http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1396 Here is the full game report: Game Two Final: Houston- 93 Denver 90 Rockets Jonathan Givony Steve Novak Novak continued right where he left off in the first half , showing us exactly what his role is going to be in the NBA and just how perfectly he fits into it. Novak came off screens and knocked down his open looks from 3-point range as if they were layups. He also showed some basic ball-handling skills and did some work from mid-range as well. Denver decided to start face-guarding him after the first quarter and Novak had no problem finding the open man or feeding the post instead. On one sequence he saw an opening in the lane and sprinted immediately into the paint where he was fed with his cut by a nice pass, which he converted plus the foul. In the 2nd half Novak was a little quieter, but still did a good job knocking down his open shots and playing his role. He’s a great player to have on an unselfish team like this who has no problem giving the ball up to find high percentage shots. Houston fans have a lot to be excited about next year with him coming off the bench. It’s a mystery how NBA GMs couldn’t figure out that he’s going to be a great role playing specialist after the college career he had. John Lucas Lucas had another fantastic game and is going a long ways in securing himself an NBA contract for next year. He could very well be the MVP of the Vegas Summer League so far. The way he organizes the game and finds the open man unselfishly to compliment his ability to put the ball in the net when needed makes him a very unique player despite his below average height. He has a great feel for the game and just knows how to control the tempo of the game to his team’s advantage. He got into the lane today at ease and created a number of easy layups for teammates. When his teammates did not present themselves, he either went all the way to the hoop, absorbed contact and finished, went to a pretty floater or pulled up sharply off the dribble for a smooth 18 footer. To cap off a fantastic half, he hit a running 35 footer off the glass with less than a second left on the clock. Lucas had another very nice showing in the 2nd half, focusing a bit more on distributing rather than scoring himself. He executed the sets his coaches put in to perfection and played winning basketball throughout. The points he got came through slashing to the basket and getting to the free throw line, hitting mid-range jumpers from the baseline or around the free throw line, or in one of the highlights of the game, shooting a pretty right-handed baby hook shot from about 12 feet out after a penetration. His ball-handling skills look fantastic and its really really tough not to be impressed by how well he is performing here. Pat Carroll After an excellent showing in the first game yesterday, Carroll came back today and had another terrific outing. He started off a bit slow but really came to life in the 2nd half, knocking down four consecutive 3-pointers in a row at one point. Like Novak, Carroll is a specialist who knows his role and sticks to it at all times without forcing the issue. He finds the holes in the defense to get his points or has shots created for him by his teammates, but has been very efficient in everything he’s done so far. His perimeter shooting is obviously his biggest strength, and despite his awkward form (he shoots it in front of his face and twists his body a bit) he gets the job done very effectively at a high percentage. Much like his brother Matt, Pat could find himself a niche in the league somewhere as a 3-point specialist who will never hurt you with the way he plays.
Well ... there are a couple of things in Novak's favor. He played in an pro-style offense at Marquette, so he has a smaller learning curve than most rookies. And his shooting percentages are simply unreal compared to any other prospects we've seen in the past (namely the Bokis and Langhis). Can't anoint him as the next Reggie Miller just yet, of course ... but I don't think it's a reach to say that Novak definitely looks like he's the real deal, in spite of his known deficiencies (defense, strength and athleticism, mostly). I think he ought to have been a first rounder, and the Rockets are pretty darn lucky to get him. You know, the whole "draft offense, teach defense" thing.
this guy was almost a first-rounder, arguably could have been. i'm not expecting reggie miller but if he can be matt bullard next year we're looking at a nice pickup.
Good to know that some of the youngsters are stepping it up, even though it is just the summer league. Lucas may be a good backup PG.
Is Novak already signed? With all this hype I'm wondering if it could get to the point where he prices himself out of a contract we can even afford the way VSpan has...
Calm down. We own the rights to him. He would be foolish not to accept whatever rookie contract we offer...where else would he go?
Yeah thats true I shure havant but does anybody know the numbers Novak and the guys put up against denver?.
Novak is an American that grew up in America watching the NBA and dreaming about playing in the NBA...he is not going to any of those places unless he fails to make the Rockets roster. You can bank on that.
DaDa only liked Langhi, but his noted mancrushes have been Boki, Hinrich, Ridnour, Redick, and now Novak.
There's the kiss of death. Langhi -> Boki -> Badiane (ok, I liked him, too) -> Novak... His career's over.
Fair enough, but I'm still curious as to what kind of contract he would likely be offered by us. I sort of recall that typically 2nd rounders get 2 year contracts, with only the first year guaranteed. But the actual salary figures I'm not sure about. And I wonder if there's been any precedence for a recent 2nd rounder to hold out for a higher amount or more favorable terms...
John Lucas again got 25Pts 9Ass. in 36min action. Darius had only 3 mins to perform, got one foul and that's all. Haryasz got 9 calls in 21 min. Novak gathered 20 pts 2 Reb 6 fouls,7-15,3-7,3-4. Damn, he missed a free throw.
I would hope that it would be a two year contract with a team option for a 3rd. Typically 2nd rounders don't hold out for more money because all the teams in the draft passed on them and they are still considered not to be a lock to make the team. They can increase their stock by playing in another league like AK47 or Manu Ginobli but I don't see any scenario that Novak doesn't sign a typical second round contract for second round money unless he just starts to suck and does not make the team.
