Rick Carlisle on LeBron James and Luka Doncic: ‘Don’t see any world … it doesn’t work great’

• February 9, 2025

LOS ANGELES — Lakers coach JJ Redick will have to wait at least a couple of more games before he’s able to coach Luka Doncic in an NBA game.

But the man who stood about 30 feet away from Redick on the opposite side of the scorer’s table – Pacers coach Rick Carlisle – did for three seasons before becoming Indiana’s coach again during the 2021 offseason.

He gave his thoughts on the Lakers’ new star pairing of Doncic and LeBron James.

“I don’t see any world in which it doesn’t work great,” Carlisle said pregame ahead of the Lakers’ Saturday afternoon home game against the Pacers.

Carlisle was the Dallas Mavericks head coach from 2008-21, coaching Doncic, whom the Lakers acquired in a trade with the Mavericks last weekend, during his first three seasons in the league.

“We’re talking about two guys who really, when they simply came into the world and started playing basketball, were expected to be guys that would have statues built for them,” Carlisle said. “The level of expectation on these two guys is just something that is hard to fathom. And as I was around Luka more and more, I became much more aware of the kind of pressure that must be on him.

“And he has such charisma, such ability, skill, he goes into a game and just decides how the game is going to be played. And LeBron James does the same exact thing. These two guys are surgeons in the way that they dissect games and they’re really both impossible to game plan for. You have to decide how you’re willing to lose – that’s what it comes down to. This is an amazing opportunity for Luka. LeBron and him have an affinity for each other that goes back to really Luka’s first year in the league. The whole thing is an amazing string of events.”

Neither Doncic nor James were available Saturday.

Mark Williams, whom the Lakers acquired in a deal with the Charlotte Hornets, also wasn’t available, with the official reasoning being “trade pending” after entering Saturday as questionable.

Doncic, who’s expected to make his Lakers debut in Monday’s home game against the Utah Jazz, has been sidelined since Dec. 25 because of a strained left calf. James sat out Saturday because of left ankle soreness.

Saturday was James’ fourth missed game of the season.

He’s averaging 24.5 points (51.6% shooting, 39.1% on 3-pointers), nine assists and 7.8 rebounds in his 22nd NBA season.

James scored a season-high 42 points in Thursday’s home win over the Golden State Warriors, becoming only the second player 40 or older in NBA history to have a 40-point performance along with Michael Jordan.

If everything goes according to plan, Redick expects to have Doncic and James available for Monday’s home game against the Utah Jazz.

“I don’t know why we wouldn’t,” Redick said. “We’re not trying to hold guys out. Obviously, with Bron, just a little bit of increased soreness on that foot after the other night. And Luka, I think, is progressing well, but we’ll make that decision in real time on Monday.”

SIMPLIFYING

Ahead of the Lakers’ home win over the Washington Wizards on Jan. 21, Redick mentioned that the team had simplified the offense.

And they’ve gotten good results since then, having the league’s sixth-best offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) in the previous eight games entering Saturday.

Redick expects for the team’s offense to become even more simplified when Doncic and James are back on the floor.

“It probably gets simpler, to be honest with you,” Redick said pregame. “And the packaging around Luka, LeBron and [Austin Reaves] and how we involve the people we’re trying to target, it gets simpler.”

​ Orange County Register 

JSerra, Mater Dei seeded 1-2 in Open Division of CIF-SS boys soccer playoffs

• February 9, 2025

Trinity League rivals JSerra and Mater Dei were seeded 1-2 in the Open Division of the CIF Southern Section playoff brackets that were released Saturday.

JSerra swept Mater Dei in their two league matches, 4-0 at JSerra and 1-0 at Mater Dei. JSerra has outscored its opponents 48-5 this season.

Mater Dei won the CIF-SS Open Division championship last season. The Monarchs beat Arlington 1-0 in the division final.

CIF-SS playoff divisions for boys soccer and many other sports were created by using a computer rankings system. The teams were placed into divisions based on the rankings and first-round matchups were made based on seeding; in a 32-team bracket, the No. 1 seeded team plays the No. 32 team, the No. 2 team plays the No. 31 team etc.

The boys soccer playoffs begin in Divisions 1-8 with first-round games Thursday followed by second-round games Feb. 15, quarterfinals Feb. 19 and semifinals Feb. 22. Championship matches are Feb. 28 and March 1 at El Modena High and Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. It will be announced after the semifinals which teams and divisions play in which venues for the finals.

