Trend and Mirage By Court E. Mann, Associate Editor January 26, 2005 9:00 AM Trend: Bob Sura, Multi-Cat Monster It only seems like Sura and Samuel Dalembert are competing to see who can be added and dropped more in fantasy leagues this season. Sura has been maddeningly inconsistent since debuting for the Rockets in late November—equally capable of a near triple-double or an empty stat line. However, the disappearing acts have become less and less frequent in recent weeks. In January, he is averaging over 14 points, six boards, five assists, one steal, and one trey per night. To be accurate, the up-and-down scoring continues, but his active floor game makes him much more trustworthy than other roller coaster scorers (Ben Gordon, for example). The inconsistency stems from a couple sources. First, he's got a knee injury about which Jeff Van Gundy recently said that few players in the league would be playing through. Second, he's had to adjust to a new scheme and a new set of teammates—one that happens to include offensive stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. The knee injury hasn't seemed to be nearly as problematic since it was drained for a second time on January 11. As for the second concern, this month he's increased his scoring by six points per game, he's taking three more shots per night, and he's shooting 38 percent from downtown. Throw in a career-high 44 percent from the field on the season, and it appears that the adjustment is going quite well. It says here thay as long as that knee holds up, January's Sura is going to stick around for the duration. Let's just hope he's like last spring's Sura—the one that averaged 15 points, eight boards, and five assists for the Hawks.
Yeah, the guy was only coming back from back surgery. Who would expect him to take some time play into shape and improve his game with a brand new team? Now if it was brain surgery ala One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest, then I would understand the need for additional recovery time, but then - in light of the rumors about some players having some conflict with JVG (Nurse Ratchet?) I probably shouldn't give Van Gundy any ideas: "Hey Doc, when you've got my problem-player under to fix the knee, how about a little nip & tuck on the old cerebrum so he is a little easier to work with?"
