Ward, Sura News Conference Transcript

Opening statement from General Manager Carroll Dawson.
DAWSON: "This is an exciting day for us. We've had a lot of negotiations this summer. It's probably been the longest summer for the longest time, but this all makes it worthwhile. We're adding a lot of experience and a lot of know how to our backcourt today in signing Bobby Sura and Charlie Ward. I think that this is a thing that has the coaches excited and everybody in the organization excited... it's working out pretty good for us. I think that the experience, as well as the talent is going to help us a great deal. Both of these young men have been in the league for quite a while. They both have had success, they know what they're doing out there and I think they're going to help us to get where we want to go.

On what each guy thinks he can bring to the team.

SURA: "I think I can bring a lot on the defensive end. I've been known as a good defender in the league. I can stop people at the one and two and have been guarding threes over the past few years. I also think my competitive nature and my toughness are really going to be assets to something I think was needed here. Also, I can make plays on offense. I know that I'm capable of things like that."

WARD: "Well, I'm going to give the ball to Bobby."

SURA: "That's what you used to do at Florida State."

WARD: "Yeah, and I'd spot up. I've been around for a long time. It's been 10 years in the league and have just been a point guard. That's what the Rockets need. We have Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady here, and I've played before with superstar guys - Patrick Ewing, Alan Houston, Latrell Sprewell and all those guys before (at New York). You just give them the ball and get out of the way. When you get an opportunity to help out in any way possible on offense, that's a contribution. I'm a pretty good team defender, and I know coach Van Gundy likes that. I'm looking forward to being a Rocket and working with the organization."

On if Ward envisioned himself coming here when coach Van Gundy got back into coaching.

WARD: "Not really, because I wanted to be in New York. I had been there all of my career, but when the opportunity came for me to have an opportunity to move to another place, I'm grateful I've been given this opportunity to come and play for him (Van Gundy) because we had some great years in New York."

On if Sura looks at himself of more of a point or shooting guard.

SURA: "The past few years I've really played a lot of point guard, and when I got traded to Atlanta (from Detroit) I stuck with playing point guard. I'm comfortable with it. I think I'm able to create plays for other people when necessary. As Charlie said, we've got the two main guys here, but I'd like to pick up the slack a little bit where it's left off. I'm comfortable playing both positions, but the last few years I've played a lot more point guard."

On what it has been like for all of them this summer to see how things would pan out.

SURA: "It was very nerve wracking for me because this was the first time I've ever been a free agent. I re-negotiated when I still had a year left in my rookie deal, so this is the first time for me. I was driving my agent crazy every day trying to get something done. We had a lot of opportunities with a lot of other teams. I'm just glad it was able to work out here in a good situation with a winning team."

WARD: "Just like Bobby, this is pretty much my first time going through free agency, and the Lord really tested our patience as a family. We waited until the right situation came, and we're grateful that we have an opportunity to be here in Houston."

DAWSON: "It's been a (positive) summer for us. We were fortunate enough to get the McGrady trade done and it kind of unbalanced our team a little bit. We had a lot of opportunities. There were a lot of people who came out - I think my number was called quite a bit as far as opportunities we had. We had quite a few people to choose from, and we kind of sat back and made sure we got the right people. We took our time and didn't just jump at the first thing. I think it paid off, because the result sitting here is pretty solid and we're very proud and happy about the way it turned out. Although, it is hectic. Charlie is right. This league can get real hectic. The way our team was at the time, I mean everybody that had a backup center or any kind of guards was calling us after the trade, so I have not left the office all summer and this is August. So to have this work out this well is very, very exciting for us."

On if Dawson feels the team is set to go for the season or if there is still tweaking to do.

DAWSON: "Well, my standard answer is that we are always trying to improve this team. Until somebody wins every game, and that's never happened before, you're always looking. If this is the best that we can do, we're happy, but we're always looking to improve. That will always be the answer that I give. I just think that every time you get better, you owe it to the people, the owner and the fans to get the best team you possibly can, so that's what we're trying to do."

On if that winning mentality is what attracted Ward to Houston.

WARD: "I had a few reasons for coming here. They have a winning organization here and Jeff has brought a winning attitude back. He was one of the main reasons for me coming, but they also have a good team. I also wanted to be on a squad that I kind of fit with, and my game fits with this team, so that's another reason we're here."

On if Ward has been talking to coach Van Gundy through this process.

WARD: "Yes. He's in New York, so I've had the chance to talk to him. More than I've talked to him in the past."

On if the backup center situation is something Dawson is still actively pursuing.