In past years, league champions always got a first-round home game against a team that finished lower in its final league standings. With the new method, that no longer automatically happens.

In Division 1, South Coast League champion San Clemente plays at Sultana of Hesperia, the No. 2 team in the Mojave River League, in the first round Wednesday.

San Clemente coach Chris Murray is not frustrated by that.

“We’ve known from Day 1 that the power rankings were going to determine everything,” Murray said Saturday. “So it is an ‘expect the unexpected’ type of thing. It is what it is.”

The new method of seeding teams can result in league champions playing each other in the first round. Among such matchups is Villa Park (14-3-3). As the Freeway League co-champion with Brea Olinda, the Spartans will play at Big VIII League champion Corona (17-2-4) in the first round Thursday.

Two longtime rivals in the old Freeway League, Sonora and Sunny Hills, meet in the Division 3 first round Thursday. Sonora (13-5-4), which finished second in the North Hills League, is at Sunny Hills (10-6-3), a second-place team in the Crestview League.

Los Amigos is seeded No. 1 in Division 5 and Orange is seeded No. 1 in Division 7.

​ Orange County Register 

CIF-SS boys basketball playoffs: JSerra, Santa Margarita to meet again in Open Division

• February 8, 2025

Not only were JSerra and Santa Margarita placed into the Open Division for the boys basketball playoffs, they also were placed in the same pool.

That means a JSerra-Santa Margarita playoff game Friday at Santa Margarita High.

Santa Margarita is No. 1 and JSerra is No. 2 in the Orange County Top 25.

The CIF Southern boys basketball playoffs brackets were released Saturday. The Open Division includes 10 teams. In recent seasons it was an eight-team group.

Santa Margarita won both of its Trinity League games against JSerra. The Eagles won at home 70-49 on Jan. 10 and at JSerra 65-60 on Jan. 31.

The 10 teams in the Open Division, seeded in order: 1. Harvard-Westlake; 2. Roosevelt; 3. St. John Bosco; 4. Santa Margarita; 5. Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks; 6. Sierra Canyon; 7. Redondo; 8. JSerra; 9. La Mirada; 10. Heritage Christian.

The teams are split into two pools. Pool A: Harvard-Westlake; Santa Margarita; Notre Dame; JSerra; La Mirada. Pool B: Roosevelt; St. John Bosco; Sierra Canyon; Redondo; Heritage Christian.

Santa Margarita has a first-round bye Wednesday while JSerra plays at Notre Dame.

Playoff games in all 10 divisions begin Wednesday. Second-round games are Friday, quarterfinals Feb. 18, semifinals Feb. 21 and championship games Feb. 28 and March 1.

Championship games will be played at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Azusa Pacific University and Edison High. Which division finals play on which day and at which venues will be announced after the semifinals.

For the first time, CIF-SS used computer rankings to place teams into the basketball playoff divisions and to seed the teams. First-round matchups were done strictly by the seedings – a division’s No. 1-seeded team plays a No. 32 team in the first round, the No. 2 team plays the No. 31 team and so on. The higher-seeded team is the home team in the first round.

Teams are automatic qualifiers when they finish among the top three teams in five- and six-team leagues, and among the top four in seven- and eight team leagues. Other teams can get into the playoffs as at-large teams if there is room in the divisions’ brackets for them.

Mater Dei, the fourth-place finisher in the six-team Trinity League, is in the Division 1 bracket as an at-large team. The Monarchs are home against Fountain Valley on Wednesday.

Several Orange County teams that had high-quality seasons did not make the playoffs.

Cypress is No. 32 in the rankings of 516 CIF-SS boys basketball teams, but did not make the playoffs. Cypress (18-11) is grouped into the Division 1 teams. With 29 automatic qualifiers in Division 1, that left only three at-large berths. One went to Mater Dei, which is seeded third in the division, with the other two going to Chaminade and Alemany of the Mission League.

The Crestview League ended with a three-way tie for second place, with Canyon, Cypress and La Habra all finished the regular season with 4-4 league records. La Habra won a three-way coin flip, leaving Canyon and Cypress to play Wednesday for the final playoff berth. Canyon won 64-56.

