The 2021 Brooklyn Nets: The Biggest “What if” team ever. by Ibrahim Rogers

 The 2021 Brooklyn Nets: The Biggest “What if” team ever. by Ibrahim Rogers

In my opinion the biggest “What if” regarding a team in NBA history is the 2021 Brooklyn Nets. Considering how much talent that team possessed on offense, I can see why people viewed them as a superteam. The 3 offensive engines James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving, was a nightmare for any team they faced. In those rare moments when the trio was healthy and played together during the season, they managed to play 16 games and win 13 out of them. One of the most memorable games when they were all healthy and showcased the true potential of this superteam was Game 4 against the Boston Celtics in the first round. Harden scored 23 points and set a career high for a postseason of 18 assists, Kyrie scored 39 with 11 boards, while Durant ended up with 42 points.

It was not a lack of talent that doomed that Nets' team. The problem was injuries. Kyrie suffered an ankle injury during Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern conference semifinals. Despite the return of Harden at some point in the series, it was obvious that he was far from being healthy. Still, the Nets managed to take the eventual champions to 7 games in a hard fought series. The most notable moment of that trio is how they were millimeters away from getting to the Eastern Conference finals since Kevin Durant’s size 18 shoe was on the three point line. That team might’ve stayed together for a couple more years if he was just a tad bit father. 

The reason why the 2021 season of the Nets is so disappointing, for me at least, is not because of how they played, but because it took away the opportunity for us as basketball fans to see what might have been a generational team. As stated before by Kevin Durant himself, once the team got back its healthy lineup, he felt it was the "perfect, ideal situation" for basketball. However, due to injuries, one of the greatest teams ever was never fully utilized. Honestly, it hurt because James Harden, my favorite player, didn't win the championship, and that was his best opportunity of his career.

“Kevin Durant Still Feels “Love” in Brooklyn despite Chaotic Stint - ESPN.” ESPN.com, ESPN, 23 Jan. 2025, www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43526508/kevin-durant-feels-love-brooklyn-chaotic-stint. Accessed 24 May 2026.

Are the Oklahoma City Thunder “floppers”? by Ibrahim Rogers

 Are the Oklahoma City Thunder “floppers”? by Ibrahim Rogers

As of recently, many people argue that the Oklahoma City Thunder are “floppers.” The main pusher of that agenda is the 2-time MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. There have been many obvious instances where the MVP has been seen clearly foul baiting, which has angered many fans and led to him being viewed as a “free-throw merchant.” Personally, I think a lot of the frustration also comes from how dominant the Thunder have become recently. In this year’s playoffs, especially during the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, it seemed like the Thunder became one of the NBA’s most hated teams because fans believed the refs were favoring them. A lot of people felt like the Thunder were getting way more calls than their opponents, even on plays where there was barely any contact. On the other side, many Spurs fans believed their players were getting hacked without calls being made. One example people kept bringing up was Isaiah Hartenstein supposedly fouling Victor Wembanyama without referees calling it. This has led to many fans pushing the idea that referees should be fined for biased calls, especially since players themselves can already be fined for flopping. Even though the Thunder are constantly viewed as floppers online, statistics do not fully support that argument. According to ESPN’s 2025–2026 NBA team statistics, the Thunder ranked only 17th in the league in free throw attempts. Personally, I still think some players on the Thunder, especially Lu Dort, play in a pretty unethical and dirty way at times. At the end of the day though, whether or not you view the Thunder as floppers mostly comes down to personal opinion, but just know, the footage doesn’t lie.

“2025-26 NBA Team Stat Leaders - ESPN.” ESPN, 2025, www.espn.com/nba/stats/team/_/season/2026/seasontype/2/table/offensive/sort/avgFreeThrowsAttempted/dir/desc. Accessed 24 May 2026.

Why I Spend Money the Way I Do (And Maybe You Do Too) by Shuxuan Chang

 Why I Spend Money the Way I Do (And Maybe You Do Too) by Shuxuan Chang

      “Huh? Where’s my money? I’ve checked all the places where I might have put it, but it’s nowhere to be found! I distinctly remember having a little bit left. How is it that, by the end of the month, I don't have a single penny of my allowance left?

       Lying face-down on my bed, I recalled the moment my parents first gave me an allowance. Back then, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and cherished that money dearly—I would always spend only a tiny fraction of it, saving every last penny. I find myself puzzled: at what point did I stop regarding money as something so precious? Now, it seems I only realize its importance when I find myself completely broke.

        Whenever I see my parents shopping, they only buy what they actually need—and only occasionally what they merely want. In contrast, when I see my friends buying things, I often feel the urge to buy them too; I worry that if I don't, I might fall behind or feel left out. But after I’ve made a purchase—and especially when I find myself with nothing else to do—I sometimes start thinking that the item isn't really a big deal after all, and that I would have been just fine without it. Deep down, I realize that much of this behavior is impulsive spending. I do feel pretty regretful, but I think I still have a chance to turn things around. It’s not too late, after all.

The Problem With Cute Things by Shuxuan Chang

 The Problem With Cute Things by Shuxuan Chang

        When I came across a post showing that a mall had released a whole bunch of new merchandise—stuff that looked both cute and fun, like "Line Puppy" blind boxes, keychains, and little trinkets—I immediately wanted to go check it out.

