'We're not trusting each other': Tatum

The Illawarra Hawks' championship defence is on life support folllowing Thursday night's loss to Melbourne United at John Cain Arena.

After keeping the NBL25 Championship Series match close for the first three quarters, United outscored the Hawks 23-8 in the final period to secure the Round 13 victory.

In the post-game press conference, coach Tatum offered a frank assessment of where his team is at.

"We're 6-11. Write it how you want to, because you're probably going to word it how you want to [anyway], but we're 6-11," Tatum said in the post-game press conference.

"Nobody's excited after they lose a game. You just gotta find ways to correct it.

"[Overall] we need to get better, because we're not in Playoffs [right now], and to reach the Playoffs is the goal."

To achieve that goal, Tatum said his team needs to believe in one another.

"[We need to] trust each other. We're not really trusting each other at times on the floor," the championship-winning coach said.

"We have got to do a better job of understanding each other, move the ball [with confidence], and not allow teams to be so physical with us that it prevents us from getting into our offensive sets."

The Hawks currently sit in eighth place on the NBL standings, but just two games off a Play-In spot.

They will look to return to the winners' circle on Saturday, when they host first-placed Adelaide at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

The Round 13 fixture tips off at 5.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.