That aside, he feels there's no excuse for not bringing intensity, attitude and other such variables to the court to inject a modicum of pride in the way the Jarrod Kenny and Everard Bartlett co-skippered Hawks should sign off their so-so campaign.
Hill doesn't want to delve into the murky depths of statistics to amplify the mathematical miracle required to make the playoffs but he acknowledges the Hawks are playing for their places next season, although motivation itself won't cut it for some.
"In this day and age it doesn't seem that way. It's been an interesting week, I'll tell you."
To offer a better insight into what he's trying to convey, Hill says during a scrimmage on Thursday he had the starting five play the bench five and the latter group won 3-0 games.
"In my career it's never happened. The starting five may lose one or two but they never lost [the series]."
Consequently Hill will shuffle his deck of cards for another starting five tonight.
The Hawks have had a frustrating season where they have misinterpreted plays, botched rotations, looked lethargic even when standing tall, showed little intention to collect off the boards, chanced their arm irresponsibly in offence and, defensively, even the United Airlines security bloke showed more urgency in removing an unwilling passenger than the basketballers have in putting their hands up.
They are tied on three wins each although the Mountainairs have played one more game (14). The visitors have a one-win, four-loss record on the road but the hosts have an equally unconvincing 1-6 testimony at home.
Where it becomes interesting is the Hawks scoring 1124 points to date but conceding 1187 while Taranaki have amassed 1060 and gifted 1221.
The Mountainairs have lost one more game (11-10) and are on a 10-game losing streak but pipped the Hawks 76-75 in Napier.
The Hawks, who have lost four matches on the trot, have four more games left, including a reload at New Plymouth on Friday, June 9.
The other games are away against James Bond Supercity Rangers on Thursday next week, unbeaten defending champions Wellington Saints at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale, on Saturday next week and SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks at ILT Stadium, Southland, to finish their season on Sunday, June 11.
Therein lies the urgency to tick the boxes next to Taranaki starting today.
Hill says half an hour is dedicated every training to tightening defensive strategies but he believes the scrimmages haven't always made it past the transit lounge to the court.
"I yell at them all the time but, obviously, there must be another means or way for me to communicate with these guys."
Everyone is healthy, bar forward Darryl Jones who isn't capable of too many minutes on the court but Hill intends to discuss with him his fitness leading well into summer.
A former Tall Black and Hawk forward, the coach believes his men need to focus on themselves rather than what the Mountainairs will bring tonight.
"We'll either win or we'll get blown out of the park," he says, resigned to a stage where there's no in-betweens for the Hawks this season.
Point guard Kenny and shooting guard Bartlett have done everything to foster a culture of accountability in his eyes.
