why the rage against the machine? I feel like he has been the X factor in the entire playoffs for that team. But also, novak has an important role to fill here. A marksman like that is rare. Better novak be on our side than with SA.
unbelievable isn't it. vujacic was touted in the sa series for his defense on manu, he's a ball handler, what are people thinking?
How did he improve exactly? The main difference between year 1 and year 2 was that he could now hit shots in-game. As for everything else, the improvement, the way I saw it, was very marginal. And we all know that it is not his shooting that is keeping him off the court.
I think Vujacic is the most improved player in the league this year. I wouldn't have given a plugged nickel for him after last season but he has really matured and you can tell the game has slowed down for him. The key thing on his jumper is he gets his feet set. I don't think he's fast or quick for a guard. I actually think he's kinda slow. But he's got great footwork. And he's got those little moves with the ball to create just enough space to get off his shot, which is deadly when his feet are set. You guys that don't think Novak has those moves with the ball haven't watched him enough. He's got the duck under and the little ball fakes to shake free and launch his shot. He's just not played enough and developed his confidence enough. No, he's not as fast as Vujacic. He ain't a guard. But his quickness at the forward spot is probably on par with Vujacic's quickness at the guard spot. Vujacic is in the lower third of guards in the league in quickness. Novak is in the lower third of forwards in the league in quickness. In my opinion, if we don't trade Novak, this coming year is his make or break year with the Rox. Adelman will have had all summer to work out plays for Novak. And Novak will have had all summer to add enough to his game to be more productive. If it don't happen this year, it ain't happening here. I just wished we could have got more out of him this year. I think it was there.
Co-signed. It really is painful to watch him unless he's shooting. I really like Novak, and was really pumped when he hit that game-winner, but I just don't see him ever playing real minutes for any NBA team.
Vujacic is better, hes been playing @ pro level since he was 15 and internationally, hes in his 4th season now and plays better D. Hes also in a better position than Novak just because Novak is 6-10 and cant rebound and do anything while Vujacic is much shorter. Vujacic's video takes place in the playoffs, Novak's video takes place in the regular season
You answered you own question he hit shots, and he looked a lot less lost on defense. Still needs a lot of work on defense but he looks like an NBA player now. Year 3 is where they either get it or don't. DD
I am sorry but anyone who saw his minutes last year compared to his minutes this year has to see defensive improvement. I'm not talking to Battier or Hayes standards, but he was more aware on defense, got positioning on rebounds more often and didn't have as many blow bys when he was one-on-one. Did he still lose his man? yes , but less than he did his first year. Did he still get caught flat footed and end up behind his man? Yes, but not as often. Did he actually have some good defensive plays? Yes, against the Ryan Bowen's of the world, but regardless he was put in a position to play defense against people he could handle and did so. Offensively he was never an issue. It's defense where he needed to improve and he did that. Can he still get better? Heck yeah, but I am a lot less nervous seeing him on the defensive side of the court after this past season than I was his rookie season.
You could make a similar argument about Vujacic. Let's see what happens next season when Bynum returns. If he's still getting playing time behind Kobe and Odom, your argument loses all validity. Regardless, Novak's biggest problem is that he can't do anything at an NBA-caliber level other than shoot. It's the same reason he dropped to the 2nd round in the draft. You don't think scouts knew he was one of the best college shooters ever? Of course, they did. But, they also knew that he would be a one-trick pony. If the dude had any chance of being able to play both ends of the court as a forward, he would have never even been a Rocket in the first place. Another team would have grabbed him in the 1st round.
I've given up on Novak, Im tired of his snail like speed and horrible defense. He needs to go somewhere else, maybe the Euro league
come on people you guys need to look at the machine from an unbiased position...yea hes hard headed and sometimes a jerk (ie 3 pt shot against spurs at last second of final game and hard d on alston) BUT he is a hawk on defense and knocks down the 3 at a high clip.he may not be quick like say a i or ford but hes fast enough to keep up.would you really not make a straight up trade with novak for him? novak will never be able to d up most 4s in the league
As an NBA player, Novak is human waste, time to get rid of him once and for all! DaDakota, you seem like a very reasonable person from your posts (your mancrush on VSpan aside), why would you think Novak will actually become a contributor with his abominable liabilities?
I don't know if he will be a major contributor, but IMHO, the most important thing an NBA player can do is shoot, and Novak is not just good at that, he is EXCELLENT at it. You can find a place to play him with that shot, play a zone on defense to protect him, but for crying out loud use him to get people off of Yao and Tmac. Imagine Novak in the corner instead of Battier or Alston? I mean that is a 50% 3pt shot.....that is HUGE..... I also find it hilarious that people are giving up on the guy after only his 2nd year in the league, year 1, JVG liked him so much he had him start early even though he was putrid on defense....that says a lot. Adelman even tried to work him into the games, and he won the Sacremento game during the streak...... Ask yourself this.......what are some of the most important things missing from the Rockets? If your answer has shooting anywhere in the top 3 things than you have to see something in Novak. Guys that can shoot this well are NOT falling from trees....and when used properly, coming around screens shooting jumpers, stretching the floor they are major weapons. Case in point - watch the short video... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vCoUNMdcFME&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vCoUNMdcFME&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> In the playoffs, and moving: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MNgpXz2JyUY&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MNgpXz2JyUY&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Even some rebounds baby, and look how well BROOKS sets him up !! <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7yTHf15ndyk&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7yTHf15ndyk&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Any questions? DD
Can be said about any player, I think in just the right setting Novak could have been or could be a contributor to a team. A combination of a team with lessened focus on defense, a team not particularly good, a coach in love with the 3 point shot and crazy enough to play him. Maybe not for the Rockets but he could have been another team's Matt Bullard (lite). If the Rockets go the direction of wanting offense like Morey said, that can actually help out Novak's cause. But its still an uphill climb for him to be an NBA contributor. And yes Vujacic IS much better than Novak.
I don't quite understand this comparison... both are entirely different types of players at different positions with only one thing in common.. they can shoot 3 pointers. Novak is nothing but a bench-warmer who runs around and tries to get open to shoot 3's. His height is suited to be a PF, but he plays like a 2 guard. No defense.. too slow to guard smaller players, too weak to guard bigger players. Vujacic, on the other hand, is a role-player that get significant minutes on a Lakers team and is a very efficient scorer and defender. And, he occasionally handles the ball. Sooo... in conclusion: Vujacic, even though he's a punk with a stupid haircut, is better than Novak...
Point taken, but Novak is simply too one-dimensional to be a rotational player (even as 8th, 9th man). To answer your question, I think free-throw shooting is one of the top three issues the Rockets should address, but should we sign that 60-year-old dude (or however old he is) who holds the record for most consecutive free throws made? Yes Novak is a fantastic shooter, and he's even blessed with great length, but his physical weakness, lack of mobility and low basketball IQ just outweigh his one shining attribute.
