It is early, yet not too early for the Milwaukee Bucks to understand that a sizable gap exists between their current status as the best of the Eastern Conference and the reality of the Los Angeles Lakers' consecutive championship rings.

If this was a preview of the 2002 NBA Finals, the Bucks have much to learn in the next 71 games about managing a fourth quarter against the highest level of competition.

Wasting an early 15-point lead, the Bucks were eventually ground to mush in the final quarter of a 104-85 loss to the Lakers Tuesday night before a capacity crowd of 18,997 at the Staples Center.

"We didn't have enough confidence to win the game," Bucks coach George Karl said. "And when it went the wrong way, it went the wrong way fast."

Did it ever.