I thought the silver lining was how awesome of a team the Rockets are when everyone is healthy, and how they are really young at power forward. But I guess the silver lining could be the scrub white guy who hardly ever plays.
He's definitely better than Head at this point...solely because he can perform in the playoffs unlike Luther. However I doubt his defense will become any better...since he's all offense and no defense, we should trade him to an offensive minded team (GSW, Suns?) for a strong backup SG.
Great thread. Agree 100%. I didn't like him at all coming into this season, but he definitely needs to get spot minutes with that stroke of his. Phenomenal shooter
Hmmm Peja is also 6'10" and only weighs 10 more pounds. I remember him being a horrible defender when he first came in. RA did something right with him....
Peja is also a little bit quicker, has better handles, and can make off balance J's, he has more of a guard's game in a 3 body. It says something that Peja can stay on the court despite being a below average defender, no matter how good of a shooter he is. If Adelman can make Novak into a Peja clone, then my hats off to him. Novak is entering his 3rd season next year, if he can't find a place in Adelman's offense and learn how not to be a big detriment on D, then we need to turn our attention elsewhere to develop other young players. By the time he becomes a viable rotation player Yao and Tmac will have retired already. BTW, I personally don't count garbage time in a blowout game as true scouting report for future prognosis of a player, especially for Novak, cause his present role on the team has been basically set as a garbage time player. We'll see next year what Adelman's plans are for him, but I'm looking pragmatically at Novak's role on the team.
I just thought he should shoot more when Coach Adalmen put him on the court in 4th quarter. Our players didn't seem to be eager to set him up when he was playing on the court, esp the starters. Not just the game last night, there were other games when Novak was called to narrow the point differential, we seldom cut the lead since there were very few setup plays ran for him. Perhaps the coach just need him to spread the defence and spare some space for TMac or our point guards but I think that's not the best way to utilize a PURE shooter like Novak. I am a bit disappointed by Brooks long range though.
"Hey whats that bright light?" ....it ain't the sun.... ....it ain't Jesus.... ahh, dang its just that white dude Steve Novak!"
Novak is very capable of being the 3rd scorer we need, they just dont understand the offense well enough to use him, but im highly confident the 2nd year of running it will spell that
If Novak needs to get jacked so he can defend in the post. He is really skinny and he looks like a Stockton in a forwards body. If he can get some good gains it would be really helpful for his D
They tend to guard Novak pretty closely when he comes into the game as well. That's why he doesn't get the ball since he is absolutely useless if a man is playing up on him.
I'd rather invest my hopes on Yao's micro fractured foot or Tmac's sturdy back than Steve Novak. Until he can beef up a little bit and learn how to play defense, I don't really care if he plays or not. We have a better chance drafting a guy like Brandon Rush or Joe Alexander (which is actually possible)
I don't worry about his size, Tayshaun Prince is not big....Novak needs to work on his lateral quickness..... That alone will make a massive difference in his defensive capabilities. DD
I don't think at this point his lateral quickness can be improved upon much more, its something that partly have to born with. But his stance can be improved upon, as well as awareness. Thats beefing up a little bit will help him immensely, to help make up lack of agility with strength. It will also help him in defending the low post.
Look at Novak's hot spots for the season. so much red.... We have got to find time for a shooter like that. When you shoot nearly 50% from the 3pt line for the ENTIRE year....you need to be on the floor.....every game. DD
Being more valuable than Head is not a great thing. Novak has no perimeter D, low post D, and help D. So bascially he has no D. Also, if you push up on him he can't put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Also, he doesn't rebound at 6'10", which is ridiculous. Still very weak after 3 years in the league. We need to use him, luther, and our 1st Round pick to move up in the draft and get someone all around.
For the record, this is his 2nd year in the league and he showed major improvement in all areas from year one. He is worth keeping around and finding spots to play him with Yao to take advantage of his shooting. DD
