http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4293741.html Oct. 27, 2006, 11:00PM Rockets leave spot for Sura Team hopes guard can return; Jacobsen, Bowen cut from roster By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle The Rockets reduced their roster to the maximum of 15 players Friday by waiving forward Ryan Bowen and guard Casey Jacobsen, moves that point to their hope Bob Sura can make it back from microfracture knee surgery and his surprising declaration this week that he believes he can. Bowen was released though he had one more guaranteed season, worth roughly $1 million, on his contract. Bowen had been out through the preseason while coming back from hip surgery to repair the torn labrum that hampered him last season. Great teammate "I think Ryan was one of the great teammates of all time," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "I think he could still have been effective for us as a perimeter defensive guy, a last-shot, or game-situation guy. He is one of the greatest teammates and one of the best guys ever to coach." But if Bowen's contract and contributions were thought to have placed him on the roster, Jacobsen seemed to have made the team this month, so much so that even Van Gundy thought Jacobsen had earned a place. That changed Wednesday night when the Rockets received word Sura had not given up on his hopes to come back. "We were all expecting him to retire," said Van Gundy, who also had spoken to Sura last week. "When he made a final decision, we were supportive of whatever he decided he wanted to do. We thought he was leaning toward retirement. He decided he wanted to keep on going. I respect his heart. "He has chosen to fight on with no guarantees that it will lead to anything productive. He is a great competitor. If anybody can make it back, he is the type of guy who can do it. He has an extremely high pain tolerance and will to compete. He clarified in his mind what he wanted to do. It caught me by surprise, but I'm happy for him. He's a guy I'm rooting for." But with Sura on the roster, the Rockets have seven guards not including Tracy McGrady who might start games as a shooting guard. That left little room for Jacobsen. "I thought he was going to make the team all the way up into (Wednesday) night when we thought Bobby was heading into retirement," Van Gundy said. "He played well enough in practice to secure himself a shot." Jacobsen averaged 1.5 points, 1.8 assists and 1.8 rebounds in the preseason in playing time limited in part because the Rockets believed they had seen enough in scrimmages. "He didn't play great in games, but he played well in practice," general manager Carroll Dawson said. "He should be in the league. We're going to help him every way we can because he should be in the league." Head, Snyder extended But the backcourt is crowded, more so with the Rockets on Friday extending the contracts of Luther Head and Kirk Snyder through the 2007-08 season, exercising their third-year option on Head's contract and fourth-year option on Snyder's rookie contract. "When you get extended, it says the team values you," Van Gundy said. "That has to be a positive sign for each player. I'm happy for each guy." But for all their guards, with Head, Snyder and rookie point guards John Lucas III and Billy Spanoulis, the backcourt is young. That could make Sura a valuable addition. But even if the Rockets did not believe Sura would be able to play or if they wanted to clear his roster spot, there are other reasons to let him have more time. Reasons for patience If Sura determines he must retire because of his knee, his salary would not count toward the Rockets' luxury tax threshold. That could allow the Rockets to use the $4.1 trade exception they will have until Feb. 13 without incurring the tax they consider a virtual hard salary cap. His contract could also be used in a trade for a team seeking an expiring contract. Those are options to encourage patience, but the Rockets' preference would be to have Sura return. "He's always thought that he could make it back," Dawson said. "If he believes in something as strongly as he does, as willing and forceful as he is, you have to give him a chance. He thinks he can play again. We'll see. "It's mainly out of tremendous respect for what he's done for us, how hard he works. People don't understand (you've) got to give him a shot. He's done a lot lately. He's telling us he thinks he can do it. That's what we're going on. Bobby says he thinks he can play. Who wouldn't listen to that?" ROCKETS NOTES INCIDENT PROBED The NBA took no action Friday on the incident involving Dikembe Mutombo during Thursday's game in Orlando, but league officials were investigating, NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said. Mutombo flashed an obscene gesture and started toward a fan who had been shouting a racial epithet at him. The fan was escorted from the arena, but Mutombo said later he was close to going into the stands and that the fan should be barred from attending NBA games. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARQUETTE REUNION The last games of the Rockets' preseason schedule offered Rockets rookie Steve Novak a Marquette reunion tour with a game Wednesday against the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade and Thursday against the Orlando Magic and Travis Diener . He even had the unexpected chance to match up against Wade, coming out of that experience without becoming part of a Wade highlight. "I know what Dwyane can do, so I'll keep my mouth shut," Novak said. "He ended up penetrating and kicking it out, probably lucky for me. "It was nice to see those guys, just being my first time, see what they have to say. It was good to play against Dwyane. It's always been my goal. I've seen what he's done, but to be out there playing against him was kind of neat. "With Travis, we stay more in touch, so that was neat to be out there with a teammate from a year ago" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FLUID SITUATION With so much uncertain about the Rockets' rotation beyond certain starters Yao Ming, Shane Battier, Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston , the Rockets might not go with the same starting lineup game to game, or even half to half. Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said he never has had such a fluid rotation, but that "it may be appropriate for our team. Van Gundy could go with Battier as a power forward with Tracy McGrady at small forward and Kirk Snyder or Luther Head at shooting guard. He could go with Steve Novak or Chuck Hayes at power forward, shifting Battier to small forward and McGrady to the backcourt. "We may be a team that changes that fifth starter game to game depending on what we need and even at half," Van Gundy said. "We may not start the same team in the second half as we did the first" He said backup center would be "by committee" with Dikembe Mutombo, Juwan Howard and Hayes playing behind Yao.
