More Articles on Bob Sura

These Cavs are worth a look, maybe two
Sura (yes, Sura) ignites offense. Wittman is making sure everyone runs. Hey, this could be fun -- could be
It was fun to watch.
That's the best thing that can be said about the Cavs' home opener, and that's really what pro basketball is supposed to be about.
Look at the final score: Cavs 97, New Jersey 90. It was nice to be within one long jumper of 100 points.
I know, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is out for who knows how long. Lamond Murray is hurt. Benoit Benjamin, of all people, is wearing a Cavs uniform.
But I refuse to dwell on the negative this night.
I'm going to say that most of the 16,777 fans enjoyed themselves last night. And I know that this is a bigger crowd than even the Cavs expected, which is an uplifting sign for a franchise happy to cling to any indication that the public cares.
But the best thing is that new Coach Randy Wittman delivered on his promise of a quicker pace, one that permits these men billed as the world's greatest athletes to show their gifts.
There was running, jumping, dunking, instead of bumping, grinding, crunching -- which had been the Cavs' motto for the last several years.
Over and over, Wittman screamed at his players, ``Push it.''
And he screamed: ``Run! Get down the court!''
And the players and fans were thrilled to get into the spirit, even though some of the Cavs players still seem to be coming out of detox from the ball-and-chain, drag-your-body up the court strategy of the past.
Sura? Certainly
Which brings us to Bob Sura.
This was a night to celebrate the play of Bob Sura.
Yes, he blew a couple of easy layups down the stretch, but I won't get hung up on that. I'm just happy to see Sura back from the basketball dead. He's playing with incredible enthusiasm, driving to the basket, passing off to open teammates for easy shots.
He's the early league leader in floor burns, and he's a factor at both ends of the court.
Look at the line: 13 points, seven assists, four rebounds, 8-for-8 from the foul line.
The Cavs were willing to give Sura away in the off-season. Fortunately, there were no takers. Now, he's a starter, and entitled to that spot in the lineup as he has 15 assists in the Cavs' first two games.
And I'm here to say that Brevin Knight is making that medium-range jump shot that always will be available to him. Knight's speed virtually guarantees that the man guarding him will back off, daring the little point guard to make a 15-footer.
In the past, Knight missed more than he's made.
I know, it's early.
But I also know he's shooting 14-for-22, and most of those are jumpers. I see him playing with the fire that comes from knowing that there's someone behind him that not only wants his job, but also is good enough to take it.
That someone is Andre Miller, and the rookie from Utah had seven points and seven assists.
The best news about the Cavs' point guards is what they did to Nets star Stephon Marbury, who had the ugliest, most self-destructive 27 points The Gund has ever witnessed.
Marbury heaved the ball at the rim 25 times from the field, making only seven. He's supposed to be a point guard. He's on the court for 37 minutes, and he had -- get this -- one assist!
He spent much of the night shaking his head in disgust and whining at the officials. He was like one of those pick-up game nightmares, the guy who makes you feel that all the Y2K bugs will be worked out before he ever passes you the ball.
The harassing defense of Miller and Knight had more than a little to do with that.
Time to care
Some of you are going to say, ``Who cares?''
You'll say, ``No Z, no winning season.''
And maybe you'll be right. But this season can be different from the others in the recent past, if Wittman will stay with his up-tempo offense through the losing streaks that will invariably come.
There are nights when the Cavs will be run right off the floor by more-talented teams, and the temptation will be to pull a Fratello, to take the air out of the ball and play games where the first team to 75 points wins.
Randy, don't do it.
Let the kids run. Keep telling Wesley Person and Trajan Langdon to shoot the ball. Insist that Sura be as aggressive as he's been in the first two games, forcing the action by slashing to the basket.
Keep rotating Knight and Miller, getting the most out of the both of them.
Somehow, keep Shawn Kemp healthy and rested. The big fella -- and he's still really big -- bulled his way to 27 points and 15 rebounds. Kemp usually puts forth a tremendous physical effort, but his extra weight makes him a major injury waiting to happen -- especially if he's overtired.
The Cavs are not a perfect team. They might not ever be a very good team. But last night, they were a team worth watching.

Sura scheduled for ankle surgery
As a result, Cavs guard could be out until October
BY CHRIS TOMASSON
Beacon Journal staff writer
If the lockout ends and NBA training camps open on time, Cavs guard Bob Sura might not be on hand for the first day of practice.
Sura will undergo surgery Tuesday on his left ankle, and could be sidelined until mid-October.
``They're saying it'll be from one-to-two months before I can play again, but a lot depends on what they find in there,'' Sura said yesterday. ``They're going to do an arthroscope on the front of the ankle and make an incision in the back and clean things out.''
Sura, who will be outfitted with a cast after the surgery, has bone spurs and a hardening of tissues in his ankle. The operation will be performed by Cavs team doctor John Bergfeld at the Cleveland Clinic. Sura has hurt the ankle ``seven or eight times'' since high school. Last season, he missed 36 games due to injury, 35 because of the ankle. He severely sprained his left ankle in the preseason, and it hampered him throughout the season.
``The doctors thought that it would heal after the season with rest,'' said Sura, when asked why he didn't have the surgery in May. ``But it just hasn't got better. I can't really explode or jump like I used to.''
Because of the lockout, team officials could not comment on Sura.
Sura, who is entering his fourth season, averaged 5.8 points last year while shooting a career-low 37.7 percent. He signed a six-year, $28 million contract extension last season.

