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CAPSULES AND RANKING

Team (Record): 1. Chicago (40-5)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Last week of peace, quiet (no Rodman) sends Bulls to Seattle and the Forum. (1)

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Team (Record): 2. Lakers (33-12)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Best of the rest. Reality check Wednesday vs. you know who. (4)

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Team (Record): 3. Houston (32-13)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Wheels have come off Rockets’ wheelchair; lost three of four; Barkley, Drexler are out. (2)

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Team (Record): 4. Seattle (32-13)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Van Exel says Pacific race over as Lakers take insurmountable 1 1/2-game lead. (3)

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Team (Record): 5. Miami (32-12)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Majerle (back surgery), Thomas (broken leg) out at least two months. (5)

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Team (Record): 6. New York (32-13)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): At least Knicks beat Riley on national TV. Chris Childs called it “our Super Bowl.” (6)

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Team (Record): 7. Utah (31-13)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Victory at Houston shows Jazz still a force to be reckoned with. (7)

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Team (Record): 8. Atlanta (30-13)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Hint for Mutombo: Don’t wave finger at Mailman or he might take it home. (8)

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Team (Record): 9. Detroit (32-11)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): 61-win pace. Collins to coach all-stars. I’d move Pistons up if I could believe it. (9)

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Team (Record): 10. Charlotte (26-19)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Rice, en flambe , averaging 28.9 points since Christmas. (10)

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Team (Record): 11. Cleveland (24-19)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): That’s where the scoring went--hold Nets to 62, get 65 vs. Knicks. (12)

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Team (Record): 12. Orlando (21-20)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Scott bags 72 tickets for family, friends in D.C. homecoming, goes 0 for 10. (13)

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Team (Record): 13. Portland (25-21)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Nice trip: Lose by 26 at Toronto, blow leads of 18, 23 in Detroit, Boston. (11)

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Team (Record): 14. Washington (22-22)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Tim Legler, shooter Bullets need, back from knee surgery, pulls hamstring. (14)

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Team (Record): 15. Milwaukee (21-23)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Slip-sliding away. Insiders say Bucks are too soft. (15)

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Team (Record): 16. Minnesota (21-24)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Gugliotta first T-wolf to make the All-Star game. More coming after him. (16)

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Team (Record): 17. Indiana (21-22)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Miller, left out as East all-stars take three point guards, drops 40 on Hornets. (18)

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Team (Record): 18. Sacramento (19-26)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Mitch Richmond’s contract sulk over. He’s averaging 26.4 since Dec. 1. (19)

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Team (Record): 19. Phoenix (15-30)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Good news: Kidd due back at All-Star break. Bad news: Suns not there yet. (17)

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Team (Record): 20. Clippers (17-25)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): A healthy Roberts away from playoffs. Of course, when weren’t they? (20)

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Team (Record): 21. Golden State (17-27)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Western teams praying Warriors don’t trade Mullin to Lakers. (21)

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Team (Record): 22. Denver (14-31)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): LaPhonso Ellis makes it real team again. Beat Rockets for second winning week. (25)

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Team (Record): 23. Toronto (15-28)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Camby averaging 17 points, 7.6 boards in his last seven starts. (22)

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Team (Record): 24. Dallas (14-28)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Mad Realtor Zaccanelli tires of hoop biz, offers GM job to Don Nelson. (23)

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Team (Record): 25. New Jersey (12-30)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Getting ready to wheel and deal as trade deadline draws nearer. (24)

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Team (Record): 26. San Antonio (11-31)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): No Admiral ‘til March. Avery Johnson: “I’m looking at [No.] 6.” In which league? (26)

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Team (Record): 27. Philadelphia (10-34)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Iverson outscores Stoudamire, 31-25; would have played in hospital gown. (28)

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Team (Record): 28. Boston (10-32)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Carr dresses seven at Miami because of injuries, but hard to tell the difference. (27)

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Team (Record): 29. Vancouver (8-40)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Brian Winters’ final percentage: .186. Stu Jackson’s so far: .000. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

CHICAGO AT LAKERS

* When--Wednesday. Time--7:30 p.m. TV--Fox Sports West, TNT.

* Storyline--If not now, when? The Bulls are down a starter (Rodman), start three 30somethings (Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Ron Harper), will be in Portland the night before, making this their fifth game in seven days. Of course, under similar conditions last season, it was Bulls 99, Lakers 84.