Are you kidding? For a large portion of the season last year Sura was coming close to a triple double every game. If he's healthy, Sura has to be the starter.
Sura. Mike James massages the ball too much at times and TMac even waved him off in a playoff game when he wanted the ball. When TMac wants to keep the ball and waves you off, he shouldn't need to gesture over and over which TMac did and MJ still asked for the ball. Know your place in the team.
Mike James plays dramatically better on-ball defense than Sura. He doesn't get many assists, but doesn't turn the ball over much either. Mike James should start if Anderson starts and takes some of the "PG load" off of James.
I think both starting guard spots should be open and we should think more creatively than most here are. Remember both Sura and Anderson are very versital players--DA is probably as much of a PG as Sura is, and both can play some SF. Further, if you are talking vets who have started more often and been higher minute players, and have the most consistent jumpers over many league years, they are Anderson and Wesley. I think if Sura is healthy, and can hit at least what he did last year (35% from 3), starting him at the 1 may be the way to go. But these are both big IFs. Sura's .355% last year was his best of a 10 year career, if he falls to more like his career average (32/33%) I'd be inclined to starts others who do a better job making doubles on Yao/Tmac pay. It is also important to see what we got from Wesley. If he is in his mid season form--no reason to think he shouldn't with offseason rest and now with a deeper back-court, working terrifically as a role player on both ends, he is going to start. Career wise he has been the most steady guard (other than Tmac) we have. I feel pretty confident about only a few roles in the backcourt. Mainly, I think Wesley should start at the 2. Partly because I think James is ideal for the bench, but I'd like to stay away with playing these two together because of height, but also because Wesley is an extremely solid all around player that makes him a fine role player aroundour stars. I think we pair Wesley as a starter with either DA or Sura because we need the size. If Sura's J or health faulters, it probably should be DA. I think the best scenario is this: DA and Wesley start--both are probably the most well rounded of our guards, and compliment one another in height and size to match-up with most opponents. Mike James and Sura come in relatively early where James plays the point on defense (turns up the pressure) and Sura plays the point on offense. This allows both guys to play to their strengths. Some time after that Barry comes in when we spell Tmac where Barry moves to the SG on offense and Sura slides to the SF on defense (with either James still in there or DA back). I honestly think Sura right now is our best back-up SF, he is by far the best rebounder of our guards (and a better rebounder per minute than Bowen) and has the most strength/height combination of our guards. That is one of the great things about acquiring DA, is he is a versital player, and allows us to also use Sura's versitality a lot more than we could last year. So: Starters: DA or Sura (1) + DW (2) 1st bench group: James (1) + Sura or DA (2) 2nd bench group: James or starting PG returns (1) + Barry (2) + DA or Sura (3)
I agree with most of what Desert Scar has posted, other than the assesment of Sura being an efficient option for backup SF. I feel he's a great rebounder for a PG but when couped against taller/stronger SFs I feel he may be less effective in "stealing" the rebounds he usually does against other gaurds. Depending on training camp (if DA has a more consistant shot 3pt%) then DA might be a better option at starting PG. Otherwise, I don't see a reason why Sura shouldn't still be our starting PG coming into next season.
We don't have any point guards. The most talented guard on paper is Derrick Anderson. Our best combination, like Scar said, is Wesley/Anderson. If Wesley or Anderson isn't effective, then we mix in scoring or defense, as needed.
I think JVG will go into camp without the starting lineup firmly set at all. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Howard begin the season starting at the four, and God only knows where Anderson will end up. I think the job is Sura's to lose, however. His impact on the team goes far beyond shooting, passing and rebounding. He's like the blower on the engine that is the Rockets: He forces them to rev up on all cylinders. James is a sparkplug that the team (engine?) needs, but the Rockets always seem to pick up Sura's best qualities-- toughness, ruthlessness, steadiness-- whenever he's on the floor. I think those are qualities it's best to start the game with. For those of you who believe Sura will be too hurt to start the season, indulge me. Please explain a scenario in which Jeff Van Gundy walks up to Bob Sura and asks, "Bob, are you going to be ready to play tomorrow night?" and Sura says to his coach, "Jeff, I'm sorry, but I'm just too hurt to play effectively." I just can't seem to dream up a plausible scenario in which such a conversation could occurr unless Sura had a cast on his leg.
