The ghosts are gone.

Banished to Biscayne Bay.

So long, Miami. No amount of culture or cunning can save you now. It’s over.

The latest chapter of the Celtics-Heat rivalry read just like we all expected: with Boston breezing past its bullies and into the second round Wednesday night.

The only scare this series provided was not the JV Miami team on the floor. It was the ghosts of Heat teams past; the idea that the spirit of the Zombie Heat might, somehow, inexplicably, live on through their lesser successor and threaten an even greater upset than last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.

But aside from one spooky night, the ghosts never materialized. The upset never manifested. Never came close.

Over the last 10 days, Miami only startled the Celtics with an out-of-body shooting performance in Game 2. Remember 23 made 3-pointers? How about the depleted Heat shooting 53.5% from downtown?

Feels like forever ago. That’s how earth-bound Miami has been since.

The Heat led for less a minute combined over Games 3, 4, and 5 and got smashed to bits Wednesday. Boston finished the series outscoring Miami by 78 for the series.

The Celtics’ star power, shooting depth and complete lack of defensive mismatches overwhelmed Miami. They protected the ball. They won the offensive glass. After Game 2, Boston sharpened its defensive edge and closed out harder on shooters, leaving no oxygen for the Heat’s offense.

Miami suffocated.

The Heat lost so badly the lasting memory of this series likely won’t involve them at all. That image should be Kristaps Porzingis limping off the floor in Game 4 with a strained calf injury that reportedly will keep him out until the Eastern Conference Finals.

For now, the Celtics should be unbothered by the absence of their big man, especially after going 21-4 in the regular season without him. They will dispatch the Cavaliers or Magic in four or five games next round. Six, if they’re careless.

Kristaps Porzingis injury: Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla provides latest update

But both teams are capable of pushing them harder than Miami did. Orlando boasts the toughest, grittiest defense left in the playoffs. The Magic led the NBA in defensive rating after the All-Star break, thanks to perhaps the best defensive player in the world, Jonathan Isaac, and future All-Defense guard Jalen Suggs. They are tall, long, physical and connected.

The Cavs are tall and long, less physical and disconnected by comparison. But they are unquestionably more talented, and armed with more dangerous creators in Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Cleveland also protects the rims better, having allowed the third-lowest field goal percentage in the league on shots within four feet of the basket, per Cleaning the Glass.

That shouldn’t deter the Celtics from attacking downhill. Nothing should. Whenever they played with an underdog’s physicality and spirit in this series, they won. The same will hold true next round, and in the Eastern Conference Finals; no matter whom they play, and no matter when Porzingis returns.

Which all speaks to the truth of how dominant this 64-win Boston team has become. The Celtics’ toughest opponent, as it’s been for weeks, is still themselves. How hard they play, how attached and focused they are defensively and how they share the ball on offense will set the course for their run through the East; all elements firmly within their control.

The only team with matching talent, more proven grit and championship equity awaits in the West. That’s Denver. The Celtics won’t beat Nikola Jokic and Co. without Porzingis. Lucky for the Celtics, Porzingis has time to heal.

Related Articles

Kristaps Porzingis injury: Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla provides latest update

Celtics’ Al Horford among top finishers for NBA Teammate of the Year award

Starr’s 3 Questions: Was the Celtics’ Game 2 loss a blessing in disguise? 

Callahan: Celtics’ upset in Game 2 both an outlier and cause for concern

Celtics stars Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum get little help in loss to Heat

Boston would have beaten the Heat without Porzingis and another starter. Maybe even Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, who took turns bludgeoning the undersized, sneering Tyler Herro in isolation. Wednesday’s first basket featured Brown dragging Herro into the post and then stuffing him in the basket.

The rout was on.

Thankfully, unlike Miami, the Celtics will never have to wonder how the series would have unfolded without two of its best players.

Winning in the playoffs means never wondering, never apologizing.

It means marching on, through ghosts and to glory ahead, leaving the past and all its pain behind.

Onward.