The Rockets can do everything in the offseason in order for them to make it to the playoff, but, if Larry Smith is the coach for the Rockets next season, I don't care what they do, they still won't make it to the playoff, so, what's the most important the Rockets should do if they want to make it to the playoff? That' s get rip of Larry Smith, or at least have him to be the assistant coach.
I really doubt that Larry will be a headcoach next year even if Rudy does not return. He blew off his chance to be a headcoach anywhere, actually.
I wanted Larry Smith to take over for Rudy permanently. That was before I actually saw him coach for the first time.
Obviously it's tough for a one dimensional interim coach, like Smithie to utilize a multi-dimenional big man like Yao. Yao needs a smart coach, someone likes Hubie Brown, in order for him to flourish. Under Rudy's guidance, Yao's overall game slowly improve as the season progresses, the same can not be said when Yao is under Smithie. Looks at the numbers below and see for yourselves. GAMES MPG FG% RPG BPG PPG 16 26.7 .427 7.9 (127) 1.1(18) 11.5 (185) Yao's stats under Smithie (W7-L9) ________________________________________________ 65 29.5 .504 8.1 1.9 13.9 Yao's stats under Rudy T (W35-L30) ________________________________________________ 5 32.2 .520 8.6 3 15.8 Yao's last five games with Rudy T
Larry Smith hasn't been the Rockets problem. If they beat Chicago, New York, Washington, Clippers, Caviliers while Rudy was coaching, they would be in the playoffs.
