If there were ever two teams heading in different directions it would be the Phoenix Suns and the University of Arizona mens basketball team. After a 1 and 5 start the Suns find themselves owners of the second best 35 game stretch in NBA history at 33 and 2. The Wildcats however had a much better start going 12 and 1 in their first thirteen games, but have managed to lose five of their last seven games.

The similarities between these two teams are uncanny both teams are offensive minded ball clubs who like to score well above the average clip for teams in their respective leagues (Wildcats average 82.4 and the Suns average 111.6) and both clubs have a lot of talented athletes that play out of position or don't really have a conventional position. But why has U of A headed south for the winter while the Suns have taken flight? Why have the Suns won seventeen games in a row while the Cats have lost five of seven and managed to be handed their worst home loss in the Lute Olson era?

The answer is complex; but turnovers, three point shooting and coaching are key parts to the equation. The turnovers have been a major issue for the Cats as they average fourteen turnovers a game and had twenty in the loss to UNC. The Cats have not shot well from three point range all year shooting a combined thirty-five percent as a team on the year while the Suns are shooting a little better than forty percent as a team so far this season. The most telling stat for both teams is the number of assists they have per game UofA averages sixteen assists while the Suns average a whopping twenty-seven assists per game. Their point guards, Steve Nash and Leandro Barbosa, have assist to turnover ratios of 3.22 to 1 and 1.9 to 1 compared to the Wildcat point guards, Mustafa Shakur and Nic Wise, whose assist to turnover raiting is 2.2 to 1 and 1 to 1.4 respectively.

What do these numbers tell you? The Suns "bunch of athletes" play like a team while Arizona's "bunch of athletes" play just like that as a bunch of individual athletes. So where should the onus be put for the Cats losing streak and where should the credit be given for the Suns win streak? The leaders of the teams, that being the point guard position and the coaches. While the Suns have the best point guard in the game the Cats have a player in Mustafa Shakur who, while his numbers have improved, seems to be more concerned about making it to the NBA then making his teammates better. Shakur comes from "Point Guard U" but he is more Salim Stoudamire than Damon. A guy who had been touted as possibly being "the next great UofA point guard" has turned into another talented player who didn't reach his potential and relied on his athleticism rather than leaning the mental side of the game at the U.

Which brings us to the coaches. Mike D'Antoni has revolutionized the way the NBA game has played and found ways to get the most out of guys who others have felt lacked the talent. He has also had the vision to build around good players and make them great, (see Steve Nash's totals prior to meeting up with Coach D). In contrast Lute Olson has found a way to take the top talented athletes in college hoops, mostly guards, and turn them into under achievers. With the talent that Olson has had in his tenure as coach at the UofA he has only managed one national title and three final four bids. Always an early national title contender his teams have found a way to slump down the stretch and usually be an after thought by the elite eight round of the tournament.

It was always tolerable for the Wildcat faithful and alumni, myself included, until against UNC where Lute officially lost control of is rag tag group of athletes and they managed to go one for twenty from three point range, allowed twenty-one easy baskets, layups or dunks, under the hoop and turned the ball over 20 times. While the Suns have an up and coming coach in D'Antoni the Wildcats have a coach who always let the athletes "play" and has now let the game pass him by while his players do anything but pass. The players have stopped listening to what little guidance he has provided and its finally obvious that pure athleticism won't get it done.

Sorry to say Cats fans, but 1997 was the exception to the rule not the rule. So as the Suns continue their streak which has seen them go 33-2, better than everyone but the 1971-72 Lakers (who went 34-1 and won the NBA Championship), and make their way closer to an NBA title…maybe its time for one white-haired coach to seriously contemplate whether its time to call it a career before the City of Tucson rethinks their "Lute is a god" stance.
<div>

What is the most intriguing storyline for the Phoenix Coyotes this season?

• The further development of young players like Turris, Mueller, Hanzal and Carcillo
• A full season with Bryzgalov in net
• The arrival of Olli Jokinen
• Whether they can break their playoff drought
• Add an Answer

View Results

</div>

Join the discussion at The Fanster Forums. Arizona Sports 24/7.