(
)
If the Knicks had a perceived edge coming into their best-of-seven series against the favored Heat, it was their bench, specifically J.R. Smith and Steve Novak, who throughout the regular season provided instant energy and points.
“Our second unit is phenomenal,” Amar’e Stoudemire said.
But that was before the series began, before the Heat captured Games 1 and 2 in comfortable fashion in Miami, before Iman Shumpert went down with a knee injury, and before Stoudemire cut his hand punching a fire extinguisher following Monday night’s loss.
It was also before Smith and especially Novak became virtual non-factors in the first two games — something that must change in Game 3 tomorrow or the Knicks may not make it back to Miami.
Smith has led the Knicks reserves in scoring, totaling 30 points in the two playoff games, not a bad effort considering part of his duties has included guarding LeBron James.
But Novak has been silenced by the Heat defense, scoring six points in Game 1 and just three points in Game 2. Overall, Novak has taken just five shots in the two games, making three, all from 3-point range, this after averaging six shots per game during the regular season.
The plan going in was for Novak and Smith to be difference-makers when the Knicks went to their bench. And now they are both candidates to enter the starting lineup to replace Stoudemire. But Smith has been more lunch-pail than electric, scoring on loose balls, tough jump shots in traffic or just about anytime Carmelo Anthony and Stoudemire needed help.
Novak is simply getting swarmed every time he touches the ball as the Heat attempt to exploit his inability to create his own shot. The only way Novak shakes free for an uncontested jumper is through good ball movement, which the Knicks didn’t have in the first two games of the series.
“I wouldn’t leave Novak alone either,” said Knicks coach Mike Woodson. “But he’s opening up some things for some other guys. Eventually, he’ll break loose. Teams know he can make shots, and they’re not leaving him. That can be a disadvantage for us at times when he’s out there because we do need him to make shots. But [in Game 2] I thought he moved and the looks he got were pretty good looks. But it also opened up some things for other guys in the pick-and-roll offense.”
While Novak has struggled to make an impact, the Heat’s top two reserves, Mike Miller and Shane Battier, have been central to Miami’s 2-0 lead in the series. Each scored 11 points in Game 2, and the duo has combined for 39 points in the series.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is urging Miller to take up to 10 3-point attempts a game in order to spread the defense and create open lanes for what he calls his attackers, mainly James and Dwyane Wade. Miller took nine 3-point attempts in Game 1 (making three), and went 3-for-5 from behind the arc in Game 2.
“I was disappointed Mike didn’t get 10 threes,” Spoelstra said, only half joking. “When we’re hunting for those shots and they’re shooting freely, even if they’re contested, they open up lanes. Mike and Shane are such great shooters that, make or miss, those are the right plays to make.”
Battier made 34 percent of his 3-point attempts during the regular season, when he averaged 4.8 points per game. Miller played in just 39 games during the regular season and made 45.3 percent of his 3-pointers to average 6.1 points per game. Together they’re shooting 44 percent from 3-point range for the series.
“We know we have great 3-point shooters,” said Heat forward Chris Bosh. “We want to give them confidence to let it go whenever they have the opportunity. When those guys are open and knocking down shots, I think we are very tough to beat.”
The Knicks will have the home crowd in their favor tomorrow night, and there’s no quicker way for the Garden to get loud than Novak burying a series of 3-point shots. With injuries to Shumpert and now Stoudemire, the Knicks are running out of weapons fast.
george.willis@nypost.com