NBA Playoffs 2012: Eastern Conference Finals Preview and Prediction

Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics

Season Series: 3-1 in favor of Boston

Head Prediction: Heat in seven games

Heart Prediction: Celtics in six games

"My Final Answer" Prediction: Heat in 7 games

The Miami Heat went from a team ready to be blown up after what appeared to be a looming second-round collapse against the upstart Indiana Pacers, to a juggernaut that talking heads like Jeff Van Gundy are predicting will "win handily" against the Celtics. I don't buy it and believe the Heat are in for, at the very least, a very hotly contested series.

The Heat, even with Chris Bosh, are a flawed basketball team, period. Miami is built more for regular season than playoff success, and their lack of a true interior presence at center—and now power forward with Bosh out—is a serious weakness for an otherwise dominant team.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are absolute stars, but two stars may not be enough to knock off the Celtics, let alone win an NBA title this season.

The Boston Celtics are a team built more for playoff success than regular season domination, and while they have struggled since losing defensive stopper Avery Bradley to injury, they are still a battle-tested veteran team with the heart of a champion. If you think such is overrated, perhaps you should watch re-runs of the Houston Rockets' back-to-back titles in '94 and '95.

LeBron and Wade should both have dominant series. However, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Brandon Bass and especially the rejuvenated Kevin Garnett should be able, as a starting five, to out-duel Miami's dynamic duo and reach the NBA Finals for the third time in five seasons ... if only they can receive some help from their bench ... which I don't believe they will.

Heat in 7.