Brooklyn Nets Top 10 Playoff Performances of the 2010s

Brooklyn Nets: 10 Best playoff performances of 2010s

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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Joe Johnson #7 of the Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

2, Joe Johnson, The “Duel Against LeBron” Game, 2014 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5

The great experiment was on thin ice in game 5, Trailing 3-1 to a Miami Heat team fresh off back-to-back titles, there should have been no shame in the position the Nets found themselves in. But with ownership anxious on delivering on their four-year-old promise to win a title in five years, they came up well short.

In Game 5, the old men hung on. The fourth quarter featured more long twos than were probably attempted during the entire 2019 NBA Postseason; the Nets started the quarter with makes on 21, 14, 23, 12, 20, 8, and 20 footers, respectively. The eight-footer came with a free throw, part of a 9-0 Net run that Joe Johnson was single-handedly responsible for.

Brooklyn was up eight with under five minutes to play with a chance to bring the series back home for Game 6. The only problem? They would only score three more the rest of the way as the fell 96-94.

Johnson had 34 on the game and 24 in the second half. The only problem? LeBron decided to pour in 14 in the fourth as the Heat stomped to a fourth consecutive birth in the Conference Finals.

Until the Nets signed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant last offseason, this was the last time the Nets could feasible consider themselves in serious contention for a championship.