The real race begins today. Thirty teams played 82 games apiece to decide who gets a chance to make history as they compete for the ultimate glory in professional basketball: The Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy.

And much like the 16 teams left to battle for that prize, Duane Watson and Will Strickland, hosts of the TSN Radio Network's flagship basketball program, have tightened up the #1On1 with Will & Duane scribe squad roster in preparation for the journey that lay ahead.

Leave it to The Incredible Two-Man Team to deliver the News, Views and Truths you choose on the NBA and beyond in this week's playoff edition of #3MW: The Ultimate Hoops Writing Machine.

Norman Powell was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for March. Will he get the lion's share of minutes in the opening round or will they return to DeMarre Caroll?

Strickland: Congrats, Young Norman! Powell most certainly earned the accolade, having started the final 17 games of the regular season, confidence and his game growing in each outing. He's clearly earned the trust of All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, that of the rest of the roster and most importantly, head coach Dwane Casey, who will continue to gradually ease DeMarre Carroll back into regular action as necessary. It just won't be at the expense of cutting well-earned playing time for Norman W.C. Powell, Jr.

Watson: They are Powell's minutes for the taking, having earned them with his exemplary play down the stretch of the season. The question is how will a rookie respond to the heightened level of intensity that is playoff basketball? More importantly, can Carroll return to game form against playoff competition, when his team will need him down the stretch? If Carroll is good to go, he will be there.

What makes this 2015-2016 Raptors squad different than the one that flamed out in the NBA Playoffs last season?
 
Strickland: It's easy bake to say 'It's a new year!", but what a difference a year made for the Dinos. GM/President Masai Ujiri deftly executed an entire bench overhaul, adding the championship DNA of Canadian and former San Antonio Spur Cory Joseph, emerging big Bismack Biyambo, grizzled veteran Luis Scola and now April's NBA Eastern Conference Rookie Of The Month Norman to the dependable Patrick Paterson and the maturing Terrence Ross. Adding the grit and grind of DeMarre Carroll to a solid starting core and Raptors fans should see at least a first round victory this playoff season.

Watson:  Kyle Lowry said last season at this time of the year: "We was trash." While I'm not going that far, the Raptors weren't playing close to any of the level they exhibited throughout the season. This year's squad is on a different level entirely. Clearly defensively they are better, much more depth; they know how to get stops, win games and compete with good teams. Oh and there's the thing about the bad taste in their mouth from the Wizards' sweep. They're ready.

What impressed you more: The Golden State Warriors breaking the single season wins record or Kobe Bryant's Hollywood Ending?

Strickland: With all due respect to Kobe Bean Bryant, who went out the way he came in: guns blazing to the bitter end, it's tough to imagine the end coinciding with a 17-65 record for his team being 'impressive'. But hey... gotta be who you are in this world. That said, there is nothing more impressive in NBA regular season history than the record-shattering 73-9 Golden State Warriors, who will more than certainly run the table in postseason individual awards. The next eight weeks or so will tell the tale of the Dubs' potential place in the Pantheon of the greatest teams in NBA annuls.

Watson:  As much as I was expecting the excitement to lie in the Warriors/Grizzlies game with Curry & Co. going for a record-setting 73rd victory, the energy quickly shifted as Kobe got the Lakers back into the ballgame and took the lead. Despite a high volume of shots, he went out in storybook fashion, leading his team to a win at home dropping 60 points. The old man still had something left in the tank.

Which first round playoff series intrigues you most?

Strickland: Tough call between the 3-6 Seed matchup in the East between the Heat and the Hornets and the 4-5 battle out West between the Clippers and Trail Blazers, who, by all notions, should be deep into their off-season fishing plans after losing 80 per cent of its starting lineup last year. LA's Chris Paul has quietly done his best leadership job, Blake Griffin returns, JJ Redick x Jamal Crawford stretch the floor and Doc Rivers' assortment of long rangy wings in Jeff Green, Wesley Johnson and Luc Mbah A Moute will be bolstered by Hyland DeAndre Jordan manning the middle and savvy vet Paul Pierce pulling playoff magic from his bag of tricks. And while Terry Stotts' bunch will put up a valiant effort, lack of real front line and bench scoring to help support what will need to be nearly superhuman efforts from Damien Lamonte Ollie Lillard and Christian James McCollum will ultimately doom them in six games. It should be fun while it lasts!

Watson:  Portland vs LA Clippers, but not because it's #4 vs. #5 and not because the Clippers have had four straight 50+ win seasons and haven't made it out of the Conference semifinals (or in the 32 years they have been in L.A., for that matter). It's because Terry Stotts, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum have found a way to compete and win, when, by all accounts, the Trail Blazers shouldn't be. They are going to make it a series and a real good one.

As of the 2017-2018 season, NBA jerseys will be adorned with advertising. Is this a good or bad thing?

Strickland: What's the hubbub, Bub? While the NBA jersey won't look like an WNBA one, a soccer kit or NASCAR driver, the fact that it seems it will be tastefully done with a small 2.5 inch x 2.5 inch patch on the upper left panel and that the players get 50 per cent of the revenue generated from leasing that real estate, the sanctity of the fan jersey will remain because retail versions without corporate logos (not you, Nike) will be sold to fans who have yet to disabuse themselves of the notion that everything is for sale. Truth is... everything is for sale.

Watson:  It's a money thing more than it's anything else. It was inevitable, and as the NBA blazes trails in many categories, I'm not surprised they're the first major North American sports league leading the charge. No one complained or noticed the KIA logo during All-Star weekend. Yet while there's backlash now, I am sure fans will complain for the same product the players are wearing with the ad logos down the road.

Will Strickland (@wallstrizzle1) and Duane Watson (@DuaneWatson) get their Proven Playoff Performer on each and every Saturday, 3pm ET as #1On1 with Will & Duane is transmitted live and direct, only on TSN 1050 and TSN.ca.