Rockets' McHale on starting Smith: 'We probably threw him in too soon'

Josh Smith's stint as the starting power forward in Houston ended after just four games.

On Saturday, prior to the Rockets' contest against the Miami Heat, Rockets head coach Kevin McHale revealed that Donatas Motiejunas would replace Smith in the starting lineup. 

McHale noted that Smith was probably handed a starting spot "too soon," which is indicated by Smith's averages of 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds on 29 percent shooting from the field in four starts for the Rockets.

Rather than continuing to hoist shots, McHale wanted what many have wished for from Smith: focus on rebounding and defense.

The Rockets' starting lineup with Smith have logged a total of 67 minutes during which time they were outscored by an average of 10.3 points per 100 possessions. Consequently, the same unit with Motiejunas has flourished, outscoring opponents by 9.5 points per 100 possessions.

Smith's tenure in Houston has been brief, spanning just five games, so there's certainly time for both he and the Rockets to find amicable middle ground. However, until a balance is struck, Smith's lackluster averages of 8.4 points on 34.6 percent shooting simply won't cut it as a starter.