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[Milwaukee Journal]Rockets keeping gun (Novak) holstered {informative and funny}

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by macfan, Nov 9, 2006.

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  1. macfan

    macfan Member

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    http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=529078

    Shane Battier has seen enough of 23-year-old teammate Steve Novak to know one thing.

    This kid can shoot.

    "He's an exceptional shooter, almost a freaky shooter," Battier said. "I told him he can play in this league a long time. There are just not that many guys who can shoot like that.

    "The challenge for him now is to learn the NBA game and learn how he can get his shots and create shots for others, using his skills    ."

    Novak, the former Marquette University and Brown Deer star, made a return to the Bradley Center on Wednesday night. This time he was wearing the red and white of his new team, the Houston Rockets, instead of the blue and gold of the Golden Eagles.

    Despite chants from the crowd, "Put in Novak, put in Novak," the rookie did not leave the bench during the Rockets' 97-93 victory over the favorite team from his boyhood, the Milwaukee Bucks.

    "Of course, of course," Novak said when asked whether he wanted to be on the floor. "But we came here to get a 'W' and that's what we did.

    "When you have guys like Michael Redd on the floor, I don't think the game is ever over. He's so much fun to watch, such a great scorer. For three quarters, we really played a good game."

    All-star guard Tracy McGrady (32 points) and 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming (23) carried the Rockets to the victory, despite a frantic Bucks comeback in the final quarter.

    The tricky part for Novak is getting on the court, but he knows he needs to be patient.

    "You've just got to keep learning, keep watching what these guys on the floor are doing," Novak said.

    Novak played 9 minutes in the Rockets' opener at Utah and sank his first basket as a pro, a three-pointer with forward Carlos Boozer in his face.

    The 6-10 Novak played 11 minutes and had five points in Houston's home opener, a victory over the Dallas Mavericks. But he played 2 minutes against New Orleans / Oklahoma City and did not get off the bench in the last two games.

    "When he's better than the guys I'm playing and he gives us a better chance to win, he'll play more," no-nonsense Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said.

    When Novak showed up in the Bradley Center hallway before the game Wednesday, he was wearing a checkered blue and gray sweater.

    "If he wears that sweater to any game, he'll never play," Van Gundy cracked as the cameras focused on Novak. "That ain't giving me the vibe that he's going to bang some bodies tonight."

    Seriously, the Rockets' veteran lineup and Van Gundy's preferences mean that Novak might do more sitting than playing this season.

    Defensive-minded Chuck Hayes is the Rockets' starter at small forward, and Juwan Howard and Bonzi Wells also are available to play the position.

    "We trust Coach Van Gundy to always make the right decision with that kind of stuff," Novak said. "He's been doing it quite awhile, so he knows what he's doing.

    "It's kind of like my freshman year at Marquette, when we had 'D-Wade,' Travis Diener and Robert Jackson, all those guys. I knew what my place was, but I always had to be ready."

    Novak knows in time he can be a major weapon for the Rockets, and he already has the endorsement of one very important person: Yao.

    "Everybody knows he's a great shooter," Yao said. "We can make him much better, when Tracy is on the court and I'm on the court. We're going to have at least 1½ men on our bodies, and he's going to find a spot on the three-point line.
    "A big guy always likes to have some shooters around him. So when we drafted him, I heard he was a great shooter, and I said, 'Hey, that's what I want.' "
     
    #1 macfan, Nov 9, 2006
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2006
  2. macfan

    macfan Member

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    I wish the Chronicle would be as thorough in providing Rockets coverage. They provide just some basic quotes. We missed the best quotes from Van Gundy, which shows how funny he can be sometimes.

    We also got a little insight on why JVG is not playing Novak. Simply put, he doesn't think Novak is ready to play physical basketball. I agree
     
    #2 macfan, Nov 9, 2006
  3. Old Man Rock

    Old Man Rock Contributing Member

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    What our ya talkin about? You mean funny like a clown. You think he is amusing you. You think he is there to entertain you, make you laugh. Is he a joker kind of funny. Cause the way I see we don't need a joker or a clown for a coach! But maybe that's what we got or at least a joker. And if you is insulting the Joker he gonna f*** you up m****F***! You got it!
     
    #3 Old Man Rock, Nov 9, 2006
  4. count_dough-ku

    count_dough-ku Member

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    Go home and get your f---ing shine box!
     
