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Reason for Optimism in Toronto

Glen Grunwald was essentially replaced by Rob Babcock for making several crucial mistakes, namely drafting Rafael Araujo with the eight?s pick. However, nothing has hurt the Raptors than the trade for Vince Carter whom Toronto traded for a few a washouts and a couple of draft picks. Carter went on to become one of the surprising stories of last year, having a phenomenal season for the Nets. It seems that criticism as far as Araujo is concerned was premature.

Araujo is still in Sam Mitchell?s doghouse despite getting some love from the media. Araujo started off the game hot scoring eight points and grabbing two boards in nine minutes of burn in the first quarter. He finished the game with 16 points and six boards but only played 22 minutes because he?s doing things on the court that are driving Sam Mitchell nuts. The first problem is that he?s sealing his player for rebounds but he doesn?t make any effort to jump for the rebound or move.

The minute he sets his feet it?s as if he?s frozen until someone else grabs the board. Another problem Araujo?s having is adjusting to pick and rolls. There was countless times that Brad Miller and Mike Bibby would run a pick-and-roll only to have Bibby left wide open for a three. It was these easy looks that allowed Bibby to get into a shooting groove and finish the game with 22 points. I gotta? hand it to Hoffa? that he?s finally playing with intensity, but until he fixes these two problems he won?t see more minutes from Mitchell.