I wasn't talking about the 50 year old Bird sitting on his ass as the GM of one of crappiest teams in the league ........ Also, I have no doubt Novak's defense would've been less of a liability then it is today.
Anyone saying that Larry Bird was not athletic is insane or didn't watch basketball. I can't agree more with those saying that athletic doesn't have to equal a fast, black guy. And the insinuation that players in the 80s had the athletic abilities of intramural rec players is ridiculous.
you guys can define athletic however you want to... but it was apparent as early as in their college years that Larry Bird was a way better basketball player then Novak. Why? Because Bird excelled in his all around skills and had a natural instinct about basketball that you either have early on and develop it or you don't and have to work hard just to keep up with your peers. Novak's peers in college were not as great as in the NBA so his weakspots were not as apparent, his time in the NBA has exposed him for what he is however.
Novak needs to develop on his own. His inability to put the ball on the floor is call not practicing in the off season. His inability to not rebound at 6'10 is called lack of hussle. His inability to play no D whatsoever is called desire. No one can fix this except for Novak. So I suggest that he stop shooting so many jumpers and start working on: * Putting the ball on the floor aka developing a handle * Add some weights to his diet, still looks like a skinny pole after 3 years in the L * Develop a desire to rebound * Enhance foot work and toughness to stay in the game on the defensive end. IT'S ON HIM NOT THE ROCKETS
Bird was and still is the man. No one smarter and please don't try to compare Novak to him. From a brother
Yes that is true, he needs to take the time to get better in areas of his deficiencies. Maybe when he is working on his handles, he can invite Luther to join him, and when he is shooting, ask Rafer to come over. DD
Yeah that's true because I know people who don't play basketball yet they can touch the ring (and like they're not necessarily tall) or even dunk it (well sort of lol), most of them are rugby players, though they work on their quads too. bladeage - lmao I think I remember that movie! If Novak was decent, or at least just okay at everything else then geez he would be a really good player for us, too bad all he has is shooting at the moment. Still I don't reckon we use him enough when we can.
How long does it take to correct these glaring deficiencies? Isn't this something that he should have developed in his teenage years? A wicked handle, his passing game, footwork and shooting? Well at least he's got one skill down pat. Can you still develop these other aspects of your game now that you're 20 something????
Year 3 is when a player either gets it or doesn't..... I think the Rockets keep him for this year and next and then we shall know. If they don't sign him or offer him a contract, we will have our answer. DD
Shades of another draft pick we took. Bryce Drew. If I remember correctly couldn't he shoot lights out too and was too slow for the NBA game?
This is the NBA. At this level, the player has to develop themselves into a position or role... not the organization. NBA Players have an average career span of 10 years. The time to assert yourself is always now if not yesterday. RA is not gonna bend backward to develop one player when he has 11 others to worry about.
The way I see...Novak has a gift....he shoots instinctively well. Everything about his shot is perfect...he could probably do his version of "How to Shoot a Jumper". His shot will always be there for him like riding a bike...it's just there...he jsut does it. So....here's the point....he needs to be practicing defense...and giving himself some defensive value. Because if all he does is shoot...he'll find it difficult to get on any NBA team's roster and get P/T. If he could defend as good as Mehmet Okur, who has very little lateral moving ability and is slow as syrup out of the 'fridge, he would be a significant contributor to this team. I would jsut hate to see such a rare thing as his devine shot go to waste because he can't defend or rebound.
I really don't think Novak has the ability to enhance his skills, he's obviously not athletic and quick. Those characteristics are ones you have or don't have coming into the league. He is just going to be a spot up shooter or can come off a pick and shoot from time to time, thats if his defender isn't trying. His defense is whack. Focus on developing Landry, Brooks, and Scola instead. Novak will never have the skills Nachbar has, so just go for a player like him if thats what the Rox are looking for.
His dribbling skills are someone lacking as well as his off the ball movement laterally. He can't jump either. I don't think foot speed can be improved but if he can somehow make up for it by anticipating quicker he might be like Kapono or Korver. Bit of wishful thinking I suspect however....
I am done with this argument about definition. But just to clear your misconception about my view, IT IS NOT ABOUT RACE. Kirilenko is a lot more athletic than Battier, by my definition.
If you guys are looking for a white guy who can shoot the ball lights out but is not gifted athletically, you can keep Novak and hope for the best. If you're looking for a white guy the ball lights out AND is gifted athletically, look no further than Chase Budinger. But alas, he won't drop that far....
My opinion: Novak isn't actually all that bad. he just has a tendancy to disappear while out on the floor. Same problem Landry has. Novak has the ability to get a shot off with D on him. He won't drive, but he is able to make quick short dribble moves to create enough space to get a shot off. His defense isn't THAT bad. It's certainly not good, but he's not a total liability out there. Besides, we play team D. As long as he can help out, and rotate along with his teammates, his defensive deficiencies won't be as bad. Now if we can't find better shooters in the offseason, I say it's time to give him more run. And speaking of shooters, the coaching staff needs to figure out what's up with Head in the postseason. He's as big of a key as any. We need him to make shots too.
C'mon guys Novak is not better than Luther Head. If he was then he would be getting more time out there than Luther. The fact of the matter is Novak is just a shooter. He has no lateral movement and is too slow to drive to the basket and just not strong enough to play post. that being said I am not saying that luther is a good player but he has more lateral movement so he can play atleast some defense. He can also drive to the basket better than Novak. I think Novak has the potential to be the next peja but at the moment he is just another Air Bullard.
