In return, Marquis Daniels receives thumbs-up

It took just a matter of seconds for the Celtics [team stats] to realize just how much they had missed Marquis Daniels.

The man is a walking mismatch for opponents, and immediately he threw a wrench into the Magic’s plans yesterday. Orlando has gotten quite a bit from J.J. Redick off its bench, but after a few minutes with Daniels on his case, Redick had to be hooked and reeled back in to the bench.

Daniels took him into the lane and began hitting short jumpers on him. Soon a one-point Celtics lead after one quarter was on its way to 11 as Daniels scored six points.

He was used sparingly in the second half as Orlando came back to win 96-89, but after 28 games out following left thumb surgery, Daniels had made his point. Eight of them actually.

“Marquis played phenomenal,” coach Doc Rivers said. “I’ve got to tell you I was shocked by that. I wasn’t going to play him. That’s how I thought he looked in practice. And he was terrific.”

Daniels said he won’t feel completely comfortable until he survives the first hit on the thumb. No one reached it yesterday, but he was pleased to get through this first shakedown cruise.

“I didn’t really have any expectations for myself,” Daniels said after a 12-minute, 31-second stint. “I just wanted to come out and play my hardest.

“It’s always a good feeling to make your first shot. The basket started looking wider. It was just a good feeling to make that first one.”

Daniels believes he needs to improve his conditioning.

“I was a little tired out there,” he said. “I have to just keep working on my conditioning.

“All 12 minutes of it was adrenaline.”

But Daniels didn’t have time to just run around and get reaccustomed to the surroundings. He had a job to do against the smaller and lighter Redick.

“Coach told me he wanted me to come out and be aggressive,” Daniels said. “I wanted to come out and not have any fear and just play. I tried to come out and do the regular things that I usually do.

“I tried to take advantage of the situation. They were giving me the shots, and I was just trying to take them and be aggressive.”

Daniels took seven shots, pulled in three rebounds and had a steal. More important down the line is what he will do for others - getting more rest for Paul Pierce [stats] and Ray Allen and freeing up Eddie House to be a shooting specialist with the second unit.

“It was good,” Daniels said. “I think that we came out with a lot of energy. We just have to continue to work and get better.

“I’m just trying to make sure when I get in that we keep our intensity and pick up the first group.”