got the Leighton shot in 90, 91 or 92 against Kentucky and the Semis. Uh, you know, Lorenzo Charles, NC State put back dump dump to beat Dretzler and Elijah One and Houston at the last second, who led Coach Balzana. He was looking for somebody to hug. There's been some great shots in the critical moments. Where would you all put this one? I'll put it in the top five. Easily. You know, easily.

SPEAKER_01 16:05

Okay. All right. I I don't know if I put a top five at least yet. Uh every one of them that you just named, I think, are ahead of it. Um and all three who I I think maybe the most clutch shot considering what was on the line, you gotta I I go with Chris Jenkins, you know, over North Carolina. That's right. Hit hitting out the buzzer to w to win the title. Like, I mean, it doesn't get any better than that. You know, that's of course you have Lorenzo Charles right up there in '83 for that too. I mean, the Leitner shot I still think is the most iconic. Uh, you know.

SPEAKER_02 16:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:39

As good as good as Mullen's shot was uh on Sunday, I still I still give Leitner, and yes, I am a Duke fan, so maybe I'm a little biased there, but I I still have to give that one um uh it tops it. And I mean it might be it might be number five for me, but I wouldn't put it any higher than that.

SPEAKER_02 17:02

Yeah, that's fair. The Jordan game was that that that was uh that was a championship game uh against uh Georgetown. And so was the Villanova kid too. Yeah, Jenkins. Yeah, I'm sorry, Marlene. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 17:15

I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna say a name, and when I say this name, you guys will know exactly who I'm talking about or what shot it was. Um but I don't know if this is necessarily top five, but it for sure should break top ten. Kimbo Walker. Yeah, yeah. You guys remember that one? Yeah, Kimbo Walker, UConn. Yeah, that's right. That that step back that step back that he had. Like that was that's one of my fondest memories of of when you think of just college basketball, that shot that he uh that shot that he made. Uh it was yeah, Master Square Gardens in 20 2010, 2011, I believe when it was. But yeah, something like that. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:55

It's been a lot, man. That's a good one there, Marlon. Uh, of course, you got the Tyers Edney coast to coast with four seconds left, but that wasn't in the semis. That was early around. You know, the UCLA kid, Tyaz Edney, you got Bryce Drew, uh, a mid-major. He did his stuff. I think like Drew played for a mid-major, and he did a hot court shot. Yeah. Oh my God. So it's been a lot. It's been a lot, man. And if you can't win it all, you gotta you gotta ratchet it up a a couple of spots, then if they end up winning it all. But it goes slowly, man. Mullins, Mullins is up there. Lord, yeah. Well, go ahead, Marvin.

SPEAKER_03 18:32

Absolutely. Okay. All right. So we did have opening day over the course of the uh the past week. Um K. I know you're a Mariner, Casey? Yeah, okay. Okay, perfect. All right. Um, so of course we know Doc is Braves, I'm Padre. So um Doc, I'll go ahead and start with you on this one. We didn't necessarily give our because uh we we were out last week, but uh your predictions for the World Series. Uh what are your thoughts on your Braves? Just a quick synopsis on uh overall the the MOB and what your thoughts on are of the season.

SPEAKER_02 19:09

Well, it's been exciting so far being a Brays fan. You know, even though we lost tonight, we had a walk off Grand Flannel on Saturday night against Houston. I mean, against uh Kansas City and uh Bobby Witt Jr. and those cats. Now, we um it we got a lot of new names. We got Wall Weiss as a master. But as a whole, I'm blessed glad baseball is here, man. KT baseball was my first love, ironically enough, going back to Dale Murphy and Bob Horner. Um last year at this time, gentlemen, we were 0-7, 0-7. Four loss against the Padres and then 0-3 against the Dodgers. So I like to beat 3-2 right now. The Phillies are faltering right now. So in the East, you gotta go with the Phillies in a long season, you know, and uh Central, I'm going Cubbies. Uh in the West, you gotta go to Dodgers. Now in the American League, you know, um and it's one of those things where you'd be remiss if you don't take the Yankees, especially when Jerry Cole comes back in June or July, I forget what it is. But uh in the West, I'm taking Seattle. You're Seattle Mariners. The big dumper had a big sh a big, big line grass shot yesterday, uh, Casey, and then uh uh and and the uh central. Uh I'm yeah, I am going with Kansas City, and by the way, Junior, I just like the way they, you know, through the number, it's start power there. But uh I'm very happy, man. Living out here in LA, Casey, and you can jump in on this. Dodgers and the Angels unexplicably are doing well. You know, Trout hit a bomb or two in the opening weekend, you know. So it's just one. And then Padres Marlon, I'm sorry, I'm not expecting more, but you know your team better than me. I just need more from Fernando Tatis and Machado, your pitching staff. Your slow season, Marlon, but good luck. But go ahead, Casey. You got the four. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 20:57

