Sion has been about as good as I expected - as a scorer, which I believed was his primary skill. But it turns out that scoring is almost the least of his abilities, and he has greatly exceeded my expectations in just about every other way.
MBB: Duke 83, Cuse 54 Post-game Thread
- Thread starter -jk
- Start date
AGDukesky
Member
I agree with all of this. Battier relied on drawing charges more when the rules were different. Brown’s hands are just unbelievable and he covers 1-5 better than Battier. Battier was probably better as a secondary defender because he was just so cerebral and saw the play developing. I just have not seen a guy dominate on defense (inside and the perimeter) like Brown…
MChambers
Member
Yes, I feel the same way. I thought Sion would only get 15-20 mpg. Boy was I wrong.
Agreed. Where Shane really excelled was off the ball, as a help and secondary defender. He was a very good but not true lockdown one on one defender in my view (Grant and Billy King were IMHO and Maliq is pretty close if not there), nor did he have Maliq's elite switchability 1-5.
Also don't forget his ELITE fast hands... that goes with hand-eye coordination and mental quickness. I REALLY HOPE Maliq decides to return next year and experience Duke again.
MChambers
Member
Last night, on the broadcast, one of the announcers said that Duke was Maliq's dream school. That probably helps with the chance of him returning.Also don't forget his ELITE fast hands... that goes with hand-eye coordination and mental quickness. I REALLY HOPE Maliq decides to return next year and experience Duke again.
Indoor66
Well-known member
IMO, Brown is the best I have ever seen in a Duke uniform.
SkyBrickey
Member
Maliq is the most disruptive on ball defender I've ever seen in a Duke uniform. Billy King is probably second. Shane may be the best all around defender although Cooper has to be in that conversation too.
I'll go further. I've never seen anyone, on any team, at any level, poke, deflect, disrupt, or however you describe what Maliq does, the way that Maliq does it.
I'm not saying he's the best defender in the history of the world, or even at Duke - but the way he consistently gets his fingers on the ball, I've never seen before.
-jk
Well-known Moderator
MChambers
Member
And Grant.
Fun to think about the transfer rankings and how off they were…
SkyBrickey
Member
If we do get the chance to play Auburn again, I think Maliq may be Johni Broome's kryptonite. Broome got visibly flustered in that first matchup. Such a weapon.
Bull City Proud
Member
Reasonable minds can disagree. Brown is very good. Battier might be a bit better
ragamuffin
Member
I love Brown. Quickest hands ever at Duke. But better than 3 time defensive player of the year Battier?
My bad memory says Billy King (ask Mark Macon) was the best lock down defender ever and Battier best all around defender. Brown and Hill behind those 2 guys.
doctorhook
Member
Agree but don't leave out Brian Davis.
Maybe a tie between Maliq and Billy "Sky" King. Didn't Billy make that Temple guard cry?
GoDuke!
breakingglass
Member
Tommy Amaker (87), Billy King (88), Grant Hill (93), Steve Wojciechowski (98), Shane Battier (99-01), and Sheldon Williams (05-06) have all won the defensive player of the year award. 6 players. 9 seasons / awards. The school with the next most is UConn with 2. We’re overdue.
Maliq is fun to watch and is a disruptor no doubt, but Billy King was the best 1-1 defender I’ve seen in college.
Maliq is fun to watch and is a disruptor no doubt, but Billy King was the best 1-1 defender I’ve seen in college.