(1) Chicago Bulls (50-16)

1st round foe: (8) Philadelphia 76ers (35-31).

Biggest concern vs. 76ers: Don’t have a true superstar, but enough good players to make you have to compete to beat them.

Last 10: 7-3 (Won 3)

Strengths: Defense. The Bulls lead the NBA in fewest points allowed (88.17 per game). They have front-court depth, great team chemistry and a closer in Derrick Rose.

Weaknesses: Key injuries to their two best players – Rose and Luol Deng – make them vulnerable. Although they’ve had success without Rose, in the playoffs, he’ll need to be close to 100 percent to reach NBA Finals.

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With speed, quickness, leadership and a much-improved jump shot, point guard Ty Lawson emerged as one of nation's best players in leading North Carolina to its fifth national championship.

Before the NCAA Tournament began, I picked Pittsburgh, Oklahoma, Washington and Louisville to make it to the  Final Four and figured the Panthers would win it all.

I know. None of them even made it to Detroit. Don’t remind me.

Anyway, my Final Four prediction had a couple of disclaimers. Here’s one of them:

“As much as I think North Carolina has the most talent of any team in the country, just unsure about Ty Lawson’s injury. If he was healthy, I’d have the Tar Heels winning it all.”

Well, after missing North Carolina’s first tournament game, Lawson played through the toe injury, got healthy and led the Tar Heels to their fifth national title.

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