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By TOM HOUSENICK; Times Leader Sports Writer
Wednesday, November 08, 1995     Page: 1B

CLEVELAND — Excuse the city of Cleveland for being in a foul mood these
days.
   
Sports has always been particularly cruel here. The last month, however,
has been as harsh any winter.
    The Indians, a rejuvenated baseball franchise with a top-notch facility,
recently lost the World Series to Atlanta.
   
Art Modell, owner of the city’s football team, announced Monday the Browns
would be moving to Baltimore for the 1996 season.
   
And, the Cavaliers have looked like a lottery basketball team two games
into the regular season.
   
The city’s mood was evident Tuesday night for the Cavs’ home opener against
Indiana, an Eastern Conference playoff finalist a year ago. Empty seats were
plenty throughout Gund Arena.
   
None of that mattered, though, as rookie guard Bob Sura had other things on
his mind.
   
While the town is getting over the shock of the Browns’ move and the
Indians’ loss, the Wilkes-Barre native from Florida State is concerned with
getting the Cavaliers back in a winning mode. He must do so, however, in a
style not familiar to him.
   
Sura is coming off the bench for coach Mike Fratello, playing in
eight-minute stretches, mainly at point guard. He had been a shooting guard at
Florida State and GAR High School. However, the departure of local favorite
Mark Price has forced the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Sura to concentrate on his
ball-handling.
   
The 1991 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year had seven points in
Cleveland’s third straight loss of the 1995 season, 104-101, to Indiana. Ricky
Pierce’s rebound basket and Antonio Davis’ two free throws were the difference
in the closing minutes for the Pacers.
   
~~~”I thought we played pretty well, considering the circumstance,” Sura
said. “Being shorthanded against a team as good as Indiana, I felt we did a
good job to stay with them. But, you can’t be happy with a loss.”
   
Forwards Chris Mills and Tyrone Hill missed the game. Mills was suspended
for one game for his role in a fight during Friday night’s game at Miami. Hill
was involved in an auto accident on his way to the arena. He was taken to a
local hospital for tests.
   
For Sura, adjusting to the style of play in the NBA and the lifestyle of a
professional player has been tough.
   
“Sure, it’s a tough adjustment, but things have been going pretty well,” he
added. “I’ve had to learn a new position (the point guard). I’ve never played
there before. Your whole strategy changes. I’m used to playing the two-guard
and getting my share of shots. Now, I have to look to get everybody else
involved and my shot becomes secondary.”
   
Sura entered Tuesday’s contest to a warm ovation with 1:53 left in the
first quarter. He picked up an assist on fellow rookie Donny Marshall’s
three-pointer from left of the circle for a 33-24 Cavalier lead, their largest
of the first half.
   
The all-time leading scorer at both Florida State and GAR got into the flow
in the second period, scoring seven points, including a three-pointer, along
with a second assist, one rebound, one steal and a turnover. Sura was working
against Haywoode Workman, the Pacers’ backup point guard and starter Mark
Jackson.
   
After picking up a foul and committing a turnover to start the period, Sura
fed free agent pick-up Harold Miner for a deuce at the 8:55 mark. The 17th
pick in the first round then scored on an offensive rebound at the 8:13 mark.
   
“When you get the chance to go in there, you have to be ready to contribute
right away,” Sura said. “I’ve been feeling more and more comfortable with
every game, so that has helped.”
   
Sura, who struggled in the preseason by making just 1 of 12 shots from the
three-point arc, made his first attempt at the 7:42 mark. His steal and layup
with 6:40 showing gave Cleveland a 42-36 lead.
   
Cleveland trailed, 60-57, at half.
   
The backup point guard played just four minutes in the second half, picking
up one assist and one turnover. He did not play after leaving at the 10:28
mark of the fourth quarter.
   
“It’s tough sitting there watching when you’re used to playing most of the
time, but my time will come,” Sura said. “This is a long season. Right now,
I’m trying to get used to the new position and hopefully, my playing time will
increase.”
   
GAME NOTES: Attendance for the home opener was 17,218, a few thousand below
capacity… The Cavaliers are struggling to find a rotation with a new crop of
players. Along with Price, John “Hot Rod” Williams was dealt to Phoenix in the
deal for guard/forward Dan Majerle. Also, missing Hill, a returning all-star
who was the team’s leading rebounder last season, and Mills didn’t help.
Miner, John Crotty, Sura and Marshall, a rookie from the University of
Connecticut, and rookie free agent John Amaechi out of Penn State are all
fresh faces… Cleveland was 7-18 in home openers entering Tuesday’s
contest… Sura finished the pre-season by making 40.5 percent of his field
goals, 78.6 percent (33 of 42) from the free throw line, along with 30
assists, 14 rebounds, five steals, three blocked shots and 15 turnovers.
Cleveland won its final four games to finish the exhibition campaign at 5-3…
Coming into the home opener, Sura led the team in assists (10), while
averaging 6.5 points on 57.1 percent shooting.