The Hawks agree they haven't always brought the determination and energy required to the court. Photo / File
So if Kirstin Daly-Taylor lost the respect of some of her squad did the Hawks players throw her under the bus?
Taylor Hawks co-skipper Jarrod Kenny last night took the blame for their abysmal performance that saw them win just one game this National Basketball League (NBL) season and drop back to last on the table after a win-less winter last year.
But according to sources, bar Kenny, co-skipper Everard Bartlett and forward Darryl Jones, some key players had not warmed up to Daly-Taylor because she was a female coach.
"No one's out there trying to do the wrong thing or sabotaging it or anything like that but it just takes a bit of time and hard work to stay focused really," Kenny said.
He didn't think it was a case of blokes finding it difficult to relate to a female coach at all.
"She's not your typical female off the street. She's been the New Zealand captain, been to the Olympic Games and spent time in college [US university]," he said, emphasising she was court savvy.
Kenny said the players had had a discussion since Daly-Taylor informed them after the game that she was quitting.
"We've discussed it and it's something we'll keep within the team."
It is understood a Hawks player was told to pull his head in last week because he was behaving like a peacock and didn't have respect for his captain or teammates, according to a source.
Kenny said Daly-Taylor had resigned owing to reasons best known to her but the players were sorry to see her leave.
"We're pretty gutted and Kirstin's a pretty awesome coach. Not only that, she's an awesome person and she's done a lot for basketball in the Bay," said Kenny of Daly-Taylor who was coach briefly and an assistant in previous winters.
While the players were stumped they felt they still had a job to do.
"We're a bit down and out but we're moving forward the best we can and, hopefully, keep improving for the rest of the season.
"At the end of the day it's just sport but a professional organisation and a business, I guess."
The Perth Wildcats double ANBL-winning champion point guard accepted the 106-89 defeat at the hands of the Canterbury Rams on Tuesday was unacceptable.
Kenny said frustratingly the problems were things the players could control and not pertaining to skills.
"The most disheartening thing is that we didn't bring the effort and energy into it."
It should always be given, he said, for players to turn up at the PG Arena, Taradale, armed with good ethics and oozing with energy.
The Anzac Day loss had nothing to do with the coaches or the administration but purely attributed to the players.
Kenny said they spent a lot of time on refining their systems during the week but for some reason strayed from the game plan on game days.
"We're just having a little bit of trouble carrying that over to the games, which is hard for us to try to make corrections when we're identifying things and then we can't do them before we make those adjustments."
He put it down to "a learning curve" because of a new team.
The players had agreed they had to get behind Ben Hill and whoever else comes into the coaching stable to be professional about things to still make, what they firmly believe, is the NBL playoffs.
Hawks franchise board chairman Keith Price also dismissed any suggestions some players should be held accountable, too.
"I guess you'd say it just didn't gel. For what reasons I don't know," Price said, alluding to Adelaide 36ers chief executive Guy Hedderwick's presence might have been a factor in trying to secure 2017-18 ANBL contracts.
"Whether that got to them, I don't know."
He said Daly-Taylor wasn't happy with the players' standard of performance.
"Why that happens, who knows?'
Price said a five-year contract was a long way away for anyone in any position.
"Even if you're doing something for five years there should be renewable every year," he said, adding that Daly-Taylor's five-year contract was a deal ex-franchise general manager Jay Bratschi had arranged although the board had let it through as peace of mind for the coach.
Price thought it was going to be a two-year operation to have the Hawks back on their perch in the NBL but now suspects it would be at least three.
The Hawks' campaign was still on track with Hill believing they needed to win 80 per cent of their remaining games.
"The players can see that we can still make that top four and then it's a one-on-one then."
While he didn't expect miracles, Price said the 38-year-old could get more out of the troops.
The loss to the Canterbury Rams on Tuesday was "probably one of the worst for a long time even when compared to last year when we really struggled".
Price put it down to "just a bad day".
He suspected Hill might initiate a culture change.
"He's certainly a non-nonsense guy."