Dallas' only championship ring belongs to coach Rick Carlisle, who won his as a player with the Celtics. As a coach, he has twice before advanced to the conference finals but no further.

Even the Thunder, with the youngest roster in the conference finals since the Rockets in 1986, have two players with titles on their résumés - Nazr Mohammed (San Antonio, 2005) and Kendrick Perkins (Boston, 2009).

"Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento versus L.A., he didn't get it done," guard Jason Terry said. "Myself and Dirk, Finals 2-0, didn't get it done. Coach Carlisle, two Eastern Conference finals, never made it to the championship. Jason Kidd, two Finals appearances, didn't hoist up the trophy. Shawn Marion has been to the Western Conference finals twice, hasn't got to the Finals.

"Those unique stories are what drive us and motivate us to get it done this year."