    #4 count_dough-ku, Nov 9, 2006
  5. mogrod

    mogrod Member

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    I saw him interviewed before the game and I agree. That sweater was horrible. :D
     
    #5 mogrod, Nov 9, 2006
  6. Daedalus

    Daedalus Member

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    favourite line from the film.
     
    #6 Daedalus, Nov 9, 2006
  7. OddsOn

    OddsOn Member

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    One minute you are complaining about him being "Jeff Van Grumpy" and then when he cracks some jokes about a rookie you choose to get all sensitive? You can't have it both ways... :rolleyes:

    The fact of the matter is he is totally correct. Novak needs to get stronger and learn the defensive rotations better. Currently he is a defensive liability on the floor and cannot do much in the paint due to his lack of strength.
     
    #7 OddsOn, Nov 9, 2006
  8. Sishir Chang

    Sishir Chang Member

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    I understand W's are the goal but so is fan appreciation. While this was a road game when road fans are excited about a hometown player and your team as a big lead wouldn't it have been a great gesture to put Novak in there for a few minutes? In hindsight the Rox had a 4th quarter collapse but even if Novak had been in there JVG could've pulled him and Novak playing on what was his former home court and hometown might've been fired up enough to play hard.

    This is another one of those times where I think JVG is being too rigid in his coaching.
     
    #8 Sishir Chang, Nov 9, 2006
  9. maopaopao

    maopaopao Member

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    Ｐｌａｙ　Ｎｏｖａｋ
     
    #9 maopaopao, Nov 9, 2006
  10. vtkp99

    vtkp99 Member

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    Having a bad day old man? ;)
     
    #10 vtkp99, Nov 9, 2006
  11. Hayesfan

    Hayesfan Member

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    I just wish we could have held onto that big lead so he could have gotten on the court. Clever article!
     
    #11 Hayesfan, Nov 9, 2006
  12. jscmedia

    jscmedia Member

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    what a sourpuss!
     
    #12 jscmedia, Nov 9, 2006
  13. Aloe

    Aloe Member

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    He can't learn with his but stapled to the bench. Van Gundy is one of those dumb coaches who won't play a talented rookie just because they are a rookie. That's just dumb.
     
    #13 Aloe, Nov 9, 2006
  14. jsb

    jsb Member

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    For what its worth, I thought this was pretty funny. It always amazes me how sarcasm is way over most peoples heads.
     
    #14 jsb, Nov 9, 2006
  15. Verbatim

    Verbatim Member

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    If the lead was kept in the 4th quarter I'm sure Novak would have played. His shot is great but he will get eaten alive in their playing the 4. He is not fast enough to guard a 3. So he just need to learn while watching and improve in practice. Now would you replace Hayes with Novak right now? No, because the defense he provides IS helping keep Yao on the floor. True, Hayes already foul out of 2 games but that's a guy we can let foul out and we would still have good players behind him. Novak needs to get much better defensively for him to see playing time. That is what JVG wants and the coach gets what the coach wants. Like he said, if Novak is better than the guy he replace he WILL get playing time.

    It will take time but I am sure he will become more valuable than the players in front of him eventually.
     
    #15 Verbatim, Nov 9, 2006
  16. Mordo

    Mordo Member

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    Shane Battier is the starter at small forward and Chuck Hayes is the starter at power forward.

    You can't count on a sportswriter to know that.
     
    #16 Mordo, Nov 9, 2006
  17. smoothie

    smoothie Jabari Jungle

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    JVG cracks me up. someone get novak to the mens warehouse so JVG could "like the way he looks" and give him some PT.
     
    #17 smoothie, Nov 9, 2006
  18. SWTsig

    SWTsig Member

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    you should conitnue to lurk.
     
    #18 SWTsig, Nov 9, 2006
  19. SWTsig

    SWTsig Member

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    excellent post.

    why some people have such a hard time understanding these concepts is beyond me.
     
    #19 SWTsig, Nov 9, 2006
  20. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    This is exactly what I was saying in the other thread. I respect JVG as a disciplinary no-nonsense coach. Sometimes, I wonder if he understands that this is a game. Games are supposed to be fun. And the fans are one of, if not THE, most important parts of the game.
     
    #20 Easy, Nov 9, 2006
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