In coaching, it doesn't pay to stay steamed for too long.

Emotions, staunch messages and metaphorical kicks up the rear end are all well and good, but there soon comes a time when players need a cool head and clear message from their coach if they hope to achieve the results that are being sought.

Breakers coach Paul Henare very much fits that category. After last Friday night's fourth quarter meltdown against Adelaide at Spark Arena, the coach arrived in the press room notably late and still fuming from a fourth defeat in the last five Australian NBL games that has seen his team slump from a commanding 9-1 record to 10-5.

Henare, a heart on his sleeve coach if ever there was one, accused his team of being "soft" and lacking accountability and said the effort from his starters, only one of whom made more than three field goals against the Sixers, was simply not good enough.

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By Tuesday, following a weekend off, and a couple of practices under the belt, Henare had refound his cool as the focus very much turned to Thursday night's visit to the bottom-placed Sydney Kings (3-11) -- the first of two straight holiday season road game for the Kiwi club.

"We've moved on from that," said Henare of last Friday's debacle where his team was outscored 34-11 in the final term and shot just four of 21. "We've done a review, as we normally do, and looked at those areas where we need to get better."

Henare said no special messages had been given to specific players, but the team was well aware of the areas where they needed to get better to snap out of this mid-season funk.

"These guys have high expectations of themselves," he added. "Whilst there is a need to have conversations and look at things, these guys are fully aware of where they need to get better."

No one is exempt right now. Edgar Sosa hasn't shot at 50 percent or better over the last five games, DJ Newbill has made just six of his last 25 field goal attempts in the last two defeats, Mika Vukona is struggling (just 6.8ppg and 4.0rpg over the last five games) and Tom Abercrombie has been quiet, with the exception of his 22-point/11-rebound double-double in the home win against Brisbane.

We could go on. Kirk Penney is in a shooting slump, Alex Pledger is nowhere near as sharp around the hoop as he needs to be and Shea Ili is missing a concerning amount of layups.

Even Henare has been, by his own admission, off the mark. He admitted he erred in playing Finn Delany just 9:40 against Adelaide, during which he scored 11 points on four-of-six shooting and the Breakers were +13 on the scoreboard. "Someone should give me a slap upside the head for that," he sighed after the game.

The coach said key areas had been identified – mostly on defence, but also around "getting on the same page" offensively – and the focus was now purely on the rejigged Kings whom he was adamant presented dangers far beyond what their record reflected.

"They're arguably the most talented team in the league. Jerome Randle, Brad Newley, Todd Blanchfield, Perry Ellis, Jeremy Tyler ... the list goes on. They've got a two-time MVP possibly sitting on the bench in Kevin Lisch.

"This is a dangerous, dangerous team. They've just come off a 20-point win against Cairns. In this competition you can't look at placings on the ladder. It doesn't matter."

Yes, Henare has cooled. But not enough to remove that floating threat that he could yet make a personnel move, with a third import spot still up his sleeve.

"It's an option that's available, but as of now we're not making any changes," he said after Tuesday's practice.

So, just leaving it open for injury?

"Just leaving it open." The intent was clear. Things have to improve. Starting now.