This Arizona Cardinals team eerily similar to the 04-05 Phoenix Suns

I simply, in good conscience as an Arizona sports fan, couldn’t have a blog that didn’t address the Cardinals hosting the NFC Championship game.  Just couldn’t.  Even if you’re not necessarily a football fan, this has to be talked about.

However, upon further examination, I realized this Cardinals team is eerily similar to our Phoenix Suns team of 2004-2005.  The following consists of the closest comparisons stat wise in a particular category. 

Check it out…

General

• Cardinals won their division.  The 04-05 Suns won their division.
• Both offenses was regarded as high tempo, fast paced, and among the best in their respective leagues.
• Both defenses were maligned and picked apart at times.  Though, they both stepped up big when they needed to, for the most part.
• Cardinals dominated their first 2 playoff games against Atlanta and Carolina.  The 04-05 Suns dominated their first two playoff series against Memphis and Dallas.
• Mike D’Antoni won coach of the year.  Ken Whisenhunt was in the conversation.
• Steve Nash won MVP.  Kurt Warner garnered a lot of MVP talk.
• The 04-05 Suns had three all-stars.  The Cardinals have 5 pro-bowlers.

General Team Similarities - Defense

• Defense was often maligned and criticized.  The Cardinals were 28th in points per game.  The 04-05 Suns were 30th. 
• The Cardinals were 19th in yards allowed with 5,304.  The 04-05 Suns were 30th in opponent field goals made with 40 per game.
• The Cardinals were 22nd in passing yards allowed with 221 per game.  The 04-05 Suns were tied for 26th in three-point field goals allowed per game with 6.

General Team Similarities - Offense

• Cardinals offense was flashy, brilliant, and largely centered around the passing game.  The Suns offense was exciting, up-tempo, and largely centered around the passing game.
• Cardinals are tied for 3rd in the league in total points per game with 26.7.  Suns were 1st in the league in total points per game with 110.
• Suns led the league in three-point FG’s made with 9.7.  Cardinals were 2nd in pass yards per game with 292.
• Both among the middle of the pack in turnovers.

Player Similarities

• Kurt Warner/Steve Nash:  Both players who were supposedly past their prime and on the decline.  Warner threw for 30 touchdowns and garnered MVP talk, Nash lead the league in assists with over 11 and won the MVP.
• Larry Fitzgerald/Amare Stoudemire:  Both players who made some plays that just left you in amazement.  Both players were all-stars/pro-bowlers who were the main target of their leader (Nash/Warner).
• Anquan Boldin/Shawn Marion:  Two players that always seemed to make something out of nothing.  With Boldin, it was more yards after catch.  With Marion, it was his intangibles and always being in the right place at the right time.
• Adrian Wilson/Q Richardson:  The tough guys.  Both players have firey personalities and didn’t back down to anyone. 
• Tim Hightower/Joe Johnson:  Bothplayers surprised a lot of people with their play and scoring ability.  Hightower had the team high in rushing TD’s while Joe Johnson was among the Suns leaders in scoring.
• Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie/Leandro Barbosa:  Lightning-quick players that gave their respective teams a boost of energy and athleticism.
• Anquan Boldin/Joe Johnson:  Both key players nursing injuries in the playoffs.

Media Similarities

• Today’s front page of ESPN.com has a quote from Gene Wojciechowskisaying, “Philly is Superbowl bound. Arizona has no shot.”
• We all know that no one gave the Suns a chance in the 2005 Western Conference Finals against the Spurs.
• Everyone bet against the Cardinals/Suns on a consistent basis in the playoffs - both kept proving critics wrong.

The 2004-2005 Suns lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals 4-1; a Spurs team that was viewed as more physical, with more veteran players, and more playoff experience…sound like the Eagles to anyone?

Will this be the same for the Cardinals against the Eagles next Sunday?  Only time will tell… 

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