A long-term commitment
Hard work pays off for Sura, guard signs six-year extension
By Terry Pluto
Beacon Journal sports columist
Day after day, Wayne Embry watched Bob Sura come to Gund Arena.
All summer long.
Sura was often alone . . . in the gym.
Shooting.
Always shooting.
That is why Embry had no hesitation when it came to signing Sura to a six-year extension worth an estimated $30 million.
``Bob is a throwback,'' said the Cavs general manager. ``It has been a long time since I've seen a player with his dedication. He has made a real commitment to us and improving his game, and we've made a commitment to him.''
The Cavs had to sign Sura to an extension by October 1.
If they failed to do so, then the Cavs could not talk contract with him until July 1 -- and Sura would be a free agent by then.
This is yet another of the arcane rules that are part of the NBA's rookie salary cap. It is why teams are spending the next few days furiously trying to sign players from the rookie class of 1995.
``This is an early-bird sign,'' said Embry. ``But we think Bob is worth it. We're pleased he decided against the free-agent route.''
Given the Cavs' recent string of losing their own players to free agency (Chris Mills and Bobby Phills), and having free agents turn them down, despite being the highest bidder (Brian Grant and Rick Fox) -- the Cavs didn't want to take any chances with Sura.
``We think Bob can be a very good player for us, a Danny Ainge-type who can play either guard spot,'' said Embry. ``In today's NBA, it is refreshing to see someone who loves the game and is as dedicated as Bob Sura.''
A 6-foot-5 guard, Sura probably is the Cavs' most purely athletic backcourt player since Ron Harper. He can dunk in traffic, is remarkably quick and his game has a 1990s sizzle.
Even when he makes some bonehead plays -- as he's prone to do -- Sura has flair. His mistakes tend to come from losing his temper or a lack of maturity -- not poor effort.
He has been an erratic outside shooter, and even more unreliable from the foul line (61 percent).
``I know that,'' Sura said. ``I've been working real hard on my shooting, and I promise that I'll be better from the foul line.''
Sura averaged 9.2 points and 4.8 assists last season, playing 28 minutes per game. He is only 24 and entering his third pro season.
The Cavs are counting on the Florida State product, especially after the trade of Terrell Brandon (to Milwaukee) and the loss of Phills (to Charlotte). They were the starting backcourt.
Sura probably will open at shooting guard, backed up by rookie Derek Anderson. He also should see time at point guard, where the Cavs also have veteran Sherman Douglas and rookie Brevin Knight.
``I see this as a great opportunity for me,'' Sura said. ``I didn't want to play anywhere else, and I'm glad the Cavs wanted me to stay here.''

Sura just can't win: Now, it's his back
Injury not regarded as serious, but he could be on bench as camp opens
BY CHRIS TOMASSON
Beacon Journal staff writer
His ankle finally is healthy, but hard-luck Cavaliers guard Bob Sura now has a back problem.
Sura suffered a sprained lower back two weeks ago while playing two-on-two with teammates Brevin Knight, Andre Miller and Trajan Langdon. The injury is not believed to be serious, but it could slow Sura when training camp begins Tuesday.
``Trajan was blocking me out, and I reached over for a ball, and whatever happened, happened,'' Sura said. ``They (team doctors) have shut me down for the last week to 10 days. All I've been doing is the bicycle and the Stairmaster.
``It's going to set me back in camp. We'll have to see what happens by Monday or Tuesday. But it's definitely going to hurt my conditioning, because I haven't been able to do much lately. It's frustrating, because my ankle is good now and I was in good shape after working out all summer.''
Sura showed promise in his first two seasons with the Cavs, but struggled the last two after suffering a severely sprained left ankle in an October 1997 preseason game. Sura underwent surgery on the ankle in August 1998.
``He's getting treatment on his back and I'm hoping he's 100 percent by Tuesday,'' said Cavs general manager Jim Paxson. ``It's unfortunate for him because he's really worked hard this summer. . . . But in talking with the doctors and (trainer Gary Briggs), they're comfortable it's not something that's going to drag on.''

