For openers, they very much resembled the Milwaukee Bucks, vintage 2000. And that, even Anthony Mason would agree, was a good thing indeed.

Creating defensive stops only when absolutely necessary and making all seven of their field-goal attempts in overtime Tuesday night, the Bucks followed the familiar script that carried them to the brink of the NBA Finals last year. It was good enough then and it was certainly good enough for a stimulating 119-112 victory against the Utah Jazz in the season opener.

"A Milwaukee Bucks game," said coach George Karl, who has certainly seen enough of these by-the-seat performances to know. "Don't come close to stopping anybody until it's almost too late and then make shots. It's us. It's what we do."