Daniels Set to Let His Game Flow

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<div class="bodytext">Marquis Daniels missed 25 games late last season with a knee injury. During his absence, the Indiana Pacers fell out of the playoff race.</div>

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<div class="bodytext">Coincidence?</div>
<div class="bodytext">"I don't want to say that," Daniels said with a slight smile.</div>
<div class="bodytext">His teammates will tell you there is a definite link.</div>
<div class="bodytext">The Pacers swingman is back and coach Jim O'Brien plans to capitalize on Daniels' unusual playing style. O'Brien said Daniels' ability to slice through the lane will lead to easy baskets in what figures to be a slashing-style offense.</div>
<div class="bodytext">Daniels, who is soft-spoken and not concerned with the spotlight, doesn't have a set position and probably won't start. But his versatility makes him an important bench player.</div>
<div class="bodytext">"He is an uncanny basketball player," O'Brien said. "He has a way of getting into the paint. Every coach wants players that can get into the paint. He can play three positions (point and shooting guard and small forward). . . . He's a guy that as a coach you've got to find how many ways you can plug him into a successful team because he's multitalented."</div>
<div class="bodytext">Daniels' practice time is being limited as a precaution. He said he hopes he'll be 100 percent by the season opener Oct. 31.</div>
<div class="bodytext">"This is still part of my rehab process," Daniels said. "It takes a little time, but it's getting there. My opposite knee is giving me a little problem because I'm compensating, but other than that, I'm doing great."</div>
<div class="bodytext">Daniels thought he would be able to show off his skills when he was acquired from Dallas in the summer of 2006. It instead turned into a season of setbacks.</div>
<div class="bodytext">Then-coach Rick Carlisle was reluctant to give Daniels significant minutes early, causing team officials to ask why Daniels wasn't in the rotation.</div>
<div class="bodytext">Daniels became a fixture after the eight-player trade with Golden State in January.</div>
<div class="bodytext">He had 22 points in an overtime victory over Milwaukee in late February, but two nights later he had an awkward feeling in his knee after a baseline dunk against Toronto. Daniels said after that game that he shouldn't have dunked.</div>
<div class="bodytext">"What's crazy is they said it was good because I burst up a lot of scar tissue in my knee on the dunk," Daniels said. "It turns out that my knee blew up instantly. I was able to come back a little bit, but it never really went well."</div>
<div class="bodytext">Daniels' comeback lasted 41 minutes over a two-game stretch. The Pacers went 6-19 during Daniels' absence. He ended the season averaging 7.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in 45 games.</div>
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"His absence was huge," forward Danny Granger said. "When Marquis would come into the game, he would give us instant offense. He's got that knack for finding a way to the basket. I don't think he worked on it; he's just good at it."</div></p>

Source: Indy Star</p>
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