Marina (17-11) finished fifth in the seven-team Sunset League and is No. 52 in the CIF-SS rankings, but it is not in the playoffs. The Vikings, who were the Division 2A champions a year ago, were also placed in the Division 1 group this season. Higher-ranked at-large candidates got priority over Marina for the available at-large berths in Division 1.

Newport Harbor tied Marina for fifth in the Sunset League. The Sailors, No. 57 in the CIF-SS rankings, are in the 2AA playoffs as an at-large team. Newport Harbor was placed high enough among the 2AA teams that it received priority as an at-large candidate.

Strength of schedule carries much weight in the CIF-SS rankings formulated by the Colley Royalty system that the Southern Section uses for its boys basketball rankings. A result is that the power leagues like the Mission League and the Trinity League have plenty of teams in the upper portion of the rankings.

Orange County teams that were seeded among the top four in their divisions: Open Division, 4. Santa Margarita; Division 1, 3. Mater Dei; Division 3AA, 2. Tustin and 3. Capistrano Valley; Division 4AA, 2. Pacifica and 3. Valencia; Division 4A, 1. Garden Grove; Division 5AA, 4. Anaheim; Division 5A, 4. Saddleback.

Many first-round games have an Orange County team playing another Orange County team on Wednesay. Those games are San Clemente at Crean Lutheran and Fountain Valley at Mater Dei in Division 1; Kennedy at Capistrano Valley Christian in Division 3AA; Santiago at Los Amigos in Division 4AA.

Santiago and Los Amigos are together in the Coast League this sesaon. They previously were rivals for many years in the Garden Grove League. Los Amigos won its two Coast League games against Santiago this season.

San Clemente is No. 9 and Crean Lutheran is No. 5 in the Orange County Top 25.

After the first round the determination of home teams follows the long-followed formula – the team with the fewest number of playoff home games is the home team; if the two teams have played the same number of playoff home games a coin flip identifies the home team.

​ Orange County Register 

CIF-SS girls soccer playoffs: First-round schedule for all divisions

• February 8, 2025

CIF-SS GIRLS SOCCER PLAYOFFS

The Open Division uses the Champions League format (two-game series decided by cumulative score) to determine the two finalists for the championship game.

All other divisions are single-elimination format.

All games start at 3 p.m. or 5 p.m.

OPEN DIVISION

First round of pool play

Wednesday, Feb. 12

Redondo (1) at Harvard-Westlake (8)

Palos Verdes (4) at Corona Santiago (5)

Santa Margarita (3) at Notre Dame/SO (6)

Oaks Christian (2) at Apple Valley (7)

Second round of pool play

Friday, Feb. 14

Harvard-Westlake (8) at Redondo (1)

Corona Santiago (5) at Palos Verdes (4)

Notre Dame/SO (6) at Santa Margarita (3)

Apple Valley (7) at Oaks Christian (2)

