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Top Nba games for February 5-11, 2024

By: Andrew Brown

Monday 5, 2024

Warriors vs Hornets 7:00pm

Who’s going to win: Lakers, With Lebron James on your team, how can you lose especially when you play the Charlotte Hornets. Playing against a young team, AD and Lebron should dominate because of how long they’ve played. For the Hornets, they’ve never been good. With the rookie Brandon Miller finding his rhythm this team has a better chance of winning. The Hornets need to make some big time trades for picks or players or they’ll just keep being one of the worst teams in the league.

Clippers vs Hawks 7:30pm

Who’s going to win: Clippers, they have too many experienced players being one of the oldest teams in the league. After showcasing their talent against the top seed Celtics, this team could easily make it to the finals. The one question is can they stay healthy. Kawhi missed 30 games, PG missed 26, and Harden missed 24 last season. If they can stay healthy they could be taking the trophy home this year. For the Hawks, people forget how good this team can be. If you sleep on this team they will make you pay like they did to the 76ers and Thunder the last time they played. With Trae and Murray getting better each game and the rise of Johnson, once again is not a team to play around with.

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Tuesday 6, 2024

Mavs vs Nets 7:30pm

Who’s going to win: Mavs, the Mavs have the best front court in the league with Luka and Kyrie. When one is not feeling it the other steps up. For the Nets this team is just trying to figure each other out. Most of the players have been traded to that team in the past year with their best player being Mikal Bridges scoring 22 ppg. To win they literally just have to stop Luka. Luka is surprisingly leading their team in scoring, rebounds, and assists with 35-9-10. He’s the key to the Mavs winning.

Bucks vs Suns 10:00

Who’s going to win: Bucks, after hiring their new coach Doc Rivers expect them to be a better team on defense. Ranking number 24 -out of 30 teams- their defense is one of the worst in the NBA. The only reason they are second in the east is because of their offense. It’s almost impossible to guard with Giannis and Dame. You cannot let Giannis inside because he’ll kick it out to shooters or just score and you can’t let Dame shoot. For the Suns they have KD and Booker. Booker recently coming off a 62 point game he will be hard to stop along with KD. If the Bucks defense woes keep going then the Suns will have an easy day.

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Wednesday 7, 2024

Warriors vs 76ers 7:30pm

Who’s going to win: 76ers, With Embiid they are unstoppable. Their whole offense is literally to give Embiid the ball, get out of the way, and be ready to shoot if he passes (he’ll probably won’t pass). With the Warriors having no center he can probably score 70 on this team. If the Warriors want to win they need to get back on track from 3. They won’t be able to score in the paint with Embiid roaming the paint. They need to focus on the 3 to win.

Pelicans vs Clippers 10:00pm

Who’s going to win: Pelicans, this team is underrated with Zion, McCollum, and Ingram. If Zion stays in shape this team can make some runs. The Pelicans also have one of the best scoring benches in the league. With the Clippers’ big 3 it’ll be hard for the Pelicans to stop. This game will be close but I think the Pelicans will pull off the upset.

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Thursday 8, 2024

Mavs vs Knicks 7:30pm

Who’s going to win: Knicks, The Knicks are on a 8 game winning streak with one of them being a blowout win against the reigning champs. They’ve been doing that without Randle. Ever since the OG trade this team has what it was looking for. For the Mavs their two stars have been out with injuries. They probably won’t even play this game. For the mavs they have a decent defense. The Knicks scored 122 on the Nuggets and held them to 84 points. If they want to win, they will have to step it up on the defensive side.

Nuggets vs Lakers 10:00pm

Who’s going to win: Lakers, with everyone watching this game I believe Lebron will have a big game and pull out the win. It also depends on if the Lakers will let Lebron or Davis play. If they don’t then the Nuggets should easily win. For the Nuggets Jokic will probably have a triple double but it won’t be enough for the win.

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Friday 9, 2024

Rockets vs Raptors 7:30pm

Who’s going to win: Rockets, the rockets have turned it around from last season winning the same amount of games last season. With them hiring the new coach, getting Vanvleet, and brooks this team is trending in the right direction. Their Sophomores and rookies are also stepping up and knowing their roles. As for the Raptor this team will take a while to develop. After the trade this team is just figuring each other out and will soon be winning games.

