In this post of Keys to Winning, Hoops-Nation brings the Keys to Winning Game 2 for the two Western Conference Semifinals series’ between the Lakers & Thunder and Clippers & Spurs. Also included are the Keys to Winning Game 3 for the Celtics & 76ers and the Heat & Pacers….

Day 18 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs consisted of a Game 2 for the Eastern Conference Semifinals and a Game 1 for the Western Conference Semifinals. In the first matchup, the Miami Heat took on the Indiana Pacers in Miami. The second matchup was the anticipated high flying Los Angeles…

As the Lakers teetered on the brink of elimination and collapse last week, and while the Clippers were trying — but ultimately failing — to choke away a 3-1 lead in their fifth playoff appearance since moving to Southern California, Phil Jackson was trading in his crutches for a cane…

Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson will be named to the 2012 USA Select team – the squad that will practice against the U.S Olympic team this summer in preparation for the London Olympics.   Mychal Thompson, Klay’s father, told 95.7-FM The Game on Friday that his son had been named…

Jameer Nelson can, and likely will, opt-out of the final year of his contract. Sources close to the situation say that Nelson wants to test free agency and sign a long-term deal that gives him some security going forward.   Nelson doesn’t want to be dealt as an expiring contract…

Day 17 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs consisted of a Game 2 for the Eastern Conference Semifinals and a Game 1 for the Western Conference Semifinals. In the first matchup, the Boston Celtics took on the Philadelphia 76ers in Boston. The second matchup was the anticipated young gunning Oklahoma City…

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving will be named NBA Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the voting results.   After playing in just 11 games in his only season at Duke, Irving rewarded Cleveland’s faith in selecting him with the No. 1 overall pick in…

It was exactly the sort of play the Heat would need to win this game, this series and, down the playoff road, to win much more. It was Chris Bosh in Sunday’s second quarter, taking a pass back from a driving LeBron James, and choosing not to settle or shrink…

Toronto will be in direct competition with the Knicks for Steve Nash. But Nash is expected to look to sign with a bona fide contender, and the Knicks and Raptors don’t fit that description.   The Raptors are also a potential landing spot for Jeremy Lin. They like him and…

Andre Miller didn’t ask to be thrust into the situation he found himself in for the first time in his career, coming off the bench. So yes, it took time to get used to. And yes, he eventually did, reluctantly.   But, maybe, just maybe, he’ll agree to an encore…