Ducks pin hopes on familiar face

"From these two guys, we're looking forward to seeing them functioning together, strengthening our front line, helping us with a defensive presence and rebounds, but also keeping our balance in the offense."

With national team starter Zhai Xiaochuan, the Ducks' No 1 rebounder (9.3) and second-best domestic scorer (15.5 points), and American forward Justin Hamilton still sidelined by injuries, Christopoulos expects the team's leading scorer Jonathan Gibson to deliver more on both ends of the floor.

"I would like to say that analyzing Jonathan, I'm positively surprised," he said. "I see his willingness to function as a member of the team and not as an individual. That's very important.

"I told him that we will be more than demanding on him for his defensive performance, because we think he can deliver that."

Signed by the Ducks as a replacement for ex-NBA guard Jeremy Lin, Gibson has averaged 24.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists for Beijing in 28 games this season, far off his prolific output of 30-plus points on average over his previous five CBA campaigns.

"I think in the first two stages, everything is still kind of brand new," said the 33-year-old California native.

"Throughout my career I had a bunch of different coaches. So for me personally I think it won't be too hard to adjust. Just whatever you ask I will try to do to the best of my capability."