DIVISION 1

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Westlake at JSerra

Eastvale Roosevelt at Great Oak

Torrance at Edison

Saugus at Ontario Christian

Rancho Cucamonga at Etiwanda

Capistrano Valley at Troy

Corona del Mar at Lakewood St. Joseph

Aliso Niguel at Los Alamitos

El Segundo at Newport Harbor

Flintridge Prep at Canyon/A

Mater Dei at La Canada

Rosary Academy at South Torrance

El Toro at Moorpark

Arlington at Hart

Arcadia at Huntington Beach

Murrieta Valley at Orange Lutheran

DIVISION 2

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Castaic at Montclair

Chaminade at Glendora

San Dimas at Sunny Hills

St. Genevieve at Mira Costa

Mission Viejo at Millikan

El Rancho at Sonora

Oak Hills at Lynwood

Vista Murrieta at Warren

Laguna Beach at El Dorado

Paraclete at Claremont

Alta Loma at Yorba Linda

Quartz Hill at Chino Hills

Long Beach Wilson at Thousand Oaks

Oxnard at Upland

La Serna at Newbury Park

Fairmont Prep at Ayala

DIVISION 3

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Grand Terrace at Valencia/P

Walnut at Foothill

San Jacinto at Crean Lutheran

La Habra at South Hills

Brentwood at Windward

Fountain Valley at Trabuco Hills

Portola at Valencia/V

Beckman at Crescenta Valley

Wiseburn Da Vinci at Buena

Canyon Springs at Flintridge Sacred Heart

Woodbridge at Downey

Kennedy at Valley View

Diamond Ranch at Camarillo

Culver City at Norco

Pacifica/GG at Western Christian

Fullerton at Long Beach Poly

DIVISION 4

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Artesia at Marlborough

Monrovia at Chadwick

Temescal Canyon at Coachella Valley

California at Bishop Alemany

Linfield Christian at Sage Hill

Garden Grove at San Marcos

Campbell Hall at Don Lugo

Burbank Burroughs at Costa Mesa

Redlands East Valley at Granite Hills

Carter at Simi Valley

Bishop Montgomery at Paloma Valley

Pacifica Christian/NB at Immaculate Heart

Santa Fe at South Pasadena

Mayfield at La Mirada

Notre Dame Academy at Santa Monica

Beaumont at Katella

DIVISION 5

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Maranatha at Ventura

Rowland at Adelanto

Santa Ana at Viewpoint

Wilson/HH at Shadow Hills

Sultana at Estancia

Knight at University Prep

Ramona at Cerritos

Tahquitz at Cerritos Valley Christian

Century at Pasadena

La Quinta at Patriot

Tustin at Fillmore

Riverside North at Citrus Valley

Summit at Rialto

Muir at Heritage

Xavier Prep at Jurupa Valley

Santa Paula at Mark Keppel

DIVISION 6

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

St. Anthony at Whittier Christian

St. Bonaventure at Bell Gardens

Alhambra at Channel Islands

Santa Ana Valley at Magnolia

Arrowhead Christian at Long Beach Cabrillo

Azusa at Canoga Park AGBU

Malibu at Segerstrom

St. Monica at Carpinteria

Ganesha at Palmdale Aerospace Academy

Lennox Academy at Barstow

Capistrano Valley Christian at Los Amigos

Beverly Hills at Godinez

San Gorgonio at Indio

Citrus Hill at Gahr

Charter Oak at Thacher

Animo Leadership at Anaheim

DIVISION 7

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Lawndale at Oxford Academy

Desert Hot Springs at Rancho Christian

Big Bear at Norwalk

Rim of the World at Cobalt

New Roads at Oakwood

Pasadena Marshall at Nuview Bridge

Villanova Prep at Riverside Prep

Santiago/GG at Gabrielino

Pacifica Christian/SM at Grace

Buckley at Antelope Valley

Downey Calvary Chapel at Fontana

Jurupa Hills at Santa Rosa Academy

Garey at Highland

CAMS at San Jacinto Leadership Academy

Vista Del Lago at Woodcrest Christian

Duarte at Bellflower

DIVISION 8

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Academy of Car. & Explor. at South El Monte

Cantwell Sacred Heart at de Toledo

Vasquez at Indian Springs

Laguna Blanca at Loara

Loma Linda Academy at Vistamar

Shalhevet at Academy of Acad. Exc.

Bishop Conaty at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian

Redlands Adventist Academy at Edgewood

Trinity Classical Academy at AB Miller

Environmental Charter at Mountain View

St. Paul at Orange

Le Lycée at Pomona Catholic

Pomona at San Jacinto Valley

Compton Early College at Temecula Prep

Coast Union at Tarbut V’Torah

Silver Valley at Cathedral City

​ Orange County Register 

CIF-SS boys basketball playoffs: First-round schedule for all divisions

• February 8, 2025

CIF-SS BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

The Open Division is a pool-play format with 10 teams divided into two groups. The winner of each pool advances to the championship game.

All of the other divisions are single elimination.

All games start at 7 p.m.

OPEN DIVISION

First round of pool play

Wednesday, Feb. 12

POOL A

La Mirada (9) at Harvard-Westlake (1)

JSerra (8) at Notre Dame/SO (5)

Santa Margarita, bye

POOL B

Heritage Christian (8) at Roosevelt (2)

Redondo (7) at Sierra Canyon 6)

St. John Bosco, bye

Second round of pool play

Friday, Feb. 14

POOL A

JSerra (8) at Santa Margarita (4)

La Mirada (9) at Notre Dame/SO (5)

Harvard-Westlake, bye

POOL B

Redondo (7) at St. John Bosco (3)

Heritage Christian (8) at Sierra Canyon (6)

