With the LaMelo Ball show in town it's not hard to see why, but Aaron Brooks and Josh Boone are two of biggest import signings in the club's history.

Hype of course, brings expectation. Dealing with that is a challenge in itself, and not one rookie coach Matt Flinn is all that familiar with.

There's certainly cause for optimism, but there are always pressing questions ahead of a fresh campaign. Hoopla sees them as follows:

The LaMelo effect?

Ball's arrival has brought unprecedented attention to the Hawks, globally and locally, and one could well make the argument it was a raging success before he even takes the floor.

History is littered with highly touted rookies who, pardon the pun, blitz the preseason but Ball's performance against Perth at the NBL Blitz was impressive by any measure.

He fell just short of a triple-double with his subsequent climb up the ESPN mock draft standings garnering plenty of attention.

He had a more modest return against Sydney on Sunday but what occurred at the Blitz illustrates where then challenges will lie.

Aside from what can be an obvious distraction, it an illustration of why Ball's really here. He's in the shopfront window and the NBA Draft is a numbers game.

In summary he needs them, more than he needs wins. Of course wins help but they're not a necessity in the same way they are for Flinn and his team.

There's no reasons he can't have both and if Melo's putting up numbers like he did in the preseason, you could reasonably expect wins will follow. If they don't... that's where things will get tricky.

Ball's already passed the character test in Hawks camp with flying colours, so let's hope for the former.

Age just a number?

A lot's been made of the wide gap between the Hawks' older brigade and its youth.

The Hawks have four guys over the age of 34. What's encouraging is that, where there's advanced age, there's depth, particularly when it comes to the bigs.

Speaking to Flinn earlier this year, he said that we're all too quick to wash guys up in this league and he's right.

What is apparent when looking over the roster is that Todd Blanchfield staying healthy is an absolute necessity. Flinn does not have the depth in the three spot that he has in the front and back court.

It's still an enviable roster, but its make-up means it will need to be managed delicately, both the bodies and the egos.

The hard edge?

The aforementioned questions relate to a best and worse case scenario. There is no void in essentials like experience, talent or youthful exuberance.

Perhaps the only area where Flinn is looking for something that's not immediately apparent in his squad is toughness.

For the last several seasons, Kevin White was the spiritual leader of the Hawks and he brought a tough and uncompromising defensive edge.

Brian Conklin was a polarising figure in the league, but he did the same.

Adding Tyson Demos to the coaching staff is clearly aimed at addressing it, but who will bring it this season remains to be seen.

The hot tip is that star import Aaron Brooks is the man most likely. It will probably come down to a player simply deciding it's going to be him.

Boone and Ogilvy clicking in tandem

Still on the roster puzzle, it's been interesting to watch the way Josh Boone and AJ Ogilvy have worked in tandem at different stages through preseason.

Having the second and third ranked defensive rebounders - and two former All-NBL First Team centres - in the one team has its obvious benefits at the defensive end, but Flinn's showing early signs he can get them to click offensively.

Boone had a seven-assist game against the Phoenix and Ogilvy had six dimes against Perth, both showing the all-round attributes that haven't always been on show in the more dominant set roles they've previously filled.

It only works if both men buy in and early indications are that they have according to Flinn.

"There's no question there were a few eyebrows raised when we recruited those two guys," Flinn said.

"They're elite rebounders but at the offensive end they are clicking and the system's probably allowing them to do that somewhat.

"Our challenges are still to come with those two playing together but they've got great chemistry and tremendous respect for each other. They're very unselfish and that's fun to coach.

"When I first started recruiting Josh AJ was the first one I spoke to and he was all for it. They've played against each other for a while, they bang against each other and take no prisoners but that bodes well for when they tandem up against other bigs.

"We certainly want them both to get opportunities and play to their strengths. It's early days but it looks a lot better than what people probably thought it would at this stage."

Blanchfield seeks former skipper's counsel

TODD Blanchfield's rise to the co-captaincy of the hawks came as a surprise to no one.

He's a domestic talent signed beyond this season, he's the club's reigning MVP and just enjoyed a career-best year.

His age, 27, is also an important factor given the aforementioned make-up of the Hawks roster. He's had a few mentors, but he told Hoopla he first sought the counsel of one his own former captains.

"When I was approached about [the captaincy] by Flinny I was actually speaking a lot with Russell Hinder," Blanchfield said.

"When I was in Townsville he was the captain for three years while I was up there and I'm still pretty close friends with Russ.

"I just called him on his way home from work and for him to just put aside half an hour aside to help me.

"I just picked his brain about how he went about things in Townsvillle and he pretty much just told me the things he learned and wished he'd done better as a captain.

"To pick the brain of someone like that was big time for me and gave me the confidence to step up and take this role with two hands and run with it."