Abundance of time ticks off Cavs players
Just like the fans, they're growing weary of squabbles over contract
BY CHRIS TOMASSON
Beacon Journal staff writer
Cavaliers guard Bob Sura is standing the other day with a basketball in his hand and pondering when the NBA lockout might end.
``Let's see, it's Nov. 18 . . . ''
Uh, Bob, the date is actually Nov. 5.
Minutes later, guard Brevin Knight is talking to several teammates.
``Well, today's Wednesday . . . ''
Knight is told it's actually Thursday.
But Cavs players can be excused for getting confused. As the lockout rolls on, all the days seem to be the same. There are no games against the Bulls to look toward. There are no long practices to dread.
Many of the Cavs wallow away the time in the auxiliary gym at Cleveland State's Convocation Center. There are no spectators and no screaming coaches. There's not even an NBA 3-point line.
``We're all just waiting to see what happens with the lockout,'' said center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
In the meantime, the players are trying to stay in shape. Unable to use Gund Arena's facilities, they play basketball and do running drills nearly each morning at CSU. Then they go over to Jacobs Field to lift weights.
Year-round Cleveland residents Sura, Ilgauskas and forwards Vitaly Potapenko and Danny Ferry go through the routine regularly, although Sura, because of recent ankle surgery, is not allowed to do anything more at CSU than shoot. Knight and forward Shawn Kemp drop by occasionally.
``Until Oct. 16 (when college practice began), we were able to play five-on-five with the Cleveland State team, and that was good, Potapenko said. ``Now, we just do what we can.''
The other day at CSU, that meant a two-on-two game in which Potapenko guarded Ilgauskas and someone named Curtis Carter went up against Danny Ferry. The 6-foot-3 Carter, an ex-Lakeland Community College guard, gave away seven inches to Ferry. That's not exactly the ideal scenario for Ferry to get ready for a season.
But these are hardly ordinary times. For the first four months of the lockout, Cavs players weren't even allowed to speak with team officials. That changed last week when NBA commissioner David Stern, concerned that owner's proposals weren't properly reaching players, allowed one individual from each team to speak to players. For the Cavs, it's President Wayne Embry.
Cleveland players have had to do a lot of fending for themselves when it comes to getting informed on lockout issues. Kemp quit as team player rep in July. Guard Derek Anderson, his replacement, has not been seen at any union meetings since July.
The Cavs do get union mailings and occasional calls from union representatives. But several have taken it upon themselves to get a better understanding of the situation. Last month, Knight, Ferry and forward Cedric Henderson went to a union meeting in Las Vegas and Ferry and Potapenko went to a negotiating session in New York.
``I want to play, but if sitting out the season is what it takes, we'll have to do it,'' Knight said. ``Guys in the past have fought for us and now we have to fight for guys in the future . . . It gives me a lot of inspiration to see a guy like Danny out there. He's played a lot of years and made a lot of money, but he's still out there fighting for us.''
Ferry, an eight-year veteran and former player rep, is likely the most informed Cav. But the more Ferry learns about what's going on (or what isn't), he finds himself getting more discouraged.
``I wish that both sides would lock themselves in a room until they figure out what can be done,'' Ferry said. ``Put them in a room with a bathroom in the corner and say they can't leave until they're done. I think it would really be a waste if the season were canceled and we really didn't negotiate.''
A recent poll indicated 62.7 percent of people surveyed and 37.4 percent of those who consider themselves NBA fans don't care if the season is canceled.
``I think the general feeling people have is that the players are being a little ridiculous, but both sides are being ridiculous,'' Ferry said. ``If people point fingers at players, I can't blame them. But you want to get as good of a deal as you can.''
The Cavs player who seemingly has the most at stake is Ilgauskas, who becomes a free agent next summer.
Under the old rules, Ilgauskas would be able to sign a contract with the Cavs under the Larry Bird exception for well over $10 million a year.
It remains to be seen what will happen under the new rules.
``I think there's a lot of money for everybody,'' Ilgauskas said. ``I just don't think it's fair people out there are missing basketball. I hope it's going to be resolved soon. But I've got to trust what the union is doing.''
Union executive director Billy Hunter claimed last week there were efforts by management on four NBA teams, one being the Cavs, to get the players to support the owner's latest proposal.
Sura admits he hasn't fully studied the proposal -- which limits high-end player salaries -- but he didn't sound like someone spouting the union line.
``It's tough to say that any basketball player is worth $20, $30 or $40 million a year,'' he said.
Then Sura put up a shot.
What day it was really didn't matter since every day of the lockout has looked pretty much the same.

Missing opener just too painful
Cavs guard Bob Sura says left ankle's a little tender, but wants to play when season starts Friday in Houston
By Chris Broussard
Beacon Journal staff writer
Bob Sura says there is pain and then there is pain.
Pain is what Sura is feeling in his left ankle after spraining it in last Friday's exhibition game against New Jersey. Pain is what he would feel if he missed the Cavaliers' season opener Friday at Houston.
So Sura plans to play against Houston, despite predictions by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic that he'll be out until at least the weekend.
``It's not as bad as I first thought it was,'' said Sura, the Cavs' third-year point guard. ``It won't be a problem for me to play in the opening game so I'm happy about that. It'll be a little tender for the next week or so, but it's going to be tough to keep me out of there on Friday.''
Not as optimistic as Sura, Coach Mike Fratello said he'll consult the team's doctors before penciling Sura into the lineup. In the meantime, he'll prepare Brevin Knight, Derek Anderson and Mitchell Butler to run the point.
Sura, however, remains confident.
``Doctors are always going to have their opinions,'' Sura said, ``but I think I should be OK for the opening game. If it's a little sore, I'll just tape it up and play.''
It's been an interesting preseason for Sura. A natural shooting guard, he has been the Cavs' starting point guard since day one. ``I haven't played one play at shooting guard,'' he said.
Though he played both guard spots his first two seasons, he admitted to feeling kind of awkward at the point. And it has shown.
While unselfishness is always a plus, Sura has been a little too giving. His assist totals were outstanding (he averaged 6.1 per game in only 23.9 minutes), but in seven preseason contests, he attempted only 29 shots in averaging just 6.7 points.
He's trying to find that delicate balance between shooting and passing.
``This is the first time in my career that I've been a full-time point guard and it's still a bit of an adjustment,'' said Sura, who averaged 9.2 points and 4.8 assists off the bench last season. ``I've been a little bit too unselfish to a certain extent. I'm trying to find a nice mix and I think it'll come.''

