Some might blame missed shots, silly passes, defensive breakdowns or poor offensive execution for the Steel's fourth-quarter wobbles this season, but is it simply a lack of maturity or attitude?
There is no denying the Steel are a youthful bunch.
Only five players - Katarina Cooper, Wendy Frew, Jane Watson, Shannon Francois and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid - are older than 23.
And there is also no denying the Steel's inability to get the job done in the fourth quarter has hurt the franchise this season.
Including last weekend's 59-53 loss to the Magic in Hamilton, the Steel has lost the fourth quarter in five of its six losses.
To make matters worse, the Steel was either even or ahead at some stage during the final quarter in losses to the Swifts, Mystics and Magic.
And in losses to the Fever and Vixens, the Steel was within two goals at least once in the final 15 minutes.
In all five losses, the Steel lacked composure and made unforced errors down the stretch.
Former Silver Ferns captain Belinda Colling thinks the Steel is perhaps missing the ''hard-nosed attitude'' required to close out games.
''That last quarter is like a whole different game,'' she said.
''The first three quarters are to keep yourself in the match and sustain. The last quarter is like starting all over again and expect nothing to be given to you.
''You've just got to step it up in the last quarter, and I think that step for the Steel is something they are still needing to find, and you've got to find it collectively.''
Colling also believes it takes time to learn how to win games, something the youthful Steel side has yet to figure out.
''I do think that's a bit of a progression. I think it will come with time. Whether that progression is able to be achieved within this season if they make the finals or not, I definitely just think it's a maturity thing for a team,'' she said.
The only match in which the Steel lost the final quarter (10-9) and went on to win the game was against the Central Pulse (50-49) in Dunedin a fortnight ago.
That win followed a tense 53-53 draw against the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Dunedin, where the Steel won the final quarter 12-11.
After last weekend's fourth-quarter capitulation against the Magic in Hamilton, where the Steel literally threw the game away after leading by two goals with six minutes left, captain Wendy Frew told the Otago Daily Times she had thought the team had overcome its fourth-quarter woes.
''We thought we were over that hurdle but we're back at it now,'' she said.
Now, the Steel is clinging on to the third and final playoff spot in the New Zealand conference with three rounds left, and time is running out to address a problem that simply takes time to fix, Colling said.
''Not to say they can't do it this year; they could go all the way if they start taking that progression further,'' she said.
''But we have had a pretty relatively new line-up that's been established and grown; it's still to come, I think.
''This year has been a real turning point for the Steel, where those youngsters have had some real consistent game time and we've seen them really step up. I guess the next step up is being able to sustain it for a full match, and also having that ability to close out a match.''
Southern Steel
Fourth-quarter fades
v Swifts, round 1
Fourth quarter: 19-16 Swifts
Final score: 68-62 Swifts
v Fever, round 3
Fourth quarter: 16-15 Fever
Final score: 67-60 Fever
v Mystics, round 5
Fourth quarter: 18-11 Mystics
Final score: 57-52 Mystics
v Vixens, round 8
Fourth quarter: 15-9 Vixens
Final score: 63-54 Vixens
v Magic, round 11
Fourth quarter: 16-8 Magic
Final score: 59-53 Magic
