KEY POINTS:
Given the way he's shaped his side this season, it's a safe bet Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis' eyes would have lit up when he realised new recruit Orien Greene was on the market.
More than the 25-year-old's 128 games of NBA experience, Lemanis would have been attracted by Greene's less tangible qualities.
If he wanted a tough guy who could play some defence to replace the injured Wayne Turner, Greene, who came free on November 15, would have fitted the bill perfectly.
Before being picked up by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2005 draft, Greene played most of his senior college year with a broken foot. It was only after securing an NBA contract - thanks in part to his 68 steals and recognition as his league's top defensive player - that he had surgery.
Greene's signing from the Sacramento Kings so soon after the loss of the popular Turner for the season would seem to continue the Breakers' recent knack of snaring highly regarded imports.
After Carlos Powell's impressive scoring deeds last year, the club again seemed to strike gold with the signing of Turner and Rick Rickert for the current campaign.
The 1.96m Greene may have an excellent pedigree but he won't be expected to fill the role of superstar.
Quite the opposite, in fact, said Lemanis.
"Obviously he's been good enough to hold down a contract in the NBA for a couple of years but he seems to understand that we want him to come here and be a part of the team, rather than come in and try to be the man. We've got a pretty good team and we need someone to come in and complement that."
Lemanis also confirmed he was attracted by Greene's defensive prowess - an area where the Breakers have struggled since losing Turner and Rickert in a double injury blow just as a four-game win streak was giving their season some serious momentum.
"One of the things that I liked about him was that he's a very good defender," Lemanis said. "He won an award for being the best defender in his conference at college.
"And, from the offensive point of view, he has the ability to get to the basket."
Greene arrives on Friday and should get his first taste of NBL action against the league-leading Sydney Kings tomorrow week.
The Breakers' recent run of poor luck must have left Lemanis feeling like he had somehow transgressed in a previous life but at least the team's schedule has been kind.
Tomorrow they play the lowly Souths Dragons and, after taking on the Kings, have a 10-day break before playing Brisbane Bullets.
Lemanis will be hoping his new import is up to speed by then.
"We've certainly been thrown some challenges," he said.
"Things were going pretty well for us but this is just a little bit of adversity. We just need to keep moving forward. You can't let these things get you down."
