The Kawasaki Brave Thunders are going to enter the next season with a big chip on their shoulder after they were swept out of the B. League quarterfinals by the Tochigi Brex on Saturday, bringing an abrupt end to a tough and frustrating 2018-19 campaign.
The way the Brave Thunders fell to Tochigi left a bitter taste in their mouths. Essentially, Kawasaki played the same way in both contests, without being able to get its offense going against Tochigi's aggressive, opportunistic defense. Kawasaki lost those games 87-57 and 89-62, respectively, committing 30 turnovers and giving up 21 steals.
"Tochigi's defense was so good and our offense didn't work at all, taking tough shot after tough shot," Kawasaki head coach Takuya Kita said after Game 2. He added he would take full responsibility for the loss.