It truly was a breakout year for Steve Novak, who became an important part of an NBA team for the first time. He led the league in 3-point shooting -- no surprise to Marquette fans -- and his improved defense helped keep him on the court for the Knicks.
Injuries to the likes of Anthony and Stoudemire gave him the break he needed, and his good play let him stay in the rotation even after those players returned.
His performance likely earned him a seven-figure annual contract from the Knicks or some other team. Well deserved.
Having said that, his playoff numbers do lead to a word or two of caution. Novak shot fine, as usual, but he hardly shot at all -- only 9 shots (and just 7 trey attempts, making 4) while averaging 19 minutes over 5 games against the Heat.
The Knicks' strategy of having him stand in the corner or at the wing outside the 3-point line while Anthony or some other player would maneuver with the ball worked OK during the regular season. Opponents would leave Novak to double-team the penetrating player or the post, resulting in open 3s for one of the best shooters in basketball history. In the playoffs, however, the Heat always kept a body close to Novak and relied upon their superior athletes to defend the post.
The Knicks made it very easy to defend Novak, whose game is not about driving around opponents. If I'm his coach, I at least occasionally run him around a pick or a double-screen or something. I know putting him in the corner helps spread the floor, but it also makes him a non-factor against a well-coached team. If he leaves the Knicks, I'm hoping he chooses a team that knows how to get him open shots against good defensive clubs.
All in all, it was fun to watch Novak become a valuable NBA player. Though he rarely shot against the Heat, it was fun watching those games, too; he even occasionally found himself matched up against a former Marquette teammate of some repute.
The good news is that former teammate -- a far more valuable NBA player -- figures to be playing for another six weeks. Sources say Dwyane Wade doesn't need any screens to get open shots!
I hope he gets away from the dysfunctional Knicks so that he can really shine. You nailed it when you said he's gotta run around a screen every once in awhile.
Quote from: Bocephys on May 10, 2012, 09:29:34 AM
I hope he gets away from the dysfunctional Knicks so that he can really shine. You nailed it when you said he's gotta run around a screen every once in awhile.
I'm not sure it makes sense to hope that he gets away from the only team that's been able to use him in their rotation ever. Steve has played for a lot of teams, and getting PT with the Knicks is way more fun for him than sitting on another team's bench again.
Quote from: Skatastrophy on May 10, 2012, 09:32:05 AM
I'm not sure it makes sense to hope that he gets away from the only team that's been able to use him in their rotation ever. Steve has played for a lot of teams, and getting PT with the Knicks is way more fun for him than sitting on another team's bench again.
Agreed, and there are not many other teams he could play for where he would get this much attention and press.
I have no doubt if he put up the same numbers for the timberwolves or some other irrelevant team, that nobody would really know who he is
Quote from: Skatastrophy on May 10, 2012, 09:32:05 AM
I'm not sure it makes sense to hope that he gets away from the only team that's been able to use him in their rotation ever. Steve has played for a lot of teams, and getting PT with the Knicks is way more fun for him than sitting on another team's bench again.
Yea, but once teams stop leaving him to double the post he's just a decoy. Don't you think some other team would be willing to have him be more than the last resort scoring option if the first three isolation drives don't work?
Quote from: Bocephys on May 10, 2012, 10:12:12 AM
Yea, but once teams stop leaving him to double the post he's just a decoy. Don't you think some other team would be willing to have him be more than the last resort scoring option if the first three isolation drives don't work?
Novak's ceiling is a decoy, to always attract a defender.
That being said, he should go to the Heat.
How many teams have the kind of athletes as the Heat? I'm asking the ?? because I really don't follow the NBA.
Maybe playing for the Heat is the best answer.
Quote from: Bocephys on May 10, 2012, 10:12:12 AM
Yea, but once teams stop leaving him to double the post he's just a decoy. Don't you think some other team would be willing to have him be more than the last resort scoring option if the first three isolation drives don't work?
Yes, but I've been thinking that since he got drafted. He finally found a team that's giving him minutes. I'm hoping the Knicks pay to keep him so that he can be assured of continued PT.
We are both hoping for the same thing. I suppose I'm just being a tad more pessimistic :)
Quote from: Skatastrophy on May 10, 2012, 10:55:31 AM
Yes, but I've been thinking that since he got drafted. He finally found a team that's giving him minutes. I'm hoping the Knicks pay to keep him so that he can be assured of continued PT.
We are both hoping for the same thing. I suppose I'm just being a tad more pessimistic :)
Agreed, I can't believe it's taken this long for him to show his value on the court. I would have thought he'd lead the league in three point shooting from year two on.
Last season the Bulls had to decide between Novak or Scalabrini for their last roster spot. They went with Scalabrini and then no one could make a three in the playoffs.
It would have been nice....
Is a shot fake followed by a dribble or two and a mid rahge shot or pass really that hard?
As much as i like steve novak and respect his ability to shoot, if he would simply do that one or two times a game it would help him tremendously and sometimes the close outs really pressure his shot and leave a drivng lane wide open.
Dont expect him to drive and tomoahawk but geez!!