Roosevelt, bye

DIVISION 1

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Edison at Crespi

Chaminade at Campbell Hall

San Clemente at Crean Lutheran

Culver City at Brentwood

Vista Murrieta at Los Alamitos

St. Bernard at Long Beach Poly

Oaks Christian at Rolling Hills Prep

Corona del Mar at Rancho Cucamonga

Fountain Valley at Mater Dei

St. Paul at Etiwanda

Damien at Canyon/Anaheim

Santa Barbara at St. Anthony

Westlake at Inglewood

La Habra at Windward

Alemany at St. Pius-St. Matthias

Leuzinger at Mira Costa

DIVISION 2AA

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Lakewood at Camarillo

Glendora at Mayfair

Oak Hills at Pilibos

Rancho Christian at Corona Centennial

South Pasadena at Newport Harbor

Pacifica Christian/Newport Beach at Saugus

Corona Santiago at San Juan Hills

Millikan at Calabasas

Capistrano Valley at Viewpoint

Temecula Valley at Riverside Poly

Tesoro at Rancho Verde

AGBU at Great Oak

Fairmont Prep at Oxnard

Village Christian at Wiseburn Da Vinci

San Marcos at La Canada

Yorba Linda at Chino Hills

DIVISION 2A

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

El Dorado at Canyon/CC

Aliso Niguel at Dos Pueblos

Palm Springs at West Ranch

Rancho Mirage at Rio Mesa

Bellflower at Los Altos

North Torrance at YULA

Oak Park at ML King

Yucaipa at Lawndale

Beverly Hills at Pasadena

Bishop Amat at Irvine

Walnut at Valencia/V

Royal at Long Beach Cabrillo

Holy Martyrs at Villa Park

Artesia at Orange Vista

Crescenta Valley at Blair

St. Bonaventure at Verbum Dei

DIVISION 3AA

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Sunny Hills at Linfield Christian

Long Beach Jordan at Palm Desert

Alta Loma at Maranatha

Desert Christian Academy at Beckman

Warren at Hesperia

Arcadia at Knight

Gahr at Ayala

Pacifica Christian/Santa Monica at Price

Kennedy at Capistrano Valley Christian

Cerritos at El Toro

Mary Star at South Torrance

Cajon at San Gabriel Academy

West Torrance at Don Bosco Tech

Sage Hill at Oakwood

Adelanto at Northwood

Liberty at Tustin

DIVISION 3A

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Ambassador Christian at Summit

Burbank at Hemet

Redlands East Valley at Woodbridge

Mark Keppel at Hillcrest Christian

Brea Olinda at Torrance

Pioneer at Littlerock

Shalhevet at Glendale

Pasadena Poly at Aquinas

La Salle at Salesian

Providence/B at Whitney

Ontario Christian at Esperanza

Calvary Chapel/SA at San Dimas

Norte Vista at Grand Terrace

La Serna at Silverado

Downey at JW North

Temescal Canyon at Quartz Hill

DIVISION 4AA

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Newbury Park Advent. at Elsinore

Calvary Baptist at Costa Mesa

Fontana at Cantwell Sacred Heart

Rialto at Rowland

Ramona at Serrano

Santa Paula at CAMS

Loma Linda Academy at Temecula Prep

Cal Lutheran at Whittier

Workman at Valencia/P

Vasquez at Channel Islands

Vistamar at Flintridge Prep

Santiago/GG at Los Amigos

Cate at Faith Baptist

Savanna at Highland

Tarbut V’Torah at Western Christian

Providence/SB at Pacifica/GG

DIVISION 4A

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Alhambra at Garden Grove

Carpinteria at Bishop Diego

Santa Clarita Christian at Paloma Valley

West Covina at Palmdale Aerospace Acad.

Trinity Class Acad. at Chino

Environmental Ch. at Chaffey

Laguna Hills at Redlands Advent.

San Jacinto at California

Valley Torah at Santa Rosa Acad.

Schurr at Big Bear

Newport Chr. at CSDR

San Jacinto Lead. Acad. at Wilson/HH

Excelsior Charter at Katella

Granite Hills at Perris

Mesrobian at Citrus Hill

Patriot at Geffen Academy

DIVISION 5AA

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Indian Springs at Sequoyah

Don Lugo at Silver Valley

Kaiser at Compton Early College

Bethel Chr./R at Fillmore

Colton at Bloomington

Sierra Vista at Mesa Grande

Cal Military at Valley Chr./SM

Desert Hot Springs at Anaheim

Samueli Academy at San Gabriel

Glendale Advent. at San Bernadino

Webb at La Quinta/W

Diamond Ranch at Desert Chapel

Palm Valley at Eisenhower

La Puente at Animo Leadership

Coastal Chr. at Foothill Tech

Buena Park at Thacher

DIVISION 5A

First round, Wednesday, Feb. 12

Arroyo at Western

Bolsa Grande at Packinghouse Chr.

