NBA Finals 2012 Predictions: Chris Bosh Will Lead Miami Heat to Championship

Through the course of the past two years, Chris Bosh became the forgotten man in Miami, to the point where people failed to even consider him a superstar at times.

But if the Miami Heat win the NBA championship, it will because of Bosh and not because of LeBron James or Dwyane Wade.

Whether you consider them the "Big Three" or the "Big Two" plus Bosh, it's going to be Bosh who determines whether or not the Heat will capture the NBA championship.

For one, the Heat are a much different team without Bosh in the lineup. He not only gives them the legit third scoring option they need badly, but also a legitimate post presence and some much-needed length defensively.

In 18 games without the seven-time All-Star (including the postseason), Miami is only a 9-9 team.

In addition, they've averaged only 90.8 points per game without him, down from the 98.5 they averaged during the regular season.

Bosh adds the element of a guy to stretch the floor and create space for Wade and LBJ. He can knock down a jumper from the corner and give the Heat some much-needed presence in the paint. Him simply being on the floor makes things easier for both LeBron and Wade.

That was evident in Game 7 against Boston, as Miami’s "Big Three" absolutely took over the game in the fourth quarter, scoring all of Miami’s 28 points in the quarter, delivering the knockout punch to the Celtics.

More importantly, Bosh was also strong at the defensive end of the court, making numerous big plays to make a difference in the dominant fourth quarter.

Against the Thunder, Bosh will be called on to deliver in a similar fashion to what he did in Game 7 vs. the Celtics.

If he knocks down big shots and can make a difference at the defensive end of the floor, Bosh will no longer be a sidekick to LeBron and Wade.

Instead, he will be an NBA champion.

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