Hornets vs Bucks 8:00pm

Who’s going to win: Bucks, unless the bucks decide not to play the starters they should easily win. With the nasty duo of Lillard and Giannis it will be extremely difficult for the Hornets to win. Giannis wil roam the paint while Lillard will hit from deep. With the improvement of Brandon Miller (who just won the eastern conference rookie of the month) he can be just what they need. All the Hornets need is another star and a good bench with players who want to win.

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Saturday 10, 2024

Bulls vs Magic 7:00pm

Who’s going to win: Magic, the magic will win this game simply because of the injuries on the Bulls. As I said in my last blog the Magic were on fire to start the season and now they’ve cooled down. The need to start their winning streak again and have momentum going into the all star break. For the Bull with the absence of LaVine White has had to step up. On track to winning the most improved player going from 9 ppg to 19. This team needs to restart and get a good pick in the draft so they can actually win.

Suns vs Warriors 8:30pm

Who’s going to win: Suns, KD return’s back to the Bay to go against his old team. With KD, Booker, and Beal they shouldn’t have lost 20 games. They need to stay healthy if they want a chance at the finals. For the warriors at this point their only way of winning is Curry. They just need to trade everyone and start over with them building around curry.

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Sunday 11, 2024

Celtics vs Heat 2:00pm

Who’s going to win: Celtics, The last time they played the Celtics destroyed them. No one on the Heat could score with the Celtics number one defense and if they did the Celtics would answer back with their number number one offense. If no injuries occur and they keep playing how they’re playing then they should be 2024 NBA champs. For the Heat who just acquired Rozier they have a lot of work to do to get this team to the finals. But who knows Butler could carry them to another finals appearance.

Kings vs Thunder 3:00pm

Who’s going to win: Kings, the number 5 Kings going at number 2 Thunder. With Fox and Sabonis leading their team to the first playoff game in decades this team will win and show that they mean business. For the Thunder their young star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading them to a number 2 seed in the west. This team came out of the blue, last year they had a losing record with 40-42 in 10th place. Now they’re 31-13. This all round team is top 10 in both defensive and offensive ppg rankings. But it will not be enough for them to win.

My Favorite Things

By: McKenzie Gray Mills

This week on my top five favorite things are Owala water bottles. Not only am I a fan of this invention, but it seems to be very popular these days for many reasons. Starting off with its unique free sip spout and its push-button open lid with a convenient loop to carry it with that also doubles as a lock. It’s also leak proof, insulated (24 hours cold), and easy to clean. And it comes in a range of different colors and sizes to personalize it to your own liking. The free sip sizes include 19oz, 250z, 32oz, and 40oz. As well as free sips, Owala carries kid water bottles that make it easy for a child to drink without spilling.

This useful water bottle comes handy on a variety of occasions. One being after long school days to go straight into excruciating practices like volleyball and track it is so convenient to have an everyday water bottle that is always cold and refreshing. Although this may seem just like a regular water bottle it has become an essential part of my everyday life.

Younglife

By: Alexis Dawkins

Young Life

Just as many other people that I know, I attend Young Life as often as possible. This is a friendly, Christian environment that I feel most high schoolers should experience at least once. On Monday nights we have Club. At 7:37 we meet somewhere, Parks and Rec is the current meeting spot, and play games and have fun then have a lesson where the leader preaches The Gospel for a little bit. After this we usually go to Cookout for milkshakes and to hang out. This to me is a good way to start the week because Mondays can be hard but Young Life has a way of making my mood better.

On Wednesdays, we have Campaigners at 7:30 at someone’s house. It’s usually at the leaders house, currently that is Caroline and Crawford Keown’s house. This is where we do pretty much everything we do on Monday nights but the games are less intense and the lesson is a little longer. I personally like Wednesdays better because it’s a more chill environment and everyone hangs out when everything is done and talks.

In the summer, there is a week long camp that you can go to and that is a really fun experience. I personally have not been yet but I am going this summer and from what everyone has said, it’s a fun and exciting week. There is also a fall weekend and I also have not been there, but I have heard it’s fun too. If you ask me, Young Life is a fun and social thing to do and hang out with friends.

