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Novak - The ultimate conundrum

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by jopatmc, Jan 29, 2008.

  1. jopatmc

    jopatmc Contributing Member

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    How bad does his defense have to be to warrant not giving minutes to a 63% 3 point shooter with and adjusted FG% of .833???? (I know his D is baaaaad.)

    or

    How good does his defense have to be to warrant him getting minutes if he keeps shooting at this clip?

    or

    How much higher does his shooting percentage have to rise to justify giving him more minutes?

    or

    How low can his shooting percentages fall before you deem his offensive contribution not worth his defensive deficiency?

    or

    What percentages does Novak have to shoot to make a positive contribution to the team?

    It's all the same question.

    Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. His numbers are distorted because there isn't enough of them. Everybody knows that. But the bottom line I was always taught was if a guy was hot, you feed him the bball until he cools off. Novak came in the other night, COLD AS ICE, basically hasn't played any minutes in an NBA game in over two weeks, and starts splashing down jumpers like Amare does dunks. He provided an electricity and energy that the team desparately needs. Much more than that, he provided a SHOT MAKER, which we have desparately lacked. And he changed the whole complexion of the game.

    My question is how does Rick find minutes and matchups that favor the Rockets with Novak? As abysmal as our shooting has been, there has to be more times like against Utah where Novak can come in, spread the floor and give our offense a major jolt to spring us loose. Shooting at that clip, you have to acknowledge he is a positive, even if he didn't even try defensively, which he does.

    If I were Rick, the first thing I would look for is the opponent putting in a defensive stopper type with poor offensive skills that Novak could defend. This could be an opposing 2, 3, or 4. Opponents do this to us constantly, putting in a 3/4 to help defend Yao or a specialist 2/3 to defend McGrady. San Antonio may be the perfect case with Bruce Bowen. I know they say Bonzi is the Spur killer but he hasn't really been that since the playoff series with the Kings. The next time we play the Spurs, I would be tempted to let Novak start and matchup defensively with Bowen. Bowen stands out there in the corner looking for the 3 ball. Yeah, he drives occasionally, but that would play right into our defense with Yao/Hayes in the paint. And then you've got Bowen and Finley scrambling defensively against McGrady/Novak. I like either matchup against Finley. And if Novak continues to shoot it over 50% from 3, then I think his contribution would be a positive one.

    If we are going to keep Brooks on the second unit, then I would be tempted to use Novak to take some of Head's minutes. Head cannot defend anybody. Novak is bigger. And Novak is the better shooter. You could put him out there with Brooks, Bonzi, and others in spots where Head would normally play. Why not try him there at least until he cools off?

    Thoughts?
     
  2. DonkeyMagic

    DonkeyMagic Contributing Member
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    spot minutes against certain matchups. The rockets should be good enough to not even have to debate this though
     
  3. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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    I wish that they would play a little matchup zone when he is in there.


    The truth is that this team's biggest problem is it's inability to hit shots.....you can learn how to be competent at defense, but apparently you can't learn how to be a good shooter.....we have too many players that are average to below average shooters.

    I would start playing Novak over luther and Bonzi some.

    DD
     
  4. ibm

    ibm Member

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    don't know about bonzi, but luther, definitely. what luther can do that novak can't? both are only good at shooting, and novak beats luther on that. how 'bout playing novak at the 2 tonight? bet davis can't back him down that easy.
     
  5. moonnumack

    moonnumack Contributing Member

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    What I noticed the other day was his tendency to get sucked in and lose track of his man (in this case, the deadly Kyle Korver). I think he'd be best utilized for short stints, particularly when Yao is getting doubled hard. You would probably need to make sure a good rebounde like Hayes, Landry, or Bonzi is in the game to compensate for his lack of glass prowess. Nevertheless, he could really open things up for the interior guys just with the threat of launching the 3-ball.
     
  6. JBIIRockets

    JBIIRockets Contributing Member

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    Novak is getting screwed around. He showed last game that he is a shotmaker. Did anyone see that little putback 10 foot jumper he did? He never kept the ball below his shoulders. He looked like a 10 year veteran on that play. We are talking about a guy who scored 41 points in a college game vs UConn. Give him a chance to shine Adelman.

    How can anyone judge his defense when he has rarely played. Doesn't nearly every nba player suck at playing D when they first start out?
     
  7. BackNthDay

    BackNthDay Member

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    As my 4th grade coach told me, I don't care if you can score 100 but you better play D and rebound or else you're sitting down.

    NO D and NO REBOUNDS - If novak was a brother, he would be suited up like Captain Kirk on our bench. The only thing he can do is shoot!!! Score 10 and give up 17 to Korver - proof is in game highlights.
     
  8. poprocks

    poprocks Member

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    Actually Kapono had the same deficiencies. Kapono's footspeed is slow but he seems to be more aware of what's going on around him. Novak should just be told to stick to his man like glue. That's it.
     
