At 1-7, there's been an Aaron Brooks-sized hole blown in the Illawarra Hawks' plans.
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So where to now?
A replacement for Brooks can't come soon enough, yet the rumour persists NBA No.1 draft hopeful LaMelo Ball may be headed back to the US before the new year.
They shot at just 32 per cent against Brisbane in Canberra, but at the other end of the floor handed up 83 points and have conceded 752 for the season, which equates to 94 per game.
Perth have next worst defensive record with 682, while league leaders Sydney have allowed just 483 in six games, or 80.5 per game.
It sets up a hugely desperate scrap against the other regional battlers in Cairns, who at 2-5 are just barely clinging to the playoffs hopes the Hawks have almost certainly written off.
Ball finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, but Flinn was quick to point out the defensive frailties of the teenage talent and the Hawks.
"He's a talented kid, he kept to the hole and he creates for other people but we play at both ends of the floor and, at times tonight, and not just Melo, we had multiple breakdowns defensively," Flinn said.
"Against a team like Brisbane, you do that and it's going to hurt.
"We were certainly missing (Brooks) tonight but, in saying that, AB is done so we've got to find a way to get it done."
READ MORE: Froling drafting up own NBA plan
With Brooks gone for the season with an Achilles tendon injury, the loss of the Hawks other NBA hopeful Sam Froling just proved all too much.
As a result, Flinn is already starting to map out a long-term vision.
"This whole year was always going to be a challenge, given some of the youth and new group getting together, new coach, but we're going to stay with it. We're building for the future," Flinn said.
Still, the Hawks are a long way from becoming one of the worst performed teams in the NBL in the 21st century.
The defunct Hunter Pirates - who took over the Canberra Cannons license - hold that unwanted slice of recent history when they finished with a 2-31 record in 2003-04.
They failed to win a game away from home and suffered a 15-game losing streak in the process.
At least the Hawks are only at five in a row.
HARD ROAD
Worst NBL records this century
2003-04: Hunter Pirates 2-31
1999-00: Cairns Taipans 2-26
2000-01: Canberra Cannons 3-25
2005-06: West Sydney Razorbacks 5-27
2006-07: West Sydney Razorbacks 5-28
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