They are raw, uncomfortable and awkward.
But they offer rare insight into what it is like to have your dreams crushed.
The Otago Nuggets were dumped out of the National Basketball League finals in Napier on Saturday night, beaten 87-72 by the Nelson Giants.
The Giants played like demons in that last quarter. Until that point, the Nuggets had appeared in control. Victory slipped away with every left-handed floater from classy small forward Josh Pace and some telling three-pointers from the other Josh, guard Josh Bloxham.
It was painful to watch such a wonderful season unravel that way.
People fell in love with the Nuggets this year. Their colourful back story and their struggles to overcome a 16-year absence from the playoffs resonated with folk.
To lose the last quarter 28-9 and be bundled out of the tournament hurt.
Everyone deals with failure differently. Akeem Wright gave it the thousand-yard stare while the disappointment slowly settled. Others, such as coach Alf Arlidge, were able to bat it away with promises such as ''we'll be better next year''.
Some took it more personally and blamed themselves.
BJ Anthony blamed himself. He had disappeared out the back of the venue with his father, NBL great Benny Anthony.
There they were, two burly men resting against the back wall of Pettigrew Green Arena.
It was dark but BJ was clearly upset. He was letting it all out - all that emotion.
You forget that men who boast the strength of an ox have hearts the same as all of us. Heroes can fail too. Dreams can come apart.
It feels intrusive but this is what defeat can feel like.
This 24-year-old, who played a big part in guiding the Nuggets to the finals with some outstanding performances, did not play well and was leaning into father for support.
Somehow he still had the courage to find some words.
''I'm just upset,'' he said choking back the emotion.
''I'm upset at my own performance. I think the boys played well. Everybody played hard; we just didn't get it done at the end of the game.
''I take most of it on my shoulders. If I could have got going in that second half but I just never really got any rhythm like I should of. Right now it just hurts.''
It is hard not to admire the young man. He has made mistakes. He knows that. He was caught drink driving on the night of the Rugby World Cup and was suspended from the Breakers when he could not take a full part in training after another big night out.
But Anthony has owned up to those failings. He started this season feeling he had a lot to prove. He wanted to show people he could still play and that he could be relied on.
He was hoping his redemption would come through victory. Instead he got it through defeat.
In time he will be able to reflect on what was a magnificent season and will emerge a much better player.
Arlidge was bitterly disappointed too. It was not the way it was supposed to end. But he could still muster a laugh.
''It was a really, really good season for us,'' Arlidge said.
''Personally, I think the guys have done really, really well.
''But that last quarter was very disappointing. We didn't get the ball inside like I wanted us to. We settled for a lot of outside jumpers. Tis [Antoine Tisby] didn't get enough touches I thought and defensively we didn't close out on Josh Bloxham.''
The turning point came when the Nuggets fell behind by five midway through the fourth period. Anthony had an opportunity to make a lay-up, got bumped and missed.
There was no foul call. The Giants scored at the other end through Pace and suddenly the Nuggets trailed by eight instead of a possible three.
The Nuggets looked formidable when they went inside. Tisby scored 12 points in the first half but could not add to that total. Brendon Polyblank was a surprise starter and had his best game of the season, top-scoring for the Nuggets with 17 points.
Wright could not find his range from beyond the arch but still scored 15 points and took 14 rebounds.
Captain Mark Dickel scored 10 points, made nine assists and grabbed six rebounds in a tidy effort.
Pace was the star, though. He scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Veteran Phill Jones had a nice double of 12 points and 10 rebounds and Bloxham drilled four three-pointers in the final quarter to help seal the victory for the Giants.
NBL semifinal
The scores
Nelson Giants 87 (Josh Pace 25, Josh Bloxham 17, Phill Jones 12)
Otago Nuggets 72 (Brendon Polyblank 17, Akeem Wright 15, Antoine Tisby 12)
Quarter scores: 1st 22-23, 2nd 38-44, 3rd 59-63.
