(My Sportsbook) - The Toronto Raptors had a roller coaster ride of a season in 2001-02. The team suffered through a five-week period in February and March when it dropped 19 of 22 games. Then, with their best player, Vince Carter, sidelined, the Raptors got off the deck and made enough of a late-season push to qualify for the playoffs -- with a little help from weak Eastern Conference opposition.

What can you say about a team that couldn't get out of its own way until its best player went down: only to turn it up and make the postseason in his absence?

Perhaps it was because the pressure was off, or maybe it was just a product of a weak Eastern Conference. In any case, the Raptors didn't survive their first-round series with Detroit, so the summer arrived with a bit of a letdown.

When Draft night arrived, the Raptors decided to do a little wheeling-and- dealing. They acquired guard Lindsey Hunter and the draft rights to forward Chris Jefferies from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for guard Tracy Murray and the draft rights to guard Kareem Rush. The teams also agreed to swap second-round picks in a future Draft.

After the Draft, it became apparent that Keon Clark, Toronto's promising young big man, would be headed out of town. The club annulled the $3 million qualifying offer it presented to Clark, which greased the skids for his exit.

Clark was probably on his way to Orlando, when a brush with the law threw a monkey wrench into the works. The former UNLV standout was cited for marijuana possession in his hometown of Danville, Illinois. He was not technically arrested, but he was forced to appear in court and had to pay a fine. The Magic always seem to shy away from players that may get in trouble off the court, and after the incident talks with Clark stalled.

Eventually, Clark landed in Sacramento. The Raptors will now have to use patchwork in the pivot, but this is not a unique quagmire in the Eastern Conference.

FRONTCOURT

Hakeem Olajuwon will not start in the pivot this season due to his advanced age and deteriorating skills. Lenny Wilkens will have to employ a center-by-committee system this season. Eric Montross, who was a pleasant surprise as a part-time starter last season, will probably get the majority of the minutes at center. He provided some quality minutes when he played at the beginning of each half. Meanwhile, Olajuwon might get some competition for the backup role from Mamadou N'diaye. Wilkens may be forced to slide Antonio Davis into the middle and start Jerome Williams at the power forward if the committee experiment fails.

Davis is one of the best power forwards in the Eastern Conference. If Toronto can get its other players to pick up the slack in the middle enough for him to stay at the four, that would be preferable. He is the leader of this team, despite Carter's superstar status.

Morris Peterson will start at the small forward spot. He shined at times late last season and seems to be over the jitters he showed during his first 1 1/2 seasons in the NBA. He was always a strong offensive player, but last year he made tremendous strides on the defensive end.

GUARDS

Alvin Williams is a talented and energetic young player that possesses both physical and mental toughness. He's not a prototypical point guard -- he's more of a hybrid of a point and two guard. Peterson does not have much of a dribble-drive game and has a hard time getting his own shot. He will drain an open jumper when the ball is kicked out from the post and he's a lockdown defender.

By all accounts, Carter is better than ever after his knee surgery. His reputation was somewhat damaged when the team performed better after he went down last season, and there are whispers about him being a bit of a prima donna. He can silence all the critics with a dominant season.

BENCH

Olajuwon can't cut it as a starter anymore, but this may work to his advantage. One would have to believe he could be very effective against second-string centers in the Eastern Conference.

The Raptors can always count on Jerome Williams to back up both forward positions with his unique, high-energy style of play. He's an unselfish player that never gets plays called for him, but he gets more than enough points off hustle plays on the offensive glass. Williams is also a terrific on-the-ball defender who will get plenty of playing time.

With Dell Curry gone, the Raptors knew they needed a 3-point specialist.The team traded small forward Tracy Murray to the Lakers on Draft night for Hunter. Hunter can shoot, and will provide a spark in limited minutes off the bench. Hunter also replaces Chris Childs, who backed up Alvin Williams before migrating to New Jersey via free agency.

Carter's health is vital this season because Toronto is paper thin behind him.Peterson and Alvin Williams can each log some minutes at the off guard, taking time off from the small forward and point guard positions, respectively. Rookie small forward Chris Jefferies may even see some minutes in the backcourt.

OUTLOOK

The Raptors are a strong inside team, even though they lack a true starting center. In a watered-down, jump-shooting Eastern Conference, this won't make that much of a difference. If Carter stays healthy, and the team-chemistry issues prove to be a myth, the Raptors will be the fourth or fifth seed in the east. If Carter's knee becomes problematic, the thin backcourt rotation may be too much to overcome.