Miami Heat Prevail over the Pacers, Despite Chris Bosh Injury

In theory, the Heat have a massive matchup problem, one that's exacerbated by Chris Bosh going down with an abdominal injury. They have a small frontcourt, and the Pacers have Roy Hibbert. 

While I believe the theory to be true, this series will turn on the extent to which it matters. My guess is, while Hibbert and Indiana's other bigs present a challenge for the Heat, it will not be enough to overcome Miami's minutes onslaught. 

What is the minutes onslaught? Well, Dwyane Wade averaged a mere 33 mpg this season, and LeBron averaged 37.5. Today, in their 95-86 defeat of the Pacers, the combo played 13 minutes over their season average—more than an extra quarter of superstar play for Miami. 

Did the Pacers counter with a similar boost in Hibbert minutes? Frank Vogel certainly would have liked to, but foul trouble kept the big man at his 29 mpg regular-season average. Throughout the game, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James jumped at Hibbert like a SWAT team, ruthlessly blasting a door open. While I cannot prove whether the fouls and foul-feints limited the center's on-court effectiveness, plays like this lead me to wonder.

Even if Chris Bosh is out, Miami can compensate by playing their most important players a lot more. It remains to be seen if Indiana can do the same with their most important player.