Maybe I'm oversimplifying the issues with Arizona, but I think half of the problem is fan expectations following a rebuild. This is for a few reasons:
- High percentage of success of lottery picks
- Age/Performance curves suggest that players statistically peak in their early 20's
- Teams like Pittsburgh & Chicago managed to draft their cornerstone pieces and experienced immediate success
I'm generalizing here, but most good teams in the league are veteran teams, with their core in their late 20's and early 30's, along with some vets and kids mixed in the lineup in supporting roles. So I don't think it's any surprise that Arizona has finally started to become more competitive as guys like Schmaltz, Keller, Dvorak, Garland, Chychrun, and Fischer gain more experience in the league and actually develop adult strength & endurance. It's just not realistic to expect a bunch of 19, 20, and 21 year olds to lead the charge against established winning teams, regardless of who you surround them with.