Last year. I remember a lot of board members digging the fact that we went undefeated in summer league.
Look no further. I am an exact combination of Rybo and Novak - Rybo's offense and Novak's defense rolled into one! Conveniently, I'm available for the league minimum.
How does he get open? There's no one on the Rockets to double team. Was it from drive and kicks? Does he get open ala Reggie Miller?
I am way too busy with my business otherwise I would visit my daughter in Vegas and and and ACTUALLY RELAX and watch some ball! Oh gawd I wish I could go!!!!!
Who, Novak? Then yes. That's his game, running off picks and constantly moving, and when he gets an inch he can pull-up and drill the shot. As long as he can play some semblance of defense, he'll be a big boost to our offense.
Well since there is not foul limit, i guess players dont really care to play safe and not foul. He will learn under JVG how to stay out of foul trouble. Other than that, 6-8 shooting from long range is freakin awesome. Hopefully he is consistent and if he is then it was a steal for the #32 pick.
posted by clutchhero in the wrong thread: It was slow going as the Rockets' summer league team took the court against their Portland counterparts. Chuck Hayes, who recently re-signed with the Rockets got the lid off the basket with a driving lay-up. Moments later second-round pick Steve Novak drilled his first three of the day. In case you aren't familiar with Novak, the three ball is his specialty. Also starting are John Lucas III and Lonny Baxter, both of whom did time in red and white last season. Lonny Baxter got a pass in the post and cashed it in, then Lucas drove, scored, and completed the three-point play. Then another three by Novak. Houston up 11-3 when the Blazers finally put LaMarcus Aldridge into the game. Somewhat surprising that he didn't start. Pat Carroll rounds out Houston's starting five and is known as a sharpshooter, but his first couple of shots - one a wide-open mid-range jumper and one a spot-up three. The Rockets are certainly playing with energy and defensive intensity. Jeff Van Gundy is in the house, but not doing the sideline coaching. You can certainly tell that Rockets coach Tom Thibodeau has instilled the same defensive style that Van Gundy expects. Pat Carroll finally drilled a jumper at the 2:43 mark. With Houston leading 19-8 the Blazers called time. John Lucas III is certainly putting on a show with his quickness - on both ends of the court. He already has a couple of steals and has been a scoring machine. Brandon Roy, who the Rockets tried desperately to land on draft day, has checked in as play resumes. Novak immediately drills a three despite Aldridge being right in his face. Lucas again fearless in driving the lane, fouled by Aldridge, splits a pair at the line. Brandon Roy trying to get his game going makes a couple of aggressive moves. He drew a foul on the second and split a pair. At the other end Novak finally misses a shot, Lonny Baxter grabs the board and scores. Blazers miss, quarter over. Novak leads Houston with nine points, while Lucas has eight. Chuck Hayes doing his thing leading all rebounders with five. 25-11 Houston It's important to note that we're playing 10-miute quarters. Teams aren't in the penalty until they commit a tenth foul and players don't foul out until they commit their tenth. In other words, we don't want to see how many guys can hit free throws. It's not the reason for being here. Second half starts with Novak drilling yet another three, but waived off due to an offensive foul in the paint. Hollis Price, Mamadou N'diaye, and Antwayne Robinson are on the floor with Novak and Carroll for Houston. Roy, Aldridge, N'diaye returns two straight shots, one from Aldridge, one from Roy. Carroll drops a runner in the lane, 27-13 Houston. Hayes in for Novak on a timeout. Aldridge gets his first hoop at the 4:45 mark, making it 27-19 Houston. Novak checks in as a foul is called on Roy. Lucas back in, as well, but throws the ball away. Aldridge scores on a fall-away. Henry Domercant is in now, misses his first shot. Chuck Hays with an offensive rebound and score. Martell Webster hits a trey. Novak - three! Aldridge answers with a mid-range two. Rockets miss, Roy drops a baseline two. John Lucas under duress on the perimeter, hits a tough two. Roy miss. Blazers have two and three guys chasing Novak now and we're seeing he's not going to create off the dribble. Rockets call time, 33-37 Houston with 33 seconds left. Shot clock violation Houston, timeout Portland. Martell Webster drives hard, scores, fouled, makes the free throw, halftime. Novak leads Houston with 11 points, Lucas has 10, Hayes has seven rebounds to go with his six points. 33-30 Houston. Rockets have their same starting unit, Portland has Ha Seung-Jin in the middle. Chuck Hayes gets Houston started by scoring over a double-team. Noel Freeland hits a pair of free throws. Lucas answers. Baxter draws a charge. Carroll drills a jumper. Baxter scores in the post, Blazers turnover, Novak fakes a three, takes a dribble, knocks down a baseline two. Nice move. Lucas on the move, dribbles around and around, finally drives and bank in a lay-up as the shot clock expires. He's quick. He doesn't move the ball as much a Van Gundy would ask him to do, but he is certainly quick with the ball. Great handles. Novak - say it with me - THREE. 52-41 Houston. Novak three more, this time from the top of the circle. Aldridge puts back with a put-back slam. Carroll drills a two. Brandon Roy drives in and scores. Lucas drives, tries an impossible shot, Baxter rebounds and scores, fouled in the process. Timeout. 59-47 Houston. Lonny makes the free throw. Carroll drops a corner three, Romero hits one for Portland on a set-up by Roy, and Lucas misses as the quarter ends. 62-50 Houston. Novak continues to drill jumpers, knocking down a three-pointer with Travis Outlaw, who really could have been called for a foul on the play. Carroll has really warmed to the occasion, as well. He came up with a nice buzzer-beating three that had no chance but he made sure he drew contact. Hays playing some nice defense besides rebounding as well. He blocked a shot that lead to another Carroll three. Lucas takes his turn from three. Took a few minutes away to chat with Carroll Dawson, so I'll reset from this point. Rockets are up 86-78 with :29 left to play. Looks like the Rockets, who were undefeated here last season will stay perfect. 88-82 Houston FINAL It was a three-man show for the Rockets, who got 22 points from Steve Novak (6-8 from three), 22 more from Pat Carroll - who benefited from the extreme attention being given to Novak in the second half, and 26 from John Lucas. We'll talk with GM Carroll Dawson, Novak, and Chuck Hayes in our feature on the first game of the Vegas Summer League - coming soon. We have also learned that Mike James is about to re-sign with the Rockets for the MLE. It's not official, but that's coming from a source within the Raptors' organization. Pictures and interviews coming soon. http://www.***************/article_18004.shtml
that article says novak cannot create his own shot with 2 or 3 guys chasing him. who the hell can create with a triple team besides maybe yao ming? dumbass.
"Blazers have two and three guys chasing Novak now and we're seeing he's not going to create off the dribble." Just once this season I hope some team has two or three guys chasing Novak while Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are on the floor.
Novak is in a whole other league than Morrison but seriously I think Morrison can create his shot better and does more than just shoot threes.
Nice to see Novak drawing double teams. This is very, very good news. Would be nice to see him create off the dribble (he reportedly can do a little bit of that) but playing alongside T-Mac and Yao, his deadly 3 point accuracy alone is worth much. Looks like JLIII has been working on his game ... maybe the Rockets will give him another stint as a reserve this season.
