Usually reserving only harsh words about his old team, Charles Oakley came out yesterday and surprised us all by choosing Toronto to come out of the East.

The Raptors, who have won six straight games since losing Vince Carter with a sore knee, are right back in the hunt and appear to be the hottest of the teams contesting for one of the final places in the East.  The West is all but sealed.

"(The Raptors) are on a roll and if they can keep it rolling, they can do some damage," Oakley said.

"New Jersey, Boston, Detroit, these teams have come out of nowhere. Those teams can be beat easily. Toronto can beat those teams."

When asked to handicap the post-season, Oakley wasn't impressed with the field in the East.

"It's handicapped all right. You got eight tow trucks and eight tow cars. They all look the same.

"If I'm looking for a favourite, I'm going to the Kentucky Derby. I'm looking for a 60-1 shot."