This forum is weird. I don't understand how everyone is so convinced Sura is finished. Webber and Kidd had the same exact injury and surgery and at the same age and came back just fine. The only difference is because of the timing of Sura's injury and then waiting for the surgery it makes it SEEM like he has taken a longer time to recover when in truth he has not. And the age thing is overstated. The truth is if you look at it in that way instead of just saying "I think he's done just because I think he is"........ Amare has had the same amount of time to recover exactly as Sura from the same injury, Amare is 10 years younger and Amare has already said he would have sat out 2 to 3 months if the Suns didn't force him to play. So somehow Sura is differentthan Amare because he is older, yet Sura is having to be tapered back and the Rockets are trying to slowly work him in based on his own workouts, versus the Suns forcing Amare to play. In other words, this forum just doesn't get it. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are both on record as saying the toughest competitior, the greatest warrior, the guy they respected most for fierceness in the whole league was Bobby Sura. He will be back to form long before Amare is.
Cool, either Feigen knows his new CBA stuff, or he reads my posts (and the others who post cap stuff too ). I think it's a little big of both.
I couldn't agree more. Anyone who doesn't think Sura isn't coming back just doesn't know what they're talking about. That guy is tough as nails. And he was the heart of team that took on Dallas two years ago. When het came back mid season that year everything went to another level for the Rockets. This board should be rooting for him.
best quote ever.... Im all for Sura, Jacobsen didn't really impress me much, and wouldve rather kept Padgett as it turned out. Sure he could drive the lanes unlike Padgett, but its the shooting that counts. He really should be on a team soon, and tell u the truth, wouldnt be surprised if he ended up back with the Suns.
It was back during that 72-10 year. Sura was a rookie then. Anyway the cavs played the Bulls and Sura got into it with both Jordan and Pippen. It all started when Jordan inbounded the ball and Sura stripped Pippen, then when Jordan went after the ball Sura lowered a shoulder. The next thing Jordan went to post up Sura and said to him loudly and so clear everyone knew what it was, "Get the f- off of me rookie, no one guards me, especially rookies, don't you f-ing know that?" Sura proceeded to strip the ball, then as Jordan stared him down he dropped him with a forearm. Pippen then was placed on Sura to shut him down as he was running point. Sura continually took Pippen down court then posted him up. It all culminated when Jordan took Sura down low, then dunked on him, and said to him again so clear everyone knew it, "now get the f- out of the game rookie before I get mad." Sura waived his coach off, took Jordan in the post and dunked all over him. He then got right into Jordan's face and said "I'll kick your f-ing a$$ and you know it." Jordan quickly backed away. Rodman and Pippen came over and Sura threw both to the floor and was ejected. After the game Jordan and Pippen said he was the most fierce and toughest competitor they had ever seen, and that they had total respect for him. They went as far as to say he was the toughest warrior they ever faced and both stated they would love to have him on their team.
again, nth cost jacobsen a spot. hes gonna get cut regardless because he is bad in preseason. and did u not read the article? sura's contract is useful as a trade asset. dawson is just saying nice things about jacobsen because jacobsen is a classy hard working guy who demonstrated that he has a good character. but that is useless when u have bonzi, head, and snyder ahead of him in the rotation.
Are you reciting that story from first-hand knowledge? Are you Michael Jordan? Jeezus, what's your source already?
Your story seems a little weird, can anyone else confirm this? Rockets Dynasty makes up alot of stuff most of the time, don't know if I should believe this.
I was at the game in Cleveland when it happened. The post game discussion was all over ESPN, it was quite talked about. I remember thinking to myself that Sura was like Jerry Sloan times 2. I know Rockets fans base his toughness on what he did on one knee in 04-05 here, BUT if you saw the old Sura from those Cavs days........... he was without question the toughest nastiest meanest warrior I ever saw play in the league. He was ten times tougher than Zo could of even dreamed of. The "fiery" Sura Rockets fans think of has been tamed down by at least 10 rungs.
Yeah everyone keep dounting Sura. It's so obvious the people that only know about him from the one year with the Rockets ( everyone pretty much saying he's done) versus the people that followe him his whole career (these people know there is no way he will not come back strong). He's the toughest warrior the league ever saw probably, if he can walk he will compete and play well. 90 percent of the players in the league would have been done the first time he hurt his back years ago in Cleveland.
