The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Braeden Delome

  • The Greek Freak or The Beard?

    The Greek Freak or The Beard?

    James Harden or Giannis Anteokounmpo: who deserves the MVP award?

    James Harden is looking to capture his second straight Most Valuable Player Award despite pressure from Giannis Antetokounmpo (and the Golden State Warriors).

    Seven-time All-Star James Harden of the Houston Rockets has led another impressive campaign for the 2018-2019 NBA season. After leading the NBA in scoring in 2018 with 30.4 points per-game and giving the Rockets the best record in the NBA, Harden won his first MVP award.

    This season Harden has played lights-out, bringing the Rockets from an underwhelming 11-14 start of the season to the fourth seed in the Western Conference. With injuries piling up, Harden carried the team and averaged an impressive 36.1 points, 7.5 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game.

    He tied Kobe Bryant for the most 30-point games in one season in the last 30 years with 56 30-point games. Harden delivered in the first round of the playoffs, helping to defeat the Utah Jazz four games to one.

    This man is dangerous and may be the most lethal player on the court in this year’s playoffs. He is looking to bring the Rockets out of another hole during their current series against the Warriors in the semifinals. Harden’s eye started bleeding in game two, but even with blurred vision he managed to deliver a big win to save the season.

    It seems if the Rockets and Harden want to bring a championship to Houston, they will need to find a way through Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant before making the finals.

    Another MVP contender this season has been three-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, playing for the first place Milwaukee Bucks. Antetokounmpo has been nothing but freakish this season, earning the nickname ‘Greek Freak’ for his incredible athleticism and skills.

    No one in the NBA can drive to the basket the way he can. He’s a dominant force both offensively and defensively. 2000 MVP Shaquille O’Neal called Antetokounmpo ‘better than himself’ at that age.

    The ‘Greek Freak’ averages 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks made a serious impression in the first round of playoffs after they swept the Detroit Pistons. After a strong first game from the Boston Celtics, the Bucks bounced back with authority.

    Antetokounmpo is leading the way with 29 and 32 points in games two and three.

    James Harden will likely get his second MVP after averaging eight more points than Antetokounmpo throughout the season. Harden put the injury-prone all-star point guard Chris Paul on his back and lifted his team to an outstanding playoff push.

    What Harden has done this season has been spectacular and can’t go unnoticed. Antetokounmpo may not get the MVP this season, but he at least has the Bucks in position to go to the Conference Finals.

  • Get ready for the NFL Draft this Thursday

    Get ready for the NFL Draft this Thursday

    The NFL Draft is coming to Nashville Tennessee on April 25-April 27. The NFL Draft is when National Football League franchises get to select newly eligible players who are coming from colleges.

    There have been 11 players drafted to the NFL that went to Humboldt State University in 84 years of the Draft. Alex Kappa was the last Humboldt State player to be selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 94th overall college player in the 2018 NFL Draft.

    Mike Mayock was quoted in 2018 saying, “he had the nastiest tape of any Division II offensive lineman he has ever seen.” Before that the last time an HSU student-athlete was drafted was 1992, it was Freeman Baysinger.

    Baysinger was selected as the 333rd overall player by the New England Patriots. The difficulty and the journey to be considered for one of the top spots in football is a statistical longshot but these few may have what it takes.

    There are a ton of great future pro bowlers in this year’s draft that teams need. The top five picks are sure to make an impact in their first season and for their organizations. Here are my top (projected) five picks in the draft and the teams that will select them.

    1. Kyler Murray – Quarterback – Arizona Cardinals

    Murray is an outstanding thrower and playmaker from Oklahoma University, opting to play professional football over playing professional baseball. He is an excellent pocket passer that can extend plays with his feet and deliver the pass on the run. The Cardinals already drafted quarterback Josh Rosen last year but went just 3-13. Patience might be running out in the desert with likely only one season left for Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame career. With David Johnson, Christian Kirk, and newly signed receiver Kevin White, there is undoubtedly enough star power to win games for Murray in Arizona.

    2. Nick Bosa – Defensive End – San Francisco 49ers

    Bosa is an explosive lineman that attacks the line of scrimmage with authority. He went to The Ohio State University and his brother Joey is a top 10 defensive end in the NFL on the Los Angeles Chargers. The 49ers can use all the defensive help they can get. They went out and acquired a top linebacker in Kwon Alexander, and added outside linebacker/pass rusher Dee Ford who compiled 13 sacks for the Kansas City Chiefs last year. The 49ers also have Defensive End Deforest Buckner who had 12 sacks last year as well. With Bosa and Buckner on the ends and Ford coming to rush the passer as well this defense should be much improved given the health of their star cornerback Richard Sherman.

    3. Josh Allen – Outside Linebacker – New York Jets

    Allen, a University of Kentucky product, is a fantastic edge rusher, something the Jets need. Allen is fast and extremely athletic, closing in on the ball carrier or QB with speed. The Jets acquired C.J. Mosley to man the middle in free agency and Zadarius Smith. They should see an upgrade on the defensive side of the ball. Leonard Williams and Jamal Adams are among the elite on the defensive side of the ball and are looking to change the identity of the Jets D. If the Jets select Allen at three expect him to be a starter Week 1.

    4. Quinnen Williams – Defensive Tackle – Oakland Raiders

    The Raiders need someone to plug the middle of the defense, and Williams can do just that. Coming from the University of Alabama, Williams is a disruptive force. He stuffs the run and rushes the pass from the interior gaps along the line. Grabbing Lamarcus Joyner and Vontaze Burfict in free agency were significant additions to this defense, Williams would immediately help as well. With three first round picks the Raiders can’t afford to mess this up. If they choose Williams they should be ok.

    5. Devin White – Inside Linebacker – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    Losing Kwon Alexander to the 49ers was huge but getting White would also be a great addition. With current linebacker Lavonte David and White paired, they would be one of the best tandems in the league. With Jason Pierre-Paul who had 12.5 sacks and Gerald McCoy who is a force on the line, this group has talent. They are looking to improve and White’s speed will do just that. Nobody in this year’s draft has the defensive intelligence to obtain a quick read on the ball like White. This ability helps him get into crucial spots on the field, where he’s waiting to make the big play. The Buccaneers will need this going up against the speedy New Orleans Saints offense.