Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth is concerned at signs his team's NBL season could slide into the abyss if they are not quickly rectified after the New Year's Day loss to New Zealand Breakers.
The JackJumpers remain in fourth position on the NBL table with nine games of their season remaining after reaching the playoffs in each of their first two campaigns.
However, Roth saw issues in the five-point loss to the Breakers in Hobart on Monday that, if not fixed, would mean his team won't contend for a championship, and maybe not even reach the playoffs.
While Tasmania are still the second best defensively-rated team in the NBL, only behind Melbourne United, giving up 98 points to the Breakers wasn't acceptable for Roth.
It was a game where New Zealand took 34 free-throws to just nine from Tasmania with the JackJumpers taking 14 more field goals and collecting nine extra offensive rebounds.
They were unable to convert despite a career-best 23 points from development player Sean Macdonald.
"We're digging ourselves a hole that we might not ever get out of to be quite honest with you," Roth said.
"We could flip this around if we have enough grit and toughness to do it or we could slip into the abyss at the rate we're going.
"I think some of the adversity is actually really, really good not only for the players but everyone involved.
"I'll be excited to see what kind of character with our guys and what kind of grit we do have. I thought we played hard but we were just unable to make the right plays and finish off plays."
The JackJumpers were without key big men Will Magnay and Majok Deng, but import centre Marcus Lee stepped up with a season best 14 points and 13 rebounds.
"Honestly I'm pissed," Lee said.
"This is not how these games need to go and as a team we're all pissed, and we're trying to change this real quickly.
"You'll see this attitude that won't change at all, we'll keep working hard and battling each day, and if they'll call fouls like that we won't stop being aggressive. We just need to find a way to finish those games out."
Meanwhile, the Breakers have won four consecutive matches with exciting forward Zylan Cheatham two games into his return from a fractured leg.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (27 points), Anthony Lamb (18), Mangok Mathiang (16) and Next Star Mantas Rubstavicius (16) all came up big.
It's the improved bond between the sixth placed Breakers that is most pleasing for coach Mody Maor.
"One of the strongest undercurrents that there has been over the past month or two is that they've gotten a lot closer as people," he said.
"You can really feel it, there's a friendship brewing and there's a true care and trust between them. These are the most important things to me."
