NBA

Woodson: Knicks need Novak more involved in offense

Steve Novak has gone from 3-point deadeye to persona non grata in the Knicks’ offense, scoreless in three of their last four games. And even though the reserve forward isn’t one to complain about his role – or lack thereof – the Knicks know they need to get him more shots, starting Wednesday night against Orlando.

“I’ve got to get Novak more involved. J.R. (Smith) had a nice game rebounding from the Philly game; but I’ve got to get Novak some more touches somehow,’’ said Mike Woodson, who acknowledged the need to run more sets for Novak.

“Novak is one of our best shooters on the team, if not the best. We’ve really got to get him shots,’’ said PG Raymond Felton. “But I’ll say, teams are doing a great job of just not leaving him. If you got a guy that can shoot as well as him, they’re not going to leave him.’’

Novak suffered from Felton’s absence due to a broken pinky. He shot 51% on 3-pointers with the veteran guard in the lineup, but just 37% without him. And after scoring 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting against the Pistons in London, he’d shot 1-for-8 in his next four games, held scoreless in three of them.

“I’m not a guy who brings the ball up and gets looks on my own, so there are more sets that that need to be run for me,’’ said Novak. “I never feel as if I’m not going to get looks or guys aren’t looking for me. I understand if there’s a game or two where it doesn’t come my way (that’s the way it is)…Obviously we’ll see what (Woodson) implements in the offense, and I think it’s good.

“Once you make the scouting report, you’re just not a secret anymore. Teams know what you do, they understand how to guard you, so it’s good that teams are paying attention to me. Whether I score a bunch or don’t score at all, just the fact they’re paying attention is the most important part. We can keep guys off of ‘Melo and spread the floor, be a decoy, and make shots when I need to.’’