Is Steve Novak the Best Three Point Shooter in the League?

[knickswin]

I know we Knicks homers are getting a little out of hand as of late, considering all the Lin stuff, but I'm wondering if you guys are aware of the freak of nature that is Steve Novak.

I'm not saying he's a god or anything. He has a lot of limitations as a player which is why he is a journeyman, but shooting is not one of them.

I have never seen a shooter like him before. He is unbelievable. I honest to god think he could average 50-60% from three for a season if all you gave him was open jumpers. People are going to bring up Ray Allen and Steve Nash, and I am a fan of those players and they are obviously all time great shooters, but I can say without a doubt that Novak is better than them at open threes. Plus he has a bunch of spots around the arc from which he can shoot it.

Can Houston, Spurs, Clippers, and Mavericks fans attest to this?

Jeff Van Gundy coached him in Houston, and he says Novak is the best shooter in the league every time he broadcasts a Knicks game.

[SacJB Shady]

No brandon rush is the best 3 pt shooter followed by Ray Allen. Klay Thompson will be a great player though.

[PistolPete44]

He is unbelievable. yes

[Cali Syndicate]

Uh Anthony Morrow?

[knickswin]

No, I am telling you this guy is not normal. He is Drazen Petrovic / Stojakovic level ridiculous.

[Rowe]

No. But hes Top 5.
Unfortunately, shooting 3's is all hes good at but it requires consistency and he just doesn't have that. If he was a consistent 3PT shooter he'd last much longer with the teams he plays for because they could rely on his shooting each night. Thats practically how Matt Bonner & Channing Frye have made their careers.

Best shooter in the NBA is Ray Allen.

[knickswin]

okay, Novak beats Ray Allen and it's not even much of a competition.

The only guys who I think you can even argue for are guys like Rush, James Jones, Morrow, Korver. Guys who are only in the NBA because they can spot up shoot ridiculously. I think he's a notch better than all of them. I think if he gets a consistent role on the Knicks this year, he's going to average around 50% from three.

[knickswin]

part of it is he's 6'10 and hardly has to jump at all to shoot . . . I think it makes his shot more consistent.

[strifed169]

He shoudl enter the 3 point all star contest this season, he's been burying them 5 ft behind the 3 point line, dude is crazy

[Fudge]

okay, Novak beats Ray Allen and it's not even much of a competition.

The only guys who I think you can even argue for are guys like Rush, James Jones, Morrow, Korver. Guys who are only in the NBA because they can spot up shoot ridiculously. I think he's a notch better than all of them. I think if he gets a consistent role on the Knicks this year, he's going to average around 50% from three.

[knickswin]

but he is . . .

[ImmortalNemesis]

Yes, he can shoot lights out. He's automatic when open. The problem is that's literally the only thing he's good at. He is pretty horrible at everything else. Can't guard anyone, can't rebound, too slow and weak. He's like a poor man's Matt Bonner.

He was an outstanding three point shooter in Houston but his negatives heavily outweigh the positives.

[Rowe]

but he is . . .

No hes not.

You make the thread specifically mentioning if Novak was being consistently "fed open looks" that he'd be the best 3PT shooter.

You dont think Ray Allen's automatic if he is being fed open looks?

A lot of his 3's come off of screens and he gets a little space to shoot.
When he spots up and is "wide open", hes guaranteed to knock it down except in the NBA Finals.

[Clutch]

Ray Allen is the best shooter in the league and maybe the best shooter of all time.

His 3-pt % is ridiculously high considering that he takes a lot of three pointers and many of them are tough ones.

Steve Novak is good and maybe (only maybe) he would hit wide open threes at better rate than Ray Allen but three point shooting isn't just shooting the wide open shots.
You need to make tough ones and also be clutch.

Ray Allen

And this is coming from a Knicks fan who doesn't like the Celtics at all.

[knickswin]

No hes not.

You make the thread specifically mentioning if Novak was being consistently "fed open looks" that he'd be the best 3PT shooter.

You dont think Ray Allen's automatic if he is being fed open looks?

A lot of his 3's come off of screens and he gets a little space to shoot.
When he spots up and is "wide open", hes guaranteed to knock it down except in the NBA Finals.

Allen is great, but he's not on Novak's level if we're talking open threes. Allen gets a lot of elevation on his jumper. That allows him to come off of curls effectively and get his shot off well, but I don't think he would be as consistent as guys like Novak whose jumpers are nearly set shots.

and there's no way Novak could possibly go on an epic cold streak like Allen did in the finals unless he were concussed or something like that.