Gund Arena get-together
Five Cavalier veterans meet new teammates for first time during Media Day
By Roland Queen
Beacon Journal staff writer
Maybe Cavaliers management should consider adopting a new fight song for the team this season. And the most appropriate would be the old ballad: ``Getting to know you.''
That was the operative phrase during yesterday's Media Day at Gund Arena when the five Cavs back from last season's team -- guard Bob Sura, forwards Danny Ferry and Donny Marshall and centers Vitaly Potapenko and Shawnelle Scott -- found themselves wearing the same uniform with 12 new teammates.
In the previous four seasons under Coach Mike Fratello, the first day players reported for training camp always was like a family reunion. All the guys knew each other well as long-time teammates.
But yesterday's get-together was more like reporting for the first day at a new job, in a new city.
``It was interesting,'' said Sura. ``We were all sitting in the locker room getting dressed, and there weren't a whole lot of conversations going on.
``Nobody really knows each other too well yet. It's a whole new bunch of guys. But I think we're all excited about the team we have.''
Gone are seven members of last year's team, including point guard Terrell Brandon, the team's best player the past three seasons. Brandon and power forward Tyrone Hill were traded to Milwaukee Sept. 25 in a three-team deal that brought to Cleveland All-Star forward Shawn Kemp from Seattle and point guard Sherman Douglas from Milwaukee.
The other former Cavs who'll wear new uniforms this season are guards Bobby Phills (free agent to Charlotte), Reggie Geary (free agent to San Antonio) and Carl Thomas (free agent to Golden State), forward Chris Mills (free agent to Boston) and center Mark West (free agent to Indiana).
Besides Kemp and Douglas, two other veterans were acquired in trade this week. The Cavs gave up a future first-round draft choice to get sharpshooting guard-forward Wesley Person and guard Tony Dumas from Phoenix.
And the new veterans will join eight other new faces -- rookie guards Derek Anderson (Kentucky) and Brevin Knight (Stanford), both first-round draft choices, second-round pick Cedric Henderson and free agents Jerome Allen, Mitchell Butler, Adrian Caldwell, Sherell Ford and Henry James -- when the team opens training camp today at the University of Dayton.
``We're anxious to get it going with a whole new roster, with some young, exciting players,'' said Sura. ``We're going to run up and down, and make plays. I think we'll have a good team.''
Ferry, the elder statesman among Cavs holdovers, was asked how different it feels having to get to know so many new teammates.
``I'm lost, but I'm excited,'' Ferry said with a big laugh. ``I'm going to miss very much some of the guys who are not here anymore. I really liked them a lot as people, and I loved playing with them.
``It's the nature of the business, though. They made some moves they thought were good for the organization. But I'm excited to play with some of these new guys, especially Shawn Kemp. We'll see how training camp goes, and go from there. But right now, my head's rattling.''
Ferry agreed with Sura that it was a weird feeling yesterday with all the new guys in the locker room.
``Usually when we'd report for Media Day, there would be a lot of hugs, with guys saying, `Hey, what's up? How are you doing?' Today it was, ``Hello, how are you. Glad to have you here, the whole deal.
``It was definitely a different atmosphere. Tomorrow we'll start learning each other on the court. But right now, we need to do a lot of learning about each other off the court, too.''
Fratello said the coaching staff also knows the importance of developing a close-knit team.
``We'll get started tonight with a team meeting before we ever get on the floor,'' Fratello said. ``We'll try to introduce to them what we're starting, and what we're trying to do.
``But right now, it's guys trying to feel each other out. And as a coaching staff, trying to get an idea for what the best combinations are together. It will take a little bit of time. But if they work as hard as I expect them to work, it will all come in place.''
The biggest question the players are waiting to have answered is: Will the Cavs drop their slow-paced offense of the past several years for a new up-tempo style?
``We have to make sure that the style we use, both offensively and defensively, gives our players the best opportunity to win games,'' Fratello said. ``And some times you need to tinker with that on into the season. Twenty games into the season, we still may not be set with this team, because there are so many new pieces here.''
Kemp, a 6-foot-10 forward, started for the Western Conference in each of the past four NBA All-Star Games. Kemp, 27, is an eight-year veteran who signed with Seattle a year after graduating from high school in Indiana.
And what did he think of his first day with his new team?
``When I walked in front of the mirror and saw myself (in a Cavs uniform), I had to back up and take a second look,'' said Kemp.
And Kemp wasn't the only Cav yesterday doing double takes.

WOES CONTINUE FOR SURA -- Cavaliers guard Bob Sura was placed on the injured list yesterday due to a severe sprain and tendinitis in his left ankle. The ankle injury, suffered in the final preseason game at New Jersey, has hampered Sura all year, limiting his minutes and his production. In seven games, he's averaged 4.7 points, 4.3 assists and 3.3 turnovers in 24.6 minutes. ``They found fluid in there, bruised bones, tendinitis, everything,'' said Sura, who is wearing a plastic cast-like contraption on his foot. He said his foot would be in the ``cast'' for the next 10 days. After that, he'll be re-examined. He'll miss at least the next five games.

