Steve Novak is starting to get pinched for P.T. for the New York Knicks
With Amare Stoudemire back, Carmelo Anthony has been getting more minutes at small forward, pinching 29-year old Steve Novak for P.T. Novak has played in 41 games (0 starts) for the Knicks overall this year and he is averaging 23.1 minutes, 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He is shooting 41.5% from the floor, 44.3% from three point range and 93.8% from the free throw line so far this year…which is impressive. But, he has played in 12 games (0 starts) for the Knicks so far in January and he is averaging 18.7 minutes, 5.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Despite seeing limited P.T. in January, Novak is still shooting a robust 45.5% from three point range. The Knicks need to make sure that Novak plays enough to keep his eye sharp, as his long range shooting has been a big time asset for them so far this year.
One of the game’s premier three-point artists is currently in his second Knicks season (seventh NBA campaign)…Led the NBA with a .472 three-point percentage in 2011-12, the second-best single season mark in Knicks club history…Knicks are his fifth NBA team (Rockets, Clippers, Mavericks, Spurs)…Career averages of 4.9 ppg and .454 shooting over 11.5 mpg in 279 games (four starts)…Career .436 shooter from Downtown (347-795 3PT FGA)…Two career 100-plus home run seasons (119 for Clippers in 2008-09, career-high 133 for Knicks in 2011-12)…Has recorded two career four-point plays (both for Knicks in 2011-12)…Career .875 FT shooter (63-72 FTA)…Has ranked in NBA Top 20 in 3PT percentage twice (19th in 2008-09 with .416 for Clippers, first in 2011-12 with .472 for Knicks)…..Has six career 20-plus scoring games, (four for Clippers in 2008-09, two for Knicks in 2011-12)…Has made four career regular season NBA starts (one as a rookie with Rockets in 2006-07, three with Clippers in 2008-09), plus an additional start in Playoffs (Game Three vs. Miami in 2012)…Last regular season start came on Apr. 7, 2009 for Clippers vs. Wolves (0 pts, 0-9 FGA, 27 mins); has come off the bench in each of his last 141 regular season games…Has spent parts of two seasons in NBA D-League: Played with Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2007-08 (nine games, 18.3 ppg) and with Reno Bighorns in 2010-11 (two games, 18.5 ppg)…Has averaged 2.2 ppg with 6-10 from Downtown in nine career Playoff games (five for Knicks with one start in 2012).