Chicago Bulls: 5 Keys to an NBA Championship

OK, alright, thank God that's finally over.

Watching Monday's "National Championship of Bad" was something like a salad of torture with a cup of Chinese water torture, a quart of physical beating and a can of Rebbecca Black's "Friday". But at the end of every dark, seemingly unending tunnel, is a bright shining light.

Yes, salvation is on the way. In just two weeks the NBA playoffs will kick off and the Chicago Bulls are in prime position for a deep playoff run.

With the No. 1 seed virtually locked up the Bulls seem to have a road paved with gold to the NBA Finals, but with a lack of health and perimeter shooting there are still many questions about this team.

Here are five keys to the Bulls winning their 7th Larry O'Brien trophy.

5. The Bench Mob: If the Bulls want to win an NBA championship they cannot rely solely on Derrick Rose. What has separated the Bulls all season long from the Bostons and Miamis has been their depth. Not only do two of the Bulls top perimeter shooters, Kyle Korver and C.J Watson, come off the bench, but the Bulls best defensive units are when reserves such as Taj Gibson, Ronnie Brewer and Omer Asik are on the floor. For the Bulls to go far they will need all 10 regular contributors.

4. Keith Bogans: If I would have told you before the season that Keith Bogans would be a major part of the Bulls winning a championship you most likely would have smacked me upside the head and then went on to berate me and belittle the smidgen of basketball knowledge you thought I had. Fast forward to April of 2011 and Bogans' ability to force defenses to respect his three point shot is a major key for the Bulls. As much as we've complained about him, Bogans has played better the last two months shooting 42% on threes. Bogans doesn't have to be great and really he doesn't have to be all that good. As long has team have to respect his shot, that's enough, but at times this year that's been asking a lot.

3. Joakim Noah's health: While Noah's been on the floor he's played the best of his career averaging highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. The problem has been keeping him on the floor. With potential matchups of Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett in the East and Finals matchups of Andrew Bynum and Tim Duncan, the Bulls will need a fully healthy Joakim Noah.

2. Loul Deng and Carlos Boozer: Co-Robins Loul Deng and Carlos Boozer will have to provide sufficient secondary scoring. The Bulls don't have a Dwayne Wade or Scottie Pippen, a great secondary scorer, to assist Derrick Rose. But what they do have is two very good complementary players who have a tendency to disappear at times in games. There can be no disappearing acts in the playoffs for Boozer and Deng.

1. Derrick Rose: As has been the case all season long the Bulls will go as far as Derrick Rose takes them. It's the reason he's the best point guard in the league and the MVP. No other player has resulted in his team's wins as much as Rose has. If the Bulls are planning on playing late into June then Rose will have to put up big performances like he did in wins over San Antonio, Boston, Miami and the Lakers. Rose has done it all year long, but the playoffs are another beast.

The Bulls have exceeded every expectation placed on them during the regular season. Who would have thought they'd be the No. 1 seed or have the potential MVP and Coach of the Year? Now a different test awaits them in the playoffs and with the way they've played, it should be a fun ride.