Sura is a dunk dandy
Cavs guard wants to get into All-Star contest
BY CHRIS BROUSSARD
Beacon Journal staff writer
November 19, 1996
You may have noticed lately that Bobby Sura likes to dunk.
After penetrating to the basket, the Cavaliers' second-year guard rarely uses a finger roll.
Usually, he goes for a crowd-pleasing, teammate-inspiring slam, whether a defender is in the way or not.
There is a reason for this.
"I'm trying to sneak into the (NBA) dunk contest," Sura said. "I think that as a sleeper, I might have a shot at winning."
Sura knows about sleepers. Last season, he predicted that Los Angeles Clippers' rookie Brent Barry would win the contest, and Barry, with his Dr. J imitation dunk from the foul line, did.
A week ago, Sura probably was not considered a candidate for the contest. But after a nice slam in traffic against Atlanta and a devastating one-handed dunk over Detroit's Stacey Augmon on Saturday, he is now in the running.
Rod Thorn, the NBA's senior vice president of basketball operations, is on the committee that selects the contestants and he was blown away by Sura's slam over Augmon.
"Oh my goodness, he was really up there," Thorn said. "That was an incredible dunk he made. He's certainly somebody we will consider."
Before he conquers the rest of the league, though, Sura will have to convince all of his teammates that he is the club's top dunker.
Antonio Lang is already in Sura's corner, saying that because he's only 6-foot-5, his dunks look the best. Assistant coach Sidney Lowe also called Sura the Cavs' No. 1 high flyer, as did rookie Vitaly Potapenko.
"I played with him all summer," Potapenko said. "That boy can get up."
But Bobby Phills and Terrell Brandon are skeptical.
Phills probably dunks in games more than any other Cav, but he has yet to show much flair. Typically, he throws down authoritative, two-handed slams.
Still, he says he has enough to show up Sura.
"I think he's letting that dunk (over Augmon) go to his head," Phills said.
Brandon, who raised eyebrows with a windmill dunk over Philadelphia's Jerry Stackhouse last Friday, said Sura is too young to be considered the Cavs' top slam man.
"Bobby (Phills) and I used to dunk a lot earlier in our careers, but now that we play more minutes we lay it up," Brandon said. "As far as Sura being the best -- we can't give him that. He doesn't have enough years in the league yet."

Sura's versatility no laughing matter
Recent play proves that guard not out of bounds with Drexler comparison
BY CHRIS BROUSSARD
Beacon Journal staff writer
November 11, 1996
It was a common occurance last season to hear Bob Sura compare himself to versatile Houston Rockets' All-Star Clyde Drexler.
The Cavs' second-year guard was ribbed for doing so, but lately he has gotten the last laugh by putting up Drexler-like numbers in his last two games.
Sura did a little bit of everything yesterday in the Cavs' 101-86 victory over Denver. Making the most of his 24 minutes, he recorded 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
That nice, full line came two days after he scored 15 points, grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds and gave out six assists against Vancouver.
For the season, Sura, who came off the bench to relieve Bobby Phills for the first time this season yesterday, is averaging a well-balanced 10.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

Sura is hitting heights
Guard has his first-ever double-double in victory
BY CHRIS BROUSSARD
Beacon Journal staff writer
November 10, 1996
Bob Sura wants you to believe he's only 6-foot-1.
That would leave you with the impression that he's really skying when he dunks and grabs rebounds over taller opponents. But even at 6-5, what Sura did in Friday's 88-72 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies was impressive.
Against a frontline that often in cluded a 7-footer and two players taller than 6-9, Sura grabbed a career-best 13 rebounds. He also picked up the slack for foul-plagued Terrell Brandon (four points) and scored a season-high 15 points to record the first double-double of his career.
"It was an outstanding performance," Coach Mike Fratello said.
The play that stood out most was one Sura never completed. After receiving the ball on the wing early in the third quarter, he shook defender Anthony Peeler and barreled toward the lane with his imagination running wild.
So what that 7-footer Bryant "Big Country" Reeves was near the basket. So what that rookie shot-blocker extraordinaire Roy Rogers was in the lane.
Sura was thinking dunk, and two big guys weren't going to stop him. So Sura went airborne when he hit the key, cranked the ball with his right hand and attempted to slam it down hard over Rogers.
He missed the dunk, but Rogers missed the block and fouled Sura as well.
It was one of those plays in which you wish you could give Sura a point for trying.
"It surprised Rogers," Sura said. "I don't think he knew I could do that, especially since I'm a 6-1 guard."
Until the Grizzlies came to town, Sura's play was much smaller than expected. In three games and 114 minutes, he had averaged just eight points and earned zero trips to the foul line. Never one to underestimate himself, Sura was shocked at the embarrassing statistic.
"I'm a slashing, driving type player who gets to the line a lot," said Sura, who was 4-for-6 from the line Friday. "Not having been there yet was real shocking."
It was lost on no one that Sura, who also had five assists, played his best game on the night that usual starter Bobby Phills returned.
"I told him, 'Hey, if it takes me coming off the bench to push you a little more, let me know,'" said Phills, who missed the first three games with a sprained left ankle.
"That is kind of weird," said Sura, who started ahead of Phills on Friday.
Sura said it won't be weird returning to the bench. He knows that Phills will eventually assume his spot in the starting lineup, possibly as soon as today at 1:30 against the Denver Nuggets.
Fratello said yesterday that the decision will be made before the game: "But it's understood that (Phills) will go back into the starting lineup at some point."
yone was pleased to see Sura break out.
"He is a big guy," Brandon said, to Sura's dismay. "He's got great legs and he was in there controlling the boards." Not bad for a 6-1 guard.