Yeah, uh it's you know the National League gets obviously the Dodgers, it's them until somebody else knocks them off. I mean, that was like last year, that was the probably weakest team they've had over the last four or five years, and yet they still were able to pull it out. So it just they're juggling on right now. I mean, it's it's hard to to go against them, it's hard to hard to pick the field against them right now. Um yeah, we got them in the National League. In the American League, it's kind of on the uh it's between the 80s and the Mariners right now. And for everybody need to set stock when when Garrett Cole gets back, he's gonna be a force of the Yankees, he's gonna give them the epic boost. And Seattle, if they if they're pitching, can continue to hold up like it has the last few years. You know, they got a great starting rotation. And if if they can stay steady throughout the course of the season, they're gonna be right there come October to make to make a good run for hopefully their first World Series appearance. Um right right now I don't know if I could pick one over the other, but it's gonna be between those two coming out of the of the American League.

SPEAKER_02 22:07

So you in any way, shape, or form expect a more out of Toronto or last year's devastation mindset will take care of Toronto and maybe the Orioles step up. I don't know. That's your call, Casey. Toronto Blue Jays still got Guerrero and shit, but they lost a big bat. I forget who it was. They lost somebody big. Yeah, they lost a bichette. Yeah, that's right. Go ahead. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:29

Yeah, and I was gonna say just yeah, losing him and I don't know if they did enough over the offseason to kind of get over the hump. Um I they're still gonna be right there in the race for the for the AL East for turf. I think the AL East is gonna be a tough division all around. I mean, I I don't think you're nobody's gonna be walking apart in that division. They're they're gonna they're gonna beat the L at each other as it goes along for sure. Um but I just I just see the Yankees just for you know, they've still got a really strong lineup from top to bottom. And I said, and their their pitching has only gotten a little better, and when now it's gonna get Kobac, it's gonna be that much better. Um yeah, that's what I got. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 23:10

Yeah, and then not only that, and real quick, Marlon, it it still pains me given that baseball has no salary cap and Max Fried is wearing Yankee pinstripes. I don't know why Alex Emptopoulis didn't have the money to not only sign Max Fried, but Freddie Freeman. Since he left Atlanta Marlin in case he has two rings and an MVP three years ago. Uh nothing against Man Olsa, man, but damn, you know, that's the only thing that hurts. Max Fried, especially, giving the injuries to the staff of the break. But go ahead, Marlin. Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:42

Doc, who's a dark horse that could win uh and make a splash in the NL and AL? Who's a dark horse team that you think? Obviously, we know the Dodgers and you know, teams like that. But who's the who's a dark horse teams that you got on both sides that you think can make a run?

SPEAKER_02 23:58

Well, I think given that the Cubys, they lost Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers, I would I would, even though I got to win a division, it's somewhat of a dark horse because a lot of people have uh the Pirates, especially Sean, had the Pirates and Omar Cruz. I'm not so sure about the Pirates because Paul Scheme's got blown up recently. And he might be distracted because the Yankees are trying to talk to his man his management team about switching teams. You know, the Pirates are a good name team, but I don't know if you can put them as Dark. I'm gonna take the Cubby's and the Dark Horse. Uh, you know, I want to say my Braves, but over the course of the Silverpool season, we've we we uh special striders out, and uh we lost uh our other pitcher. He's gone for the year. Uh in American League, I want to say Baltimore, man. I I like what Baltimore's done. Uh the Oreos. Something about the Oreos. You can make a case for Boston, Casey, and I love the Joey, I mean, uh the manager Cora. Uh, but that they're missing. They missed the big piece and went to the Giants last year. I don't know if they have enough, but yeah, to answer your question, Mona. Yeah. Go ahead, Casey. I know you got some baseball.

