Toronto Raptors have finally gotten over Vince Carter

It seems the present day Toronto Raptors are better off without former Raptor king, Vince Carter.

When Vince Carter first entered NBA Basketball with the Toronto Raptors, he was all the rave. It's like Vince Carter this, Vince Carter that. Hell, even sports programs like Sports Center chimed in, showing advertisements on when VC supposedly watches Sports Center at midnight. (Yep, still remember that one...)

When he left Canada to join Jason Kidd and the rest of the New Jersey Nets, the only remaining NBA Basketball team in Canada was left without anyone to lead them. Oh yeah, watching promising talent Charlie Villanueva leave the Raptors to join the Milwaukee Bucks didn't help too.

Well, that's what we thought anyway. It turns out, the Toronto Raptors are better without the eyebrow-less Charlie and the explosive VC. Chris Bosh is leading the team to a probable playoff berth and as of press time, his Toronto Raptors are leading the Atlantic Division, getting pass... guess who, Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets.

How's that for sweet revenge eh?

And get this, the Toronto Raptors can thank Vince Carter for all the success these guys are getting in this NBA Basketball season. The Raptors wouldn't be this good if VC was still here. Outside of an average amount of vitriol that Raptor fans still shower on Vince Carter, well, it may be a little more than average, the success of this year's squad has allowed Toronto to finally disassociate itself from their former favorite son.

They have embraced a completely new cast of characters that they feel confident will eventually take this city to the basketball summit. And the most surprising part of this success is that if the falling out never took place and Carter were still a member of this club the Raptors likely wouldn't be in this situation, and would probably have continued its stumble into mediocrity.

As big a fan as I am of Vince Carter, it's true. And now, it seems this ''VC Curse'' is starting to unravel itself with the New Jersey Nets.

Can Chris Bosh lead the Toronto Raptors to the NBA Playoffs? Who will win the 2007 NBA Championship? Here are some odds from Bodog:

Chicago Bulls 7/1

Detroit Pistons 9/1

Dallas Mavericks 7/2

Miami Heat 4/1 (boo!)

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for more NBA Basketball Odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Vince Carter Toronto Raptors