The .300 Hitter: Steve Novak, three-point savant

By Adam Cancryn

New York Knicks small forward Steve Novak has only one job: hit three-pointers.

About two minutes into the fourth quarter of the Sunday matinee between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, small forward Steve Novak took a pass from J.R. Smith, set himself, and calmly nailed a 25-foot jumper. It was his fourth three-pointer of the day, and his 113th in a season that ranks among the most specialized in NBA history.

To understand Steve Novak, it's best to first explain what he does not do. He does not play basketball, at least not in the traditional sense. He rarely dribbles or passes; Novak is utilized just 18% of the time he's on the floor, and averages a meager 0.2 assists per game. Despite standing nearly seven feet tall, he does not rebound (1.6 per game), plays subpar perimeter defense and nonexistent interior defense. Creating with the ball is a foreign act, and as a result, Novak rarely draws fouls. The fact that he hasn't missed a foul shot in two years sounds impressive, until you realize that he's only taken 16 of them. By comparison, 21 players made 16 free throws in a single game last season.

But he does do one thing. Steve Novak hits threes, and he often hits them at the most opportune moments. In the drive-and-kick offense that the Knicks now employ under point guard Jeremy Lin, that skill is as valuable as ever. 

Novak has always played the role of three-point specialist. At Marquette, more than seven out of every 10 field goal attempts came from beyond the arc. That trend continued through his first four pro seasons, where Novak hoisted a three about 71 percent of the time he shot the ball, the highest rate in NBA history. 

The results have been similarly consistent. Novak makes threes at nearly the same clip he does two-point field goals (46.9 percent from three versus 51.9 percent from two this year), and in fact shot a better three-point percentage than two-point percentage during the 2010-11 season. 

Despite his shooting prowess, though, Novak never found a steady role with a team until this year. He spent time as a little-used role player for four teams, eventually getting cut by the Sacramento Kings. For those organizations, his three-point contributions simply didn't outweigh his deficiencies everywhere else. 

However, Novak appears to have found a home in New York, mainly because the Knicks already have an abundance of penetrators and paint guys. Where Novak's unwillingness to leave the three-point line was a weakness elsewhere, here it stretches the floor and gives players like Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Landry Fields more room to dribble and drive. If they get doubled inside, Novak is a reliable and dangerous outlet. Add in Lin, the distributor, and you have a well-balanced team and the perfect environment for Novak to thrive. Through 25 games, Novak has taken an unprecedented 80.7 percent of his total shots from three, and made those attempts at the fourth-highest rate in the NBA. 

Of course, balance is just one of many attributes needed to win in the NBA, and the Knicks are still tinkering. The signing of sharpshooter J.R. Smith was a tacit admission that Novak is one cold streak away from the far end of the bench, and Baron Davis' return has further crowded the backcourt. 

But Novak has held his ground by doing what he has always done, hitting three after three like a sweet-shooting savant. And when the Knicks need their next big late-game basket, you can be sure Novak will be sitting in the corner, waiting for a pass he can turn into the latest of his long-range daggers.

The Week Ahead (all times EST)- Your guide to what to watch-- and what to watch for-- this coming week

College Basketball- Championship Week
Gonzaga v. St. Mary's- March 5 at 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Pittsburgh at St. John's- March 6 at 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Big East Tournament- March 6-10 (TBD)
Big 12 Tournament- March 7-10 (TBD)
ACC Tournament- March 8-11 (TBD)
Big 10 Tournament- March 8-11 (TBD)
NBA
Mavericks at Thunder- March 5 at 8 p.m. (NBATV)
Hawks at Heat- March 7 at 7:30 p.m. (NBATV)
Magic at Bulls- March 8 at 8 p.m. (TNT)
76ers at Knicks- March 11 at noon (NBATV)

NHL
Rangers at Devils- March 6 at 7 p.m. (MSG+)
Lightning at Capitals- March 8 at 7 p.m. (NHLNET)
Rangers at Blackhawks- March 9 at 8:30 p.m. (NHLNET)
Bruins at Penguins- March 11 at 12:30 p.m. (NBC)
Golf
World Golf Championships- Cadillac Championship- March 8-11 (NBC/TGC)
Baseball Spring Training
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is scheduled to start against the New York Mets March 5 at 6:10 p.m. The game will be televised on MLB Network.

In the Kitchen- Tracking the major hot stove stories

• The Green Bay Packers have until 4 p.m. on March 5 to place the franchise tag on backup quarterback Matt Flynn or else allow him to become an unrestricted free agent. There are arguments to be made for either action, but the majority opinion is that Green Bay will cut Flynn loose unless they already have a sign-and-trade deal in place. If he becomes a free agent, the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns are expected to take a hard look at him, among others.
• The San Diego Padres signed 24-year-old outfielder Cameron Maybin to a five-year extension worth $25 million, with a sixth year option that could pay $7 million to $8 million. The contract is the first extension longer than three years the Padres have given a player since Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young in 2007, MLBTradeRumors.com said.
• The Texas Rangers also signed an outfielder, 17-year-old Dominican Jairo Beras. However, there is a possibility the MLB will nullify the contract because of questions about whether he is 17 or 16 years old. If he's 16, he's ineligible to sign.
• Catcher Bengie Molina has retired after playing 13 seasons for four seasons. Molina didn't play during the 2011 season, but had remained eligible until now. the 37-year-old finishes his career with a .274/.307/.411 split and 144 home runs.

Web Gems- The week's best, worst or strangest Internet sports finds

Only 19, Harper is dealing with expectations as the next big thing- The latest on Nationals phenom Bryce Harper and his adjustment to Major League life.

B.S. Report transcript: Barack Obama- Bill Simmons interviewed President Obama about a number of sports topics, including Jeremy Lin, Chicago sports and the stress of throwing out the first pitch.

UGA soccer player charged with stealing hashbrowns- "A University of Georgia soccer player is charged with trying to steal an order of hashbrown potatoes in her pants."

The Sacramento Bee's captivating images from the first weeks of MLB Spring Training.

Coming Up- What's next at Began in '96

• Tuesday: The NFL and the bounty system by Joe Schackman.
• Thursday: Breaking down the odd case that is Matt Flynn, by Adam Cancryn.
• Friday: Joe Schackman on the new playoff system in the MLB