SPEAKER_01 25:11

Oh, I'd just say, uh, yeah, as far as sleeper teams and either side. Yeah, I I like your pick with the Cubbies. Um losing Tucker, you know, that that hurt, but they signed Bregman, who I think is gonna be just a steady present for them at third base for sure. And I think PC PCA is gonna just continue to improve, gonna continue to be a star for them. And yeah, I I see them definitely uh being that sleeper team coming out of the National League. Uh AL, that's a tough one for me. I don't right now. No, I yeah, I kinda like I I mean I agree with your pick in Baltimore too. I think I think they're gonna be really heavily slept on. Um I said just that entire the entire AL East. I mean, I could see almost anybody coming out of that being a sleeper. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 26:06

That's right. Uh I thought your team winning the AOS, but is is anybody in your division, Casey, that you could say, well, maybe uh maybe if they get it right, you know, in AOS, they might give some the Seattle uh a run for the man. I I can't think of one because Seattle is so dominant. Your call on that, Casey, AOS.

SPEAKER_01 26:27

Uh over the course of the season, I mean, no, uh but I will say I have really been impressed with how the A's have started the season. They've been tamorized. Yeah, the A's. Yeah. But I said I don't know if they're gonna be able to continue that, you know, for the next few months, just with how in much in disarray their front office is. But I yeah, I've been been impressed with them so far to come out the gate. If they can some somehow manage to to to keep that that chip somewhat you know steady, then yeah, I think they could they could be uh forcing me wrecking with down the tricks too.

SPEAKER_02 27:02

Yeah, yeah, and Marlene, I want so bad to say to Padres, man, you got major money going to Machado and Tatis, and I'm missing one. You got the badge. Damn. But but something something's wrong there, man. You're calling on the Padres and management team, you're pitching. That's what it is. That's the word I'm looking for. You're getting blown. Yeah, I don't know. Major, major market, too. But go ahead, Mona. Yeah, yeah. I digress.

SPEAKER_03 27:27

And we're always gonna be the little brother, and so until we can prove otherwise, we will stay the little brother. And I'll never forget um just seeing all the pictures and videos and stuff of whenever the the Dodgers come to town and they call themselves the San Diego Dodgers and they flood the the ballpark. And it's crazy. But um, but yeah, I don't know, but you know, we we gotta we gotta figure it out because the the money, I mean, Dodgers uh they have a limited bankroll. So I mean, if we had that, we obviously can fill in the pieces that we need to. But as you said, as far as with our uh all our money is going to essentially two players, and we can try to get some decent players that we can get. But um, yeah, I I I don't know. I feel like we had a window uh a couple years ago, about three, four years ago when we beat them in the playoffs that one year. Um that was our year to do it. But now they're they're just getting stronger every year. So um I I I don't know, Doc. I'm not I'm not feeling confident at all this year, at least to get over the hump. I feel like that window is a little bit closed, truthfully.

SPEAKER_02 28:33

Well, just two years ago, Molly, you were up two to one on them, or three to one, whatever the case may win. Yeah, and they came back and beat you for their first world. So you were up three to one, you know, I think. Two to one. But yeah, good luck, brother. At least come in second, because I don't think the Diamondbacks or or or um the freaking uh, who's in your division scale? I'm missing. Damn it. Um, I don't think the Diamondbacks or your other team, the last place team, is gonna you can come in second. Damn it, NL West. It's the Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks. Come on, help me out here, K.

