Giants outnumber Hawks centre Zach Atkinson on rebound at the PG Arena, Napier, on Saturday.
Hawks 68 Giants 75 Rd 1, NBL PG Arena, Napier
Roster's rosy but what happens when it doesn't play out in the basketball season's first tip off?
IMS Payroll Hawks coach Liam Flynn has his work cut out after his men came up shy, 75-68, in Napier on Saturday night in their season opener.
The Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL) game against the Nelson Giants had enough twists and turns to keep the Hawks faithful entertained in the first half but the hosts lost their way in the second half at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale.
"You just look at us on paper ... I can give you all the reasons under the sun as to why it didn't work out tonight but we just couldn't finish off those defensive positions on rebounds," co-captain Paora Winitana said after the sides were locked 21-21 in the first quarter before Flynn went into the locker room a point up (42-41).
Winitana preferred not to hide behind any suggestions of first-game rustiness either.
"A couple of things didn't go our way. A couple of calls and all of a sudden, Zach's out in the first half [three fouls]," he said, as Flynn had to bench new American import Zach Atkinson although the power forward returned to rack up a game-high 11 rebounds, seven defensively, on the way to a double-double 11 points as well as staying out of further foul trouble in 25m 41s of court time.
The other new overseas acquisition, Suleiman Braimoh, scored 18 points but was fouled out after 29:13 of court time.
Overall, the Hawks didn't find much love from the rims, especially from the free-throw line (55 per cent to Nelson's 68).
"Shots didn't go in, that's one part of the game," Winitana said, adding towards the business end of the NBL putting up the shutters would matter more.
The cornerstone of any Hawks' season is "hanging their hats" on defence but that didn't happen on Saturday.
"When you're down by four and you need two points you have to get that ball and we couldn't in the last couple of minutes."
He praised the Sam Dempster-skippered Nelson.
"They came here after beating Waitakere [Rangers] and the first half was a grind.
"We should have been up by a few more points but we have to take our hats off to them," Winitana said, singling out their imports, DeRonn Scott, who scored a game-high 19 points, and Mckenzie Moore (17 points, eight rebounds).
Giants coach Tim Fanning agreed his men's intensity reached new heights in the second half.
"Defensively we locked in there a little bit more," said Fanning, finding the Hawks "tough on the inside".
"It was a problem for us the whole game but we did a better job of it in the second half."
The Hawks' favouritism meant the Giants simply wanted to compete here.
"Winning on the road is tough in this league so to come on this trip to get two [wins] is a good start," he said, treating the game as any other rather than as an assistant up against ex-Giants coach Flynn.
Fanning was more preoccupied with the team's attitude and work ethics than results.
"I'm going to have a heart attack by the end of the season because there'll be some very close games," he said, adding power forward Mika Vukona arrives today before their match against the Southland Sharks this week.
The Hawks led for 13m 51s to the Giants' 5:17 and at one stage posted a seven-point lead in the first half.
In the third quarter, with 3:30 left on the clock, an Atkinson dunk woke the Hawks out of a slumber as they trailed 48-51.
In fairness, the Giants had stifling defence and were out hustling the Hawks. The big D is best reflected in last year's All Star forward Braimoh only managing three points in the second half. The hosts collectively mustered only 41 per cent of shots in field goals.
The Hawks dropped an air shot, tripped on the shot-clock and committed a half-court violation in a spell that ended (19-12) 60-54 in favour of the Giants.
NBL wise man Phill Jones came on sporadically off the bench but with deadly impact.
With four minutes to go in the game, Braimoh's offensive pass to Atkinson went begging under the hoop.
Leading 68-61, a grinning Jones blocked Marco Alexander's field goal although the Hawks point guard came back with a three-pointer but the Giants had no qualms about posting return-to-sender replies with some interest.
The Hawks were reduced to playing catch-up hoop and will need their A game here on Friday against the Saints.
"If you look at Phill's stats you don't get half of what he does, especially with DeRonn and Mckenzie there.
"He [Jones] is invaluable for the team and those two guys [imports] just to show them what it was like to play at a higher level for that long," Fanning said.