A SLIGHT SLUMP -- Bob Sura isn't pleased with his play over the last three games. Against Orlando, Utah and Milwaukee, the second-year guard totaled only seven points on 1-for-10 shooting. But he has contributed in other ways, handing out five assists against the Jazz and six against Orlando. He also grabbed five rebounds against the Bucks and made two critical free throws in the fourth quarter. Still, "I've been struggling lately," Sura said. "In every part of the game."

SURA TO STAY STEADY -- With the way Bob Sura has played lately, you may not remember his slow start this season. But while starting the first three games in place of Phills, he was pretty much a non-entity. Then, when Phills returned, Sura had 15 points and 13 rebounds and has been great off the bench ever since. He doesn't plan on returning to his slump now that Phills is out. "It was just a coincidence," he said. "I got on a roll and started playing well."

Is Cavs' Sura back?
That's a slam dunk
Before Saturday, things had gotten so bad he was about to pull out of contest
BY CHRIS BROUSSARD
Beacon Journal staff writer
January 27, 1997
You won't believe how bad it got.
Bob Sura's recent four-game slump had done so much damage to his psyche, he was considering dropping out of the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest.
The same contest that Sura had lobbied all year to get into.
The same contest he had hoped to become the first Cavalier to win.
The same contest he has been obsessing about, trying to find new ways to dunk the ball.
Yet ever since it was announced Jan. 15 that Sura would be in the league's dunk-off, his play had suffered.
He was beginning to wonder.
"I read something the other day about the fate of recent slam dunk champions and how a lot of them -- like Kenny Walker and Harold Miner -- aren't even in the league anymore," Sura said Friday. "If this keeps up, I may have to pull out."
But now, after playing one of his best games of the season Saturday night, Sura no longer is down. And his spot in the contest no longer is in jeopardy.
"I'll probably stay in it now," Sura said excitedly after helping the Cavs to rout Charlotte 106-73.
Sura was not his old self against the Hornets. He was better.
In 38 minutes, he scored 19 points, gave out five assists, grabbed four rebounds, made three steals and committed no turnovers.
"Bobby was terrific," Cavs coach Mike Fratello said. "He was playing with confidence."
Understandably, Sura's confidence had been shaken. His play on the West Coast trip and last Thursday against Chicago had done nothing to bolster it.
In Denver, he watched Ricky Pierce score the game-winning basket over him.
In Seattle, he committed four turnovers in nine minutes.
In Los Angeles, he made three turnovers in 16 minutes and then suffered a mild concussion.
In Utah, he was scoreless with three turnovers in 19 minutes.
Against Chicago, he was scoreless with two turnovers in 18 minutes.
Heading into the Charlotte game, Sura had missed his last eight field-goal attempts and his last six free throws.
Not only was his play sinking, but his pep and charisma were gone. Near the end of the Chicago game, he walked around the court like a zombie.
"I was struggling," Sura said. "I take losing hard. This is what I do for a living. This is what I love to do, and when I'm not playing well, I get down."
Fratello noticed how dejected Sura was, and gave him a strong vote of confidence Saturday morning. After finding out that starting small forward Chris Mills would miss the Hornets game with a sprained left ankle, Fratello elected to start Sura.
"We could have gone a couple of different ways," Fratello said. "We felt we'd show Bob that we had confidence in him and that he was still a vital part of this team ... that even though he was going through some struggles, we were still behind him."
It was the right move.
Sura ended the slump immediately. Less than a minute into the game, he scored the Cavs' first basket on a driving layup. Two minutes later, he hit another layup. By the midway point of the quarter, Sura had six points and two assists.
"That shows you how quickly things can turn around," Sura said. "A couple of layups was all I needed to get me going. It was a big night for me. It feels good to break out like that."
So good that Sura was back to his old tricks -- attempting to dunk on everyone and everybody. With 1:20 left in the first quarter, he drove the lane and went up for a one-handed jam over Charlotte's 7-foot-1 center Vlade Divac.
Though there was contact, no foul was called as the ball bounced off the back of the rim.inspired awe, even though Sura missed.
"I was coming with it," Sura said of his intention to dunk on Divac. "I wasn't going to miss that one, so he had better have fouled me. It definitely was a foul, even though they didn't call it."
Sura is definitely back.

Cavs Sura is a real hard head
Sura bounces back quickly from concussion he suffered Sunday night
BY CHRIS BROUSSARD
Beacon Journal staff writer
January 21, 1997
SALT LAKE CITY:A concussion stop Bob Sura?
Puh-leeze.
Not even a crowbar upside the head could keep Sura out of a basketball game.
"My head's too hard for me to get hurt," Sura said while preparing for last night's game against Utah.
Less than 24 hours after suffering a mild concussion in the Cavs' 107-102 double overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, the second-year guard was back in action.
At the 9:26 mark of the fourth quarter Sunday, Sura went airborne on a drive to the basket. He bumped bodies with the Clippers' Loy Vaught and landed headfirst on his back.
Five minutes passed before he got up.
"I was (knocked) out for about 3 to 4 seconds," Sura said. "Then I was real dizzy for awhile. I had a headache throughout the night."
Sura, who did not return against the Clippers, said he was ready to play after seeing Terrell Brandon foul out with 17 seconds left in the first overtime.
"But I was already dressed," said Sura, who watched the rest of the game from the locker room.
Instead of Sura, the Cavs had to go with rookie Reggie Geary. In five minutes, the only statistics that Geary recorded were four missed free throws in the final minute.
Nevertheless, Coach Mike Fratello was pleased with his effort.
"He did so many other good things," Fratello said of Geary. "He got us into our plays so we could execute. And he played solid defense. He stopped the dribble penetration by (Clippers point guard) Darrick Martin. It was really a terrific job by him."
With Sura back, Geary wasn't likely to get much time against Utah. When asked if his mind was clear enough to shoot, Sura said, "I've never been a good shooter anyway. As long as I can drive to the basket, I'll be all right."