NFL Draft Needs For Bears

SPEAKER_03 29:07

Who else is in that defensive? You got the uh Diamondback, yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Okay. All right, uh, so before we get in a little bit of basketball, Casey, I know we we we didn't really, I didn't prepare you for this question uh at all. Excuse me for my voice, but again, I'm getting a little sick, but uh I didn't prepare you for this question. But the draft is coming up, it's it's most everybody that's gonna hear this podcast is gonna be officially April. Uh so the draft will be in about three and a half or so weeks, give or take. So what are your needs as far as what do the Bears need? Um what do you think they're going first round, second round? Uh what how do you think this draft is gonna go uh for the Chicago Bears?

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Well, first few rounds, I think they're they're solely focused on defense. You know, that was their Achilles Heel last year was the defense. I mean they played fairly decent in the playoffs, but throughout the course of the year, other than I mean they led the league in turnovers, but other than that, they were pretty bad. I mean they were bottom five in both pass and run defense, uh, they were bottom three in scoring defense. I mean, they had no pass rush. That's a that's what they did need to focus on the most. You know, they didn't go after anybody in free agency. You know, there was talk that they were gonna try and train for for Max Crosby, but that didn't happen, obviously. And with what they did do in free agency, yeah, their their draft is gonna be solely focused on the defense. They're gonna definitely hammer secondary, they're gonna try and fill the other safety position, and then they're gonna hit the D-line hard, especially uh the uh uh edge. You know, that's where their their biggest holes are right now is they can't generate a pass rush, and they weren't very stout against the run either. So their first three picks, they got one in the first, two in the second. I all three of them I think they're gonna go on defense. I don't see them doing anything else. And score a player to to uh suit Dennis Allen's offense, and I'd be surprised if they do anything other than that.

SPEAKER_02 31:25

Are you happy with Dennis Allen? I mean you've missed it to turnovers, but the re was it a lack of personnel? What are you expecting from Grady Jarrett? Is he old or do you need to go to the interior defensive lineman like Kid Hill out of uh Clemson or or the big boy out of Georgia, Christian Miller? Or or do you do a linebacker? You know, I don't know. What's your your take on that?

SPEAKER_01 31:48

Yeah, I would Greece Jarrett is yeah, he is getting on the older side, but he also wasn't a hundred percent healthy for most of the year last year. He was kind of nursing the knee injury. I mean he played really, he didn't really miss any time, but he was on the injury report every week after that knee. So I don't think he was, you know, completely healthy. And so, you know, maybe with an off-season that he has a chance to rehab that and get that healthy, maybe he can make more of an impact next year. But yeah, he is getting up under an age, and uh, you know, they he's definitely somebody that they can't solely rely on and they gotta build some depth. Uh yeah, both the interior and and on the edge. I mean, there isn't one aspect of the D line that they're really strong at right now. Um and they've got some young, young, unproven talent. They also were very injured last year on the D-line. You know, they they signed uh Dio Adingbo from the Colts, and he went down into a season with the Torn Achilles. Um they drafted Shamar Turner, and he actually was going pretty well for the first six games that he was in there, and then he tore his ACL and was out. So they were they're pretty banged up on the deal, they didn't have a lot of depth. Um and Dennis Allen, yeah, I and I do think it had a lot to do with just the personnel fit. You know, he has some specific uh types that he likes to use at every level of the defense, and I don't think the Bears had that. I mean he did a good job of coaching them up to his scheme and and they had him had him uh some guys playing real. You know, he he had Brisker playing pretty well coming off of missing most of the previous year. You know, he had kept he had Kevin Byard, you know, he was an absolute ball hawk. And um Tremaine Edmonds was having a great season at middle linebacker, his best season so far, but then he got hurt and missed four games. And he wasn't the same after he came back from that injury. So yeah, every level he's he's got uh got to attack and just look for his you know prototypical players that he likes to use in the scheme. And I think they'll they'll make a step in the right direction if they can do that.

SPEAKER_02 34:00

Well, that's a major mark in Chicago. Well, Marlon, it begs the question what do you guys mean? I heard Khalil Mack is back in uh Charger land. I know you need an edge. You need some linemen because you lost two of them last year. You know Alp's coming back to his all-pro level.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 34:15

What about the other side? You know, uh are you concerned about an injury going forward? Do you need a tackle? Do you need an edge rusher to help out Khalil Mack? I want to hear from you, man.

