It's starting to come together for Heat

This feels different from the Heat’s previous four-game winning streak, the one that followed Boston’s season-opening surprise.

In blowing out Philly, Orlando, New Jersey and Minnesota, the Heat, particularly their Big Three, demonstrated little cohesion and rhythm. Chris Bosh played tentatively. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James appeared uncomfortable and in each other’s way.

Eight days ago, the Dallas Mavericks thumped the Heat at American Airlines Center, sparking a LeBron-Erik Spoelstra bump, a players-only postgame meeting and a Team LeBron media leak of growing frustration with Spoelstra.

Eight days ago, the Heat were on the brink of collapse. The Dallas Debacle illustrated every flaw in the Miami roster and in James’ character.

The Dallas Debacle also sparked this — a four-game stretch of solid Heat play that culminated with Saturday’s 89-77 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, a playoff-caliber team that visited Miami riding a five-game winning streak.

OK, the Hawks played without their overpriced, $120 million shooting guard, Joe Johnson (elbow surgery). But I don’t think Johnson and his 17-point average would’ve made the difference Saturday night.

It’s going to take an elite team to stay with the Heat on nights when the Big Three shoot 28 of 51 from the field, grab 27 rebounds and score 75 points.

The Hawks beat the Big Three in a squeaker, 77-75.

Yep, the Heat are starting to figure out how to play together and win.

Spoelstra has discovered a couple of pieces — Joel Anthony with energy and Mario Chalmers with confident playmaking— off the bench who can help. Wade and James have decided to curtail their perimeter shooting in favor of plays at the rim and mid-range jumpers. And everybody who touches the court crashes the boards.

It’s working. The Heat are on another roll, beating Washington, Detroit, Cleveland and Atlanta. They’re 13-8 and now embark on a relatively easy four-game road trip against Milwaukee, Utah, Golden State and Sacramento — three losers and Utah.

Miami followed its previous four-game win streak by losing three of its next four. If that happens again, yep, there could be another bump, players meeting and Team LeBron media leak.

I just don’t see it. This feels different.