Daniels ready to deliver title for Cats
NBA prospect DeAndre Daniels is ready to deliver for the Perth Wildcats in the play-offs, confidently declaring "we will win a championship".
But the Wildcats' chances of defending their title this season suffered a massive blow yesterday when veteran forward Shawn Redhage was ruled out of the finals series with stress fractures in his right foot.
Redhage experienced soreness during last Sunday's 10-point win over the Townsville Crocodiles, with scans uncovering the injury.
His is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.
The six-times club MVP flew to Cairns to support the team in its semifinal series opener against the Taipans at the Cairns Convention Centre tonight, but he has been replaced in the squad by development player Nic Cody.
Despite the setback, Daniels said the team still had complete confidence in its ability to secure back-to-back championships for the second time in club history.
The 22-year-old was drafted by the Toronto Raptors last year after playing a key role in the University of Connecticut's NCAA championship.
His form has fluctuated since joining the Wildcats, but after playing his two best games in the past month Daniels is ready to explode.
"That's something about me, every time around this time of year when it comes to play-offs and stuff like that, that's when it counts, when it matters, that's when I'm definitely always playing my best basketball," he said.
"I definitely love this time of year. I always want to win it.
"Whatever it takes to help my team win a championship, I'm going to do it. We will win a championship. I want to deliver."
Daniels said the mood was the same throughout the Wildcats' camp, with everyone wanting to experience the same feeling of last season's triumph.
"As a basketball player that's what you play the game for," he said.
"To be with your team celebrating, have that bond with your team of winning a championship.
"You and your teammates holding the trophy up at the end of the day is a big accomplishment. That's what I play basketball for."
Regardless of results, Daniels will return to the US after the Wildcats' MVP ball on March 21 to continue pursuing his NBA dream.
He has followed the Raptors closely in a season in which they have surged to the second-best record in the league's Eastern Conference. However, Daniels admitted the thought of finally suiting up for the franchise still seemed surreal.
"They're definitely going great this year, but it's kind of weird to me because sometimes I forget that they drafted me," he said.
"I'm just looking at the games, watching all the games and All-Star weekend and stuff like that."
·New Zealand made an emphatic statement in the first game of their semifinal series against the Adelaide 36ers in Auckland last night, trouncing them 111-82.
We will win a championship. I want to deliver. " *DeAndre Daniels *
