Bob

Sura

He’ll miss all of the preseason and possibly much longer. Tyronn Lue and Charlie Ward should split duties at point guard to open the season.

He will be worked back into action slowly and should be ready for active duty about three weeks from now. He could end up having fantasy value sometime around Christmas.

After practice Tuesday, Sura went to have fluid drained from the knee. The pain has become so bad that Sura hardly has been able to practice the past few weeks. Now he’s worried it will keep him out of games. Even surgery is a possibility, though Sura hopes to put it off until after the season.

Coach Jeff Van Gundy said he will not limit his playing time because the problem with the knee is not impacted by playing time. “It’s not the minutes,” he said. “It’s the knee.” It sounds to us like Sura will go as long as he can and then likely shut it down for an extended period of time. That could be after the season or after the Rockets play six games in the next nine days, including three back-to-backs. The bottom line with Sura is to ride him while you can, but be ready for him to go down at any time. If he makes it through the next week, he may make it through the whole season.

Sura has finger and knee injuries, and a lot of bumps and bruises. He has very nice value while playing, but could fall apart at any time.

Sura’s projected role may be in jeopardy if he can’t return soon, since Chucky Atkins and Lindsey Hunter are also fighting for time.

Both veterans said they expect to be in uniform tonight.

The three-day break between games should allow Sura to return to his reserve role for the next game.

Sura doesn’t mind going from playoff-bound Detroit to Atlanta since the extra minutes are beneficial for a free-agent-to-be. He’s playing well enough to warrant a roster spot in fantasy leagues right now.

Sura is recovering from back surgery. Hold off drafting him, but keep an eye on his role in Houston once he comes back.