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.