I know it is early in the season but Hawkins is beginning to look like the way Mario Elie played. I look forward to seeing more of what he brings to the table. The Rockets have been missing a guy that does all the dirty work (defensive stopper). He and the rest of the team have shown that the defense will be the key to making it to the playoffs and making some noise. \m/
The fact that he's playing so well makes it that much easier to understand why they let Oscar Torres go. Wish we had room for him still.
it was sad seeing oscar playing on a scrappy team. poor guy really wanted to stay in houston. now he suffers on the warriors... well. i missed him, but Hawkins does make it all better.
Hawkins the Kobe Stopper My memory might be a little hazy but I don't remember Elie ever being such a defensive force as Hawkins has been over the last couple of games. I doubt that Hawkins can keep it up at this level all year but he has been sensational so far.
YES, he is definately quicker! Also, in an intervirew he said he is not a 3pt shooter, but I think he's selling himself short. The shot he made last night was money!!! And...OK, I got a little excited about HAWK vs. Kobe. But I'd be willing to bet that if HAWK get enough minutes guarding Kobe, it will be Kobe's worst game of the year so far! In his first NBA start, HAWK DID shut out Vince Carter for the little time he was guarding him!!!
Are you kidding! Elie only gave up three baskets in his entire Rocket career. And of those, one was on a blown call by the ref, one was a lucky shot, and the other was when he had the broken wrist, but didn't want to come out of the game.
If Hawk can play at the leval Mario Elie did, man that would be awesome. Mario was one of my favorite Rockets, but I don't thik Hawk is the shooter that Elie was.
He looked and played like Mario last night. He definitely drove the basket like Mario and i it will be hard to keep this guy out of the lineup. Rudy is going to have a hell of a job keeping all these guys in PT this year. Good for the fan, bad for the player !!!!!!!!
Prediction: Hawkins will become a fan favorite; a role player who gives it all. He is just what the Rockets needed. I don't think any of us in our wildest dreams have any idea how good this team can become. I wish I could put the Rockets in a time machine and make two years from now, now!
One of the reasons Mario was so valuable to the Rockets was that his defensive intensity was infectious. He played with such fire and determination that he increased the level of play of the whole team on defense. For the last several years, I think we've all recognized how important that was and wanted to find someone like him again. Shandon was supposed to be it, but didn't work out. Oscar was supposed to be it, but didn't work out. Neither of these guys had the intangible that made the Junkyard Dog. What excites me about Hawkins is just that... the intangible... the intensity that rubs off on his teammates and makes them all play harder on defense. Not to mention the ability to hit a clutch shot! Now, if Hawk starts barking at everybody on the court like Elie used to do, these guys could really turn it on and shut offenses down when they need to.
