Basketball: Message rammed home to Hawks

Suleiman Braimoh grabbed a double-double. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

The Hawks' double-header of the South Island started on a horrendously bumpy note when they picked up a "flat tyre" on the road in Christchurch last night.

Actually, it's fair to say the Liam Flynn-coached IMS Payroll-sponsored Hawke's Bay franchise blew a gasket in their 83-62 defeat to the Canterbury Rams at Cowles Stadium.

Last night Flynn was disappointed with the yo-yo temperament of his outfit so far in the NBL.

"Full credit to them [Canterbury]. They defended well, parked themselves well on D [defence] and chipped in from the three-point line," the dejected Aussie said, bemoaning his troops' below-par shooting prowess.

The Hawks managed an abysmal 10 from 23 from the charity line, a 43 per cent effort that Flynn said wasn't anywhere near acceptable in the NBL.

"We generated wide, open looks when we started and made them.

"But they [Rams] made theirs too and even the contested ones," he said.

While they had youngsters in their squad, Flynn said, they also had enough experience and depth to "show up" at the court.

"We went okay defensively because 83 points is pretty solid."

It was the Hawks' fourth loss from seven Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL) matches.

Furthermore, the match script frighteningly resembled their unceremonious stumble against the Breakers Manawatu Jets in Napier three rounds ago.

Paora Winitana, who didn't travel after his calf strain didn't come right yesterday afternoon, and fellow co-captain Jarrod Kenny's side were 21-9 down in the first quarter.

Former Houston Rocket Jermaine Taylor set the tone for the Rams scoring 11 of his 19 points as the hoop spurned the Hawks' advances.

In the second, the hosts kept their foot on the visitors' throat with a 26-15 statement, heading into the locker room 47-24 down.

The Hawks won the third quarter 18-12, trailing 59-42, and conceded the final spell 24-20.

They shot 34 per cent (23 from 68) from field goals compared with the Rams' 43 per cent (33/76).

The Hawks were 6/20 (20 per cent) from outside the arc while the Cantabrians shot 11/29 (38 per cent).

The Rams led 75 per cent to 43 from the free-throw line and taught the Hawks a rebounding lesson 52-39.

"They [Canterbury] guarded the paint well," Flynn conceded.

He said as the coach it was his responsibility to help the Hawks play consistently.

He saluted Nigerian import Suleiman Braimoh for his double-double game-high equal 25 points and 10 rebounds.

Flynn singled out bench forward Morgan Natanahira for his 10 rebounds and eight points.

"Morgan was exceptional ... and played his role well."

Rams player Richie Edwards also shot 25 points with seven rebounds to provide the impetus for the hosts.

Mickell Gladness shot 12 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks while Marques Whippy plucked a dozen from the boards for the Rams.

Bringing Winitana's experience and consistency back into the equation is imperative next week.

Flynn didn't think it was time to reach for the panic button just yet considering they had 11 more games to play in the NBL.

"It's a very close league so things can change very quickly."

The Hawks play Southland Sharks in Invercargill tomorrow but the hosts have a three from three record at home.