To borrow a classic line from the old flick Cool Hand Luke, what the Raptors have right now is a failure to communicate.

It contributed to their demise Sunday, has no doubt played a role in several earlier losses this season and could haunt them again this week when they play on consecutive nights in San Antonio and Charlotte beginning tomorrow night.

"We've got to talk to each other all the time," coach Lenny Wilkens stressed after the club reviewed the video evidence of Sunday's one-point loss to Phoenix, then worked out some of the kinks on the hardwood for 90 minutes.

The lack of communication isn't all that ails the 12-9 Raptors these days, but it is a significant shortcoming for a club that has dropped three of its last four outings. Ailing power forward Antonio Davis was aware of it while playing and has noticed it while sitting out the last three games with a sore left knee.

"If we don't get better at communicating and depending on one another to help and execute, we're going to have nights like (Sunday). It's not going to get any better," warned Davis, who is still listed as day-to-day but appears doubtful for either game this week. "It's just going to get tougher from here on out and we just have to have faith in each other."