Charles Oakley should bill the Raptors for his coaching services.

After all, he managed to do in 48 minutes (give or take an ejection) the other night what high-priced bench boss Lenny Wilkens has failed miserably to accomplish since he arrived here: Light a fire under Vince Carter's precious butt.

During Thursday's tepid win over the visiting Chicago Bulls, Carter responded to his attempted beheading in the fourth quarter by Oakley in a very un-Vince like manner. He didn't drop to the ground like he'd been shot by a bazooka. Or roll around the ground like a European soccer player, convulsing in a manner not unlike mortal agony. Nor did he swoon between teammates as he was being helped off the court ? only to return to robust action minutes later.

Instead, Carter dropped the diva act.

When Oakley clotheslined and clubbed to the ground the NBA's leading all-star vote getter in one smooth veteran move, Carter ? face down ? looked up, saw it was his old teammate and got very, very angry.

Finally.