The last-place team is hot; the first-place team is not.

When the Heat tonight opens what sets up as a difficult two-game trip to Milwaukee and Minnesota, it will be a case of role reversal against the Bucks.

In last place in the Atlantic Division, the Heat has won 11 of 14. By contrast, the first-place Bucks, coming off back-to-back setbacks to the lowly Cavaliers and lowlier Bulls, stand atop the Central Division despite having lost 7 of 9 overall and 5 of 7 at home.

Desperation, therefore, figures to be in abundance at the Bradley Center.

"I have no idea what's going on; I'm clueless," former Heat forward Anthony Mason said. "We're doing a lot of things wrong. And when we do something right, we go back to doing something wrong.

"I wish we would start panicking on this team, but it seems like there's not enough concern."

Part of the concern of Bucks mainstays such as Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell is that coach George Karl is attempting to do too much by force-feeding a power game centered around Mason.

"We're going through a tough time," said Cassell, the veteran point guard who missed Wednesday's loss to Cleveland with a sore left toe but is expected back tonight. "But it's not like we're in sixth place. We're in first place. We'll be all right."

Milwaukee brought in Mason to add toughness and a low-post presence. Mason, in turn, has attempted to distance the Bucks from taking comfort in last season's playoff run that left them one game shy of the NBA Finals.

"Last year is last year," Mason said. "And what was last year anyway? Getting to the Eastern finals? That's nothing. You've got to live for this year. And besides, whatever you did last year, people have made adjustments."

Heat coach Pat Riley said he understood Karl's bid to play to Mason's strengths.

"He knows he has all the perimeter scoring, the shooting and running," Riley said. "He probably needs somebody down there that maybe can bring the game to a stop, at times, and get something going out of that."

Heat power forward Brian Grant said he appreciates Karl's infatuation with Mason.

"I don't think they're trying to change the team to suit Mase," Grant said. "I think he's saying we need an inside presence and toughness, which Mase can bring to the game."

Since opening 9-1, Milwaukee is 19-19. Yet Thursday, Karl preached patience.

"I don't think we've had problems," he said. "We are just losing basketball games. Sometimes you beat yourself. You don't panic. You can play good in this league and lose.

"We've had a window of opportunity to expand our lead. The only thing we've done poorly is that -- not expand our lead."

As for the Heat, Karl said he did not think it would take this long for a turnaround.

"I thought Miami would have figured it out," he said. "Now they've got to climb over so many teams. Miami has got to figure out how to win at home. If you don't win at home, you don't win."

CARTER TRAVELS

Point guard Anthony Carter, recovered from hernia surgery, traveled to Milwaukee but received no assurances about being activated during the two-game trip.

"I respect the way they're playing," Carter said. "I don't want to mess up nothing."

Said Riley, "I want him to feel very, very comfortable. Plus, we're going good."

MCGRADY IMPRESSED

In the wake of Wednesday's 112-95 loss to the Heat, Magic All-Star guard Tracy McGrady left AmericanAirlines Arena impressed.

"They have stepped up their play lately," he said. "With them, anything can happen. They can play themselves right into the playoffs, or they could play themselves back out of contention.

"When they started winning, they found out that they can be a good team. They have the right chemistry now."