Celtics swingman Marquis Daniels has struggled offensively in recent weeks, and the veteran does not understand why he's been so inconsistent this season, the Boston Herald reports.
"I don't know why," Daniels told the Herald. "It's really hard to say. But I don't ever think that this is about making hoops. I just take my shots when they’re there."
Injuries could factor into Daniels' problems. The seven-year vet missed nearly two months after left thumb surgery last December. Daniels gave the Celtics quality minutes upon his return, shooting nearly 65 percent from the field and averaging nearly 10 points per game in February.
However, the versatile Daniels could not put together solid back-to-back months. Daniels' shooting percentage fell below 40 percent in March, and he averaged less than four points per contest in one of the worst months of his NBA career.
Daniels' struggles may be a mystery, but coach Doc Rivers has a theory about why he has struggled recently.
"It could be his confidence," Rivers said. "Your hand is hurting when you come back, you're scared to do things. He does still lose the ball a lot with that hand. Confidence has to be a factor."
Daniels has seen his minutes dwindle from nearly 22 per game in February to less than 18 in March. Despite the inconsistency, Rivers has not lost confidence in Daniels and sees him as a key bench player for the Celtics down the stretch.
"We have to do a better job of getting him the ball on the post and activating him, maybe," Rivers said. "Sometimes, players need to be activated to get them going. So maybe that's it. I don't know. I'm reaching. We need him to be the best defensive player on our team at times, a better rebounder.
