Luka to LA, Super Bowl Money, Matchups & Picks
Prefer to listen? Click below for the podcast
Luka To Hollywood
I am still trying to process this trade. This is one of the biggest trades in NBA history. You’d have to go back to 1965 when the San Francisco Warriors traded Wilt The Stilt to the 76ers - he responded by winning 3 consecutive MVP’s and the 1967 championship. He was then traded to the Lakers after four seasons. Will Luka be able to go Wilt mode? I don’t think so - the NBA is much more competitive these days.
Why The Mavs Made This Move
For the Mavs, everybody is questioning what the hell inspired them to make this move. Most reports are saying they didn’t want to spend the supermax $350M on Luka next summer. Ownership frustrated with weight issues, conditioning and lack of effort on D. Are they forgetting he carried them to the NBA Finals last season? That he’s only 25 years old? That he’s an international superstar?
I do think A.D. helps their team. I do think they have a chance to win a championship in the next two years but if they don’t this trade will go down as the biggest robbery of all time. Also, the fact that they didn’t shop around to drive the price up is wild. The Lakers should’ve been throwing in draft picks, Reaves or Knecht.
What This Means For The Lakers
Rob Pelinka, Lakers GM, probably said AD is not on the table. Then Dallas responded with we’re talking Luka and I bet you AD was on the next flight to Dallas. I don’t think anyone, including Pelinka, thought Luka was leaving Dallas. The Lakers now have their franchise player for the next decade. They’ll never have to pay him the supermax. Their number one goal should be making Luka a Laker for life. This will extend Lebron’s career as he can play more off ball, he can be a screener, Luka-Lebron pick and roll sounds impossible to stop. Two of the smartest and most versatile players in the game. Two players that really elevate those around them.
JJ Gets another Dookie
Since I wrote my first draft of this piece, the Lakers have traded for Mark Williams. He is 23 year old, 7 ft rim protector, who has the tallest standing reach in the NBA, yes, higher than Wemby. This gives the Lake show an interior presence as well as a pick and roll option for Luka and Lebron. He is in the 3rd year of a 4 year-18M rookie contract. This is the best thing to happen to this guy's career. Think DeAndre Jordan for Chris Paul LOB City style like the Clippers. Great move for the Lakers. If 40 year old Lebron and Luka can both stay healthy, this team can win a title.
The Lakers have now turned Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and three first round draft picks for a championship and Luka Doncic. Sorry Mr. Pelinka, I was not familiar with your game.
This trade stole the headlines ahead of the NFL’s biggest week of the year.. Super Bowl LIX.
Super Bowl LIX Ticket Prices
As of February 4, the cheapest seats are $4,600 USD.
Want a field suite at the Caesars Superdome? 25 tickets, food, and alcohol… for drum roll please.. $500K–$750K. That’s $20K–$30K per person. Absolutely wild
Super Bowl Ads
Always a fun part of the Super Bowl as companies bring out their best. Super Bowl commercials keep getting more expensive, for a 30 second timeslot:
2022: $6.5M
2023: $7M
2024: $7M
2025: Over $8M
The game is expected to pull in 100–150 million viewers.
Super Bowl Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar headlines, fresh off five Grammy wins. And guess what he’s getting paid? Nothing.
The NFL covers expenses and most production costs, but artists don’t get paid. They usually have a sponsor, which this year is Apple Music. The halftime show is essentially a massive ad for the artist.
Super Bowl LIX - The Matchup
And now to the actual game. The Chiefs are chasing history—no team has ever three-peated. This is a rematch of the 2023 Super Bowl. Mahomes is going for ring #4 at just 29. The team in white has won 16 of the last 20 Super Bowls. Chiefs are favored by 1.5 points. Almost every prediction has it as a one-score game.
Let’s break down three keys for each team.
Three keys for the Chiefs to win:
Mahomes play making ability. We’ve seen it time and time again, he makes big plays with the game on the line. His ability to get out of the pocket, extend plays with his legs and make off balance throws is what sets him apart.
Big plays for the WR’s. You know Kelce is going to get his, he is a certified playoff baller, who is the NFL’s all time leader in playoff receptions. One thing that I don’t think gets talked about enough is that the Chiefs have plenty of secondary weapons. Andy Reid does a fantastic job scheming up ways to get his playmakers the ball.
Speaking of Coaches.. The Coaching Edge. Big Red’s opening game scripts are elite, and Spags is one of the best coordinators in the game. It will be interesting to see how they try to slow down the Eagles running game. Spags seems to always have some tricks up his sleeve, like in the AFC Championship game, when he dialled up the corner blitz on 4th down with the game on the line to seal the deal.
Three keys for the Eagles to win this game.
Continue to dominate the line of scrimmage. They are PFF’s #1 graded offensive line. They are the heaviest starting offensive line in Super Bowl history. Their 5 starters weigh a combined 1688lbs, that’s an average weight of 337lbs per lineman. It will be interesting to see how they handle Chris Jones, who I believe is the best defensive tackle in the game. Defensively, can they hold the line of scrimmage and generate enough pressure to bother Mahomes.
Barkley’s Home Run Ability. Him and the Eagles O-Line have worn teams down all season. He is the Mariano Rivera of the 2nd half - he’s ran for 1245 yards at 6.7 a clip in the 2nd halves alone.. Those numbers would rank him 7th in total rushing yards. The Chiefs are the league’s best tackling team, but Barkley can make a house call from anywhere on the field.
Jalen Hurts Proving The Haters Wrong. He’s heard it all year: He’s being carried by Quads and an elite O-line. Can he make timely throws to move the sticks, can he move them with his legs and can he keep this offense balanced?
Final Thoughts
On paper, the Eagles are a better team. The Chiefs have the coaching edge. It will be a one possession game, but at the end of the day I’m betting on Money Mahomes and Big Red to make history. Who do you got?
