Come on guys... leave Novak alone... where else are you going to get a 12th man who can actually win games for you, doesn't complain about the minutes or about getting paid the minimum? That's what Novak is currently - next year? We'll see if he can improve his footwork and defense... but at worse, he will be what I said above... I think he is the perfect weapon when the team is down by 20 and the coach desperately need to shake the offense up because the scoring has simply dried up.
You asked who was better. At this moment in time it's hands down Sasha. The future however is uncertain especially to how much Novak might be able to improve. If he works hard, gets better on his defense, handles and footwork, then yeah, he can get more minutes. As of right now, there is no comparison.
Thread... keeps on... existing... won't... die! Maybe Novak just needs to give himself a good nickname. "The Zamboni" ... or change his name to something vaguely Slavic or Greek. This reminds me of the masterful cinder block posts. Cindrojbloczci for 3!
If I remember correctly, Novak was hitting plenty of moving/fadeaway shots during game 6 against the Jazz this year when we were trying to scrap back into the game during the second half. He's improved his shooting versatility, I'd say, but as everyone has been saying and knows, his defense sucks. Plain and simple.
Sometimes I wonder if people even watch the games. I think there is a group of people who look at stats only and come up with insane ideas. For example: Player A's stats: 30mpg 18ppg 45% shooting Player B's stats: 8mpg 5ppg 46% shooting OMG!! Player B averages more points per minute and shoots a higher percentage!! He would be better than player A if he got the same minutes!!! It isn't that simple, kids. Novak doesn't belong on this team's (or any other good team's) active rotation. He isn't Peja and he isn't Sasha Vulchawhatever. He is a stand still shooter who shoots better in garbage time and is working on becoming the worst defender in NBA history. He is really that bad at everything but open jumpers.
So much for Sasha's defense...he pissed his pants out there against Allen. He just cried after getting blown by...lol.
LOL i felt so bad for Sasha after Ray Allen got the open lane, someone is going to get raped by Kobe in LA tonight . But yea the dude was crying who saw that?
yes but just a little bit... Vujacic's defense is still a problem. He forgot to defend Ray Allen a moment ago
Although Ray Allen has lost a step I think you guys are forgetting that just a few years ago he got to the rim quite oftenl. I don't think there is any shame in getting beat by Ray Allen in an isolation. He still has some quickness and good handles.
Yeah Sasha could have played better defense on that possession, but the much bigger mistake was the lack of help defense from Pau Gasol, the rotational man next to the basket. Even the best defenders need help from teammates regularly. Pau's lack of defense has been seriously exposed during the finals.
I think Sasha read this thread and was thinking about it on that play. Am I really like Novak? ... can't seem to... move... feet... nooooooooo..ooo...o...
No disrespect to Steve but Sasha is better. He has better handles, better defense, and better mobility. In terms of shooting I think Novak is better but we wont really know till Novak gets some significant playing time. I think Novak has the ability to become Peja.
things are simple:novak just moves on the floor not defend and vujacic has a strong heart against pressure.vujacic impressing me most is his self-possession.rockets can try to sign him.
Yes, but he is being unfairly dumped on. It was clear he was trying to avoid fouling and there was zero, and I mean ZERO, help. That was a team defense breakdown, not just Sasha. He knew that fouling Ray Allen was an automatic 2 points and someone should have been there at the basket to offer resistance. I blame Pau almost as much as Sasha (who was playing Allen much too close for that situation). By bodying up so far away from the rim, he was begging Allen to drive. His teammates should have been in sync with that and, therefore, on the alert to collapse.
and then he started to pout on the bench. "my pepe hurts!!! whaaaa!!!" imho, i think hes a solid player. but he seems to carry an attitude that he is the croatian tmac which is annoying. i still remember how alston had to get and1 on him to remind him that hes just another solid rotation guy.
I would place the blame on Gasol who didn't step back in to protect the basket. I mean really... let KG shoot from that far out, don't give up a layup!
Sasha's still a b*tch in my eyes after that Rafer incident, but he's clearly a much better player than Novak. Novak's 3 pt accuracy is probably better but all-around game goes to Vujacic. That last play where he played matador defense on RayRay is his fault and his big man's fault for not sliding over on help defense. Still, he shouldn't have just let Allen WALK IT IN like that
