Chris Bosh Injury: What Heat Must Do to Maintain Momentum with Star PF out

The Miami Heat have proven that they don't need Chris Bosh to win games in the 2012 NBA playoffs.

After an impressive victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Dwyane Wade and three-time MVP LeBron James have shown that even without Bosh, they are still a deadly force.

Without the inside presence and pick-and-roll of Bosh, Miami was still able to shoot 50 percent from the field, including 21 of 27 (77.8 percent) in the paint. 

James went for 32 points and 13 rebounds, while Wade chipped in 22 points and seven assists in Miami's 83-79 victory on Monday night.

Unlike the Indiana Pacers series, where James and Wade practically outscored the Pacers themselves, Game 1 of the ECF saw other Heat members step up to take the pressure off of Wade and James.

Shane Battier contributed a double-double, with 10 points and 10 boards, also adding two blocks.

Coming off of the bench, shooter Mike Miller sparked Miami by adding eight points—including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc—in just 12 minutes on the floor.

Without the height and scoring of Bosh, Miami will need role players like Battier, Miller, Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem to contribute on both sides of the basketball.

As the second-leading rebounder on the team and the third scorer, it will take a combination of the above players to fill the 6'11" power forward's shoes.

James and Wade will need to continue to drive the lane instead of pulling up for jump shots, something the duo excelled in during Game 1.

Miami scored 42 points in the paint in Game 1, leaving the Celtics feeling like they need to be more physical as the series progresses.

The Heat also played excellent defense as a team, as each starter had at least one block on their way to swatting 11 Boston shots.

Even without Bosh, Miami out-rebounded the Celtics with the help of Anthony, Miller, Battier and Ronny Turiaf, who combined for 24 of the team's 48 rebounds.

The offense has been excellent as well. James and Wade have worked the pick-and-roll game and have scored at will, as Miami is averaging 103.5 points per game in its past four wins.

If the Heat want to maintain the momentum and reach the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season, they shouldn't deviate from a single aspect of their game.

Wade and James need to continue playing at the highest level—they're combining for an average of more than 62 points per game during the four-game win streak—and they need their role players to contribute, just as they did in Game 1.

Anthony and Turiaf need to fill the paint and collect rebounds and block shots, while Battier and Miller must knock down big shots off the bench.

Combine that with some lockdown defense from Battier and solid play from Haslem—like in Game 4 of the Pacers series—and the Miami Heat should have no problem advancing past the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals for a second time in as many years.

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