Daniels understands how Green feels

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TORONTOYou won't find a single member of the Boston Celtics who isn't feeling sympathy right now for fallen teammate Jeff Green.
The Celtics announced on Saturday that Green will miss the entire 2011-2012 season after an aortic aneurysm was discovered during a routine physical after he signed a one-year, 9 million contract that has since been voided.
Green will have surgery on Jan. 9 - a month to the day in which the aneurysm was discovered.
His situation hits especially close to home for Celtics forward Marquis Daniels, who ironically, will see his role enhanced with Green out.
It wasn't that long ago that it was Daniels, not Green, whose career was in jeopardy.
Daniels collided with then-Orlando guard Gilbert Arenas, jarring his neck on the play which left him momentarily motionless on the TD Garden floor.
Surgery on his spinal cord, followed by several months of rehabilitation, has brought Daniels back to the game he loves.

"This is a little different," said Celtics head coach Doc Rivers. "This is life-threatening stuff. For me, I always look at the player. I don't look at the team as much. We'll get to the team; that's our job. But like I said in the last case, we get to still do our jobs. When guys get injured like that, they don't and some may never (play again). Like with Quis, at the time, we thought it was forever. That's harsh; that's tough. Especially when you trained your life to do this job. So that's the way I look at it."

During his time away from the game, Daniels acknowledged that there were times when doubts about his return did creep into your mind.
That's where those close to you, Daniels said, play a vital role in the recovery that he says is both mentally and physically challenging.
As far as advice for Green, Daniels said the most important thing for him was to rely on faith, family and friends.
"As long as everybody's around, keeping his spirits up, he'll be fine," Daniels told CSNNE.com prior to today's preseason opener against Toronto.
Although he hasn't been around Green very long, Daniels has seen enough in the 25-year-old to believe that he will return to the NBA.
"Jeff's a competitor. He's a hard worker," Daniels said. "I have no doubt in my mind, he'll be back."

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