       “Hmm… these are weirdly irresistible and adorable,” I thought to myself as I browsed through the wide variety of products on display. I managed to resist the urge to buy anything, but I hadn't walked more than a few steps when I spotted a jewelry boutique for a brand that both my friend and I adore. Right in the center of the shop, they were featuring a new “blind box” edition of their bracelets. I really wanted to get my hands on that elusive “hidden” design—maybe I would be the lucky one! Driven by that hopeful mindset, I bought one. I tore it open the moment I got it, only to realize it was the design I wanted the least. I was crushed. But somehow, I convinced myself to try one more time. “Maybe the next one will be better,” I thought. So I bought another one. I opened it up; it wasn't the hidden design either, but... well, it was just okay. Disappointed, I walked out of the store.

          People around me—and honestly, me too—tend to shop in a particular way: we rarely pay attention to items that are plain, even if they’re practical, and instead always end up choosing things that are visually appealing and novel. It’s actually quite strange; it feels like what I crave is always just the latest fad. Every so often, I’ll check to see which brands have released new products and how well they’re being marketed, and then I’ll go right ahead and buy them. I even go on to recommend them to my friends, hoping they’ll start using the exact same things I do. The only downside is that, by the middle of every month, there isn't a single penny of my allowance left—not even a scrap. 

          Seriously, what am I supposed to do? I just can't seem to control myself! Maybe that’s exactly how these trends work. New designs, limited editions, cute packaging—somehow they always make people want more. And honestly, teenagers like me are probably the easiest customers of all.

Fear of Change By: Arav Patel

 Fear of Change

By: Arav Patel

Change is an ordinary part of our lives. Changing schools, jobs, making new friends, and

trying something new can be scary. Although the results of the change can be positive, people

tend to remain where they are comfortable, not willing to face anything unexpected or

challenging. The reason for this is people’s unwillingness to do anything new or unpredictable.

Changes imply uncertainty which in its turn leads to stress. We know how we should react to the

known situation, we know everything about our job or family or friends. It means that any

change causes confusion or fear of something bad that might happen.

In addition, there is another reason why people may be afraid of making changes. There

is fear of failure, embarrassment, or inability to do something correctly. In this case, the students

will never join new social circles or attend challenging classes or participate in different

extracurricular activities before he is too scared. Sometimes social media influences people to

live in their comfort zones, not willing to do anything else. Furthermore, modern society is too

critical concerning other people. It shows that everyone has already achieved their goals and

there is no place for changes or improvement in his life. However, this way is too easy and does

not make people grow.

Change usually causes discomfort, nevertheless, it gives a person multiple opportunities.

First, it makes us go through uncertainty. This stage of change provides the person with the most

valuable experience that becomes useful in the future. Furthermore, change is associated with

new people, new skills, and knowledge.

Doomscrolling By: Arav Patel

 Doomscrolling

By: Arav Patel

Today, it is not rare to see people spend hours scrolling through various social media

apps without noticing how much time has passed. Each next TikTok, reel, or short brings people

to watch more, until suddenly an hour is spent just scrolling. When people do this, it is called

“doomscrolling.” It is common among teens and young adults who spend a lot of time on

TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and similar apps, even though they know the content they watch is

not making them happier.

Most of the time, doomscrolling is caused by features that are present in most social

media apps. Notifications, endless videos, and algorithms are all aimed at making users stick and

stay online as long as possible. People use the platforms to check some information, yet they

become distracted by other posts and videos. Under certain conditions, people may resort to

“doomscrolling” to find updates or simply distract themselves from something, thus increasing

stress. However, the major drawback of doomscrolling is associated with the amount of time

spent on social media platforms. When students intend to work on their assignments, have

enough rest, get to bed early, etc., doomscrolling happens. Moreover, it is not always easy to

return to work after such sessions, as it is difficult to concentrate on anything for a long time.

Furthermore, mental health is affected harmfully as well. Reading about negative things,

fighting in debates, comparing oneself to other people, and their unreal lives may cause

insecurity and stress. Most people cannot stop scrolling even if they realize that the content

affects their mental state negatively.

Despite all the drawbacks, social media is harmless in general, and people use it mainly

for fun or for communication. Nonetheless, doomscrolling is still common; it is essential to

spend less time on social media.

Pressure To Succeed By: Arav Patel

 Pressure To Succeed

By: Arav Patel

For many people, kids face a lot of pressure in terms of succeeding in their lives from an

early age. The common stereotype that teens need good grades, high positions, volunteering

experience, projects, and other aspects to succeed in life is widespread among schools, colleges,

parents, and social media. So many teenagers feel they are behind when they do not achieve

anything at all times, considering the many accomplishments made by their friends or peers.

The desire to succeed becomes more and more competitive for some teenagers who are

afraid that in the future they will not be able to compete with people who are already so ahead of

them. For instance, many believe that they need to get the highest possible results in terms of

education, build the perfect resume or transcript to apply to college, and even plan their entire

future. Ambition and goal setting play a positive role; however, when the pressure becomes too

much, the fear of making mistakes is overwhelming.

As mentioned before, the expectations from various people, like parents and schools, also

affect the pressure felt by young kids. As people are advised to study and engage in multiple

activities as much as possible, the feeling of failure becomes increasingly prevalent due to

comparing themselves to others. The desire to succeed at a young age also negatively affects the

mental state of people. While some feel too pressured and become depressed because they can’t

cope with expectations, others lose self-confidence due to their lack of success. However, young

people go through many changes and need time to understand them, and their success cannot

happen overnight.

Overall, hard work is crucial, but the idea of success does not mean being perfect. It is

important to allow teenagers to develop, make mistakes, and enjoy themselves rather than

constantly trying to prove themselves and succeed.