Indio at Riverside Prep

Hesperia Christian at Coachella Valley

Gabrielino at Ojai Valley

Baldwin Park at Grace

Acaciawood Acad. at Joshua Springs

Legacy Prep at Saddleback

South El Monte at Sherman Indian

Duarte at Orange

Azusa at Banning

Acad. Career Exp. at Maricopa

Cornerstone Chr./W at Summit Leader.

Edgewood at Victor Valley Chr.

San Luis Obispo Classical at River Springs/H

Rosemead at San Fernando VI

​ Orange County Register 

Super Bowl: Eagles vs. Chiefs features some of the brightest and oldest minds

• February 8, 2025

NEW ORLEANS — Andy Reid and Matt Nagy vs. Vic Fangio. Nick Sirianni and Kellen Moore vs. Steve Spagnuolo.

This Super Bowl is a matchup of some of the brightest – and oldest – minds in the NFL. Reid and Fangio are 66. Spagnuolo is 65.

When the Kansas City Chiefs (17-2) go for a three-peat in a rematch against the Eagles (17-3) on Sunday, the game will come down to what Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and teammates do on the field against Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Jalen Carter and the rest of Philadelphia’s talented roster.

But it starts with the coaches and the coordinators and their schemes. They have to devise the correct game plan and make the best play calls.

The Chiefs were in the middle of the pack in offense this season, ranking 16th in total yards. But Reid has been an offensive mastermind for three decades and Mahomes is always capable of making some magic, especially on the biggest stage.

They’ll face off against Fangio, who inherited one of the league’s worst units and turned it into the No. 1 defense in the NFL in his first season in Philadelphia.

The Eagles had the second-best rushing offense thanks to Barkley’s historic season and Hurts has A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith so the passing attack is potent despite finishing 29th.

They have to find a way against Spagnuolo, who came up with the perfect plan to prevent the Patriots from a perfect season 17 years ago. Spagnuolo won his first ring as a defensive coordinator for the Giants and has won three more with the Chiefs.

When the Eagles have the ball

Barkley. Barkley. Barkley. The AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year has 2,447 combined yards rushing and 18 TDs, including seven scores of 60-plus yards. Everything starts with him. He’s been spectacular this season and can take it the distance every time he touches the ball. But the Eagles have plenty more fire power. Hurts is a threat to run, which helps keep defenses guessing and that helped Barkley become the best home run hitter in the NFL.

Despite pedestrian passing stats, Hurts has been productive. He takes care of the ball, tossing just five interceptions and only one in his past 15 games. He had a 103.7 passer rating and had big passing games when the Eagles needed him against the Commanders in the NFC championship game and Steelers in mid-December.

Brown is an elite receiver, even when he’s reading a book on the sideline. Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert are top targets for Hurts, too.

The key to Philadelphia’s success on offense is one of the top lines in the NFL led by tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.

Spagnuolo can make things difficult even for the best teams. Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the Patriots found out almost two decades ago in the Super Bowl.

Buffalo’s Josh Allen got another taste of it in the AFC championship game when Spagnuolo sent a corner blitz on fourth-and-5 with the game on the line.

Kansas City’s defense finished ninth overall, allowing the fourth-fewest points.

Jones is an All-Pro interior lineman, edge George Karlaftis led the team with eight sacks and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton had 6 1/2. Cornerback Trent McDuffie was a second-team All-Pro. The McDuffie-Brown matchup could be a classic.

Protecting Hurts will be crucial for Philadelphia, though he has the ability to escape and scramble for long gains.

Sirianni turned the offense over to Moore, a first-year Eagles coordinator likely coaching his last game with Philadelphia. Moore is expected to become the head coach for the Saints.

When the Chiefs have the ball

The Chiefs had the league’s 14th-ranked passing offense behind Mahomes and 22nd-ranked rushing attack.

The Eagles were No. 1 overall and against the pass, 10th against the run and second best in scoring.

Mahomes is 8-0 against Fangio’s defenses. But teams that were first in defense are 10-2 in the Super Bowl since 1970.

