Yeah, Gura was OK, but definitely not great. Some of his responses were shaky. It's a classic problem for lawyers with insufficient experience at appellate argument before a "hot bench." (It's harder than it sounds on C-SPAN!)
At least Justice Scalia and Chief Justice Roberts were there to prop up Gura in a couple of places when he was getting tangled up.
So it goes. Dellinger wasn't great either (though to be fair, he had a much weaker case than Gura).
You can't control every aspect of a case like this. I still feel good about this case.
PS: In terms of propping up Gura when he was faltering -- it sure is good that we have an outspoken and knowledgeable gunnie on the Court -- namely, Scalia. Loved that bit about how citizens need a bunch of different guns -- "A .270, a .30-06..." Heh.
PPS: As a severe critic of RINOs and indeed of John McCain, I gotta admit today was an object lesson in the importance of judicial appointments. Both Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito were first-rate. Of course, Justice Alito wouldn't have been up there if not for the successful revolt waged by conservatives against Bush's attempt to foist an unknown, jurisprudentially dubious crony on them.