Cooking with Luke B

By: Luke Banar

How to make a homemade Crunchwrap supreme

Ingredients

One pound of ground beef
Shredded cheese
Taco seasoning
Toppings like lettuce,tomatoes,and sour cream

First you need to cook the pound of ground beef for a couple of minutes. Make sure to chop up any big pieces so that it cooks evenly. Stir it around and add in the taco seasoning. Once the ground beef is brown and fully cooked you need to drain the excess fat off. Set the meat off to the side and set out tortillas flat. Next you need to add the toppings on the tortillas. First lay down a layer of meat but not too much because the tortilla will need to be folded. Next add some sour cream, cheese, and thinly sliced lettuce and tomatoes. You can add any hot sauce that you would like or any other toppings. Next you need to fold up the tortillas just like a Crunchwrap. If there are too many toppings inside to fold it up then you might have to take some out because you do not want any toppings coming out of the Crunchwrap. Once you have your folded up Crunchwraps you need to fry the outside of them. Pour some oil onto the pan and heat it up until when you put a drop of water on it the water pops. Then you need two spatulas to place the Crunchwrap on the pan until it is browned enough then flip it on the other side until it is also brown. Make sure the oil is hot enough or the oil will not fry the tortilla it will only soak into the tortilla and taste bad. Then they are ready to serve. You can also add additional toppings on top of the Crunchwrap if there is not enough inside.

Top NBA Games for January 29-February 4

By: Andrew Brown

Monday 29, 2024

Celtics vs Pelicans 7:30pm
Who’s going to win: Celtics, the Celtics strength is having Tatum and Brown arguably the best duo in the NBA it’s hard to stop them their weakness is their bench the Celtics rank last in the NBA in bench ppg. The Celtics will win because of their players and how good they are coached. For the Pelicans they have Zion, their best player who’s averaging 22 ppg. If they want to win they need to limit their turnovers and keep getting steals which they are third in the NBA in.
Suns vs Heat 7:30pm
Who’s going to win: Suns, the Suns have a really good perimeter offense and rely on that shot. Everyone on their team can shoot and are a dangerous team when they are hot and healthy. The Heat might have found the player they needed recently trading Lowry for Rozier from the Hornets. I would pick this team to win but they just can’t score on offense rankings 20th in ppg.
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Tuesday 30, 2024

Laker vs Hawks 7:30pm
Who’s going to win: Hawks, Dejounte Murray has been what the Hawks needed when they got him, a second star behind Trae Young. Averaging 22 ppg they now are probably more hesitant in trading him. As for the Lakers who are trying to acquire him they need some work on their bench. Once their starters come out there are no names on the court which requires the starters to play more. The Lakers are also good at getting stars and making them worse and trading
young players who end up as stars.

76ers vs Warriors 10:00
Who’s going to win: 76ers, The Warriors have no big man to compete against the big man Embiid. Not only do they have no big man, they have no defense at all, ranking 27th out of 30 teams in the NBA. Plus players don’t want to be on the team. For the 76ers, Embiid just recently coming off a scorching 70 point game along with 18 rebounds. Only 9 players in NBA history have scored 70 plus points. The warriors will have to pack the paint which will lead to a lot of 3s
from the 76ers which they are good at.
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Wednesday 31, 2024

Pistons vs Cavs 7:00pm
Who’s going to win: Pistons, The pistons have to win at some point. I think they’re going to win and turn this team into the right direction. The pistons will obviously be making moves to rebuild and get some players or picks. I think the Cavs will have one of those nights and play their worst game of the season but will still be close.
Bucks vs Trail Blazers 10:00pm
Who’s going to win: Bucks, with their new head coach Doc Rivers, expect their defense to be a lot better. Even though they’re 31-13 they rank one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. The Trail Blazers are just getting started doing big trades in the offseason and getting Scoot Henderson with the 3rd pick. The future is bright for this team.
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Thursday 1, 2024

Lakers vs Celtics 7:30pm
Who’s going to win: Celtics, the two biggest rivals in the NBA going head to head. With both teams having the same amount of chips (18), this game just means more. The last time they played was on Christmas in which the Celtics won by 11. The Celtics starting 5 combined 108 points out of 126 points with the leading scorer being Porzingis with 28. The Celtics should easily win this with all their talent. The Lakers starting lineup will not be able to handle the
Celtics starting 5 and it should look the same with the Celtics starters scoring much of their points.

