Happy Hour Sports Talk

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss the rising and falling stock of certain NFL and NBA teams/players after Week 7 and Week 1 of their respective seasons.Beginning with the NFL...5:30 - The Cincinnati Bengals are looking like the real deal. Is Ja'Marr Chase a top 3 WR in the league?20:05 - Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders are trending up. Can the new coaching regime lead the team to a playoff berth?27:31 - Can we relate Justin Fields' struggles to Matt Nagy's inability to coach properly? Is a firing inevitable?Switching to the NBA…34:42 - The Chicago Bulls are 4-0 for the first time since the Jordan-era. Can their defence hold up against above .500 teams?40:26 - The Memphis Grizzlies are 2-1 based on the rise of Ja Morant. Is he bound for a big year and do they have enough around him?45:07 - A number of NBA Rookies have taken the league by storm early this season. Here are some names to keep tabs on!Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared take a deep dive into the NFL and NBA slate this upcoming weekend and discuss best matchups and most excited games to tune into, with the following:Ravens v Bengals (6:05) - Do the Bengals have a top-ten WR moving forward? Can they shake their recent history with the Ravens and come away victorious?Chiefs v Titans (16:02) - Can Tennessee perform after an emotional Week 6 win? Are Mahomes' turnovers becoming a concern?Raiders v Eagles (26:13) - What's up with the Eagles? Is Jalen Hurts overrated? Mark's excited by the Raiders...for some reason.Lakers v Suns - (41:01) Jared thinks the Lakers may struggle, can Mark convince him otherwise? Does it mean anything to the Lakers to win this game?Raptors v Mavericks - (51:02) Can the Raptors bounce back after spending the year in Tampa? Was Jason Kidd the right coaching decision? Is Dragic a buyout candidate?Challenge time!!! Join us!!! (104:30) Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared continue into Season 2 of the podcast with a 2021/2022 NBA Western Conference preview, along with which teams will be playoff bound and which are set-up for another lottery selection. Starting at the bottom of the conference with Houston, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City (4:06), before diving deep into a potential conference order in:(6:25) - New Orlean Pelicans - Are Zion and Brandon Ingram good enough to get into the play-in games? How much better can Zion get?(10:39) - Minnesota Timberwolves - Can their depth as one-way players transition to some two-way potential development?(14:44) - Sacramento Kings - Can Luke Walton coach the depth that the Kings have on the perimeter? Does the roster have the “it” factor?(20:08) - Memphis Grizzlies - Does another 8th seed constitute a successful season? Can Ja Morant develop into a better shooter?(25:00) - Portland Blazers - How good does this team need to be to appease Damian Lillard? Have they patched the holes well enough?(28:50) - LA Clippers/Dallas Mavericks - Does the Mavericks defensive struggle begin with a lack of rim protection from Porzingis? Can Paul George carry the load for a deep Clippers team? Will they defend as well without Kawhi?(35:41) - Golden State Warriors - Does Otto Porter fill the role that Kelly Oubre was meant to fill? Can James Wiseman improve on his inefficiencies?(40:18) - Denver Nuggets - Does Michael Porter Jr take on more ball handling responsibly in the pick-and-roll?(44:54) - LA Lakers - Will the Lakers roster last 82 games without major injury? Do the big 3 play more than 20 games together all season?(52:04) - Utah Jazz - Will bringing back their top 7 players from last season result in the same finish? Did they get better defensively?(55:07) - Phoenix Suns - Does progression for this squad mean top seed or bust? Or will the individual players taking a step forward mean success?Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared open Season 2 of the podcast with a 2021/2022 NBA Eastern Conference preview, along with which teams will be playoff bound and which are set-up for another lottery selection. Starting at the bottom of the conference with Washington, Cleveland, Detroit, and Orlando (4:26), before diving deep into a potential conference order in:Toronto (5:41) - What gives the Raptors a chance to make the playoffs? What flaws do they face from the team makeup?Chicago Bulls (10:17) - Where did Chicago improve? Can Ball and Caruso be good enough defensively?Charlotte (16:18) - Does Lamelo Ball make the all-star leap? Does Terry Roizer have another gear?Indiana (20:05) - … (quite literally)New York (22:49) - Which offseason move excites? What is Kemba Walker's potential impact? Is the weight on RJ and Randle's shoulders?Boston (27:30) - What makes Boston a contender? Is Jayson Tatum ready for superstardom?Philadelphia (35:40) - Ben Simmonds Drama + Is anyone ready to take the next step to fill the void?Atlanta (38:22) - What could hurt their chances? Can Nate Mcmilan continue the positive trends and manage all the depth?Miami (46:21) - Do the key additions lead to an enhanced Heat (and winning) culture? Milwaukee (50:55) - What is going to drive the Bucks to win another championship?Brooklyn (51:54) - Can the Nets stay healthy? If so, are they the best team in basketball?Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared take a snapshot from the results of an electric opening Week 1 slate of games in the NFL and put forward their takeaways. Along with the following:2:47 - Biggest Win - Miami Dolphins victory over New England Patriots (3:09) and Las Vegas Raiders victory over Baltimore Ravens (10:11)18:11 - Most Surprising Team - New Orleans Saints victory over Green Bay Packers (18:30) and the Dallas Cowboys defeat to Tampa Bay Buccaneers (30:35) 23:02 - Most Disappointing Team - Green Bay Packers defeat to New Orleans Saints (23:11) and the Tennessee Titans defeat to the Arizona Cardinals (36:34)42:51 - FIRE - Arizona Cardinals ON FIRE (42:57) and Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars TIME TO FIRE (48:50)53:47 - SMOKE - Baltimore Ravens (54:05) and Buffalo Bills (56:26)Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared breakdown the NFL Week 1 slate, previewing, predicting, and analyzing all marquee matchups including:-Buccaneers vs Cowboys (5:15) - Can Dak Prescott return to his 2020 form? Will the recent COVID spike hurt the Cowboys? Will the Bucs have enough grit to grind through another Super Bowl run?-Browns vs Chiefs (16:10) - What are KC's biggest flaws? Can Clyde Edwards-Helaire be the bell cow RB they drafted him to be? Can the Browns be considered better on paper than the Bills and Chiefs?-Steelers vs Bills (34:15) - If Josh Allen shows regression, will the Bills maintain the same level of success and get to 13 wins?-Giants vs Broncos (44:15) - Are the Giants ready to compete despite being hit with the injury bug? How long does Joe Judge have to turn the team around if they start slow? Plus, an Urban Meyer rant.-Seahawks vs Colts (52:30) -Cardinals vs Titans (53:05)-Patriots vs Dolphins (53:30)  STAT CORRECTION *not actually 15 of the top 30, but 9 out of the top 30* (31:55)  Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared are back after a one week absence to talk NFL Fantasy Football and Preseason Takeaways. They open with discussing the bright future of the QB position, the beautifully constructed 49ers running potential, and the porous and uninspiring NY Giants offensive line (4:20). Then, Mark and Jared switch gears to give a few mid-round fantasy football values in:(23:58) - Chase Edmonds, (28:41) - Damien Harris, (32:41) - Trey Sermon, (35:54) - Gus Edwards, (40:10) - DeVonta Smith, (43:36) - Jerry Jeudy, (48:51) - Tyler Boyd, (51:41) - Antonio Brown.Plus, a few players to target at the back end of your drafts:(54:14) - Phillip Lindsay, (56:17) - Jamaal Williams, (58:11) - Sony Michel, (59:42) - Jaylen Waddle, (1:01:51) - Darnell Mooney, (1:03:50) - Gabriel Davis, (1:05:01) - Laviska Shenault.Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared are joined by guest Patrick Djordjevic, creator of The Worldwide Quarterback, a new media platform that dives into the lives of the players behind the facemask, delivering contact around the globe. Patrick joins them with direct knowledge of Broncos media, as Mark and Jared continue their NFL divisional preview series with the AFC West, breaking down positions and answering the following questions:Denver Broncos (7:03) - Do we forecast Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock as the starter? Is Von Miller primed to bring the defense back to top 10 contention?LA “super” Chargers (32:35) - Can Justin Herbert continue to grow, or is regression inevitable? Is Keenan Allen underrated?Kansas City Chiefs (48:54) - What does the defense look like if Frank Clark doesn't play? Where should Mahomes get drafted in fantasy and do we see a CEH breakout?Las Vegas Raiders (102:31) - Does John Gruden deserve to keep his job if they miss the playoffs? Is Derrek Carr underrated and which WR will step up in this offense?Patrick Djordjevic - The Worldwide QB - https://www.theworldwideqb.com/ Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared continue their NFL divisional preview series with the NFC West, breaking down positions and answering the following questions:San Francisco 49ers (5:20) - Who takes over as the starting QB - Jimmy G or Trey Lance? Will health be on the 49ers side this season, thus propelling them into division contention?Seattle Seahawks (24:04) - Do DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett repeat as two 1000-yard receivers? Is Wilson still considered a top tier QB?LA Rams (40:14) - Will their defense take a step back this season? Does Matthew Stafford open up Sean McVay as a play caller in a way that Jared Goff never could?Arizona Cardinals (58:38) - Will the “Air Raid” offense work to take this team to the next level? Will Kyler Murray enter the 4000 and 1000 club?Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared continue their NFL divisional preview series with the AFC South, breaking down positions and answering the following questions:Indianapolis Colts (5:25) - Can they win the division? Who were their key additions? Can Carson Wentz turn the franchise around? Who will take you to fantasy greatness from this team?Tennessee Titans (26:24) - Is Derrick Henry worthy of a top 3 pick? Can Ryan Tannehill match his 2020 season output?Houston Texans (46:28) - What questionable decisions are the Texans management up to now? Will Brandon Cooks outperform his ADP? What's there to make of this RB room?Jacksonville Jaguars (101:50) - Can Urban Myer bring the Jags back to life? Will Trevor Lawrence finish as a top 10 QB? Who to draft - Robinson or Etienne?Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared continue their NFL divisional preview series with the NFC South, breaking down positions and answering the following questions:(5:25) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Will their strategy to keep their championship roster intact pan out?(26:00) - New Orleans Saints - Who plays QB? Will Alvin Kamara be able to maintain his top tier production with the QB change?(40:14) - Atlanta Falcons - Will new Head Coach Arthur Smith change this passing attack into a play-action dominant offense with big play ability?(55:59) - Carolina Panthers - Can Sam Darnold take a step forward and will DJ Moore finish as a fantasy football WR1?Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared continue their NFL divisional preview series with the AFC East, breaking down answering the following questions:Buffalo Bills - What are their key additions? Can they repeat as divisional winners? Is Josh Allen worth the draft cost? Are the Bills RBs worth drafting? Besides Diggs, are there any other receivers worth drafting + Mark breaks down the defense. (5:34)Miami Dolphins -What are their key additions? Does Xavien Howard deserve a large contract? Is Tua ready to take the next step? Ranking the Dolphins receivers + Who's the RB to target (25:50)New York Jets - Who holds the best fantasy value on the team? Is Zach Wilson worth the shot? Mark outlines how the Jets should use Wilson to be effective + Did Mark win his fantasy trade? (41:30)New England Patriots - Are there any WR/TEs worth taking in fantasy drafts? What does the offense look like this year? Can Mac Jones take the starting job from Cam Newton? (104:33) Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared continue their NFL divisional preview series with the NFC East; however, they open with their favourite NBA Free Agency acquisitions (3:23) and an NFL fantasy football mailbag question about Nick Chubb vs JK Dobbins (8:01). The NFC East preview ensues, breaking down as follows:Dallas Cowboys - Does the return of Dak Prescott make up for the lack of projected defensive success? (18:51)Washington Football Team - With a top 3 defense intact, does Ryan Fitzmagic guarantee a top divisional spot? (38:46)New York Giants - Can Daniel Jones perform in a pivotal year 3 in the NFL? (50:54)Philadelphia Eagles - Will Nick Sirianni fit with the Eagles and the strengths of Jalen Hurts? (1:03:50)Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared continue along their divisional deep dive with the AFC North division. In the second episode of the week, Mark begins with a rant about the new ELKS team, Canadian football, eh? Then, the AFC North breakdown and fantasy advice commences with:Baltimore Ravens - Did the Ravens bring in enough pass catchers? Does it matter? Is Lamar Jackson good enough to win a Superbowl? (7:41)Cleveland Browns - Can Odell Bekham carry the load? What do you make of the TE depth? Has the secondary got better? (34:55) Pittsburgh Steelers - Do they have a QB controversy? Does Najee Harris signal a changing of the guard for this offense? (47:10)Cincinnati Bengals - Where does their Big 3 rank in the division? Will their O-line be their demise? (104:24)Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared are back talking NFL as the season approaches! They will be previewing one division per episode for the next 4 weeks whilst also diving into fantasy advice for each team! To begin, Mark and Jared chat about their Guillotine/Execution league and describe the intricacies involved (0:48). Then, they breakdown the NFC North division and preview the season, plus give fantasy outlook for the following:Green Bay Packers - Will Aaron Rodgers play this season? What impact does he have on the whole division? (6:22)Minnesota Vikings - Will their defence get back to an above average squad or will their offence carry them once again? (19:53)Chicago Bears - Will/should Justin Fields start week 1? Are they still an elite defence? (32:06)Detroit Lions - How long does Jared Goff have in Detroit? Are they committed to a full organizational schematic shift? (48:57)Bonus - Guillotine/execution league late round chatter/advice! (1:01:44)Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared open by discussing how meaningful the four major sports championships are to athletes (4:32). Then, they dive deep into the history/traditions of the awards (7:50) and rank the trophies as such (11:23). Mark and Jared switch gears to discuss the NBA's new era and whether it's better for fans (18:53), before diving deep into an NBA Finals preview. What are the connections between the Bucks and Suns franchise (23:21)? At what cost do you sacrifice athlete health to win a championship (24:50)? Are the bucks better off without Giannis (28:46)? Will the Bucks adjust to the lethal Suns pick and roll offense (39:40)? Which franchise results in a better storyline if champions (48:47)? Is this Chris Paul's last chance to win a title (51:04)? What are the keys to victory for both squads (100:18)? Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared go around the NBA coaching carousel and discuss movement of Head Coaches as well as recent hires and attractive vacancies (3:30). Teams are discussed specifically with:(7:06) - Can Jason Kidd find more ease coaching Luka in Dallas than Rick Carlisle did?