Novakain......

[knicknack]

I love Novak to death, and we all know he may be the worst defensive player in the league! Yeah I know he tries but I can' help but notice his style of defense is.......fr lack of a better word DEFENSELESS!!! The fact remains that he is a liability that we cannot afford when he is not hitting his shots and lately he is not, I'm not going to go into statistics but he stops no one and he doesn't rebound, its like the Knis are playing 4 againt 5 when he is on the floor, both on defense and on offense during these times. I've been watching him closely when h is on the foor and I can actualy see any player which he guards just drives right past him to the basket or to the paint and passes for a layup or short jumper. He does't switch well on defense due to his severe lack of agiltilty, awareness,etc.

I can just imagine the opposing team's gameplan (when he is on the floor) is to attack him every chance they get. Overall, having him in for long stretches at a time often gives the opposition a chance to get back in the game or certainly close the gap. I've replayed many plays with him as he seems to frequently look like he is stumbling over his own two feet trying to guard somebdy. This feels like something which may be concerning giving our lack of size, I did notice, Woodson not playing him down the stretch tonight on defense. Just something I wondered if anyone else has been noticing.

Thoughts?

[Jezus]

We never have relied on Novak for his D anyway. But the fact that he couldn't hit those three's which he would usually make prior to the playoff last season creates a hole to the team on the court. Really really hope he snaps out of it and return to his usual self soon.

[knicknack]

We never have relied on Novak for his D anyway. But the fact that he couldn't hit those three's which he would usually make prior to the playoff last season creates a hole to the team on the court. Really really hope he snaps out of it and return to his usual self soon.

I hope he does as well, he looks like he really puts in the effort but its just not there for him right now, he'll get his shot back. I woud'nt mind so muchi if he wasn't useless every where else. We can't afford to play 4 against 5 against any team.....ever!

[JustaKnickFan]

I wouldn't say he's the worst defensive player in the year. He's not great at D, but it's not as bad as it was in previous years. I think Novak is just going through a slump and is still getting used to his new fast-release shot(which i love).

If there's one other area of his game I think Novak needs to work on, it's rebounding. Knicks could really use someone who can get more some boards right now.

[BOOMbip]

His defense is surely gawdawful but when he's hitting shots it's easy enough to hide in spurts. Although he's been shooting at almost a Gallo-like %, well maybe not that bad but pretty close, so his defensive ineptitude is more obvious.

I'm not anywhere near concerned about him yet but I have to wonder at what point do we start to get concerned about him and his contract if he continues to be just an average shooter...and as bad as he has been that's what he is with the 35% 3pt shooting... just average. He got paid for being an exceptional shooter, not because he is able to do anything else, if he isn't shooting well, since he isn't doing anything else, when do we have to stop giving him a free pass from criticism?

[Thugger HBC]

Novak is just in a slump.

But 47% from three wasn't sustainable.

I knew he'd come down some.

Sent from my Asus TR700T-B1-GR using Xparent Sky Blue Tapatalk 2

[ctorres]

Slump may be a blessing in disguise. Eventually teams might start to leave him wide open and it will be then that he gains his stroke back.

[magnumt]

At times our fanbase is a joke. Yiu fools turn on a dude or team faster than a trick can turn a dime on her overused cooch.

Give me a f'n break here. The guy keeps the OPPOSITION'S defense honest. He always commands at least one defender on him. Defenses are playing him much harder and tigther this year than last. His release is also quicker. All of that takes time.

Even guys like Reggie, Kerr, Tim (from ESPN and TNT) would hit slumps. Jodie Meeks isn't exactly lighting it up this year bro.

--Mags

[projectpaki]

Can't wait when Amare and Shump to come back, it should push Novak out of the rotation. His shooting has been horrendous as of late and his inability to get open and create his own shot makes him a liability on the offensive end. Maybe its our own fault, we should have him running around 3/4 screens to get him open a la Ray Allen or Reggie Miller but I don't think he's fast enough for that. And defensively, he let Jay Crowder look like there were 2 OJ Mayo's in that game. Ok, you weren't able to fight over the screen, and never told anyone to rotate, but the second and even third time??

On a side note, what is the timetable on Amare's return?

[nykballa2k4]

Novak is what he is: the best shooter in the league. This summer he trained harder than ever on adding other elements to his game. This has taken it's toll on his muscle memory. It looks to me like he is overthinking his shooting.

[TheBigBoss]

If Novak had been shooting like last year, I think we would be undefeated right now tbh.

[Massimo]

Can't wait when Amare and Shump to come back, it should push Novak out of the rotation. His shooting has been horrendous as of late and his inability to get open and create his own shot makes him a liability on the offensive end. Maybe its our own fault, we should have him running around 3/4 screens to get him open a la Ray Allen or Reggie Miller but I don't think he's fast enough for that. And defensively, he let Jay Crowder look like there were 2 OJ Mayo's in that game. Ok, you weren't able to fight over the screen, and never told anyone to rotate, but the second and even third time??

On a side note, what is the timetable on Amare's return?

Exactly. We should think about waiving him too. He has been playing badly on 10 games so far. I mean think about it, 10 GAMES. I believe players cannot play 10 bad games. Since they are making millions, they should be playing perfect all the time.

You're right. His shoots are not banking anymore plus he has been slacking for 10 games. I don't care what he did last year, I don't care how many games he won for us. All i care is the 10 games that he played in this season.

This message includes so much sarcasm.

[Pharmcat]

He will be fine
He just needs to get his stroke back
Btw cant team play zone d to mask his weakness

[knicknack]

Novak is just in a slump.

But 47% from three wasn't sustainable.

I knew he'd come down some.

Sent from my Asus TR700T-B1-GR using Xparent Sky Blue Tapatalk 2

Yeah he is in a slump but I used to ball in Coney Island (C.I.) and I can tell an ackward looking player when I see one, he just looks to me to have no body rythem or fluidity to him, players go by him like he's not even there, I believe he doesn't rebound well because he has no timing and no real feal for body contact, just watch him when he tries to box someone out, he looks like he's working so hard but he is rarely effective at sealing his man and often stumbles about when someone moves around him when while making contact with him. I am convinced he can't dance. At times I can even see the other team looking for him to attack on defense, I even heard the game announcer last night (I believe the guy who was working with D. Harper) say the Mav player just went right by Novak like he wasn't there and another time he said Novak had a defensive mismatch with the backup he was trying to cover. Anyway, to me, he looks like the last player chosen in the park because you need a even number of players to play and he was the only one in the park (playing handball or something) at the time.

[pwayknicks]

He will most likely be out of the rotation when Amare gets back..