(My Sportsbook) - For most of the season, the
Toronto Raptors have followed the path of the Titanic. What started out as a grand voyage turned into a nightmare of epic proportions.
Injuries and a lack of continuity pushed head coach Lenny Wilkens and his team to the brink of sinking. However, unlike the Titanic, Wilkens has apparently spied the iceberg ahead and swerved to avoid it.
All-Star Vince Carter has returned just in time to fix the cracks in the ship and the Raptors appear to be walking on water as of late. Toronto has won two straight and three of its last four, including a 100-86 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
Voshon Lenard came up big for the Raptors off the bench against the Clippers, registering 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including four three-pointers. It marked the sixth-straight double-digit scoring effort from Lenard since returning from the injured list.
"Voshon is the consummate pro," Rafer Alston said. "He's a proven player, a proven veteran who can score. Until Vince [Carter] gets back to being 100 percent, it's great to have someone like Voshon who can score."
Carter, who is still on limited minutes following his knee injury, registered 14 points over 28 minutes of action. Jerome Williams chipped in 16 points and nine boards, while Antonio Davis added 12 points.
Toronto's momentum may be quelled this week, though, as the All-Star break approaches. Lenard is none too happy that the All-Star festivities are this weekend.
"The timing of the [all-star] break is terrible," Lenard said. "We're just finding a rhythm and now we'll have a week off."
Toronto has one last chance prior the hiatus to extend its hot streak when it takes on the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center on Tuesday night. The Raptors have dropped four straight on the road and own just five wins in 24 such attempts this season.
DAVIS ON THE BLOCK?
Due to the Raptors' underground spot in the standings, it seems that general manager Glen Grunwald is getting impatient. Despite their recent resurgence, Grunwald may be apt to trade any of his players.
One name that has been thrown around a lot has been Davis, who owns the largest contract on the roster at $12 million per season. The veteran power forward has been rumored to go a variety of places, including Philadelphia and Portland. Davis isn't letting the rumors change his mentality.
"There's nothing you can do about it," Davis told the Toronto Sun about the rumors. "You just have to go about your business. There's too much at stake and too much to worry about to think about rumors. It doesn't make you feel good but that's the nature of the business."
Davis has drawn interest from a variety of squads due to his ability to play either power forward or center. His 13.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per affair could give a lot of different teams a boost. Davis isn't exactly keen on being traded, but he understands the nature of professional sports.
"We have to do what's best for this team," Davis said. "You have to be looking at the future of this team and what we're going to be about and what's best.
"It's a double-edged sword for a GM. You're trying to keep everybody happy and I don't think you can do it. The thing you can do is have a vision and stick to it and hopefully you made the right call."