Is Novak becoming a liability?

[D-Leethal]

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.

That's the thing though. We really don't have room for both in our rotation so IMO only one of them can and will play. If we can't get Novak shots we need a threat out there who doesn't need them spoonfed.

I do agree that we should see what happens at full strength and if he can get the same looks we saw him get earlier in the season.

[still a fan]

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.

Actually I would never expect any NBA player to be that bad defensively as that Sun's game. No I just can't, I mean terrible is a very kind word.

The and one's on his fouls well I just can't stomach them, its such a killer to our team.

Yes we all love the raining three's but if he gives more than he gets is he really an asset or Liability at that point?

And if he keeping Cope on the bench is that really a good thing right now?

[NativeNewYorker]

I don't think Novak needs to be a liability, but he has been one in most of the games this season. Novak can be a great weapon when he is taking and making three point shots. I would continue to put him out there, but watch how the defense is playing him. If they leave a guy on him all time, we know he won't be effective. Folks talk about having Novak move without the ball and come off screens like Reggie or Rip, but come on, that just isn't his game, He moves so slow and deliberately that he would be an easy cover as he moved, plus that takes him out of position for his set long range shot, which really is the only way he has shown to be comfortable scoring.

If he isn't able to score based on what the defense is doing, take him out the game. Don't play him for 30 minutes, Woody! Put someone else who may be able to have a bigger impact... offensively or defensively, I don't care. We just can't have a player eating up 30 minutes without any impact whatsoever.

[torocan]

Complaining about Novak is silly.

Novak is what he is.. a knock down 3 point shooter, that plays sub-par defense who can't create his own shot.

Novak is a specialized tool. Highly effective is used the right way, less effective if you let his scope creep.

Novak is best used in the following ways...

-in transition before the defense can set
-off PnR kick outs after the defense collapses
-off screens where he can find space to shoot
-on offensive non entities (spot up shooters, slow players, etc)
-against 2nd units (weak offensive and defensive players)

If Novak isn't giving the team great results, that's not a fault with Novak. It's a fault in the coaching, decision making by the Point Guards, or execution by the team of screens, PnR's or brush offs.

So no, Novak is NOT a liability. Should he be used as a starter? Definitely not.

However, Novak in controlled doses is completely lethal...

[still a fan]

Complaining about Novak is silly.

Novak is what he is.. a knock down 3 point shooter, that plays sub-par defense who can't create his own shot.

Novak is a specialized tool. Highly effective is used the right way, less effective if you let his scope creep.

Novak is best used in the following ways...

-in transition before the defense can set
-off PnR kick outs after the defense collapses
-off screens where he can find space to shoot
-on offensive non entities (spot up shooters, slow players, etc)
-against 2nd units (weak offensive and defensive players)

If Novak isn't giving the team great results, that's not a fault with Novak. It's a fault in the coaching, decision making by the Point Guards, or execution by the team of screens, PnR's or brush offs.

So no, Novak is NOT a liability. Should he be used as a starter? Definitely not.

However, Novak in controlled doses is completely lethal...

I could live with Subpar, but can't live with pathetic......sorry can't agree with you here.

Again if you give up more than you get what good are you? Nothing comes to my mind.

And I am a big fan but not when he shows that effort, sorry know breaks for even the nice guy's ,nice guys finish last.

And one, oh again and one......rotation, no, a three pointer, help defense, nope its Novak.........over and over and over again............it was pathetic.

[Enzo]

Let's see how he plays tonight. If he has a big game this thread will slowly disappear. If he plays like garbage again then we may need to sticky this. J/K

[NativeNewYorker]

Complaining about Novak is silly.

Novak is what he is.. a knock down 3 point shooter, that plays sub-par defense who can't create his own shot.

Novak is a specialized tool. Highly effective is used the right way, less effective if you let his scope creep.

Novak is best used in the following ways...

-in transition before the defense can set
-off PnR kick outs after the defense collapses
-off screens where he can find space to shoot
-on offensive non entities (spot up shooters, slow players, etc)
-against 2nd units (weak offensive and defensive players)

If Novak isn't giving the team great results, that's not a fault with Novak. It's a fault in the coaching, decision making by the Point Guards, or execution by the team of screens, PnR's or brush offs.

