(DANIEL EADE is a Melbourne-based basketball journalist.)

The Melbourne Tigers have been embarrassed, not once but twice, in their first two games of the NBL season and, unless changes are made immediately - to personnel and strategy - then they run the risk of not winning a game throughout the 2010/11 season.

Yes, the Tigers are that bad.

"Definitely embarrassing," noted head coach Al Westover post-game.

"I feel embarrassed," said forward Cameron Tragardh.

The Tigers dumped the embarrassment on themselves, coughing the ball up way too often and finishing Sunday night's game with an excruciating 31 turnovers in their 91-66 drubbing at the claws of the Perth Wildcats.

Westover lamented after the game that despite the Wildcats full-court pressure, the Tigers had only themselves to blame: "I'd say half of those turnovers are self-inflicted. Poor decisions, poor timing, poor passes."

"I can never recall 31 turnovers in a 40 minute game."

As the Tigers continue to dig their own grave, Westover admitted that he will make some subtle changes, like the one he made for the start of the second half when Matt Burston replaced Wade Helliwell in the first five: "Maybe I got to look at tweaking a few things."

Melbourne are also faced with the tough decision on their two imports, Eric Devendorf (5 points, 1/5, 4 turnovers) and TJ Campbell (pictured above; 5 points, 2/5, 5 turnovers), who again both struggled to perform up to expectations and now find themselves possibly playing for their careers on Thursday night when the Tigers cross the Tasman to play the New Zealand Breakers in their next contest.

Westover, though, shifted blame away from the import duo saying that changes won't be made after two games, "You don't want to make any changes after two games and I don't want to point fingers. We were bad across the board. Our bigs had as many turnovers as the guards."

The giants of the Melbourne front-court combined for a staggering 16 turnovers, Tragardh (who accounted for six turnovers) looked uncomfortable as a ball handler and a distributor, highlighted by twice throwing an alley-oop pass over Luke Nevill's outstretched arms and once throwing a lob pass over his head. When Nevill stands 7'2", can someone explain to me how you could miss such a big target?

Helliwell had four turnovers in 20 minutes. Burston had four turnovers in 22 minutes.

"Until we can handle that pressure defence we're going to struggle," said Westover.

After the game Tragardh believed that the Tigers would stay united: "Chemistry is going to take time. There is seven or eight new guys, but we've got to stay together. We're certainly going to stay positive."

But obviously the new captain of the Tigers was unaware of the constant bickering amongst the team on the floor, highlighted by Helliwell giving Nevill a verbal spray for failing to come closer to receive a pass as the Tigers attempted to fight through the Wildcats pressure.

This Melbourne Tigers squad is far away from being a team.

Changes are going to have to be made to the personnel and the starting five before any wins will come the Tigers way.

"Right now we're the ones being punished," explained Westover.

So are the fans who have been watching.