Nuggets captain Sam To'omata believes the team is still unified and focused on getting that elusive win.
But all the signs on court point to a less harmonious environment.
The fight the Nuggets promised this season has not been evident in recent weeks.
The franchise reached rock bottom last week with a thoroughly unimpressive performance against a mediocre Manawatu Jets team.
American imports Tyler Amaya and John Barber jun left the stadium with defeated expressions fixed in place.
The pair had a forgettable night.
A week earlier, coach Alf Arlidge had questioned their commitment and asked for more from the paid professionals.
The critical feedback does not appear to have been received favourably.
But if there are divisions forming, they are not obvious to To'omata.
"I haven't seen anything different in training," he responded.
"From the outside it can look a bit like that. But on the inside they are still the same guys to us and are still helping out the young guys at training."
"I think we are at the point were everyone is feeling the pressure," he added.
"For the paid players you do feel a lot of pressure.
"If you are not performing, then in a normal job if you're not coming through, even if you're an accountant, you'd get reviewed and get those warnings and eventually get cut.
"The pressure is always there for everyone but it's more for the paid players."
While it is unsettling, it is a reality professional basketballers live with, To'omata said.
"Everyone has had their chance to say, 'Look, I don't think the pressure is good for me, I don't think I'll play this season'," adding the team just has to get on with it.
"Everyone knows we are in for a bit of a banging this year and it is up to us to get down and work on the little things."
To'omata said the team was bitterly disappointed with its 89-68 defeat to the Jets.
"A few things didn't go well and it snowballed," he explained.
"Individually, we have to take more account and get in that gym and just shoot those jumpers like we should."
The Nuggets have the worst offence in the league and have struggled to lift their shooting percentages.
On attack the team looks hesitant and disjointed.
Unless significant improvements are made it is hard to imagine the Nuggets winning any of their six remaining matches.
They play the resurgent Hawke's Bay Hawks at Pettigrew Green Arena on Friday night and return to Dunedin on Saturday to meet the Harbour Heat.
To'omata said the team remained upbeat despite a 12-game losing streak.
"We're not giving up and saying, 'Look, let's just build for the future'.
"We still want to go into every game like we are going to win regardless of who we are playing or what the other team looks like on paper."