SPEAKER_03 34:24

You know, let's go. We don't we don't need any tackles. Uh we need more interior. Uh we did sign a I I wanted to get the guy that the the Raiders got, but I wasn't willing to uh be satisfied with paying. We're paying$8,$8,$80 million. Like I just feel like they overpaid, Raiders overpaid for him. Um so we did get a stare. Um, but uh we definitely need a guard, and we'll probably address that in the draft too as well. Uh in a perfect world, Doc, if if Bain Jr. from Miami is available, I would love it, but he's not gonna be available at 22. Um but if if if he's there, I I take him. But I think we may go uh D-tackle uh Caleb Banks. That's a guy I think we're probably gonna go after and get. Um but yeah, the the O-line and D-line, that that's where we're gonna go. That's what we need. Um and then I think you know, receiver. We still gotta, you know, we didn't sign Kenan back, which I'm okay with. I mean, Keenan is he's Kenan, which it's it's a charged legend, but we need to get younger and we need to get faster. And by re-signing Kenan, yes, he's made some crucial plays, but we need to stretch the field, we need to get faster, we need to get younger. Uh so uh I I'm willing to. I thought we were gonna make more noise in free agency, this first wave of free agency. Romeo Dobbs, I thought that was the guy that we were gonna maybe try to go after. Um there's been rumors about AJ Brown. Are we gonna maybe try to make a trade for him? Um there's another rumor with with Tyreek Hill, but he's still in in the knee brace. I don't know if we want to explore that because of McDaniel's Tyree Hill connection. So there I definitely thought we were gonna make a lot of noise. We didn't do anything receiver-wise. Um we're very cheap as we've always been. Um, and we've uh um you know addressed on the interior line. Uh, but yeah, I think what we're gonna wait for this next wave of free agency, which is after the draft, as we all know. That's when we're gonna try to go and make a little move, make some moves, make some flashes. Uh we do like to trade in the draft, so we may try to trade up, potentially go after a wide receiver that we may like, uh a guard, which is what we need, uh the in the tackle. Uh so we're we'll we'll do that, but I think we we don't like to just up and say, hey, uh like like the Ravens, for instance, wanting to give um the guy from the Raiders, uh, Max Crosby, you know, a break. Like we're we're not we're not like that. We're not gonna go out and get a guy and then give them you know max contract. We're we're not gonna do that. So um we're we're very cheap. We we like to make sure that we spend our money uh wisely. And last year we didn't give anybody more than a three-year deal last year in free agency. Most of the game was a two-year deal, and it was Mikhi Becton, which he was for us last year, and this year uh we we cut it to ask. So this is why I think we're we're not really willing to invest big money long term in some of these guys. So uh we'll see what happens in the draft. Uh we like to go young, we gotta protect Herbert. That was our biggest deal last year. Of course, as you guys know, Herbert had about a second, a second and a half to get the ball out of there. And you know, McConkey's great, Johnson, he's been better, Keenan's okay, but we gotta get we gotta get bigger on the wide receiver and we gotta get faster. So um so we'll we'll see what happens. But uh like I said, if if I think we'll probably go uh Banks, but uh if if there's a miracle that comes out there that uh Bang Jr. from Miami is available, I think that's where we'll go first round.

SPEAKER_02 38:15

Well, you know, I'm wishing both of you luck. Uh I'm gonna throw a couple of names out there. Thank you for you, the kid McCoy out of Tennessee, before he tour is ATL, he's all world athlete, long rangey. And if you can get him, man, because you draft low, then that'll be a koopy ground. I think healthy didn't play at Tennessee. He might be totally healthy, man. I don't know if he performed at the at the uh combine, but keep an eye on that name. The kid is the former volunteer. For you, Marlon, you know, uh, of course, Cornell, Kate, and the kid from Arizona State will be going at wide receiver. So I'm gonna throw Omar Cooper out there, you know, and the kid from Indiana who was uh Mendoza's main target. And he got a couple of other guys, but Omar Cooper is a guy that might get at 22, big play receiver, big guy, big body, catches the ball. Just look at the Penn State game. So if you want to protect Herman, give him another option because Lam McCompy is not a one. No, he's a two. Not at all. So good luck on that.

unknown 39:13

I agree.