(13:04) - Will Rick Carlisle be able to write his own script with a moldable Indiana team?(16:05) - Is Damian Lillard happy with Chauncey Billups as the new Head Coach?(24:37) - Is Ime Udoka's short track record the right fit for the franchised Boston Celtics?(28:26) - Who are the best fits and what situations are most desirable with the remaining vacancies?Mark and Jared also discuss the recent NBA Draft Lottery with which teams come away winners and which come away losers (33:12)Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss an unprecedented mid-playoff trade between the Boston Celtics and OKC Thunder for former all-star Kemba Walker (2:10), as well as which mid-level player will make the most money this offseason as a Free Agent and if OKC has gone full “The Process 2.0” (11:32). Then, they breakdown the Game 7's of the NBA Playoffs Round 2 as well as discuss the exciting Conference Finals matchups.Philadelphia 76ers vs Atlanta Hawks - Where do the 76ers go now? (16:13) Is HC Doc Rivers and Ben Simmons' relationship broken? (21:30) Are the Hawks true contenders? (28:47) Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks - Can Jrue Holiday stop Trae Young? (35:50) Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets - Where do the Nets go from here? (41:32) LA Clippers vs Utah Jazz - Did the small ball lineup hold powerful and does Ty Lue finally deserve some respect? (47:05) LA Clippers vs Phoenix Suns - Can Devin Booker play PG all series? (53:20) Could Booker's snub from the all-star and all-NBA teams give him fuel? (55:50) Which player hurts their team more being off the court - Kawhi Leonard or Chris Paul? (105:50) Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss the recently released All-NBA Defensive teams. Who were the biggest snubs? Did Jrue Holiday deserve to be placed on the first team (4:47)? Then, they breakdown each Round 2 matchup at the halfway (or after the sweep) mark of the series' and answer questions about:Suns vs Nuggets - Can the Suns lethal pick-and-roll offense keep pace in the Conference Finals? (14:20)Nets vs Bucks - Does Kevin Durant have enough in his tank to carry his team on his back whilst Harden/Irving are out? (32:30)76ers vs Hawks - The 76ers are more talented, but does Joel Embiid look too tired to close out the Hawks? (46:00)Clippers vs Jazz - Will the Clippers small-ball lineup continue to dominate and put Rudy Gobert in awkward positions? (55:55)Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared breakdown the keys to victory and first impressions from each NBA Playoffs second round matchups, after ranting about the LA Lakers Round 1 loss (1:24), the Suns' Crowder/Booker end-game behavior (4:15), and whether the NBA should change their playoff ejection rules (5:50). The matchups are previewed and predicted with:Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns (10:30) Utah Jazz vs LA Clippers (19:27) Brooklyn Nets vs Milwaukee Bucks (33:12) Philadelphia 76ers vs Atlanta Hawks (48:20)Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared rank which teams in the NBA Playoffs have the most cause for concern moving forward and rank them in regard to PANIC levels (3:00). They breakdown each matchup as follows:(5:18) - Nuggets/Blazers - Can the Blazers continue to contain Jokic and will Denver's secondary scorers step up?(12:54) - Clippers/Mavericks - Is Kawhi playing his best basketball ever? Are the Mavericks toast without Luka?(21:57) - Lakers/Suns - Can Lebron shoulder the load without Anthony Davis?(29:11) - Jazz/Grizzlies - Are the Grizzlies outmatched and still a year or two away as contenders?(32:43) - What's going on with NBA fans?(38:24) - 76ers/Washington - Is Embiid's knee injury cause for concern?(41:58) - Nets/Celtics - Sitting atop the panic meter is Boston, where do they go from here?(45:50) - Bucks/Heat - Is Jrue Holiday the weapon the Bucks have needed to get over the hump?(48:26) - Knicks/Hawks - What adjustments do the Knicks have to make to attack the Hawks more effectively?Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared break down each of the first round matchups in the NBA Playoffs and identify areas of improvement for each squad. Starting in the Western Conference, what gave Memphis the edge over Utah in Game 1 (3:41)? What will it take for Denver to even the series against Portland (14:30)? Is Doncic better than the entire Clippers roster and what adjustments do the Clippers need to make (20:49)? Do the Lakers have a big man rotation problem and should we be worried about Lebron James (32:54)? Heading to the Eastern Conference, does Westbrook need to do more for Washington to have a chance (41:38)? Is the Big 3 in Brooklyn bored or just simply disinterested (43:26)? Does Jrue Holiday make Milwaukee a contender because of his defensive prowess (51:01)? Do the New York Knicks have another gear and will Julius Randle bounce back (1:01:01)?Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared look at each NBA award given and analyze possible candidates for them. Have the plethora of injuries that have plagued the NBA this year made the award selection process more or less competitive (3:30)? The awards are broken down as follows:ROTY - Who wins the two-man race between Lamelo Ball and Anthony Edwards? (7:40)6th-Man - Should points scored be valued more than any other statistics? (17:45)MIP - Is Julius Randle the runaway favourite for the award? (26:04)COY - Does the award have to go to the coach of a top 4 team in the standings? (34:56)DPOY - Do voters prefer the impact big men have defensively over the versatility of wing players? (43:14)MVP - Is Nikola Jokic the obvious winner? Does Chris Paul or Steph Curry have a shot? (52:31)Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTStream us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hhsportstalk Connect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared take a deep dive into the NBA Play-In tournament structure (6:52) and discuss which teams are primed to have the deepest run into the playoffs. Questions are posed about whether the tournament promotes tanking (9:55) or a competitiveness culture in the last week of the season (11:38). Ranking of teams begins with the LA Lakers vs Golden State Warriors and a possible play-in game between them (17:59) and continues with discussion about whether a 7th or 8th seed can actually win in a playoff series (21:25). In Portland, should Terry Stotts get fired if the Blazers don't win the first round series (25:13)? Does Washington have a chance to make some noise (28:17)? Are the Hornets too injury riddled to make a legitimate run (33:18)? Also, Mark and Jared theorize about what is wrong with the Boston Celtics (35:25), what is giving Washington their strength (38:28), who the better squad is between Memphis and San Antonio (39:20), and whether the Pacers have what it takes to make it out of the tournament (49:57). Plus, play-in Predictions (54:23)!Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared welcome back “Colleague Brandon” to recap and analyze who the biggest winners were as well as which franchises missed the mark on draft weekend. Beginning with, in their opinions, the winning franchises:Cleveland Browns - Why did Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah fall? Does the league have more information than the normal consumer? (6:30)Chicago Bears - Will Justin Fields bring hope to Chicago? (10:48)LA Chargers - Does Rashawn Slater push Herbert into top 10 QB contention? (19:57)Dallas Cowboys - Will picking 6 defensive players translate to a more consistent defense? (22:52)New York Jets - Did the Jets finally follow the correct rebuild blueprint? (27:37)Detroit Lions - With the most on-brand draft, did Dan Campbell win his first draft? (32:03)Moving on with the franchises the missed the mark:Houston Texans - Why draft a QB with so many more glaring needs? (40.56)Los Angeles Rams - Wil Tutu Atwell translate into a quality starter at receiver? (43:47)Pittsburgh Steelers - Will Najee Harris make-up for the spotty offensive line? (47:09)Jacksonville Jaguars - Can Urban Meyer find spots for all the speed he drafted? (51:14)Green Bay Packers - Can playoff contention continue without addressing their two biggest needs? (54:50)Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared are joined once again by “Colleague Brandon” where the three compete in a snake-style mock draft. Join them in a fun, UNCUT episode, filled with hot takes and bold predictions. Who had the most right? Let them know and join the conversation!!Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared invite their first guest on the show, “Colleague Brandon”! The three dive deep into NFL draft week and answer a barrage of questions including: How is the 2021 NFL draft unique (4:28)? Is the best strategy to draft for need or best available (9:30)? Are there any blue chip players in this year's draft (11:57)? Does the media control players' draft stock or are they trying to catch up to the teams (15:24)? Who's a late first round QB steal (17:49)? Who's the forgotten player in the field (19:45)? Will there be a TE drafted in the top five picks (22:08)? What positions shouldn't be drafted early (23:22)? What to expect outside the top 5 (26:26)? What is the case against drafting WR early (27:50)? Pitts vs Swell - who do you take first (36:50)? Will there be a late run on defensive players (42:22)? Also, they discuss the state of the LB and CB positions (45:02).Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss Steph Curry and his recent disembodiment of the NBA on his way to MVP contention. Is this the best stretch of his career (2:40)? They also banter about the benefits and drawbacks of the new NBA play-in game, along with Mark Cuban's comments about its validity (7:00). Then, Mark and Jared dive deep into their final installment of the NBA Franchise GOAT discussion with the remaining teams:Sacramento Kings (also answering questions about whether a 12-team league and the variance in number of teams early in the NBA affects competitive parity and why triple doubles are more prevalent in today's NBA) (11:08)Washington Wizards/Bullets (23:57)San Antonio Spurs (28:11)Toronto Raptors (38:35)Utah Jazz (47:40)Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss some of the frustrations associated with COVID-19 and where we fit moving forward. Following that, Part IV of their NBA Franchise GOAT conversation continues with the following teams:New Orleans Pelicans (5:43)New York Knicks (12:27)Orlando Magic (23:15)OKC Thunder/Seattle Supersonics (28:21)Philadelphia 76ers (37:34) Phoenix Suns (44:45)Does the NBA MVP vote lean toward international players? (47:20)Portland Trail Blazers (49:16)Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss Deshaun Watson and