It might be difficult to find anyone more thrilled with the way Heat center Jermaine O'Neal has started the season -- outside of O'Neal himself -- than guard Dwyane Wade.

For one, Wade has benefited from the solid low-post presence O'Neal has provided during Miami's 2-0 start entering Sunday's home game against the Chicago Bulls.

But Wade also can sympathize with what O'Neal is going through after pushing through a vigorous offseason training program to recover from debilitating knee injuries. Wade went through a similar grueling process with the same trainer in Chicago two summers ago.

Wade wouldn't go as far as to say he recommended noted trainer Tim Grover to O'Neal. But Wade did attend several of O'Neal's workouts on his own trips to Chicago to train.

O'Neal finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds in each of the Heat's first two games and is the first player in franchise history to open a season with consecutive games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

``He's feeling good, health-wise, and that's an unbelievable feeling to have again after you sort of took it for granted,'' said Wade, who came back from knee and shoulder injuries in 2008 to lead the U.S. team to an Olympic gold medal and then finish third in NBA MVP voting last season. ``You're healthy for so long and then you get hurt, and it takes a long time to recover. When you finally do, you just thank God for giving you another opportunity.''

O'Neal measures his progress by the fact he hasn't needed to wear the bulky knee braces that have weighed him down the past two-plus seasons.

Through two games, O'Neal is shooting 68 percent from the field and has shown the regained lift in his legs with at least five dunks, including one that drew a technical foul when he swung on the rim in Friday's win at Indiana.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he gladly would live with such an occasional consequence if O'Neal continues to play with emotion and athleticism. Wade said it is critical for O'Neal to find a comfortable pace that allows him to sustain a high level.

``I've seen him all summer working, and I was proud of him then,'' Wade said. ``I'm more proud now, just seeing the smile on his face. He's telling his body what he wants to do instead of his body telling him what he can't do. That's huge. I know.''

TAG-TEAM APPROACH

Michael Beasley has replaced Udonis Haslem as the starting power forward, but the rotation has allowed for both to be on the court during critical stretches.

The two have coexisted fine so far, having combined for 22 points and 19 rebounds against the Pacers after contributing 29 points and 12 rebounds against the Knicks.

``I like the way we're talking, I like our communication,'' Haslem said. ``The great thing is nobody is worried about anything other than winning. But we still have a lot of work to do.''