The Miami Heat successfully forced a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. An all-time Jimmy Butler performance powered a 111-103 Miami win and put the Celtics on the ropes. The job remains to be completed but is now within the Heat's sight.

Butler is going to need some help in Game 7 as he looks to lead the Heat back to the NBA Finals. Although he previously had some poor games, it should be expected that the Heat's star will show up hungry in the do-or-die contest. The bigger question is who else will step up with him.

The Heat have shown impressive depth throughout the postseason and have a multitude of potential X-factors for Game 7. The biggest one, though, is a former star who needs to show once and for all that Miami made the right decision to trade for him in the offseason.

Heat's X-Factor in Game 7 vs. Celtics in 2022 Eastern Conference Finals

The Heat's ultimate X-factor in Game 7 is Kyle Lowry. The veteran point guard showed what kind of (positive) impact he can have in Game 6 and has to do it again.

Tyler Herro's injury makes it difficult to project when he will be back. He was a late scratch in Game 6 but he was still absent for the third consecutive game. Bam Adebayo has been decent at best throughout this series and the Heat have still been fine. Trying to get him going against a duo of strong defensive bigs is a tall task. It's up to Lowry to step up again for the Heat.

Lowry finally gave the Heat a good performance in this year's playoffs with 18 points and 10 assists. Although he only shot 5-14 from the field and fouled out, he made four of his nine triples and committed only two turnovers. While Butler led the offense with his scoring and playmaking, Lowry gave the Heat a strong second option by thriving in both areas himself. With a little extracurricular defense after he fouled out, he had a huge impact on this game.

Prior to Game 6, Lowry had 20 total points across his last five games. As he battles a hamstring injury, the 36-year-old has struggled mightily in this year's playoffs. In countless instances, the Heat would have been better off without him. For what feels like the first time in a while, Lowry's worth on the Heat was obvious.

Now, the Heat need another great game from Lowry. He is the player that is best equipped to step up and help Butler keep him going. With his playmaking and shooting, he is the perfect compliment to Butler, a slick slasher and smart off-ball cutter.

Even with Herro's injury, Lowry has better playmaking and defensive chops. Adebayo has been one of the Heat's very best players for most of the season but has struggled mightily against the frontcourt tandem of Al Horford and Robert Williams. His role as a less frequent scorer is unlikely to change. The rest of Miami's players are less experienced and don't have the potential to impact the game in several facets.

The Heat made a sizable investment in Lowry this past offseason. Although he had a strong impact in the regular season, it has yet to pay off in the postseason. With their season on the line, it's up to him to get them back to the NBA Finals.