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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Tuesday is the first game of the NBA Finals, so with the highest level of basketball on the horizon,we figured why not compare the NBA Finals to the highest level of rugby in the world – the Rugby World Cup. I will be looking at the top players from the 2011 RWC and the 2012 NBA playoffs. The players chosen for the Rugby World Cup will be based off of the analysis of RugbyWorldCup.com, while yours truly will pick the NBA players. Here goes…
- Israel Dagg- Dagg is a young fullback for the New Zealand All Blacks at the ripe age of 24. In the Rugby World Cup in 2011 Dagg truly made a name for himself. Dagg was one of the Cup’s top try scorers in 2011. He scored the first try of the tournament in the first game of the tournament in the All Blacks’ game verse Tonga. Daggs finished with five tries in the tournament and helped lead his team to a championship.
- Jerome Kaino- The Flanker, like Dagg was a key piece to the success of the All Blacks during the World Cup. Kaino started in every game in the tournament. Not only did he start in every game but he played in every minute except for a few seconds in the at the end of New Zealand’s semifinal victory against Australia. He finished with four tries in the World Cup. Kaino was also nominated as the IRB International Player of the Year in 2011.
NBA Playoffs
- LeBron James- James is one of the best players to ever step on a basketball court and is the best player to never win a NBA Championship, though that may change by the end of the month. LeBron won his third MVP earlier this month and has led his team to back-to-back Eastern Conference Championships. With elimination on the line and playing in Boston, James put up the best performance in playoff history, 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. Say what you want about his clutch gene or lack there of, but he kills it night in and night out.
- Kevin Durant- After winning his third scoring title this season, Durant has lead his the Thunder to it’s first NBA Finals in team history since it moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Durant is the heart of the Thunder, he is what makes them click and has saved them from many losses. The Thunder were down 0-2 to begin the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, but he was able to help lead his team to four straight victories. “KD” has led his team in scoring in the playoffs with 27.8 points, third in the NBA. It will be interesting to see who get’s their ring first, LeBron James or Kevin Durant.
Oh, and there was a Rugby match in Kinsgton, Ontrario yesterday – feel free to comment about that as well… Cheers.
