The surprise defeat cost Sydney top spot on the NBL ladder with 11 games remaining.

Despite establishing themselves as the competition's best defensive team with 2.13m Andrew Bogut manning the middle, the Kings' 85 points per game ranks second-last.

"I've got to try and give them better direction," Gaze said.

"There's a bit of uncertainty about what our best options are at certain phases of the game. It's about continuing to rehearse and practise.

"The thing that concerns me is whenever we took Boges out of the game and he wasn't there to protect the rim.

"I played him more than I wanted to but it's a big difference when he's not in there."

Both Gaze and Illawarra coach Rob Beveridge were critical of the NBL's in-game review process after play was halted on multiple occasions.

Gaze was particularly baffled by an unsportsmanlike foul called on Kings forward David Wear in the first quarter.

"The review process can be helpful if it corrects a blatant error, but when two guys go for a ball and there is an incidental clash of feet and one guy falls over, that's not my understanding of the (unsportsmanlike foul) rule," he said.

"If I'm wrong I'm wrong, and we'll say (to Kings players) try and tangle your legs up when there's no-one in front of you and get on the floor, because you're going to get rewarded with two (free throws) and the ball."

Beveridge believes the review system often prevents teams from maintaining momentum.

"I hate the process," he said.

"In sport everybody makes mistakes - the referees make mistakes. Just make a decision and right or wrong, move on. It's a momentum killer for both teams.

"It's a cop-out a lot of the time because it takes way too much time."

The Kings aim to bounce back in Monday night's road clash with last-placed Cairns, while the Hawks host Adelaide on Thursday.

Australian Associated Press