whether or not the NFL should take action against his recent 22 counts of sexual assault/harrassment (2:30). Following that, Part III of their NBA Franchise GOAT conversation continues with the following teams:LA Lakers (9:45)ALL time GOATs (28:58)Milwaukee Bucks (34:59)Miami Heat (45:00)Minnesota Timberwolves (52:00)Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared open with a quick analysis of the weekend's March Madness action (3:20) before diving deep into the NFL Free Agency Frenzy. Who was dealt the largest contract (4:15)? Which defensive end was the best value signing (4:50)? Who was Mark's favorite signing (15:20)? What defensive player will make the most impact (18:20)? What was Jared's favorite contract (20:19)? Was Kenny Golladay worth $72 million (23:18)? Then, they grade the WR contracts (26:50) before debating whether Bill Belickick and the Patriots have gone mad (29:10). Mark and Jared also talk about the NBA Trade Deadline (44:00) and discuss trades made by the Miami Heat (45:20), Toronto Raptors and Portland Trailblazers (50:22), Orlando Magic (101:00), and Chicago Bulls (108:50).Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared open with instant first and second round analysis of the NCAA March Madness tournament, breaking down each region's best weekend games and strongest teams going into the Sweet 16 round. Beginning with the South (4:00) and Midwest regions (8:08) and ending with the West (14:20) and East regions (17:25), they also discuss the intricate and major differences in NBA and NCAA basketball (19:33). The NBA Franchise GOAT mini-series continues with Part II where Mark and Jared analyze who the best player of all time is for the following NBA teams:27:00 - Golden State Warriors33:05 - Houston Rockets39:05 - Indiana Pacers41:27 - LA Clippers45:39 - Memphis GrizzliesJoin the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared banter about the release of Tom Brady's phone number to the public (3:50) before discussing the highly anticipated March Madness tournament. Predictions are made for each quadrant of the bracket in regards to the favourites to win, dark horse teams poised for a run, and early exits, beginning with the West (4:45), South (8:28), East (12:17), and Midwest regions (15:51). Mark and Jared switch gears and embark on a three part series about each NBA franchise's GOAT, starting with stipulations around the definition of a franchise GOAT (18:10). Alphabetically, the first 9 teams are discussed in Atlanta and Boston (25:04), Brooklyn (38:50), Charlotte (41:01), Chicago and Cleveland (43:55), Dallas (48:11), Denver (50:23), and Detroit (54:26). Stay tuned in the following weeks for Part II and III of this mini-series!Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared open with discussion surrounding the 2021 NBA All-Star game and whether Steph Curry should have won the game's MVP honor (3:40). Then, the deep dive begins with an in-depth look into each NBA team and possible moves they could make at the upcoming trade deadline. Teams are discussed alphabetically, by city name, and HOT TAKES are made starting with:Atlanta Hawks - Chicago Bulls (6:03),Cleveland Cavaliers - Golden State Warriors (24:30),Houston Rockets - Memphis Grizzlies (37:46),Miami Heat - NY Knicks (42:20),OKC Thunder - Portland Trail Blazers (52:52),Sacramento Kings - Washington Wizards (57:59). Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared open with the “NBA on TNT” crew and whether or not they are turning the program into a comedy show (6:00). Then, discussion leads to the NBA's pretenders vs contenders (10:03), beginning with the consensus top three teams in the Eastern Conference (10:13). Hot takes about who has a chance to upset odds and whether the Raptors have enough to make a run (22:24), if division rivals should make a trade (25:07), can the Celtics' top tier talent carry them (26:36), is Miami heating up in South Beach (29:43), and are Knicks fans in dream land (33:01)? A switch to the Western Conference takes form in a big three talk with Utah and the battle for LA (36:44). Questions about whether the Suns can finish the season as strong as they have started (48:55), Denvers' player dissatisfaction with their roles (54:43), Mark's dark-horse Trail Blazers (56:39), and if Golden State can ride Steph to another deep run (101:31). Mark and Jared also make their Conference Final predictions (104:16).Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared open as Jared airs his grievances with Draymond Green's claim that league owners exhibit double standards (2:00). Mark questions the NBA about going ahead with the All Star Game, given the pandemic and concerns about player safety (9:07). They discuss how all-stars are voted upon and the game structure itself (18:37), before diving deep into the Western Conference reserve roster starting with the frontcourt picks (22:19). Questions about backcourt competitions in Booker vs. Paul (30:19), if Mike Conley was the biggest snub and whether Trey Young was hosed out of a spot (38:54). Mark and Jared also break down the Eastern Conference with frontcourt discussion about Adebayo vs. Sabonis vs. Randle (41:02) and backcourt controversy with Ben Simmons (49:20) before contemplating any additional all-star snubs (57:57).Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared begin discussing the controversial 2021 NBA All Star game (1:47). Things heat up when Mark sheds insight on the New England Patriots (mis)management (2:50) and answers questions of who influenced the “Patriot Way” more, Tom Brady vs. Bill Belichick (7:30), is Belichick a better GM than coach (11:30), and whether the Patriots really sold out or not (15:59). Jared continues the momentum with analysis of the NBA Coaches Challenge (23:20) and some of the intricacies that need to be altered moving forward. Mark and Jared also talk NBA rookies, diving deep into who's impressing most (39:00), Lamelo ball (42:19), the biggest steal of the draft (46:40), most forgotten (50:08), who's best taking advantage of their opportunity to play (54:43), biggest surprises (57:30), most disappointing (58:52), under the radar studs (103:20), biggest overachiever (107:20), and players to watch (107:51)!Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss Super Bowl LV and the Bucs historically lopsided victory over the Chiefs. They breakdown the keys to victory beginning with the obliterated Chiefs offensive line (4:40) and whether Andy Reid was mentally distracted by his sons car accident (9:10) to the Chiefs unwillingness to utilize the run-game to combat the Bucs' Cover 2 defense (13:57) and the Bucs' impactful rushing attack (17:21). Discussion continues surrounding Gronk and his bid as the best TE of all time (27:00) before summarizing the differences between the tactical Bucs victory vs an offensive loss from the Chiefs historic offense (29:44). Where do we stand on the Brady vs. Mahomes debate and Brady's drive for GOAT status (33:52)? Mark and Jared also discuss the NFL Awards winners in the MVP Aaron Rodgers (40:40) and if the OPOY should only be for skill positions (44:27). Should an Unsung Hero award be implemented (47:43)? Did Aaron Donald deserve his third DPOY (49:54)? Did Chase Young, Justin Herbert (53:30), Alex Smith (57:24), and Kevin Stefanski (58:56) correctly take home hardware on NFL Honours night?Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared preview the NFL Super Bowl matchup between Tampa Bay and Kansas City. Is Brady vs. Mahomes the best Super Bowl matchup of all time (3:28) or does TB12 need this win to bolster his resume as the GOAT? Mark drops insight on why this could be the greatest win for him (6:13) before breaking down another key matchup in the KC offensive line vs. the Bucs defensive line (10:45). Discussions about key matchups also leads to thoughts about the KC receivers vs. the Tampa CB's (14:04), Devin White vs. Travis Kelce (16:34), the KC defensive unit vs. the entire Bucs offense (21:12), and the 4 keys to a Chiefs Super Bowl victory (25:50). For the other 30 teams, QB movement has been central which leads to a breakdown of the accepted trade between the LA Rams and Detroit Lions (27:56). Mark and Jared also discuss the landscape of the quarterback position in the NFC West (33:13), AFC East (39:40), AFC West (43:41), NFC North (47:16), AFC North (52:43), NFC South (55:15), AFC South (1:00:09), and NFC East (1:04:50).Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss the NFL Conference Championship, opening with Tampa Bay's opportunistic win at Green Bay (2:25) and whether Matt LaFleur made the correct coaching decisions with a number of questionable calls throughout the game (16:00). They dive deep into the Chiefs convincing win over the Bills in Arrowhead (23:00) and how Buffalo could, and should, have delivered a more aggressive gameplan (29:53). Meanwhile in the NBA, can the Eastern Conference's Miami Heat overcome a tough schedule whilst enduring absences due to COVID (36:04)? Can the Charlotte Hornets ride their young backcourt to their first playoff appearance in 2016 (42:18)? In the West, can Golden State and Steph Curry conjure up some old magic to improve their standing (48:18)? Can Rick Carlisle find more innovative defensive pairings to utilize their frontcourt height (52:40)? Mark and Jared also look at which NBA teams that are currently in the top 8 may fall out by the end of the season, missing the playoffs (41:02, 45:40, 57:15).Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared open with their thoughts on the James Harden deal (2:40), recap and analyze the NFL's Quarter Finals games and (re)predict finals matchups.  Will James Harden become an MVP candidate with the Brooklyn Nets (4:59) and are they destined for greatness (7:38)? Switching gears, they break down the “Elite 8” in the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs starting with the Ravens and Lamar Jackson's dire need for WR help (21:21) before discussing whether running quarterbacks are the way of the future. Mark and Jared make a $100 bet (30:20) and rank their biggest fails/disappointments of the past weekend (31:52). Questions about Mahomes' injury and a possible return (36:23), whether Andy Reid is a crazy man or a calculated genius (42:33) and if Drew Brees' impact will be felt long term (44:44). Jared recaps Saints vs. Bucs Round 3 (46:57) whilst Mark analyzes the Packers vs. Rams matchup and how Matt LaFleur creatively is putting his players in positions to win (50:50). Mark and Jared also look at the upcoming Conference Finals games and make their finals predictions, albeit very different, which leads to another bet (56:24)!Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/HappyHourSTConnect with us: hhsportstalk@gmail.com 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss the NFL/NBA tanking culture that has been created and feasted upon by teams throughout the time of the leagues. They converse over two types of tanking approaches (6:35) and how the NBA draft lottery was introduced, and has ultimately morphed, as a result of one team's attempt (10:07). Does bringing in free agents to a destination disregard a team from tanking consideration and what purpose does it have in the tank attempt (17:47)? For contrast, the NFL draft structure is discussed (21:47) before taking a deep dive into the Philadelphia Eagles and whether Doug Pederson overtly disregarded the integrity of the league (25:48). They converse over the concept of resting players and if it, in theory, is the same as tanking (31:55). Jared and Mark also look at some possible solutions the NFL/NBA could incorporate to help fix the tanking epidemic (43:45) as well as bring to light some of the biggest successes and failures teams have had (53:10). 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss the 2020/2021 NFL playoff landscape with some hot takes on who beats who, and Mark's feelings are hurt when breaking down how Philadelphia tanked the Sunday night game to eliminate the NY Giants from contention (2:20). They converse over whether Kansas City will be able to repeat (15:33) and preview the Titans vs. Ravens matchup (18:30). What will be the Chiefs' hardest playoff matchup (19:24)? What could be Mahomes biggest hurdle to climb (23:09)? They preview the Colts vs Bills (26:22) and Steelers vs. Cleveland (33:38).   What's in store for the second round and who's jumping on which bandwagon (39:39)? Also, Bears vs. Saints (41:58), Rams at Seahawks (45:23) and Tampa Bay travels to Washington (50:51). Is it good for teams to help each other hit salary bonuses (52:58)? Will Brady and the Bucks have bumps to the finals (55:38)? Mark and Jared finish with their bold, or maybe not so bold, Super Bowl predictions (1:00:18). 

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss the 10 NBA players that signed their rookie extensions before the 2020/2021 season. They explain some of the major differences between the NFL and NBA rookie contract language (2:20), if Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum can lead their respective teams to the promised land (6:35), whether Bam Adebayo can continue being THAT athletic for 5 years (16:35), and if the Kings HAD to resign De'Aaron Fox because of where they play (22:35). They converse over the non-max rookie extensions and answer the questions of whether Jonathan Isaac can stay healthy (25:45), if Derrick White's 24mpg scale (32:18), does OG Anunoby have what it takes to take a leap (36:40), is Markelle Fultz progressing to his potential (43:40), and who the better LA signing was in Luke Kennard or Kyle Kuzma (49:50). Jared and Mark also break down 3 players who didn't sign their rookie extensions in Lonzo Ball, John Collins, and Lauri Markkanen (57:30).

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss the NBA Eastern Conference landscape and preview which teams are ready to make the jump to number 1 and which are lottery bound. The rising of the Eastern Conference (3:37) has led to some fierce competitions. Can the East compare with the West? (4:10). Mark and Jared agree on the top four, and make cases for the Heat (6:13), Bucks (10:39), Nets, and Celtics. How will Doc Rivers fair in Philly? (17:50) Does Ben Simmons's roll need to change? (24:05), Mark runs down the Atlanta Hawks, do they have a chance to make the playoffs? (28:24). Jared discusses his Toronto Raptors outlook, is Chris Boucher playing the wrong position? (35:45). Mark and Jared also breakdown the projected bottom feeders Cleveland (42:17), Chicago (44:20), Charlotte (45:57), and Steve Nash with the Nets (48:48). Jared finishes with a bold take on the Celtics (54:53).

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss the NBA Western Conference landscape and preview which teams are primed for a deep playoff run and which are sitting on the bubble to fight for the last few seeds. Outside of agreeing on the two top seeds in the Lakers and Clippers (2:40), they debate who reins supreme in the next tier between the Nuggets (10:03), Mavericks (15:02), Warriors (19:50), and Jazz (30:58). They answer questions about whether bubble teams such as, “Portland: Why has Robert Covington been moved so much?” (30:58), “Do the Suns have a Big 3?” (39:54), “Are the Grizzles still two years away?” (43:55), “Will all the man-meat in New Orleans be enough?” (47:00), and “Will the Rockets roster looks the same 3 months from now?” (51:15). Also, Mark and Jared break down one thing that must happen for each bottom-dwelling team to get out of the cellar (56:30).

Happy Hour Sports Talk's Mark and Jared discuss the formation of super teams in the modern and historical NBA. They debate what makes teams “super”, if homegrown teams epitomize the definition of super team, and whether Big 3's qualify (2:30). They converse over some of the super team attempts, specifically the 2007 Celtics (6:10), Jordan's Bulls (8:40), 2010 Heat (11:17), 1996 Rockets (16:40), 2016 Warriors (26:00), and Greg Popovich's Spurs dynasty (32:00). Jared and Mark also break down some of sacrifices players must make to form super teams (36:00) and two of the worst super team attempts in history (43:20).