76ers vs Jazz 10:00pm
Who’s going to win: Jazz, This team is young with their best player being Lauri Markkanen who’s average 24ppg. This team leans on their young players like George, Agbaji, and Kessler who are both good defenders and scores. They will win because of their grit. If they can beat them once they can beat them twice. For the 76ers the last time they played they lost by 11 and Markkanen and Sexton combined for 55 out of their 120 points. Embiid also didn’t play so that’s
also a big reason why they lost. It should be a close one this time.
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Friday 2, 2024

Warriors vs Grizzlies 8:00pm
Who’s going to win: Grizzlies, The last time these two teams played the injured grizzlies embarrassed the heathy Warriors on live TV leaving the Warriors with many questions. In that same game the rookies GG Jackson and Vince Williams combined for an impressive 47 points with the leading scorer being Vince Williams. The Warriors looked like they didn’t care about that game, letting two rookies who barely played the whole season cook them. Hopefully they can actually play defense and get back on track.
Magic vs Timberwolves 8:00pm
Who’s going to win: Timberwolves, the Wolves have the best defense in the NBA thanks to the big men KAT and Gobert (who are both 7 feet tall). This team is just so big and tall (except for Conley) that it’s almost too easy to score, especially down low. The Magic are another young team with their best player being the power forward Paolo Banchero averaging 23 ppg. At the
start of the season they were looked at as the conference contenders. They were even the number 3 seed in the east, but since then they’re 7-14. If they want to win we need to see the team that we saw at the start of the season.
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Saturday 3, 2024

Bulls vs Kings 8:00pm
Who’s going to win: Kings, Last season the Kings went to the playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons, one of the longest playoff droughts in sports history. Even though they made the playoffs they were first round exits. But now this season they’re looking for more. As for the Bulls, if they keep playing like this they won’t even make the play-in tournament. They need to trade, rebuild, and hope for a better future.

Lakers vs Knicks 8:30pm
Who’s going to win: Knicks, with the newly added OG Anunoby they’ve gotten better offensively and defensively. Since the trade they have been 11-2 with dominating wins over the top teams in the NBA. Jalen Bruson has also been on fire lately and I bet he’s frustrated that he got snubbed from the NBA all star starters list. Last time the Lakers played this team Lebron had a triple double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. AD and Austin Reaves combined for
52 points, other than that no one else had over 10 points. If they want to win they need other players to contribute more than 9 points.
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Sunday 4, 2024

Clippers vs Heat 6:00pm
Who’s going to win: Clippers, with all their super stars. Ever since the James Harden trade they have been better. They now have a guy who can just score when PG or Kawaii is out. For the Heat who lost the last time they played they’ve also gotten a new guy, Rozier. A young point guard that can do anything offensively. A player who can take the stress off of Butler on offense.
Another player who has taken off some stress is the rookie Triple J has been having a wonderful rookie campaign. Averaging 14 ppg, he is one of the best rookies in his class and is close on the ROTY (Rookie Of The Year) list. They will need to lean on both Roizer and Triple J to win this.
Raptors vs Thunder 7:00pm
Who’s going to win: Thunder, their young star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading them to a number 1 seed in the west. This team came out of the blue, last year they had a losing record with 40-42 in 10th place. Now they’re 31-13. This all round team is top 10 in both defensive and offensive ppg rankings. For the Raptors this is the first look at this team. They have been heavily in rebuild mode trading away 2 of their best players in return for 5 role players, 3 first
round picks, and a second round pick. This team is trending up.

Making a healthy diet

By: Luke Pedersen

When it comes to a good healthy diet plan, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, it’s important to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your meals. They provide essential vitamins , minerals, and fiber. Aim for at least five servings a day.

Secondly, incorporate lean proteins into your diet, such as chicken, fish, steak, or beans. These are great sources of protein without the extra saturated fats. Also, whole grains like brown or white rice, rice cakes, and whole wheat bread or even bagels are excellent choices for carbohydrates, as they are rich in fiber and nutrients.

Lastly, don’t forget about healthy fats! Include sources like avocados, nuts, and olive oil in moderation. These fats are beneficial for your body and can help keep you feeling satisfied. Remember, it’s all about balance and portion control. And of course, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day is essential.

Staying consistent is the hardest part of this journey, as preforming simple tasks, such as just waking up on time can be the most challenging at some times. Having balanced calories, carbs, proteins and fats should lead you on the right path to a healthier body and healthier lifestyle.

The Barn Door

Artwork and Article by: Emmi Leard

This art piece was finished November 15, 2022. This piece is made with just graphite pencil. There are different aspects in the piece including: the wood on the door, the cinder blocks of the barn, the metal of the frames and lastly the fabric of the halter and rope.

I started this piece by sketching a graph. The graph is just symmetrical lines in horizontal and vertical patterns. I printed out the photograph I worked from and used math to adjust the graph to the correct sizing. After completing the door, I drew the metal of the door then worked my way up the paper. I continued back down and finished my drawing with the cinder blocks. Usually when I draw I try to get the center or most complicated part out of the way first.