Slamming Sura visits 'doctors' of dunk
Guard readies ram plan with Nance, Thomas as he becomes first Cav in NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1990s
BY CHRIS BROUSSARD
Beacon Journal staff writer
January 16, 1997
The dunk was as basic as they come. There was no force, no spreading of the legs, no hanging on the rim. It was a simple one-handed slam in front of a crowd of five or six.
But to Bobby Sura, it was a big deal.
"We were just messing around after practice, trying to dunk, and I put one down," Sura said. "I was in the eighth grade and about 6 feet tall. A lot of people were surprised. I was surprised, too."
Dunks by Sura no longer surprise anyone. In fact, Sura now slams with such skill and regularity, he was chosen yesterday to participate in the Nestle Crunch Slam Dunk Contest at the NBA's upcoming All-Star Weekend.
The contest will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, at Gund Arena, and Sura, the Cavaliers' 6-foot-5 guard, will have his work cut out for him.
Filling out the field are rookies Ray Allen of Milwaukee, Allen Iverson of Philadelphia and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, along with second-year players Chris Carr of Minnesota and Michael Finley of Dallas.
Last year's winner, Brent Barry, elected not to defend his title because of Cleveland's cold weather.
"Him not being there makes it a little easier," Sura said.
The last Cav to compete was Ron Harper, who finished fifth in 1987 and seventh in 1989.
Sura, who never has been one to downplay himself, said that Finley, last year's runner-up, and Bryant, the 18-year-old who skipped college, are the likely favorites.
"(Bryant) has those young legs," joked Sura, who is all of 23. "He's only about 13 years old."
But Sura, of course, will concede nothing. After he lobbied all season to get into the contest, you'd better believe he thinks he can win.
"I'm going to start working with some of the guys on the team to come up with some creative stuff that no one has seen," he said.
Sura's main consultant will be Cavs guard Carl Thomas, a 6-4 leaper who finished third in last year's CBA Slam Dunk Contest. The two have started working on some dunks, but mum's the word.
"I don't want to let the cat out of the bag," said Thomas, who is on the injured list with a strained left rotator cuff. "But after practice, I showed him a dunk I did in the CBA contest that he thought was pretty nice."
Sura also is taking advice from former Cav Larry Nance, who won the league's inaugural contest in 1984 by upsetting the legendary Julius "Dr. J" Erving.
Nance, now a special assistant coach with the Cavs, beat "The Doctor" by dunking two balls at once -- one with each hand.
"I asked him if he had real big hands so he could do that dunk," Nance said. "He doesn't, but he'll be fine. He'll gain three or four more inches on his jump just by being at home."
Sura, who said he has a 391/2-inch vertical leap, has thrown down a few thunderous dunks this year. His best might have been a one-handed slam off one foot over Detroit's Stacey Augmon that rocked the Gund Arena crowd.
Sura said it probably will be harder to ignite the fans while dunking alone.
"I think I dunk better in games," Sura said. "When guys are around, I dig a little deeper. Sometimes when you're by yourself, it's tough to be creative."
There are two types of dunkers -- those who soar and those who shock. The soarers -- Dr. J, Brent Barry, Spud Webb -- glide and fly off of one foot.
The shockers -- Dominique Wilkins, Harold Miner -- jump with both feet and usually dunk with more authority. In his heyday, Michael Jordan was both a soarer and a shocker.
Sura is a shocker, which he believes might be a disadvantage.
"The best dunks I've ever seen are when guys go from the foul line," Sura said. "But since I dunk better off two feet, I can't do that. But I'll come up with something."
Showtime
"I think I dunk better in games. When guys are around, I dig a little deeper. Sometimes when you're by yourself, it's tough to be creative."
BOBBY SURA
Cavs guard

