Let me get this straight... Last year, the Raptors drafted Araujo to fill a need and for the most part - and most would agree they should have gone for Iguodala (who went 9th). Where was Iggy supposed to play behind Carter, Rose and Peterson? Why oh why would you draft a 2/3 when your best player (Carter) plays there? (This is everyone's accepted logic, right?) This year, they disregard need and go for what they believe is the best player available - and they're still wrong? The draft is all about acquiring assets - bottom line. If Villanueva is so good that he displaces Bosh, then you have 2 extremely tradeable assets. You pick the one you like better and you use the other to acquire a player who in most likelihood is more valuable than Channing Frye or Ike Diogu. The Raptors were best when they had Carter and McGrady, who happen to play almost identical positions. They pushed each other in practice and created 2 stars that at one point were both considerd top 10 players. The ownership and management group has learned how not to handle 2 budding stars who play the same position. I think the criticism of picking Villanueva is mostly just a way to target the team and its management for past mistakes. I completely agree that there is a pretty large inferiority complex involved north of the border, but it isn't basketball related. It's a cultural thing that exists everywhere, then manifests itself thru anti-American comments any time something negative is said about the Raptors, who have become a "whipping boy" of sorts... but ask yourself this - does your slagging of the Raptors have anything at all to do with the fact that they are a non-US team or that Vancouver ended up relocating in Memphis?
The contradiction exists, but that's not MY logic. That's EXACTLY the contradictory logic of those who have been criticising the Raptors for first drafting Araujo, then Villanueva. They (you) can't have it both ways.
No, the raps didn't loose cause they are awful. I think that Magic can easily be beaten by Toronto this year. Also, Eurepan leagues are not on par with NBA. However, every BB analysit knows that NBA is in deep crisys with its stars-oriented play and that other non-US leagues offer more various game and more all-around player developement because of team play.
