Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, center, moves the ball past Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett, right, and Shaun Livingston (14) during the second half of Game 5 of the opening-round NBA basketball playoff series in Toronto, Wednesday, April 30, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette) (The Associated Press)
NEW YORK – Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were expected to bring a championship mentality to Brooklyn, providing the skills, savvy and swagger the Nets needed to make a lengthy playoff run.
It's hard to do all that from the bench.
That's where they were for the entire fourth quarter of a Game 5 loss to the Toronto Raptors that sent the Nets to the brink of an even quicker elimination than last year, which seemed unthinkable before the season with the All-Star roster they assembled.
Coach Jason Kidd says the Nets are only focused on Game 6 on Friday night.
Lose it, and the Nets can forget about a shot at the NBA champions. The Raptors would be the ones moving on to face Miami.
A Game 7 would be Sunday in Toronto.
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