Winning on the road is next hurdle for Thunder

/> A recent string of wins primarily has been at the Ford Center other than an overtime win at Chicago. Can they carry that momentum onto the road?

Veteran point guard Earl Watson said Hubie Brown, his coach at Memphis, then a playoff team, set a goal of finishing .500 or better on the road. That’s too lofty for this team, but Watson said recent improvement should lead to more road wins.

"In the NBA it’s rare to get a college-like atmosphere on the road like you get in Oklahoma City,” Watson said. "The key on the road is being focused and taking teams out what they’re comfortable with. Every team is different... You try and take away what they do best.”

Coach Scott Brooks said playing solid defense for 48 minutes is the key regardless of where games are played.

"There’s no simple solution,” Brooks said. "You have to do the same things you do at home on the road. You’re not in a comfortable environment, usually in front of a hostile crowd. ... The key is you have to get stops and have a defensive mindset.”