Illawarra Hawks coach Justin Tatum had some tense press conference exchanges after the reigning champions suffered a 97-75 loss to Melbourne United on Thursday night, dropping their season record to a concerning 6–11.
Illawarra remained within striking distance for much of the contest before unraveling in the fourth quarter.
Frustration and offensive struggles surfaced as the Hawks managed just eight points in the final term — one of their poorest offensive quarters in recent memory.
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An openly frustrated Tatum did not shy away from the reality of the situation when asked for his assessment post-game, but he also wasn’t in the mood to elaborate with one reporter.
“We’re 6 and 11,” Tatum said.
“So write it how you want to write it, because you’ll probably word it how you want to, but we’re 6 and 11.”
It was another difficult night offensively for the Hawks, who shot just 39.5 per cent from the field. Adding to Tatum’s concerns, championship guard Tyler Harvey was clearly hampered by a lower-back injury in the second half, while three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee suffered an eye injury.
McGee was booed by the home crowd – something Tatum addressed when asked.
“They pay the money to cheer and watch the basketball game,” Tatum said.
“So they can say and do what they want as long as it’s professional. It’s not bothering us. It’s no different to any other crowd.”
Turnovers continue to plague the Hawks. After leading the league last season in fewest turnovers per game (9.6), Illawarra now sit at the opposite end of the spectrum, averaging a league-worst 15.4 per game. Melbourne capitalised on that weakness, forcing 16 turnovers in the win.
When asked about his own mindset following the loss, Tatum was again blunt.
“What do you mean, where I’m at?” he said.
“This is not therapy. My team is fine. I’m fine. Nobody’s excited after they lose a game.
“You’ve just got to find ways to correct it. So my mental and everything is okay. Make sure you word that right.”
Tatum later expanded on the disappointment of dropping a game the Hawks had heavily prepared for and acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“This is one we felt we worked all week to prepare for, and unfortunately we came up well short,” he said.
“And we know our schedule – the teams we’re playing are playing well right now. Adelaide, Sydney, even Tasmania.
“New Year’s Eve is going to be a tough one for us.”
The Hawks currently sit eighth on the ladder, and with a demanding stretch ahead, the window to defend their championship continues to narrow.
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