That will hopefully be a regular storyline for the Werribee Devils in the second half of the Big V season, according to the American imports.

''It's going to get better,'' Small said.

''We're nowhere near where we're going to be around finals time. We're all still fairly new to each other and there's been a lot of new combinations on the floor at a lot of different times.

''We haven't really got a set routine ... because guys have been missing but everybody's back now and we're ready to start gelling.''

Until now it's been a tale of opposites for the two Devils stars.

Small is a sweet shooter from Brooklyn who has grown up fighting for survival. He spent a year in prison for drug possession.

He comes from a streetball background and moves fast around the court, weaving around his opponents with the same rhythm he uses in his beats as Chase Baker in pubs and clubs across Melbourne. ''I'm into music and some of the guys come to things that I've had on outside of basketball,'' Small said.

Beaudet, a much taller figure, hails from Forestville, California - the other side of the country from Brooklyn.

The 25-year-old came late to the sport, beginning at 19 and impressing in Germany last season. He trains with the Melbourne Tigers when he isn't on court with the Devils.

''I've been having a lot of fun training and getting to know the guys.''

While the two have had an immediate impact on the team, Small said it had been the Devils' young guns - Andrew Johnston, Nick Masunda, Chris Fastuca, Sokol Blazovski - who had caught the opposition off guard.

''Our young fellas have stepped up tremendously,'' he said.

The Devils suffered a 66-98 loss to league leaders Sandringham at Werribee on Saturday night and The Devils fell to seventh position on the Big V Championship men's ladder.

They face Melbourne at the Veneto Club this Saturday at 8pm.