Mahomes is a master at making plays and finding ways to win games, especially close ones. He had subpar numbers by his standards – 3,928 yards, 26 TDs, 11 interceptions and a 93.5 rating.

Kelce, despite a drop-off in the regular season, is a prime-time player in the postseason. And, Mahomes has DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown and first-round pick Xavier Worthy. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are effective runners.

All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney and All-Pro center Creed Humphrey anchor the offensive line along with right guard Trey Smith. Thuney is playing left tackle.

They’ll be tasked with keeping Carter and edge Nolan Smith away from Mahomes. Brandon Graham, whose strip-sack of Brady sealed Philadelphia’s only Super Bowl victory seven years ago, could be back to bolster the rush.

All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun will play an important role against Mahomes and rookie slot cornerback Cooper DeJean going against Kelce could determine the game. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay give Philadelphia a top tandem against the pass.

Reid is creative and not afraid to add different wrinkles. Fangio disguises coverages and aims to take away big plays.

Mahomes was under constant pressure in his only Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay four years ago. The Eagles have to make him uncomfortable to have a chance.

Special teams

Eagles kicker Jake Elliott has been shaky this season. He was 28 of 36 in the regular season, making just 1 of 7 field goals from beyond 50 yards. He’s 6 for 7 on field goals in the playoffs but has missed three extra points.

Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker hit the game-winning field goal against the Eagles two years ago in the Super Bowl and hit a tying field goal to force overtime last year. He was 21 of 25 on field goals in the regular season and missed two extra points. He is 9 for 9 on kicks in the playoffs.

The Eagles averaged 9.2 yards on punt returns and 26.5 on kick returns.

The Chiefs averaged 9.9 yards on punt returns and 27.1 on kick returns.

Coaching

Sirianni was thought to be coaching for his job this season and the fickle folks in Philly were calling for him to be fired at 2-2. But he just keeps winning. He has the fifth-best winning percentage in NFL history and is the only coach in franchise history to reach the Super Bowl twice.

Reid will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retires. He already has three Super Bowl rings and is the winningest coach in the history of the Chiefs and Eagles.

Intangibles

The Eagles came close two years ago and know anything less than winning a Lombardi trophy won’t be considered a success in Philadelphia. They’re not satisfied with getting here.

The Chiefs are aiming to become the first team in the Super Bowl era to three-peat. Reid and Mahomes are chasing Bill Belichick and Brady while they have to win three more Super Bowls to match them.

​ Orange County Register 

Clippers reportedly adding 3-time All-Star Ben Simmons

• February 8, 2025

Ben Simmons, a three-time All-Star, reportedly is expected to sign with the Clippers after clearing waivers Saturday morning, according to multiple sources.

The 6-foot-10 swingman has spent three injury-plagued seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, never appearing in more than 42 games. A lower-back nerve issue has limited his playing time. Simmons averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 25 minutes over 33 games this season.

The former Rookie of the Year gives the Clippers another big body around the perimeter as well as a playmaker and ball handler behind James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Simmons, 28, brings the type of all-around skills that Terance Mann gave the Clippers. Mann was traded to the Atlanta Hawks this week in a deal that brought Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is expected to add more offense to a team that ranks No. 22 offensively in the league.

The Clippers also will be looking for Simmons to be a solid defender and rebounder on their highly rated defense as they aim for a top six spot in the playoffs. The Clippers slipped to No. 7 after losing three consecutive games, most recently a 119-112 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.

Simmons is in the final year of a five-year, maximum contract he signed with the Philadelphia Sixers, who made him the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA draft. He’s set to hit free agency this summer.

In addition to the Clippers, Simmons also met with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Margarita girls soccer earns spot in CIF-SS Open Division playoffs

• February 8, 2025

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Santa Margarita’s girls soccer team will be the lone Orange County representative in the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.

The Eagles (13-1-2), who have reached the section finals the past two seasons, were seeded third Saturday and paired with No. 6 Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (16-2-3) in the section’s premier division made up of eight teams.

Santa Margarita and Notre Dame open a home-away first round series in Sherman Oaks on Wednesday.

The Eagles, who are ranked No. 1 in the county, lost in the Open finals last season to Corona Santiago and captured Division 1 in 2023.

JSerra, Los Alamitos, Newport Harbor, Edison, Mater Dei and Orange Lutheran were among the top O.C. teams placed in Division 1.

More coverage to come. 

​ Orange County Register