I think the eastern conference teams have figured out Novak. He's at his best when 1 or 2 other offensive players are rolling and defenses have no choice but to send over an extra defender. Novak might have a bigger impact if we make the finals. :)

Andrew wrote:Novak really has no one he can guard on Boston and they are taking full advantage. Maybe if/when we play the Heat he can get better minutes matched up with Miller or possibly Rashard Lewis.

But maybe if the Knicks would push the tempo a little to throw Boston defense off guard, he could at least get some shots up.

Sangfroid wrote:

knickscity wrote:

Andrew wrote:Novak really has no one he can guard on Boston and they are taking full advantage. Maybe if/when we play the Heat he can get better minutes matched up with Miller or possibly Rashard Lewis.

I agree, he really is useless in this series.

But maybe if the Knicks would push the tempo a little to throw Boston defense off guard, he could at least get some shots up.

There's a thought. If he becomes the second or third man down on the fast break, maybe he can walk into a pull up jumper. Somehow, he has got to become more effective.

I like Novak more than most but it certainly was foolish to pay him based upon his production with . He makes mediocre players look better than they are and stars like Melo worse than they are... defies logic, really

Nalod wrote:Novak was 9th in 3pt shooting % this year.

In the real world his shots are not created but given by the defense. When defended the offense is given another option. He is both decoy and finisher.

His job is to hit a few shots and make the defense come to him which creates space.

4mm don't buy much in todays NBA. If you buy into "2nd seed, 1st place, etc etc" then it all adds up to the result.

Nice post. Agreed he is a great decoy. You have to honor Melo to the point of doubling him. JR is on fire. Park Novak at the three and most of your D is focused on 3 players. We still have 2 more choices at our disposal so this team is designed very intelligently.

I also see a common theme in players who have played together on different teams, and some who played with Melo. The chemistry has been resuscitated.

Novak is a poor mans stretch 4, 1 dimensional shooter/player, most comparable to Jason Kapono in recent NBA history
It would have been much more cost efficient to have signed a vet min shooter like Kapono or a Peja Stojakavic (at his current age/injury) type of player to a vet min deal than give Novak
While utilizing that money with Camby's contract (along with the 2nd round picks) with a vet min player to having both a full MLE and Bi Annual Exemption to use

Still in the league, I could only think of Portlands, Luke Babbitt who is still under his rookie contract, which will likely be a vet min player

Kyle Korver
Ray Allen
JR Smith *not fair to put him on the list because he probably is the most cost effective player in the league*
Nate Robinson

Carlos Delfino
Danny Green

Randy Foye

Novak's value is closer to a vet min production than 3-4m
good for him, this will be his biggest contract for his family and him
In all fairness, he just does not have the ability to defend, he tries to box out most of the time and put a body in front of his man
But with no athletic ability *cannot dunk at 6-10* and no speed/quickness, it is almost impossible to be an consistant defender in the NBA or rebounder/shot bloc

Belinili
Terry *horrible year but had a very good career*ker in the league
Copeland
He also has no other skills like handle/passing/posting etc
Copeland deserves at min 2.5m for his ability to play C, post up/facilitate, handle/penetrate, and score whether in a starting lineup with *under average D*, or off the bench

Bonner and Kleiza are 2 players that make more than Novak but their contracts were given prior to the NEW CBA
I think both players are still more efficient when compared to Novak
Novak/Camby combined make 8-9m together, while they are vet min production

Bonn1997 wrote:Novak's our most efficient scorer and we're struggling to get 90 points a game. You'd think Woodson would play him more. We'll need him deeper in the playoffs.

with amare set to play in the 2nd rnd, your talking about a bench squad of

kidd
jr
novak..can't double amare
martin
Amare

thats a very solid bench which is better then every bench in the league without question..

If we stay healthy, skies the limit

jaydh wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Novak's our most efficient scorer and we're struggling to get 90 points a game. You'd think Woodson would play him more. We'll need him deeper in the playoffs.

Woodson would probably love to play him more if he wasn't such a liability on defense. But, how can he be considered the most efficient when he averages 5 shots a game? I'm sure other guys would be more efficient if they only shot wide open shots.