Is Novak becoming a liability?

[Enzo]

For the record, I'm a Novak fan, but is he becoming a liability to this team?

Over the last few weeks I've noticed how teams have basically shut down Novak and he's starting to look like a mannequin out there standing in the corner waiting for a pass to come his way. Sure he puts up a screen once in a while and helps space out the floor, but his defense is still horrible.

It's already been discussed a few times about putting Copeland in for Novak. Obviously both are poor defenders so that's basically a wash. Novak can only hit 3's or now and then a long 2. Copeland has shown us that he's a damn good 3 pt shooter, can create his own shot, and has effective moves in the paint. He's a legitimate scoring threat from anywhere on the court. I'm curious as to what our forum members think.

Below are some stats over the last few weeks:

Knicks vs. Rockets 12/17
Novak 1-5 33:14 mins played 3 pts

Knicks vs. Nets 12/19
Novak out with Flu

Knicks vs. Bulls 12/21
Novak 0-3 31:24 mins played 0 pts

Knicks vs. Wolves 12/23
Novak 1-3 18:42 mins played 4 pts

Knicks vs. Lakers 12/25
Novak 1-2 15:13 mins played 3 pts

Knicks vs. Suns 12/26
Novak 1-3 27:32 mins played 3 pts

Knicks vs. Kings 12/28
Novak 4-7 25:46 mins played 11 pts

Knicks vs. Blazers 1/01
Novak 0-5 20:22 mins played 0 pts

Over the last 7 games Novak has played in he's 8-21 for a total of 24 pts and a total playing time of 172 mins 13 secs. To be fair he did put up average stats a few games before these but nothing special. Have teams figured him out?

[PlezPlayDKnicks]

Novak plays better with Jr because he actually looks for him.. Without that spacing it makes it way harder to score. Novak helps more than he hurts because one defender is always glued to him. We should actually run a few plays for him just to keep the defense on their heels.

[SHOULDA COULDA]

Knicks have to push the ball up quicker with Novak on the floor. If they play a slow half court game, Novak isnt going to see any open looks cause his defender can get set. Need to find him more in transistion if possible, look at the Laker game in NY as an example.

[rwynyc]

Knicks have to push the ball up quicker with Novak on the floor. If they play a slow half court game, Novak isnt going to see any open looks cause his defender can get set. Need to find him more in transistion if possible, look at the Laker game in NY as an example.

This is a huge problem in the offense IMO. They never ever push the ball up the floor. Kidd is always looking to but no one is running with him

[AddiX]

Felton is the liability, not Novak.

Ever since teams decided not to guard Felton anymore because of his awful shooting, and floaters, no one around the 3 line is open anymore.

If teams aren't going to help out when Felton gets open or in the lines, it's going to hurt us in a big way. Your seeing it now, the difference is feltons last game Vs the heat and Felton since.

Vs the heat he was hitting, defense had to help on him, we had open shots everywhere.

Since than he hasn't hit, defense has not not had to rotate to him. His shooting is hurting the entire offense a lot. It's a scouting report tht everyone has now, felton needs to get his shot together.

[PlezPlayDKnicks]

Felton is the liability, not Novak.

Ever since teams decided not to guard Felton anymore because of his awful shooting, and floaters, no one around the 3 line is open anymore.

If teams aren't going to help out when Felton gets open or in the lines, it's going to hurt us in a big way. Your seeing it now, the difference is feltons last game Vs the heat and Felton since.

Vs the heat he was hitting, defense had to help on him, we had open shots everywhere.

Since than he hasn't hit, defense has not not had to rotate to him. His shooting is hurting the entire offense a lot. It's a scouting report tht everyone has now, felton needs to get his shot together.

Hush, that makes too much sense lol

[rwynyc]

is felton really injured?

[KnicksPain]

is felton really injured?

I think his brain is injured, how do you not realize to stop shooting halfway through a 5-19 night? I love Ray but he is frustrating right now. Its crazy because Russel Westbrook shot the same last night but still managed to get 21 points, somethings has gotta give man smh.

[Jint.]

big Novak fan, but if his shot is off.. He needs to sit.

[YoungStuna28]

Whenever Novak gets the ball there is a man 2 inches from him. The word has gotten out on him and his shot isn't as deadly as it was last season when he has gotten the chance to shoot.

[SLY WILLIAMS]

Teams knowing they can not leave Novak open makes him a weapon even when he does not score. It opens the floor for other players. Other teams will sometimes leave bad shooters open to encourage them to shoot. They do not have that luxury with Novak.

[still a fan]

Teams knowing they can not leave Novak open makes him a weapon even when he does not score. It opens the floor for other players. Other teams will sometimes leave bad shooters open to encourage them to shoot. They do not have that luxury with Novak.

sounds familiar, we had a guy like that, can't recall his name though

[SLY WILLIAMS]

sounds familiar, we had a guy like that, can't recall his name though

LOL Clyde used to say that Wilson would shoot the 3 because he was open but the other teams left him open for a reason. It could have been my step brother daring me to take the outside shot when we play 1 on 1 because I miss so many

[xxplayerxx23]

The fact that Teams stick to Novak and don't help out on Melo when he is on the floor is great.

[Backstabber]

The better Cope plays, the more we ask the question.