NBA Playoffs 2012: Miami Heat Will Coast in Eastern Conference Finals

Yes, there is still a Game 7 to be played in Boston to determine who will take on the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the result will be the same regardless. Miami will coast their way into the NBA Finals regardless of whether they face the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers.

Whomever wins in Beantown tomorrow can thank the Indiana Pacers for awakening the powerhouse that is Miami after defeating them in the first two games of that series.

With Chris Bosh injured and Udonis Haslem suspended later in the series, the Heat finally put everything together and began to play the most complete basketball we've seen from them since the postseason began.

The issue for Boston, if they emerge victorious at the TD Garden tomorrow, is that they didn't close up their series with Philly fast enough; loosing out on time to rest before doing battle with their familiar foe. I know the Celtics don't like to hear about how old they are, but it's a true statement: they're an old team.

They've also struggled to put together back-to-back solid performances in the playoffs, as shown in the Philly series where they've only been able to win the odd-numbered games so far.

Boston can't seem to continuously play playoff-caliber basketball right now; and that's something that will doom them if they advance to play Miami.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, isn't an old team; they're the opposite. Philly is full of some underrated talent, but none of this squad has ever had the bright lights of the Eastern Conference Finals shine down upon them. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat are more than used to playing deep into the playoffs.

Andre Iguodala has been terrific for the 76ers, averaging almost 14 points per game during this postseason run; but even A.I. can't lead this Sixers team past the Heat.

James and Wade have gelled together the past two postseason games in the absence of Bosh, realizing how their team's offense must operate now that they have lost size in the paint.

Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra talked with CBS Sports about his two star players stepping up as of late:

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I don't know if they've been required to shoulder as much responsibility as they've had to now, particularly now that [Bosh] is out.

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Even with Miami's "Big Three" down to just two All-Stars for now, the Heat are easily the most dangerous team left in the Eastern Conference and should have no problem disposing of either Boston or Philadelphia in the next round of the postseason.