Thunder proves it's young, tough enough but not good enough yet

Of course, tough isn't enough this deep in the NBA playoffs.

The Thunder lost 100-96 Wednesday night as the Dallas Mavericks won the Western Conference, sending the Thunder to an offseason of what-might-have-been and what-will-be.

The Thunder just wasn't quite good enough, again failing to close the deal despite a late lead. And the Thunder just wasn't quite lucky enough; three loose balls went Dallas' way in the final 80 seconds.

But what an answer to that historic collapse in Oklahoma City 48 hours earlier. A team that had every reason to get dump-trucked by the Mavericks, a team that had every reason to be ground into coronation confetti, instead zealously fought. American Airlines Center brimmed with more fear than anticipation most of this night.

“I knew our guys would leave everything they had on the floor,” Scotty Brooks said. “That's how they're wired. That's how they're built.”

Any worry that the Game 4 meltdown — losing a 15-point lead in the final five minutes — would have lasting impact quickly was chased in the first quarter Wednesday night.

Russell Westbrook set the tone with 94-foot effort, picking up Jason Kidd fullcourt on defense and driving to the basket, under control, all game long.

“We came out expecting to win today,” said Kendrick Perkins. “One thing I told our guys before we ran out there, if we're going down, we're going down fighting. We did that. Every guy gave 100 percent.”

This kind of game was the perfect tonic to wipe out that sour Game 4. Except the ending, of course, when offensive inefficiency again felled the Thunder.

In its last six possessions, after taking a 94-90 lead, the Thunder scored just two points, on Westbrook foul shots with 39 seconds left.

The Thunder committed three turnovers in the final 2:24, which is where the most improvement is needed if OKC is to win the West in 2012.

“The Western Conference Finals is a great learning experience for us,” said Perkins, who was reminded of a conversation with Red Auerbach years ago, when Perk was a Celtic and Red was alive.