Basketball: Claws out as Hawks aim to prey on Rangers

Liam Flynn says he and US import Zack Atkinson have built a better rapport.

The Hawks are done preening, after some feathers were ruffled in the past few days, and have switched to the preying mode again.

The IMS Payroll-sponsored Hawke's Bay franchise coach Liam Flynn says he and US import Zack Atkinson have built a better rapport after an impasse that came to a head in the South Island double-header last Sunday.

"I'm really proud of the work he's put in at training to work things through, so it's been a great week," says Flynn before the Hawks embark on another double-header on the road this week.

The Hawks, with three wins from eight games, tip off today against the James Blond Supercity Rangers (6-4) in Auckland at 7pm before returning to Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, on Sunday for a 2pm tip off against the Canterbury Rams.

Last week they returned from the South with defeats to the Rams (83-62) and Sharks (82-71), prompting Flynn to lament his troop's inconsistency.

Conspicuously, powerforward/centre Atkinson has found himself on the bench with meagre minutes, despite his double-double feats which featured in all three wins to date. Flynn, on returning to the Bay on Monday, emphasised the need for Atkinson to fulfil his contractual obligations of rebounding, screening, blocking and opportunistically picking points if the need arose.

That drew a response from the American that it was hard to carve up double-doubles when offered minimal minutes.

The parties have since met to resolve any issues through "miscommunication".

Flynn says both player and coach had had more chats and things were "fantastic" at training, as they forge ahead in the Bartercard National Basketball (NBL) campaign in sixth place, six points behind the fourth-placed Rams in the eight-team competition.

The Aussie says the team also had a frank discussion to address their shortcomings with an "okay defence" but underachieving offensively.

Tonight, NBL player-of-the-week Rangers forward Tom Garlepp should prove a handful, with fellow Aussie import Jason Cadee, after spearheading the victories over front-runners Nelson Giants and Wellington Saints.

Co-skipper Paora Winitana has come through "full-load" scrimmages although his ankle injury is not 100 per cent, while bench point guard Marco Alexander is still under observation after hip surgery.

Reuben Te Rangi is perimeter shooter for Rangers, who lost to Hawks in Napier, with Hayden Allen out injured. Teenage timber Tai Wynyard is clocking up more minutes.

Winitana again will not play on Sunday because of his religious beliefs, which means shooting guards Alonzo Burton and Luke Aston will have more court time.