Nothin' But Nets
Fansided

Brooklyn Nets: 10 Best playoff performances of 2010s

By Jeremy Goldstein

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 18: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Brook Lopez #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on January 18, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.The Nets defeated the Hawks 94-89. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 18: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Brook Lopez #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on January 18, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.The Nets defeated the Hawks 94-89. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets
Paul Pierce #34 of the Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

3. Paul Pierce, The “That’s Why They Got Me Here” Game, 2014 First Round Game 1

The Nets underachieved during the 2013-14 regular season. A slow start led to calls over Jason Kidd’s job security, as an awful start to a season full of expectations had the team sitting with a 10-21 record on New Year’s Day.

On January 2nd, “Iso” Joe Johnson hit a classic game-winner in Oklahoma City against 2014 MVP Kevin Durant as time expired. The team rallied off 10 wins in 11 games to climb back into the playoff race but found themselves stuck in the six seed when the playoffs started.

Paul Pierce, for a fleeting moment, gave Nets fans the hope that maybe, just maybe, this team could play to their talent and not their record. The former Celtic went for 20 on the day, but his fadeaway jumper with 50 seconds left to put the Nets up eight ended the game. Then, the famous expression:

Maybe this team had the right mix of tested veterans to pull off a playoff run. For a brief second, this seemed more than possible. Ride JJ, D-Will, and Brook early, then turn to Pierce and KG to close.

The “maybe” lost in 5 to the Heat in the next round…..