So no, Novak is NOT a liability. Should he be used as a starter? Definitely not.

However, Novak in controlled doses is completely lethal...

This is the key phrase. If he is having one of those nights where he is getting off shots and making, leave him in there! However, we can't have him play 30 minutes and making one or two threes.

[ewmania]

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.

exactly, novak is the reason teams run less double teams on melo and jr. he's a big reason they are able to go one on one most of the game

[NativeNewYorker]

exactly, novak is the reason teams run less double teams on melo and jr. he's a big reason they are able to go one on one most of the game

That is true, but someone earlier made the point that the other team can basically put their worse defender on him and accomplish this. However, a guy like Copeland accomplishes the same thing, but requires a more diverse defender because of his ability to hit the long range shot, pick and roll, post up, or create his own shot. Still, if Novak is taking and making shots, he should play.

[Jesse2272]

Novak brings out the multi-discount quadruple check tonight

[still a fan]

I think some posters are missing what At least i'm saying:

If no Cope yea we all get his importance even with the sadest defense of any nba player maybe ever.

But when it comes down to Copeing with Novak and leaving Cope on the bench well I'm not feeling it.

If Cope is not getting the same treatment as novak, then its an auto three it seems, so isn't it better to have a cope shoot the three rather than a Novak spread the court and shoot 1-3 in 30 min?

In Novaks case less is more, and I mean the less of him the less teams will actually game plan for him and the less of him the defense won't show as much.

[ShadyOne]

Usually you know right away whether Novak will be effective. He comes in and knocks a few down, he is valuable. Or if he comes in, and the flow of the game, and the opponents D allows him to get looks, you leave him out there. If not, get him out..

That said, I think his effectiveness will go up once Amare comes back. A second unit with him, Amare, and JR will help a lot. One, Amare will demand attention, and two, JR always looks for him. Either he will get a lot of good looks, or teams will stay at home on him and allow Amare/JR to hurt them..

[still a fan]

Usually you know right away whether Novak will be effective. He comes in and knocks a few down, he is valuable. Or if he comes in, and the flow of the game, and the opponents D allows him to get looks, you leave him out there. If not, get him out..

That said, I think his effectiveness will go up once Amare comes back. A second unit with him, Amare, and JR will help a lot. One, Amare will demand attention, and two, JR always looks for him. Either he will get a lot of good looks, or teams will stay at home on him and allow Amare/JR to hurt them..

so I'll ask again, you good with that at Cope's expense?

the both can't play when Amare returns.

[Enzo]

Usually you know right away whether Novak will be effective. He comes in and knocks a few down, he is valuable. Or if he comes in, and the flow of the game, and the opponents D allows him to get looks, you leave him out there. If not, get him out..

That said, I think his effectiveness will go up once Amare comes back. A second unit with him, Amare, and JR will help a lot. One, Amare will demand attention, and two, JR always looks for him. Either he will get a lot of good looks, or teams will stay at home on him and allow Amare/JR to hurt them..

Here's my point...our guys are looking to get Novak the ball but he's always defended well so they usually don't pass the ball to him. If someone does pass him the ball, then that defender jumps on him like glue and Novak dishes it to someone else. He better have a good game tonight against an average team or else I want to see more Copeland.

[ShadyOne]

so I'll ask again, you good with that at Cope's expense?

the both can't play when Amare returns.

Here's my point...our guys are looking to get Novak the ball but he's always defended well so they usually don't pass the ball to him. If someone does pass him the ball, then that defender jumps on him like glue and Novak dishes it to someone else. He better have a good game tonight against an average team or else I want to see more Copeland.

In the lineup I described, alongside Amare and JR, I don't see Copeland fitting. Unless he is seriously a knockdown shooter (don't know enough about him, but it has been a small sample size) I think Novak fits better. In a system where JR is going to get his shots, and Amare is going to get his, rather the bigger threat from outside, the guy who spreads the floor. Neither gives anything else but shooting/scoring, so I'll give the edge to the better spot-up shooter.