DAWSON: "Yes, that's one of the things that we're looking at right now. Of course, this took quite a while right here, but the fact is that... a priority now is to find somebody that can block shots and guard the paint. There's no secret, with Jeff's defense last year and Yao Ming and (Kelvin) Cato back there, it was hard to get anything but a jump shot against us. That's why we led the league all year in field goal percentage against us, and we like that concept. If we can find another shot-blocker, that's the direction we're going. But worst-case scenario, especially with Shaq out of the West now, I think that helps all of the big men in the West.

One-on-One Questions for Bob Sura

On what he learned playing with Detroit last season.

SURA: "You have to have roll players. You have to have guys who except those roles and can work together. The Lakers had Kobe (Bryant) and Shaq(uille) O'Neal, but they couldn't get it done against a group of 12 or 13 guys (with Detroit). I think that's going to carry a lot of weight with a lot of different teams this year, and our team is going to take notice of that."

On if he truly thought that after the dust started to settle in free agency that Houston would be a good fit for him.

SURA: "Yeah, I always thought that all along. I just had to wait for all of the upper echelon players to sign first and then just kind of see where I fit in. So, I'm excited that this is where that was and that they saw me as a good fit, as well."

On joining what has become a completely revamped Houston team.

SURA: "I'm really excited about it. It's going to take some time for us to mesh together and kind of figure out what each other does well. We just have to figure out what guys can do what, but I have a feeling it's going to turn out really well."

On what he thinks about coach Van Gundy.

SURA: "He's always been one of the hardest working coaches in the league. His teams are always playing tough and competitive basketball. They are usually defensive minded teams that have been his staple over the years.

One-on-One Questions for Charlie Ward

On if he is the kind of guy that sets a number on goals for himself and his team or if he's just the type of guy who says he is going to do the best he can.

WARD: "I haven't really set any goals, per say. I just want to do the best that I can wherever I am and whatever I'm doing. I'm just going to do my job, do what I do and go from there."

On if it's harder for point guards to make sure two superstars on the floor will be able to get their touches.

WARD: "Well, it's not so much my decision as it is up to the coach to sell the idea that everyone has to play the game. That has to start in training camp, and if we can get everyone playing as one unit, then we can go a long way. Detroit showed that. Hopefully, that's what Jeff is going to talk about. When you have the ball offense, you're going to have your main guys that you go to and they're going to make plays for other guys, but on defense, everyone is there to contribute. That's the situation, and if you know your role, you don't have to worry about all the drama."

On what coach Van Gundy wants from his point guard.

WARD: "Basically to run the team. You coach on the floor, get guys in the right place and for this team, my main option is to be a spot-up shooter. I can penetrate, learning to do a lot of different things on offense, but it's just toughness. He likes his point to be tough, competitive and quick - he likes the mindset of all of those things. I played with him for a few years and he understands what I bring. It's a bit of a special bond to play for a coach who knows and understands what I'm about."

On if he enters a season differently knowing that the coach might have a better understanding of what he can expect from his player.

WARD: Yeah, a little bit, but more importantly, this time I'm a lot older and he is too as far as experience goes. A lot of the things that we came in contact with before probably won't happen that way. I understand what he wants and what he is looking for in a point guard and that can only help."

On if he thinks this team can bring a championship to the city of Houston.

WARD: "This team can definitely win a championship, just like other teams can win a championship. It's just a matter of everyone coming together and buying into a team unit that works together. It also comes down to injuries. If you get key injuries during the course of the year, that can set you back. If guys stay healthy during the course of the year, I think we're going to be successful."

On if he would have come here if he didn't think he had a chance to be successful.

WARD: "Oh no. That's everyone's goal. The goal is always to win a championship. That's the mindset I have on every team I play for."

On what made this opportunity to play for Houston different than the opportunity he had to play here last year.

WARD: "I think just the situation more so than anything else. The situation this year was a lot better. I had a good experience in San Antonio. I didn't play as much as I would have liked, but the experience there was very encouraging to where it gave me the opportunity to look at this year in a different light. It was a little motivation to come back ready to play this year. When you get older and you've been in the league for a long time, you need things like that to keep you going. I'm grateful that I have another opportunity to go out, play and enjoy basketball like I've done in the past."

On how much more attractive this opportunity became with the Tracy McGrady trade.

WARD: "Houston was our No. 1 team before the trade, and then the Father saw fit that the trade happened and then I guess it became more the No. 1. My agent (Greg) and Carroll (Dawson) got a deal going and have been working for a long time. He was interested in us and we were interested in coming here. Everything just needed to be finalized."

On how many years he thinks he'll still be playing.

WARD: "Three years. I want to leave healthy - that's my goal. I don't want to leave on someone else's terms, so I'm going to play these next three years like they're my last. They may be, but you never can tell what might happen. But I have three years left and I'm going to try to work as hard as I can to make those three the best of my career."


http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/ward_sura_trans.html

 

By the way, Sura took Steve Francis's number 3 jersey.

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