<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SALT LAKE CITY ? There are some odd facts about Marquis Daniels' season. For instance, the Mavericks are 0-4 when he scores more than 20 points, yet they are 12-3 when he gets four or more assists. He's also a shooting guard who really doesn't specialize in shooting, at least not from long range. He's taken 10 3-pointers all season, making just two. This bit of information accurately defines the 6-6 Daniels' season. The big picture leaves nothing to gripe about. The Mavericks are 48-13 going into tonight's always-tough visit to the Delta Center to play Utah. And Daniels is on a productive roll. He had 13 points and a pair of assists Thursday at Portland and 22 points against Phoenix last Sunday. But sandwiched in between was the sort of showing that chaps Avery Johnson: four points, 2-of-7 shooting and only one assist in 27 minutes Tuesday against Portland. This inconsistent nature bugs the coach and is a reason why Daniels hasn't been a regular presence on the floor. "There's been a lot of ups and downs with the injuries, starting and not starting," Daniels said. "I may not play some games and some I may play four or five minutes. I wouldn't say [I'm] frustrated. I've got to stay positive. Whether I'm playing two minutes, 20 minutes ... everyone is needed on this team, regardless of how much they play." That much is certain. Though Johnson's rotation isn't as fluid as Don Nelson's was, it has fluctuated throughout the season. Bottom line: stay ready because you never know when your chance is coming. "It's been a difficult situation for him because earlier this season he was starting, then he went out and Grif [Adrian Griffin] came in, and we started playing some pretty good basketball," Johnson said. "He wants to play, and like I've told him sometimes, I'm not sure whether it's going to be five minutes or 25 minutes. He just has to keep a firm attitude. He's a big part of our team. And he's been good overall with his attitude." Johnson doesn't see Daniels as a player who has to regain his position in the rotation, although his minutes have declined since November. When Josh Howard returns from a hamstring injury, Daniels will be pushed one peg further down the list. That's the beauty of the Mavericks' depth. It is also a curse when a player is eager for playing time. Johnson is looking for some upgrades out of Daniels as the season enters the final 21 games in order to get him on the court more. "I just want him defensively to be much more physical than what he's been," Johnson said. "Offensively, he has a pretty good floater in the lane. But once he goes up to dunk, he looks like he's about 7-feet tall, and he really doesn't go in to dunk the basketball and finish as hard as I want him to. "I'm just looking for him to be more of a plus player than a plus-minus player." Much of the offensive success Daniels has is based on his ability to get into the paint. For that to happen, he needs his teammates' help. They must space the floor and create enough room for Daniels to operate without a slew of defenders collapsing on him. "Sometimes it's hard for me because when I get in there, they're stepping up for charges, and I try to slow myself down and get my floater up," he said. "But I'll challenge whoever it is." </div> Source