SPEAKER_02 39:14

Yeah, relative to the Falcons, we don't have a number one pick, gentlemen. Real quick, uh, Marlon, before you continue, I think at number 48, we're gonna go either Christian Miller, the defensive tackle, because our running our defense, our run defense was a fifth. And remember, our edge rusher, the other one, number 27, I don't even want to miss your name. So he could he ran a foul in law with a WNBA player. And it's rumors that he might be gone for the year. Because he he did it right in front of the police station in Florida, Casey, you know, Pierce. And so it's all on Jalen Walker, our first number one pick last year. But I'm terribly, terribly disappointed as a Falcon fan that we don't have a one. The previous regime is gone. Funno. I mean, Pierce did have 10 and a half sacks, but again, there was mentally, uh, it was some things mental with him coming into the draft. And if all things were good until January, I guess it was. And uh, you know, and here we are.

NBA Playoff Picks And Lakers Doubts

SPEAKER_03 40:14

So yeah, go ahead, fellas. Go ahead, Mark. Absolutely. Okay. All right, yeah, we will see what we'll have our official Doc Mock um next week. Um and I think it's about it's our annual time. We typically have B curms on every year to talk to Masters uh and golf. So I know that time, I believe it's next week, if not the week after. Uh so we will get Kerms on for that. Um, but um other than that, I know we got to talk a little bit of NBA. So um uh, Doc, as it stands now, uh who are you who's your money on uh to make it to the finals? Who you got?

SPEAKER_02 40:51

Oh man, that's easy. You know, I got Wemby Yama, KC, Wemby Yama in the West. I know AKC, OKC, they they might do it, but we beat that. Remember Wemby Yama in the Spurs, they beat that team four out of five times in OKC. Now you can give Sage Gilders Alexander the MVP, but I think we've never seen anything like this. From bad team because he had blood clots to possible champion. And it means you got to go with the Celtics. It pains me, Casey, going back to the mid-80s with Mikhail Parrish and Dennis Johnson and all that. But I I don't trust Detroit, especially with my guy Kate Cunningham with our collapsed lungs. So I'm taking the Spurs versus the Celtics. That's a chalky pick. Uh my Hawks will win the first round, but we're still at number five because Toronto just can't lose. You know, I mean the West is lit, but I'm I'm going with the Spurs, you know. Go ahead, Casey.

SPEAKER_03 41:49

Now, Doc, uh, real quick, before Casey goes, Doc, is there any chance that Casey's Bulls makes it out of the play-in and can possibly upset the Detroit Pistons?

SPEAKER_02 42:01

No, no, no, no, I I can't, no, I can't. The Bulls, Casey, the Bulls are stuck. They're not bad enough to get the lottery, and they're just good enough to be middling right there. It's your management team, man. You know? Uh that's a bad place to be in. But no, to answer your question real quick, Mona, no, I don't think they're gonna do it. But go ahead, Casey. Your picks in the finals.

SPEAKER_01 42:27

Out of the West, I I I like the pick of the Spurs. I mean, they've had OKC's number all year, so you know, going up against them in a seven-game series, I definitely think that it's gotta favor them. Um, but I still think OKC, they're they'll turn it on and they need to. I think that's gonna be that'd be a hell of a series. I mean, that I think that definitely goes seven games. I mean, honestly, you could call it a toss-up right now, just because they said with how dominant San Antonio has been over OKC throughout the season. Um, but I I still think OKC coming off the championship, they're they're gonna go back to it again. And I agree, coming out of the East, I don't think that anybody is is gonna top the Celtics. And it's it's a shame that Cunningham, you know, with this collapse lung. I was really looking forward to seeing what the Pistons were gonna be able to do, but obviously with him being out, they've they've kind of fallen off. And yeah, I I don't trust anybody else. I don't trust the Knicks. I don't see them. Yeah, I don't trust the Cavs either. I mean I probably trust them more than the Knicks, but yeah, I I think I think it's Boston over everybody right now coming out of the East. And that's I'm gonna say OKC in Boston.

