Humiliated in Perth, Flinn blew up the game plan to the point where some of their plays were still yet to be tested in training.

If the Hawks needed a spark, it would be Brooks entrusted to light it.

So Brooks - who was 26^th pick by Houston in the 2007 NBA draft - started in Monday night's nailbiting 89-88 win in Wollongong, Flinn's first as head coach after years in an assistant role.

It was the starting point in finding answers, after Brooks and Flinn spoke privately in the wake of the 27-point loss to the Wildcats.

"You've got to adapt or die, right," Flinn said.

"After the Perth game we all took stock, (Brooks) was the first guy, we spoke one-on-one after the game and we got to sort somethings out.

"You've got to lean on guys with experience and AB has certainly been around and he understands the game.

"He pointed out some things that I already knew, it was just good to hear it from another voice."

Brooks finished with 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 31.45 minutes on court, only out-pointed by Todd Blanchfield with 20.

AJ Ogilvy was the biggest indicator of the turnaround from Perth.

On Friday, he was held to four points and made just two rebounds, but bounced back in style with 19 points, six rebounds and two assists.

"I was really pleased for AJ," Flinn said after beating Cairns.

"He works as hard as everyone and Aaron comes in, we've got a guy who really understands pick and roll, so does Lamelo.

"So we're trying to them in spots where they can exploit that and there's no doubt that when AJ gets good picks and rolls hard, he attracts some attention.

"And that opens up for the guards, for sure."

Flinn had openly admitted the Hawks were guilty of "clogging the lanes" and failing to make the most of their ability to hurt teams by playing up-tempo.

He was also left frustrated by "leaking points" at the defensive end, while Brooks said the Hawks still needed to improve on the glass.

But beating the Taipans was a starting point.

The Hawks now travel to take on new franchise the unbeaten Phoenix in Melbourne on Saturday, before returning home to play Adelaide.

They will likely have to do it without big man Josh Boone, who came off with a suspected broken nose after copping a stray elbow from teammate Tim Coenraad against the Taipans.

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