THE TIMES’ RANKINGS / TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record) Comment (last week’s position)

1. Lakers (12-5) When Kobe and Shaq play together,

nothing (or no one) else matters. (2)

2. San Antonio (10-5) Not a good idea to spend half looking

for your “A” game in West showdown. (1)

3. Utah (13-4) What merry band of geriatrics started

weekend with West’s best record? (5)

4. Philadelphia (14-2) Old No. 77: Kukoc making $7 million,

averaging 7.1 points as a reserve. (4)

5. Portland (12-6) Putting it back together, but there

sure is a lot of muttering going on. (3)

6. Sacramento (11-4) What band of reformed pranksters

has the West’s second-best record? (9)

7. Phoenix (10-5) When Mutombo goes on block, look

for Suns to get involved in a big way. (6)

8. Minnesota (9-8) Gutsy little guys seem to be going

through post-Stern depression. (7)

9. Dallas (11-6) First playoff appearance since 1990

looks like better bet all the time. (11)

10. Toronto (9-7) Oops: Without Vince, they’re just

a bunch of toothless old guys. (8)

11. New York (11-7) Cutting to chase, Charles Barkley

says, “They’re just not very good.” (10)

12. Charlotte (11-7) Perfect: With Mason in Miami, Coleman

on injured list, they’re much happier. (12)

13. Cleveland (9-7) Good scheduling: Cavaliers have played

two games against West teams. (13)

14. Houston (9-8) Best young backcourt going: Francis

and sixth man Cuttino Mobley. (17)

15. Seattle (8-10) Now that they have the coach they want,

they’re ready to start the season! (18)

16. Miami (7-10) Blow 22-point fourth-quarter lead

to give Riley first losing November. (14)

17. Indiana (7-8) Pacers are 1-7 against Western teams,

including 0-2 against Warriors. (16)

18. Denver (9-8) Kind of an overachievement, seeing

as how Nuggets are No. 29 on defense. (19)

19. Milwaukee (6-10) Tell Karl he can come down

off that ledge: Bucks win three in row. (23)

20. Boston (7-9) Better make a move soon: 17 of first 25

at home. After that, trouble. (20)

21. Orlando (7-11) Just in nick of time (?): Hill is

hoping to return in a week. (21)

22. New Jersey (6-10) Kenyon Martin still having trouble

with right ankle he hurt last spring. (15)

23. Detroit (7-9) Pistons may not make playoffs but would

settle for finishing ahead of Hill. (22)

24. Vancouver (6-10) Lowe throws in towel on Big Country,

makes him $11-million-a-year reserve. (24)

25. Clippers (5-12) Nine up with 1:22 left in Toronto.

What could go wrong now? Oh. (25)

26. Washington (4-13) Howard up to 15.6 points and 8.3 rebounds,

but fans boo every move he makes. (26)

27. Golden State (5-12) Boy, do they need him: Danny Fortson

is hoping for a February return. (27)

28. Atlanta (4-13) Not that he expects to be traded, but

Mutombo hasn’t looked like much so far. (28)

29. Chicago (2-14) On bright side, Bulls have two more wins

than skeptics thought they would. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

PHILADELPHIA at LAKERS

When--Tuesday Time--7:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net, TBS

* Story line--Ask the copy writers for those TV ads, it’s never too early for a “possible finals preview.” The 76ers are the class of the downtrodden East, and the Lakers, who are defending champions, have started playing like it recently.