Justin Tatum’s bellyaches: Is the Hawks coach a sore loser, or does he have a point?

Is Justin Tatum a serial sore loser trying to take focus off his team’s failure to close or does he have a point? MATT LOGUE and MICHAEL RANDALL analyse the Illawarra coach’s track record.

Justin Tatum has done a terrific job rebuilding Illawarra but the petulance of his long-running feud with the referees and the NBL might bring about the Hawks’ downfall in what should be the club’s crowning glory.

The Hawks’ rise under Tatum is one of the stories of the season and deserves praise but the American mentor’s constant complaining about the officials and the league — during and after games they’ve typically lost — has shifted the attention away from team success and landed him in hot water more than once.

It poses the question: Is Tatum a serial sore loser trying to take focus off his team’s failure to close or does he have a point?

Tatum has now had eight incidents since he became Hawks coach last season and while there have been occasions throughout NBL25 when his grievances have been justified, in more recent times he has missed the mark.

Illawarra Hawks coach Justin Tatum has made his feelings about the officials clear. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images.

This was on show after Sunday’s game three grand final capitulation to Melbourne United when, instead of questioning his team’s fourth-quarter choke after leading by 10 points with eight minutes remaining — he instead took aim at his favourite target — the referees.

This time, though, the refs were right and Tatum just looked silly.

The American coach was fuming after he felt the referees should have stopped the game when star guard Trey Kell injured himself late in the 83-77 loss.

As Kell slumped to the floor clutching his knee after slipping, United raced up the other end and veteran guard Matthew Dellavedova smartly took a three-point shot, knowing the Hawks would commit a foul to stop the game and get Kell medical attention.

Justin Tatum was left fuming after what he thought was the visitors preying one a Hawk’s injury.

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FIBA rule 5.2 clearly states if a ball is live when an injury occurs, the referee shall not blow the whistle until the team in control of the ball has shot for a goal, lost control of the ball, withheld the ball from play or the ball has become dead.

Earlier, referees stopped play when Dellavedova hit the floor hard, having lost control.

Tatum unloaded over the incidents in his post-game press conference.

“Unfortunately when Trey Kell, somebody on my team gets hurt, we can’t look out after them or we can’t make sure they’re off the court,” Tatum fumed.

“He slipped, similar to what ‘Delly’ did when they stopped the whole game and almost had a holiday to make sure he was okay.

“At the end of the day, that’s just the difference of respect I guess between Melbourne and the Hawks.

“The NBL did a good job of making sure they put the right people on there to take care of who they need to take care of.”

Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit is looking into Tatum’s suggestion United received favourable treatment.

It’s the last thing the Hawks need, given they head into Wednesday’s game four facing championship elimination.

Tatum would be better off focusing his attention on the Hawks’ inefficiencies, which resulted in just 10 fourth period points, the fewest the league’s best offensive team have scored in any quarter this season.

Illawarra went 0-6 from three to finish Sunday’s game against United, while they also missed three basic layups.

In comparison, the experienced United stayed calm and composed to fire when it mattered down the stretch.

The reality is the referees in this grand final series haven’t been whistle happy — they’ve allowed the players to decide the games.

Tatum was not complaining after game two when his own man Tyler Harvey clearly travelled on his game-winning three-pointer.

Illawarra’s problem is they’re struggling to compete in the war of attrition against a battle-hardened Melbourne side that is packed with players who have won multiple titles at different levels.

United has worn down the Hawks with their physicality, led by veteran Dellavedova’s famed appetite to compete for every scrap.

Three of Melbourne’s oldest players – Dellavedova, Chris Goulding and Ian Clark all played over 30 minutes in game three.

Not one Hawks player was on the floor for more than 30 minutes, raising the question about Tatum’s subbing and ability to maximise his players’ performances.

This is a major concern for Illawarra heading into Wednesday’s do-or-die clash at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena.

Can the Hawks go the distance in a physical battle with United, especially with Kell in doubt for the game with a knee injury?

Originally published as Justin Tatum’s bellyaches: Is the Hawks coach a sore loser, or does he have a point?