  9. ibm

    ibm Member

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    you have a point. but the jazz ran plays to set korver up for his shots. we didn't. and that made novak useless. that's the other side of the story.

    many have said this nba era lacks great centers. i still think that's debatable. but imo great shooters are more scarce nowadays compared to the old days.
     
  10. Eddie5ball

    Eddie5ball Member

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    The problem with him getting minutes is when you have him playing with players like Tmac that do not play much into defense or hustle, it gives the other team a bigger advantage. Look at Matt Bullard for example, his defense wasn't good, but playing with Dream, Mad Max, Horry, Thorpe, Elie, they all had that extra hustle effort to come and help off his defender. Tmac, and a few other current Rockets just don't have that. Thats why I don't think well ever win the chip with Tmac.
     
  11. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Contributing Member

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    not that he's a capable man to man defender, but Novak's worse skill is rebounding, and you want to put him in a zone?

    It all depends on the player. I don't think Novak has a shot of EVER being a competent defender, frankly. That's just my opinion, though. You look at him, and you look at Ryan Bowen, and say if Bowen can do it, why can't Novak? I just don't think it works like that.
     
  12. BackNthDay

    BackNthDay Member

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    Good point, Tmac hustle is below par and only rebounds when he wants to. There is no help D when Tmac is on the court. However, Novak must stay in front of his made with a hand in his face. I don't understand why he can't pick up defense from a player like Shane.
     
  13. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    My thought was that you wrote a hell of a great read, jopatmc. :cool:

    If this is the shooter we've always heard Novak was, but rarely saw, the guy the rest of the team raved about in practice, but couldn't find the floor if he fell on it face first, then yes, you have to get him time, somehow. As for his defence? Even Alston became a decent team defender. The only way to let Novak improve in the area, if he can (besides losing more of the baby fat), is game time. There's nothing else like it. Put him in games and show him the film. The guy doesn't strike me as stupid. As badly as we need a lights out shooter on this team, you have to let him try and, hopefully, learn.
     
  14. thedopefiend

    thedopefiend Member

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    did you see Novak trying to cover AK47 the first time? AK ignored him completely and pulled up a three with pretty good look. The defensive moves of Novak were....laughable
     
  15. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    I would love to see Kirilenko and Novak trade 3pt shots. Advantage Houston. :)

    Seriously, if the guy he guards just shoots 3s out there, we have an advantage. What we fear is that whoever he guards would just blow by him and get Yao into foul trouble.
     
  16. LongTimeFan

    LongTimeFan Contributing Member

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    My only problem with playing Novak:

    If you're going to play him, make sure he SHOOTS the damn ball!! He was 4-4 the other night and he was still being ignored by the Rockets players on the offensive end. He's open for three and our "pg" Alston has his back to him waiting for Tmac to come down and run the offense for him. Absolutely unacceptable.. how do you ignore the best shooter on your team, especially when he's on fire?! He should have had plays run for him, running off picks a la Tmac does when he's not lazy, or what Korver was doing to us. We should have been running plays to get him shots, instead of hoping his defender accidentally leaves him for the fifth time.

    I think Novak should be brought in to spell Battier. The only way he's going to learn is through on-the-court teaching. His offensive game is too good to be a reserve for a Rockets team that can't shoot straight.
     
  17. Eddie5ball

    Eddie5ball Member

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    Yea I don't understand that one either. Hopefully Adelman figures out who he can be on the court with and who not, because it would be somewhat dissapointing to not see a great shooter like him in there when he can help the Rockets.
     
  18. Supermac34

    Supermac34 President, Von Wafer Fan Club

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    I was at the game the other night and watched him very carefully. I was actually a little surprised he got into the game when he did and took the opportunity to focus on him.

    He quickly went on that stretch where he hit his shots and scored 10 quick points. The crowd was going nuts, etc.

    After a time out, the Jazz were prepared and started actually keeping a guy on him. He was unable to lose his guy for the next 10 minutes he was in the game and was a glaring weakness on defense.

    I think he could be very valuable to come off the bench to hit some wide open shots when struggling, or be a "zone buster" against some teams, but it was clear to me he can't play significant minutes.

    As soon as the defense notices him he is basically out of the game. I really wanted McGrady to hit him a couple of times for some shots, and it appeared like he was trying to, but he just couldn't get open again.

    And on defense, he lost his man several times for easy buckets and caused other players to get out of positions on their own guys as they had to help his defense.

    I think he should get more opportunities, especially in certain situations, but I can't see him being able to be on the court for more than 10 minutes or so.
     
  19. GoRedRowdies

    GoRedRowdies Member

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  20. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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    Sounds just like Matt Bullard and Steve Kerr.

    DD
     

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