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Observations from Western Conference finals Game 4
Published: 6/3/2012 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 6/3/2012 2:25 AM

There isn't much in sports like a rocking basketball arena, and few buildings anywhere rock like Chesapeake Arena.

The Thunder has used its special home court to full advantage, and now the Western Conference finals could go the distance.

I've said from the beginning San Antonio in six games, but after Saturday's command performance by OKC, I'm inclined to believe this series will go the full seven games.

Now the big question: How does the Thunder go about winning a game in San Antonio?

Early in the playoffs, Charles Barkley made a somewhat obvious observation that applies uniquely to the Thunder -- if OKC is making shots at a high percentage no one in the NBA can beat it.

This is what he's talking about -- Kevin Durant 13-of-20, Serge Ibaka 11-of-11, Kendrick Perkins 7-of-9 and Nick Collison 4-of-5 in Game 4.

"Eleven-of-11 is a pretty big affect," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich deadpanned when asked about Ibaka's defensive contribution rather than his offensive outburst.

OKC must continue to work the basketball for the best shots, but to win in San Antonio a core of the Thunder lineup -- like Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden -- must consistently make tough, contested shots.

That's what Durant did Saturday when the Spurs threatened a comeback. Because of that, OKC gets at least one more chance to comeback to Chesapeake Arena this season.

But the Thunder still has some work to do to bring the NBA Finals home.

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Tulsa World Sports Editor Michael Peters has nearly 20 years of daily newspaper experience. A 1993 graduate of Texas A&M, he worked at papers in Bryan-College Station, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, and Galveston, Texas, before joining the Houston Chronicle as High School Sports Editor in 2008. While in Houston, he coordinated coverage of the 2008 Texas Class 5A state football championships and the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four.

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