Oklahoma City Thunder must deal with 'D': Distractions - USA TODAY

By Jon Saraceno, USA TODAY

Updated

OKLAHOMA CITY â€" As coach of one of the NBA's youngest teams, favored to win the first championship since relocating from Seattle, Scott Brooks understandably is concerned about the "D" word for his Oklahoma City Thunder: Distractions.

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  Mark D. Smith, US PRESSWIRE

  Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks, right, working with star Kevin Durant, hopes his young team won't get off track by distractions that come with making the NBA Finals.

Mark D. Smith, US PRESSWIRE

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks, right, working with star Kevin Durant, hopes his young team won't get off track by distractions that come with making the NBA Finals.

"That's a great question â€" there's no question it is different," Brooks said after Tuesday morning's shootaround before Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. "But it's a good different. We want to be in this situation. Our routine did change a little bit. Come tonight, it's no distractions other than playing good basketball."

The Thunder, a 3-2 favorite to capture the title in the team's first trip to the Finals based in Oklahoma City, already have knocked off three former champions to reach this juncture: the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, who have won a combined 21 NBA titles.

The Heat also have captured a league crown, led by Dwyane Wade, before he had LeBron James and Chris Bosh as teammates.

Although the Thunder are loaded with 20-somethings, they do have veteran Finals performers in reserve guard Derek Fisher (37, five NBA title rings), plus centers Kendrick Perkins (27, one) and Nazr Mohammed (34, one).

"I was a little worried about practice yesterday, but it was nice going down to the arena and just seeing it, so when we go there we're not overwhelmed with all of the media attention," Brooks said. "It was good for our guys. I thought yesterday's practice was really good, the film session (too) â€" people really locked in. Today's shootaround was the same."

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