I always come across a tough spot along the way. In this piece, my thought spot that I had to keep coming back to was the fan. The ceiling fan or the oval looking thing was hard because of the way it’s set. I had to use artistic liberty to make it work with the piece.

The Best NFL Draft

By: Sam Tristan

The debate over the best NFL draft class of all time is subjective and often depends on individual preferences and criteria. However, one class that consistently stands out is the 1983 NFL Draft. This draft is renowned for producing a remarkable trio of Hall of Fame quarterbacks in John Elway, Jim Kelly, and Dan Marino, all selected in the first round. Their collective impact on the league and enduring legacies have solidified the 1983 draft class as one of unparalleled quarterback talent and historical significance.

Beyond the quarterback position, the 1983 class showcased exceptional depth and talent across various positions. Players like Eric Dickerson, Bruce Matthews, and Darrell Green, among others, contributed significantly to their teams and earned spots in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The longevity and sustained success of many 1983 draftees further contribute to the class’s reputation as one of the best, with its members leaving an indelible mark on the NFL for years to come.

While opinions may vary, the 1983 NFL Draft’s combination of elite quarterbacks, overall talent, and long-lasting impact on the league make it a strong contender for the title of the best draft class in NFL history.

Can Marcus Stroman make the New York Yankees a World Series contender this year?

By: Clark Kinney

Last week, the Yankees finalized a two year, $37 million deal with Marcus Stroman from who pitched for the Cubs last year, and before that, the Mets and Blue Jays. With this, the Yankees rotation now has stars Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Marcus Stroman. That is a pretty stacked rotation if you ask me. Gerrit Cole is arguably the best starting pitcher on this planet and even though Carlos Rodón did not have his best season in 2023, he was battling injuries and we know he has it in him because of how good he was in 2021 and 2022 with the White Sox and Giants. The Yankees also added a young superstar for 2024 with Juan Soto who will likely hit many home runs due to the short right field in Yankee Stadium as he is a left handed hitter. Not to mention, the Yankees already have Aaron Judge who battled some injuries in 2023 but had a historic 2022 season blasting 62 home runs.

Back to Stroman. I am a huge Stroman guy and this may be bias, but I believe he is what kids these days call a “dawg”. He has his own baseball cleat brand and I even bought a pair. I remember growing up watching the Toronto Blue Jays and thinking how much fun they were to watch. With Jose Bautista and his iconic bat flip, Kevin Pillar robbing home runs and making superman diving plays in the outfield, Edwin Encarnacion hitting bombs and carrying the parrot around the bases, and last but not least, Marcus Stroman’s high energy and swagger every time he stepped on the mound. This team made me realize how much I loved baseball and still do to this day.

If you haven’t watched Stroman pitch, I highly recommend it. Stroman has always been told he wouldn’t make it and that he undersized at 5’8’’, so he plays with a chip on his shoulder and you can tell. He is fiery and very good. In 2023 for the Cubs, he had a 3.95 ERA with 119 strike outs and 10 wins. I think with this addition, along with everyone staying healthy, the Yankees can make a serious run and be a threat to any team in the MLB.

Do the Atlanta Falcons have a legit chance at signing Bill Belichick?

By: Tucker Burnette

More Competition For Ex Patriots Bill Belichick in Atlanta ...

With the recent firing of Arthur Smith the Falcons are currently on the hunt for a new head coach. At first thought it’s obviously the smart thing to do, to take a shot at arguably the greatest coach of all time, but that’s easier said than done. The Falcons, along with 3 other teams, are making a push to get Coach Bill Belichick, but are the Falcons in the lead?

The Falcons have interviewed coach Belichick along with other notable names such as Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and the previous Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, but their hunt is far from over. Obviously the job in Atlanta is going to be a challenge considering the Falcons were statistically in one of the worst divisions in football and weren’t able to win despite having a loaded and young roster. We have seen in the past that Belichick likes to have his quarterback to run his team, but that’s the Falcons only weakness because their current starting quarterback is Desmond Ridder. The Falcons currently sit at the 8th pick in the draft and will probably fall just short of one of the many potential star quarterbacks in the draft, which makes you wonder, “Will Belichick take a chance with the Falcons or just retire? “

With all that being said, in my opinion, I don’t see a coach as old and as proven as Belichick coming to wrap up his career with the Falcons at the current state they are in. However, the analysts at ESPN and other major sports networks seem to think the opposite. So the question still remains: Will Belichick go to the Falcons, somewhere else, or retire?