SPEAKER_02 43:40

Well, that's a good pick. Uh Marlon, I know your Lakers are in here somewhere. Can they be trusted past the first round? Can they be trusted to push the series and these big teams and in the second round? You know, you're at three right now, which is good. But go ahead, Marlon.

SPEAKER_03 43:56

You're like I was just gonna say that it wouldn't surprise me. If if this if everything stood as it is now. It wouldn't surprise me if they lost first round against the Rockets. You know, this team is very top heavy. I mean, decent role players with you know Rui and the guys, but I I don't I don't I just don't trust it. Everything just kind of has to work perfect. Luca has to be Luca. LeBron has to be LeBron. We know how LeBron and Luca are defensively, so that obviously is a liability. Austin Reeves, the R-15, he's he's been solid and consistent. Um, but I you gotta have all your guys playing pretty good and against a solid Rockets team. I I I can't I can't see us going. I mean, I I don't know. I don't know. I I just don't want to get my whole talk with this team because I know how we can play when we're good, but also two, we've had some some pretty bad meltdowns with you know Luca being Luca and with the technicals and then JJ Reddick yelling at everybody. So I I I've seen it all. I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Um, but I I just like Casey said a dude like Boston out the east uh and out the west, I'm gonna go with the Denver Nuggets. Um I think I think they are I Chad would love that, but you know, they they're they're they've been that they have a solid core and and they're experienced. Whereas the Thunder have a solid core and they won a championship before, and they're gonna be fine, they're gonna be great. Um, but I do like Denver with their experience that they've had over the course of the years. Um, you know, you have the best player in the world uh playing on your team, and he can make everybody else around them better. So um I do like the Nuggets and the Celtics uh for this year's final.

SPEAKER_02 45:46

Well, Casey, I think you'll agree. That's a good pick by mine, but but the two biggest markets in the world, New York and LA, man, they just don't have the big name. And Knicks, Kat is weak. You know, Carl Anthony Towns is he's up and he's too up and down from it. I've seen him miss layups, free throws, you know, guys go right at him for layups. And it's one of those things where Kat has to really up his game, man. They rely too much on Brunson. And I don't know where OG Ananobi is. Is he hurt? I don't know, man. That that Knicks team, you know, uh, and I like the coach, man. You know, at least he has a deeper finish than, you know, Dividow, but yeah, I just they're missing something in New York. And as far as LA Aiden's weak, man. Aiden is a big man, KC is garbage. I'd rather start the other cat, you know. I've seen Aiden just completely fall apart to the point where it's a sale defensively. You know. And then offensively, you're depending on Larms, man. You know, he's the first pick of the draft, Marlon. What the hell, man? I thought it was an upgrade. Here he is. You know, he had a good game once every what five or six games. I don't know. Uh uh, that's just my rant on that. You know, two of the biggest markets, the five the five position is garbage, you know. I still take cat over Aiden to be honest with you, but still, you know, you expect more out of that, Marley, for the maker rant.

SPEAKER_01 47:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 47:08

But I digress. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 47:12

And I I agree with John Bolton. Cat is way too damn inconsistent for a big one. Yeah. And and he relies too much on his on his outside game. I mean being a serious, you gotta you gotta be able to play it inside and out. And yeah, he's not strong enough to battle with some of these other big down lows, so he he loves to uh hang outside the three-point line too much and said he's not good enough of a shooter, not consistent enough of a shooter to be that much of an access to a threat out there.

SPEAKER_00 47:46

And yeah.

SPEAKER_01 47:47

Yeah, I don't I I don't know what the hell Aiden's problem is either. I I had uh you know a lot of hope for him when he got drafted first overall. Just I I thought he was kind of your your atypical big man, kind of more old school, but he's another one too that just disappears way too much. And I thought he was gonna be a great addition for the Lakers, but I thought so too. Yeah, he hit the nail on the head. He just he disappears way too often, especially at the defensive end, where that's what they brought him in for.

