"They're soft": MVP slams struggling United

If alarm bells weren't ringing before Wednesday’s loss to Cairns, they’re deafening now for Melbourne United.

After opening the season on a 9-0 win streak, Dean Vickerman's side have now lost seven of their nine games.

During that stretch, United's offence has fallen off a cliff, only averaging 87.9 points per game and having the second-worst offensive rating (108.7). United also rank second-last in field goal percentage (42.6), three-point percentage (29.4), effective field goal percentage (48.2) and points per possession (29.4).

Contributing to that is their third-worst turnover percentage (14), where only Queensland duo Cairns (16.9) and Brisbane (16.5) are worse statistically.

Equally as bad is Melbourne's defence, who is conceding 93.8 points a game since Round 11, which is the third-worst mark in the competition.

Fed up with their poor play and losses, United captain Chris Goulding said he was "pissed off" following Wednesday's loss and two-time NBL MVP Chris Anstey believes his frustrations are warranted.

"I agree entirely with Chris Goulding's comment after the game, they should be pissed off," Anstey said on Thursday's episode of NBL Now.

"I got to sit courtside [in Bendigo] and they're not competing on the defensive end. They're soft, can't keep their man in front of them and are avoiding physicality.

"They're really quick in their rotations in and off the bench, so no one's getting in a rhythm.

"Offensively, you look at it and you're like who's the man at Melbourne United because they're playing my turn, your turn, which I love when it's working. But somebody's got to just step up and take 20 odd shots a game. That aggressiveness is going to then open [up others].

"[Thursday] was a hard watch and you kept looking up the scoreboard thinking 'when will United put their foot down and lock in on the defensive end?'."

United's road back to the winners' circle doesn't get any easier, with the Sydney Kings, who they've lost to on two occasions this season, next on the schedule.

Anstey, who won three NBL titles during his career, encouraged United to bring those frustrations with them to Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday and play "pissed off".

"It might be as simple as them coming out against Sydney and playing pissed off," Anstey said.

"They're not going to change too much this time of year, but try playing with a level of anger and edge, hit some people, be physical and don't settle for three point shots early in the shot.

"They're not doing anything to the level that they did at the start of the season and to me, that's effort."

Sunday's Round 16 clash between fourth-placed Sydney and third-placed Melbourne tips off at 4.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN and 10 Drama.