The Raptors are set to face the Portland Trail Blazers in their second meeting of the season, emphasizing the need for players to rise to the occasion due to the absence of key contributors like Barnes and Poeltl. RJ, who recently scored 31 points, is expected to step up, while Shead's consistent contributions make him crucial to the Raptors' offense. The Blazers will also be short-handed, which could open opportunities for Raptors' players like Banton, who impressed in his recent outing. The key for Toronto centers around forcing turnovers and maintaining composure in the final quarter.
The Raptors' key to the game against Portland lies in forcing their opponent into mistakes while minimizing their own errors, especially in the fourth quarter.
With Barnes and Poeltl unavailable, the Raptors will rely heavily on RJ, who is looking to continue his strong scoring performance after a 31-point game.
Shead's solid performance in March, with averages near 10-3-5, positions him as a critical player for the Raptors and a Rookie of the Month candidate.
Blazers will miss key players, including led scorer Simons, pushing Sharpe and Avdija into larger roles after their recent strong performances.
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