NBA is giving Gund Arena a makeover
Oh, the place is looking pretty all right, but it's not home. Brandon, Sura, Potapenko might not recognize it
BY CHRIS BROUSSARD
Beacon Journal staff writer
February 7, 1997
Bob Sura will have to forgive Larry Nance. Nance, it seems, did not know how far things would go.
A Cavaliers assistant coach and former NBA dunk champion, Nance has been telling Sura that because this year's Nestle Crunch Slam-Dunk Contest is being held at Gund Arena, he can expect to gain three or four inches on his vertical leap.
Nance, who defeated Julius Erving in the league's first dunk contest in 1984, told the Cavs guard that being in front of his home crowd will have him juiced beyond belief.
Problem is, Sura won't recognize home.
By the time the NBA is through with Gund Arena, Sura -- and Terrell Brandon and Vitaly Potapenko for that matter -- will think that All-Star Weekend has been moved.
For the next three days, the Gund belongs to the NBA, not the Cavs.
"It's a great looking building and we want to dress it up so that everybody knows it's the NBA All-Star Game," said Mike Dyer, the league's Vice President of Event Management. "We want it so that you can't walk in and not know that the NBA All-Star Game is here."
Instead, you walk in and don't know that the Cavs are there.
The only reminders of the Cleveland franchise are the retired jerseys of Bingo Smith, Austin Carr, Nate Thurmond and Nance hanging from the rafters. But those are hard to find since they blend in with the rest of the paraphernalia that dominates the atmosphere.
Red, white and blue banners with the names of every NBA championship team from 1947 through 1996 swing from the ceiling. Colorful NBA All-Star facing covers the arena's every nook and cranny.
Even the court has been changed. The league had Horner Floor Company of Dollar Bay, Mich., build and ship a special floor just for this weekend. It's hardwood, like the Cavs', but that's the only similarity.
The NBA All-Star logo highlights midcourt. "NBA at 50" logos are on each side. The lane is a solid blue, and the circle at the top of the key is orange. The court is outlined in black.
Two of the floor's four tunnel entrances will serve as the base for makeshift studios for NBC and TNT, the television stations covering the weekend's activities. Hundreds of media types will surround the floor as the courtside seats have been moved back more than a dozen feet.
The new setup, court and decorations, plus the fact that the best seats in the house will be filled with athletes, celebrities and NBA corporate types, will make for a not-so-cozy environment for the Cavs players.
Heck, when the time comes to compete, they may as well be in Los Angeles.
Brandon, for one, won't complain. An Eastern Conference All-Star for the second straight year, he has always preferred playing on the road. He will be pleased Sunday.
"It really has been transformed into another arena," said Bob Price, the Cavs' Senior Director of Communications and Public Relations.
The 20,562 people in attendance will not be disappointed. The "new" arena is beautiful.
It's just not the Gund.

Cavs' Sura finally gets the point
Former shooting guard has made the transition -- and decides he likes it
BY CHRIS BROUSSARD
Beacon Journal staff writer
March 19,1997
It has taken the better part of two seasons, but the transition finally is complete: Bob Sura, one-time scoring machine, now is a point guard.
Sura, who used to treat the pass as a last resort, now enjoys distributing the ball as much as he does putting it into the basket.
In fact, Sura would rather be a play-making point man than a high-scoring shooter.
"I kind of like being a point guard, believe it or not," said Sura, laughing at the irony. "It's kind of weird. I feel like I'm in control when I have the ball in my hands all of the time. I'm able to make things happen."
Making things happen is nothing new for Sura. Since high school, he has been a brash and flashy player, going to the basket to score bunches of points. He left Florida State in 1995 as the school's all-time leading scorer, with 2,130 points.
But when the Cavs drafted him, they asked him to learn how to run a team. Although Sura had played some point guard as a senior in college, he was a natural scorer.
You've heard the saying that shooting guards think shoot first, pass second. Well, Sura thought shoot first, shoot second, pass third.
Until recently.
As evidenced in Monday's 85-82 win over Detroit, Sura likes to dish.
With All-Star Terrell Brandon nursing a bruised tailbone, Sura matched his career high with 10 assists. He also scored 15 points and committed only three turnovers against the Pistons' high-pressure defense.
Sura's newfound love for the pass was easy to see in the first half when he handed out six assists and attempted just one shot.
"I was just trying to get everyone involved," Sura said. "The guys had wide-open jump shots and were knocking them down."
The many open looks were the result of Sura's penetration. Using his quickness to get inside the lane, he drew two and three defenders before passing out to teammates.
As a result, all five Cavs starters scored in double figures as the team shot 55.7 percent from the floor. Tyrone Hill, scoring off numerous Sura assists, recorded a season-high 26 points.
"Sura likes to penetrate and find guys, so therefore the ball is distributed a lot and a lot of guys take shots," said Chris Mills, who scored 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
Sura has become so adept at penetrating and passing, the Cavs don't look for him to score many points. On Monday, because Sura was moving the ball so well, Coach Mike Fratello didn't mind him going scoreless in the first half.
"I thought he was playing terrific," Fratello said. "We didn't want him to think that he had to score more."
It was not Sura's first start of the season, but it was his first start at the point. With Brandon listed as questionable for tonight's game at Charlotte, Sura likely will be in the first five again.
Although he doesn't like seeing Brandon injured, he does enjoy the increased playing time and responsibility.
"(Monday), I wanted to play all day, because I knew I was going to be out there for a long time. I look forward to those nights," said Sura, who averages 4.5 assists in 24 minutes a game.
"Obviously, I don't want anyone to get hurt or be out for a long time, but when it happens, it's good for me to get in and play a lot."
Sura, of course, will continue to play both guard positions. But he has become so solid at the point, Fratello often puts Brandon at shooting guard when Sura's in the game. That allows him to run off picks and get jump shots while Sura runs the offense.
One thing Sura must do to become a better point guard, though, is to make his foul shots. With his driving and slashing style, he goes to the foul line more than anyone except Hill, but, as a 56 percent shooter, rarely capitalizes.
Against Detroit, he missed 6-of-10, including 3-of-6 in the final 2:00.
"One for two isn't bad when you're shooting 3s, but on the foul line it's not so good," Sura said. "They're just not falling this year for me. It's something I need to work on for the future."