A season-ending injury to former NBA veteran Aaron Brooks effectively put a line through the Hawks' finals hopes, while championship-winning big Josh Boone has endured an injury-riddled campaign.

The club encountered well-publicised difficulties in finding replacements, with Billy Preston lasting just three games as a replacement for the injured Sam Froling.

The club's had slightly more luck with Hobson who, after struggling from the field in his first three outings, produced 13 points and six assists against the Phoenix on Saturday.

Flinn said the numbers were a reflection of the impact the 32-year-old has had on the practice floor in what's an otherwise youthful back court.

"He's a very good player and he has been for a long time," Flinn said.

"It's very difficult to come into a new team, new environment, new country. We're trying to get him gradually into shape, he's in shape but there's a difference between being in physical shape and being in basketball shape. We're working hard with him with that.

"He's a very cerebral player, he picks stuff up well and he can play multiple spots so we just thought he was going to be really good for our younger guys on this squad as we continue this journey through the back end of this year.

"He likes to move the ball and he can make plays. That's what we wanted and we wanted someone to help facilitate the development of the younger guys and he does that well. He'll get better."

It wasn't enough to get the Hawks over the line against the Phoenix, with an 11-0 run to start the third term proving the turning point. It continued a frustrating habit of conceding game-shifting runs, but Flinn wasn't kicking stones in the aftermath.

"We were certainly ran into a white-hot team, I don't know what they shot at halftime but it was around the 70 [per cent] from three," Flinn said.

"They ended up 50 per cent for the game from the three-point line. We threw a lot at them so credit to South East Melbourne and Simon [Mitchell], he's doing a great job with that team.

"They're one of the best teams in the NBL out of the middle pick and roll. We had some tight schemes for that but when you've got a guy like [John] Roberson out on the floor he can certainly hurt you.

"I think we were just a victim of running into a very good basketball team. You're going to run into that some nights. We'll recover now and get back to it.

"We've got Sydney New Years' Eve so that'll be a fun night at the WEC."

It could see the return of Sam Froling who looks likely to be the first to be discharged from a crowded Hawks casualty ward.

Froling hasn't played since late October after injuring his ankle at training, though he'd had company in the rehab group from the likes of LaMelo Ball and Dave Andersen for extended periods.

The 19-year-old is an outside chance of returning on New Years' Eve, though Saturday's home clash with Melbourne shapes as a more likely date.

Having watched the likes of Emmett Naar, Sunday Dech and Angus Glover come on through the injury crisis, coach Matt Flinn is keen to give Froling - who's contracted for a further two seasons - the same opportunity over the latter part of the season.

"Sam starts contact this week," Flinn said.

"If he doesn't make the New Years' Eve game we've got a game on the fourth so we'll be aiming at that. We're very desperate and keen to get him back because he's a big part of our plans.

"It was just an unfortunate injury that he had. We really want to get him back to give some of that experience to at the back end of this year which will bode well for next year."

"Sam starts contact this week," Flinn said.

"If he doesn't make the New Years' Eve game we've got a game on the fourth so we'll be aiming at that. We're very desperate and keen to get him back because he's a big part of our plans.

"It was just an unfortunate injury that he had. We really want to get him back to give some of that experience to at the back end of this year which will bode well for next year."