Heat forward Chris Bosh suggested before Wednesday’s loss to the Bucks that the next step in the evolution of his team would come when it successfully rebounded from a loss and avoided an extended losing streak.

“If we lose one or two, we need to make the necessary adjustments, get it done and cut that down,” Bosh said. “That’s the next step.”

Like a basketball prophecy, Bosh’s outlook for the Heat materialized into one of the team’s most important games of the season Friday in Philadelphia. The Heat (17-6) blew an 18-point lead Wednesday but responded with a statement game against the Sixers at Wells Fargo Center.

A heart-to-heart meeting between players and coaches during Thursday’s practice session in Philadelphia was credited with the sudden turnaround. In that meeting, grievances were aired, suggestions were offered and healthy communication between players and coaches was restored. Winner of nine of its past 11 games, the Heat returned home on Saturday and enjoyed an off day before Sunday’s Super Bowl matinee against the Toronto Raptors.

Bosh, who appeared visibly frustrated with James’ isolation plays against the Bucks, called Thursday’s meeting “extremely important.”

“Just to get some feelings out there and talk about what was going on,” Bosh said. “We talked about the elephant in the room, which is we’re not giving the effort we’re capable of.

“We want to win a championship, and in order to do that, we have to take small steps in the regular season. We have to get better, and we have to keep it up.”

After hoisting a barrage of low-percentage shots in the fourth quarter on Wednesday, James altered his approach against the Sixers. He became a point guard and facilitator, delivering six assists in the fourth quarter. The Heat outscored the Bucks 32-16 in the final period of the game.

“It was a little bit of everything,” James said of Thursday’s discussion. “It was no holds barred, honestly. There were no tongues being held.

“If we are going to hold ourselves to a championship standard, then we have to go out there and play like it. No one can take things personal if someone says something to him. You have to take constructive criticism. We have to go out there and play at the highest level we are capable of.”

The most tangible change to come out of Thursday’s summit appears to be a strategic shift in the team’s fourth-quarter rotation. Mike Miller, who led the team with 10 points in the period, played the full 12 minutes. Most notably, however, was the move that put James at point guard and matched him with Wade, Miller, Bosh and Udonis Haslem. It’s a lineup the Heat had not used since the 2011 playoffs.

“The biggest thing about [Thursday] was the lines of communication opening from players to coaches,” Wade said. “It should be that way. Sometimes you get lost in that, and it becomes a separation, but I think we opened a line of communication [Thursday], which became greater [Friday], especially down the stretch when we were able to communicate with coaches and they were able to communicate with us exactly what we felt comfortable with, what we wanted and what lineup we wanted in there, as well.”

“That’s the kind of team we should be. Not saying we’re always going to play that way, not saying we’re always going to make the right decisions. But we should always be in control of our own destiny.”