SPEAKER_02 48:14

Exactly, man. You're getting three points, five points. You might have uh 18-point out in, but then you disappear for a week. I'm sorry, Marlon. Yeah, but you you hit the nail on the head. You know your team, but yeah, there you go, right there, brother. You know, so there you go, relative to the NBA. Go ahead, Marlon. Good job.

Hockey Shrug Women’s Final Four Tiger Update

SPEAKER_03 48:32

Okay. Uh other than that, that's all I got. Uh, Casey, are you into hockey?

SPEAKER_01 48:38

Uh I don't follow it close enough to really uh not until the playoffs, anyway.

SPEAKER_03 48:42

Okay, I know it's coming up pretty soon. Uh do you want to give your prediction on who you feel is gonna win the Stanley Cup? No, because I know I know Doc follows it.

SPEAKER_02 49:03

I take you back to Willie Platt in 70. That's the only name I know. But go ahead, Casey. You hear your call. Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 49:11

That's a good ball. I I don't know if I can make that call right now. I said I haven't been following the closely not.

SPEAKER_03 49:17

Yeah. Well, I will pick the favorite. I'll pick San Diego if they have a team. I don't know if they have a team, but I'll pick San Diego. How about that?

SPEAKER_02 49:25

That's fair. Oh, but before we go, fellas, we gotta mention the women's side with UCLA and UConn and and uh uh uh Dawn Staley. I don't know if you're into women's college, but you gotta pick one to win it all, right? Final four. This is exciting. I'm I'm taking Lauren best in UCLA, Casey. Your call on that. You like Gino Oran Mimmer at UConn or or you going with Dar and Staley at South Carolina or UCLA? You know, no, I'm with you.

SPEAKER_01 49:52

I I'm I'm going with UCLA too. I mean, we got another another chalky Final Four on the women's side, but yeah, I I like what what I've seen out of UCLA. I'm not saying everybody else in the Final Four, too, Texas, South Carolina, or UConn. I mean, I honestly think any of them can can win it. But I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna roll with UCLA. I I think it's yeah, I would love to see them do it. I said I love what Lauren Betts has done over the last few years with them. Absolutely put that program up.

SPEAKER_02 50:19

Oh yeah, absolutely. And I remember Marlon out here in California, Juju, Juju, Smith's, Juju, Juju. Uh-oh, uh-oh. Uh-oh. Yeah, she she hasn't played all year. And I think she's going straight to the draft. You know, I like her skill set as a guard. Unfortunately, we've been robbed from a true LA kind of thing with US CN UCLA, but I agree with Casey going best. Go ahead, Marley. Yeah. Sorry, I was trying to. I was gonna say, I was gonna say Choo Choo Smith shooter. Shame on me. Marley's gonna clown me. Yeah, but yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. This is a big grade, man. This is a big grade.

SPEAKER_03 51:03

She will be back next year, yes. Uh so that was document by Night. Um, yeah, so okay. Well, what shoot that that's all I got. Um, we we did CD unfortunate news with with Tiger Woods, so it sounds like he's not going to be at the Masters this year. Um uh it it wasn't like he was gonna make the cut anyway, but uh or he may have made it, but you know, he he's he he wasn't gonna be somebody that you would pick to win it. I mean, if you put you know$100 on him to win, and if he wins, you'll you know probably be a millionaire because he's not gonna he he wasn't gonna win anyway. But we're glad he's okay. Um, you know, we're we're hoping that you know nothing uh Yeah, pray for him.

SPEAKER_02 51:46

Pray for him going forward for mental stability and something there. But uh yeah, that's all you got to say on that program.

SPEAKER_03 51:53

Exactly, exactly. But okay, all right. Um that that's all I got. You guys got anything else for us?

SPEAKER_02 51:59

It's been a pleasure, Casey. No, I ain't got nothing, brother. Good job on breaking it down, both men's and women's and the NBA Casey. That's it. Absolutely. You know, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 52:10

I appreciate you guys having me on. I I always enjoy coming on here and chatting up with you.

SPEAKER_03 52:15

Absolutely. Absolutely. All right. Yeah. We will catch you guys next time. Peace. Peace. Peace.