Is Novak becoming a liability?

[still a fan]

I don't believe it not to be the case. The worst defender on the other team can lock him up, while their best four can try to slow use down.

Whether Melo or JR can over come, has nothing to do with Novack imo.

agreed see what happens when they put the worse defender on Cope?

Isn't it obvious he's just a rookie and getting better, and teams have figured Novak out?

Fans seem to think we play with pg's like Rondo, Westbrook, CP3 who can run the break and hit Novak on the wing.

We have Kidd, its going to be a slower pace, and melo, ISo's and pick and rolls, there is nothing about this team where Novak can excel right now more than Cope can.

[D-Leethal]

I don't think the fact that Novak spreads the floor is a myth, but I don't think playing him 20 mpg to keep one side of the floor spaced and have him give you no production and awful defense is really worth it. That 4 year deal looks awful right now. Cope can hit those shots at a high clip and create if the defender doesn't allow him to shoot. The only way Cope is going to get minutes is by taking Novaks role, were not playing two defensive liabilities like that when everyone is healthy.

At this point its hard to say its not the best move, but I don't think Woody is going to shut the door on a guy who contributed big for us last year and has had some big games for us this year just yet.

Novak has been getting an earfull on a nightly basis though and Woody might be getting fed up with it. Novak is not really a Woody guy I think he played him as a result of the success he had before Woody became head coach.

[D-Leethal]

Its not like the pick and roll has been working on games Novak has been spacing the floor and not getting shots off. At this point were not getting him looks AND the PnR isn't there. If thats not the case why not play Cope, let the D sag off him and make them pay?

[Enzo]

I don't know how many of you saw Copeland being interviewed after the game last night on NBAtv. He emphasized that he has plenty of confidence in his scoring ability and he realizes that his defense is not up to par, so his priority is to become a better defender for this team. If this guy actually starts improving his defense and his offense stays consistent with what we've seen, in my opinion he's a keeper.

[SHOULDA COULDA]

I don't know how many of you saw Copeland being interviewed after the game last night on NBAtv. He emphasized that he has plenty of confidence in his scoring ability and he realizes that his defense is not up to par, so his priority is to become a better defender for this team. If this guy actually starts improving his defense and his offense stays consistent with what we've seen, in my opinion he's a keeper.

I agree is there anyway we can get him to work with Bruce Bowen? LOL

Hey if Hakeem can do it.

[Missing56&33]

I think Woodson should give Novak a start....maybe starting the game will get him going?

[nycericanguy]

A couple of things.

Did anyone really expect Novak to become a good rebounder or defender? He is what he is, a lights out 3 point specialist. And he's shooting the 3 at 43%, right on his career mark and not far off from what he did last year.

2nd, I think Novak will flourish alot more once we're at full strength. Right now, we don't have too many offensive options on the court, but at full strength, he will be on the court with some damn good players, and that should open stuff up for him more.

[D-Leethal]

A couple of things.

Did anyone really expect Novak to become a good rebounder or defender? He is what he is, a lights out 3 point specialist. And he's shooting the 3 at 43%, right on his career mark and not far off from what he did last year.

2nd, I think Novak will flourish alot more once we're at full strength. Right now, we don't have too many offensive options on the court, but at full strength, he will be on the court with some damn good players, and that should open stuff up for him more.

Agreed with part 2. My probably with part 1 is that he can't even get shots off right now so why put him out there 20 mintes? Its essentially 20 useless minutes at this point where we are getting negative production based on what he gives up on D.

[Knick bag]

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.

Agreed. He has had the problems with both hands tho. Hope fully the 4-6 weeks of rest will help his shot.

[Nycbball08]

Don't understand why woody dont try harder to get Novak open shots....set more screens for him, or have him make more cuts like Reggie Miller and Rip Hamilton..

[nycericanguy]

Agreed with part 2. My probably with part 1 is that he can't even get shots off right now so why put him out there 20 mintes? Its essentially 20 useless minutes at this point where we are getting negative production based on what he gives up on D.

Novak is the least of my worries, he's gotta be out there, not only for spacing, but because he can go off at any second if he gets a couple of good looks.

there have been quite a few games this year that we simply don't win without Novak. The CLE game, the DEN game where he hit those 2 three's late in the 4th when we were down 8. The Laker game... I could go on and on. He's also had quite a few games where he played less than 20 minutes, so its not like Woody is just leaving him out there no matter what, but as depleted as we are now, he'll play close to 30mpg.

Ironic thing is I think he'll score more playing 15-20mpg when we have our guys back, vs playing 30mpg now as a key guy.

[Enzo]

Novak is the least of my worries, he's gotta be out there, not only for spacing, but because he can go off at any second if he gets a couple of good looks.

there have been quite a few games this year that we simply don't win without Novak. The CLE game, the DEN game where he hit those 2 three's late in the 4th when we were down 8. The Laker game... I could go on and on.

I hear ya......but would we be down in points and needing those few 3's to catch up or overtake the game if Novak had less minutes in those games and instead we had a more versatile scorer on the floor in place of him? That's the question that goes through my mind.

[Nycbball08]

Novak is the least of my worries, he's gotta be out there, not only for spacing, but because he can go off at any second if he gets a couple of good looks.

there have been quite a few games this year that we simply don't win without Novak. The CLE game, the DEN game where he hit those 2 three's late in the 4th when we were down 8. The Laker game... I could go on and on. He's also had quite a few games where he played less than 20 minutes, so its not like Woody is just leaving him out there no matter what, but as depleted as we are now, he'll play close to 30mpg.

Ironic thing is I think he'll score more playing 15-20mpg when we have our guys back, vs playing 30mpg now as a key guy.

Good point, even when he's struggling he still hit key shots down the stretch..

[trout1627]

A couple of things.

Did anyone really expect Novak to become a good rebounder or defender? He is what he is, a lights out 3 point specialist. And he's shooting the 3 at 43%, right on his career mark and not far off from what he did last year.

2nd, I think Novak will flourish alot more once we're at full strength. Right now, we don't have too many offensive options on the court, but at full strength, he will be on the court with some damn good players, and that should open stuff up for him more.

My problem is that Copeland will also flourish a lot more when we are at full strength. I would rather have Copeland out there for spacing since he can hit the 3 point shot as well as Novak but can also drive, cut, and otherwise create. Copeland is much more versatile.

[nycericanguy]

My problem is that Copeland will also flourish a lot more when we are at full strength. I would rather have Copeland out there for spacing since he can hit the 3 point shot as well as Novak but can also drive, cut, and otherwise create. Copeland is much more versatile.

Yea I would like to see Cope get more of a shot too.