RaptorNation whips itself into a frenzy for the Dinos' first-round series vs. the Washington Wizards and key matchups in both conferences are examined as your real MVPs, Will Strickland and Duane Watson, co-hosts of TSN 1050's #1On1 with Will & Duane, get you up to playoff-readiness in this week's edition of Double Dribble.

1. Will Another First-Round Exit Serve As A Referendum On The Futures Of Coach Dwane Casey, Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross In Toronto?

Watson: The Raptors will not lose their first-round matchup.

Strickland: Yes and no. While a new franchise record for wins has been eclipsed in consecutive years, yielding All-Star appearances for current team cornerstones Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, expectations, realistic or otherwise, have been raised for this squad, despite an uneven showing thus far in the 2014-15 campaign. This team, as currently composed, has hit its ceiling, so it will be of great interest to many what GM Masai Ujiri does with his cap space this summer. This season's playoff performances of the former Sprite Slam Dunk champ TRoss and Jonas Christ Superstar will be under the microscope as well. But expect all three back next season for one final shot at growing this team and its league profile under Casey.

2. Will Chris Paul Lead The Los Angeles Clippers Past The San Antonio Spurs?

Watson: Based on their strong finish to end the season in winning 15 of their last 16 games, it's unfortunate the Clippers drew the defending champions in the first round. They showed enough resilience down the stretch to be considered a threat in the playoffs. However the Spurs are proven playoff performers and are ALWAYS in consideration for the Western Conference Finals as they will be again this year. That may spell a busy summer for GM Doc Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer.

Strickland: No, Christopher Emmanuel Paul, despite having all kinds of weapons at his disposal including Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and the coaching acumen and savvy of Doc Rivers, it won't be enough to make the reigning champion Spurs succumb. CP3 has been hailed for years as an elite, top-tier NBA talent and with good reason. But, unfairly or not, Paul will be judged on what he's done in the postseason and the resume is so shaky not even Cliff Paul can insure it. In the best, most brutal first-round match up in the NBA playoffs, Chris Paul will again falter. The hope is that he renders no excuses because a good craftsman never blames his tools.

3. Will James Harden Finally Show Up Big In The Playoffs?

Watson: Harden has proven he can show up big all season, but for how long depends on his supporting cast (which he has to carry). Pat Beverley is a notable absence and his defence and grit in the backcourt will be missed big time. Getting out of the first round is a likelihood, but taking out a potential matchup in the Spurs in the second round would be a capital BIG.

Strickland: Absolutely. The Beard has seemed to have figured out a great deal of this whole superstardom thing in Houston. During the FIBA World Cup last summer, he was asked who the best player in the world was and without hesitation promptly answered in the third person. Harden also came out to cement his case as best in the NBA with a stellar regular season, dragging an injury-depleted Houston Rockets team to a No. 2 seed in the murderous Western Conference. But another sub-40 per cent playoff shooting performance and relative disappearing act when it counts most won't help that self-induced assertion of greatness. It will have to be proven time and time again. For now, he just needs the first one. James Harden will find playoff magic versus the Mavericks in what looks to be an epic series.

4. Which Lower Seed In The Playoffs Has The Best Chance Of Forcing An Upset?

Watson: This is only an upset in the technical sense as the Grizzlies are ranked lower than the Blazers. Even if the Blazers were at full strength, you would have to give the nod to the playoff-seasoned Grizzlies, but with Matthews and Afflalo out, and Batum and Aldridge nursing injuries, the burden will be too much to carry for Damian Lillard to get back to the second round.

Strickland: Major upsets? No. Minor irritations? Yes. Little stock should be taken in reviewing head-to-head regular season matchups. The postseason is an entirely different beast. So while New Orleans, Boston and Milwaukee will all put up valiant efforts, the Dallas Mavericks under the wizardry of Rick Carlisle, whose team was the only team to give San Antonio the blues in the playoffs last season, may have a few well-conceived tricks up his sleeve for McHale's Army in Houston.

5. Coach Jason Kidd Has Taken The Milwaukee Bucks, A 15-Win Team Last Year, To The NBA Playoffs. Does He Have Any More Tricks Up His Sleeve?

Watson: Jason Kidd will have to settle for a Coach of the Year award and worry about advancing in the Playoffs next season. The Bucks don't have the size, depth or experience to compete with Chicago, but have had a great season. He could stand to learn a few tricks from Bulls Coach Tom Thibodeau, but for taking his second team to the playoffs in his second year coaching is no small feat.

Strickland: Jason Frederick Kidd has been the best coach in the NBA with absolutely no disrespect whatsoever to presumptive favourites Steve Kerr and Mike Budenholzer. Always one of the smartest players to play the game, Kidd has taken those skills to become the only coach in league history to take two different teams to the playoffs in his first two seasons of coaching. The Bulls might not Fear The Deer from Milwaukee, but they might want to consider Kidd's acumen when facing the young Bucks in the first round.

Follow Them On Twitter: Will Strickland @WallStrizzle1 and Duane Watson @duanewatson, as well as listening to their show, #1On1 with Will & Duane every Saturday afternoon at 3pm Eastern on TSN 1050 Radio-Toronto.