Quote from: Canadian Dimes on May 10, 2012, 11:33:36 AM
Is a shot fake followed by a dribble or two and a mid rahge shot or pass really that hard?
As much as i like steve novak and respect his ability to shoot, if he would simply do that one or two times a game it would help him tremendously and sometimes the close outs really pressure his shot and leave a drivng lane wide open.
Dont expect him to drive and tomoahawk but geez!!
In college he did that about 30% of the time. Some thought that was frequently!!
NY cannot afford him. He will end up in Miami.
Quote from: TribalRage on May 10, 2012, 12:14:54 PM
NY cannot afford him. He will end up in Miami.
This.
Heat need guys to spread the floor and allow LBJ and Wade to drive and dish. Knicks game is give the ball of Amare or Melo and spread the floor to have them go one and one.
Quote from: Warriors10 on May 10, 2012, 01:00:40 PM
This.
Heat need guys to spread the floor and allow LBJ and Wade to drive and dish. Knicks game is give the ball of Amare or Melo and spread the floor to have them go one and one.
Wasn't that what Mike Miller was for? He was supposed to be the answer.
Knicks are saddled with those two contracts. They cannot win with those two jokers.
Heat would be a great fit.
Quote from: Canadian Dimes on May 10, 2012, 11:33:36 AM
Is a shot fake followed by a dribble or two and a mid rahge shot or pass really that hard?
As much as i like steve novak and respect his ability to shoot, if he would simply do that one or two times a game it would help him tremendously and sometimes the close outs really pressure his shot and leave a drivng lane wide open.
Dont expect him to drive and tomoahawk but geez!!
He did this twice during the series and badly missed both shots. I saw him attempt it several times during the season, too, and only saw one go in -- and that was a bank that looked pretty lucky. Some guys are comfortable shooting on the run. Some guys are great spot-up shooters ... and Novak is the best.
Hmmm, now that I've written that, I wonder how effective Novak would be running around screens, catching and firing.
These are things he needs to work on to take his offensive game to the next level, and I'm guessing he and his dad (his H.S. coach) know it. Still thrilled he had such a great season and earned such a nice payday.
I agree Miami would be a great landing spot. Chicago should pursue him, too. I would have thought he'd be a natural for San Antonio, but Popovich already cut him once. But seriously, most any team needs somebody who makes 1 out of every 2 treys he takes.
If Novak goes to Miami, think they could find a spot for Deiner, too? Maybe Gatorade dude or something? Would be nice to have the old gang back together :)
At the end of the game after Novak and Wade hugged they kept on talking for a while. Maybe just friendly talk or Wade saying, we would like to have you down in Miami.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on May 10, 2012, 11:06:48 AM
Last season the Bulls had to decide between Novak or Scalabrini for their last roster spot. They went with Scalabrini and then no one could make a three in the playoffs.
It would have been nice....
Unless you're not a Bull's fan. ;D
Quote from: TallTitan34 on May 10, 2012, 11:06:48 AM
Last season the Bulls had to decide between Novak or Scalabrini for their last roster spot. They went with Scalabrini and then no one could make a three in the playoffs.
It would have been nice....
I'm assuming the Bulls assumed they could get the shooting they needed plus a little more out of Korver? then they just used the last roster spot on the big body / glue guy?
(http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs4/1606408_o.gif&sa=X&ei=6m2sT_GWHIew6AGOsZCmBA&ved=0CAkQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNElNkJsVxPHVnnFREVKvdNfkk11UA)
Now THIS is a case of a true breakout season with a breakout game. People throw that term around far too quickly, but looking back, Novak's 19 points (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=320206018) in a win over Utah was his breakout game that led to him getting double-digit minutes in every game from there on and averaging 10.6 ppg after previously averaging 3.5 ppg in 11 games with 10 DNPs.
In theory, Miami would be the perfect spot for a guy like Novak. Even if he never takes a shot, the idea that someone has to hang with him on the perimeter and not help when Wade or James has the ball makes the that team even better. Plus, his guy would have to help when Lebron or Wade go to the basket whether he want to or not and Novak would make the defense pay and Wade and James, unlike Anthony in NY, are a lot more likely to find him.
Unfortunately, Miami is an undersized team without a Tyson Chandler type to help bail out defensive lapses. I can see why Novak hasn't gotten many real opportunites. He presents a coaching/substitution challenge that's more than a lot of coaches want to have to deal with. For Novak to truly be effective, you need two great penetrator/scorer/passers plus a great defensive big man and another great rebounder on the floor with him. Plus Miami already has Miller, who, while not the shooter Novak is, is certainly pretty good plus a little more well-rounded.
Quote from: brewcity77 on May 11, 2012, 06:58:18 AM
Now THIS is a case of a true breakout season with a breakout game. People throw that term around far too quickly, but looking back, Novak's 19 points (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=320206018) in a win over Utah was his breakout game that led to him getting double-digit minutes in every game from there on and averaging 10.6 ppg after previously averaging 3.5 ppg in 11 games with 10 DNPs.
How did he score a half point playing only 1 game out of 11? ;D