Novak back home
Steve Novak of the New York Knicks in action against the Detroit Pistons. (Jan. 31, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
MILWAUKEE -- Along with Jeremy Lin, the Knicks' biggest attraction in Milwaukee on Friday night was Steve Novak.
Novak, a Wisconsin native and former Marquette standout, returned to his roots. His recent success in New York and his nationally recognized homage to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' championship-belt salute has made the land of cheese plenty proud.
Novak's father, Mike, visited Knicks practice Friday morning and was swarmed by cameras from the local media.
Mike Novak, Steve's coach at nearby Brown Deer High School, said: "So often, reality outweighs the fiction that you can come up with . . . Right now, when you have this kind of thing happening, you kind of enjoy it and thank the dear Lord that it is happening and keep it in perspective."
How's this for perspective: Novak's family planned to attend Friday night's Knicks-Bucks game -- but only after watching Steve's sister, Maggie, play in a high school playoff game.
"We're going to try to sneak in as soon as we can," Mike said.
Novak, who went into Friday shooting 47.7 percent on three-pointers, shot 3-for-6 from long range and had 11 points Friday night. He sent his parents copies of the back pages of the New York newspapers after his recent hot shooting spree.
"Just seeing that sort of thing, it's very gratifying because this is Steve's sixth year and he's worked real hard," Mike said.
"He's always been the shooter that you see now. He just has needed the time and the opportunity. The situation he has right now is fantastic for him. He's a good kid and he deserves it."
Harris starts
Rookie Tobias Harris (Half Hollow Hills West) started for the Bucks for the fourth straight game. He was scoreless, as he was Wednesday against Chicago.
Harris, 19, missed most of training camp and spent two nights in the hospital after a bout with dehydration. He also injured a shoulder last month and missed three games.
