With San Antonio leading the series, New Jersey has a lot on its mind.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -Since the playoffs began almost two months ago, the New Jersey Nets had a swagger and confidence that was unmistakable.

They felt they were the best team in the Eastern Conference once again, and they believed they could bring an NBA title to the Meadowlands for the first time.

After losing Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday night and falling behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven series against the San Antonio Spurs, there were some signs the Nets were questioning themselves.

It wasn’t anything the players or coaches said. It was just the way they said it.

Voices were noticeably lower after the 93-83 loss, and that self-assuredness wasn’t there as the Nets faced the task of having to win the final two games in San Antonio – starting Sunday with Game 6.

Only six teams have rallied from 3-2 deficits to win an NBA championship.

“The odds are long but not impossible,” backup guard Lucious Harris said. “Odds are meant to be broken. We’ll get on that bus and on that plane. Hopefully we’ll have a smooth ride and we’ll win two games.”

If the Nets are to come back, they are going to need a healthy Kenyon Martin for the final two games.

Martin, who has been sick since at least Wednesday, struggled in Game 5. After averaging more than 19 points in 18 postseason games, he had four points in Game 5 on 2-of-8 shooting. He also turned the ball over eight times, including four times in the fourth quarter.

“He’s human,” said Jason Kidd, whose 29 points weren’t enough to carry the Nets alone.

Kidd, who will become a free agent after this season, also showed a little frustration for the first time in the postseason, noting not everyone on the Nets played well.

While he didn’t point a finger, Kidd was upset the Nets settled for too many jumpers instead of being more aggressive or working the ball more.

Harris, Kerry Kittles and Rodney Rogers combined for 4-of-19 shooting against the Spurs’ mixture of man and zone.

“It’s frustrating out there,” Kittles said. “We’re not finding our rhythm.”

Having Tim Duncan and David Robinson in the middle of the Spurs’ defense is something the Nets didn’t have to deal with in losing twice in 14 games en route to a second straight Eastern Conference title.

“They do a good job of matching up with their zone, contesting us when we’re driving in the paint,” Harris said.

“We’re taking forced jump shots contested. We’ve got to win better ways to get open shots, and it’s our job to knock them down.”

If the Nets don’t start doing that, they are going to go home from the NBA Finals for the second straight year without a title.

“We believe it’s not over until it’s over,” center Dikembe Mutombo said. “We have confidence in ourselves and our teammates. We won there before. We have to stay focused to achieve our goal.”

The Nets and Spurs split the first two games in San Antonio.

“You have to go out there and do whatever it takes to win,” Kittles said.

“Obviously, our backs are against the wall. Every game is important and hopefully you get lucky.”

AP-ES-06-14-03 1813EDT