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Team (Record): Comment (Last week’s rank)

1. Seattle (40-13): Oops: Since stirring win at Forum, SuperSonics have lost at home, to Jazz, Celtics. (1)

2. Chicago (41-15): More tiresome Rodman goings, comings. What is this, the NBA or the WWF? (2)

3. Utah (37-15): Renegotiation? Stress fracture? Rest of West sighs as Seikaly deal dies. (3)

4. Lakers (36-15): Today it’s band together or else as Magic fans prepare Shaq boo-athon. (4)

5. Miami (36-18): Barry, who got The Treatment from Fitch, joins a team where everyone gets it. (8)

6. Phoenix (36-16): Don’t ask me how Suns do it, I had these smurfs falling off pace months ago. (7)

7. Indiana (37-16): Bird wants local papers to rip Pacers. GM Walsh notes city has only one. (5)

8. San Antonio (36-17): Back down to Two Towers: Admiral’s knee injury is responding slowly. (6)

9. Atlanta (32-23): Definition of no-brainer: Who should Hawks re-sign, Henderson or Laettner? (10)

10. Portland (31-22): Time for meaningful therapy: Rider looks as if he’s losing it vs. Knicks. (11)

11. Charlotte (31-23): Started 9-3 so it’s pretty much one step forward, one step back since. (12)

12. New York (30-22): Houston on long-awaited roll, averaging 24 points since the All-Star break. (15)

13. New Jersey (31-24): Seikaly came for bubkes, but wait until mellow Rony meets Screamin’ Cal. (9)

14. Cleveland (29-24): Kemp’s 27 points, 13 rebounds at New Jersey suggest Van Horn still no stopper. (13)

15. Minnesota (29-23): Garnett has 25 points, 17 rebounds as Timberwolves learn Gugliotta gone for season. (14)

16. Houston (27-26): Rockets 5-2 since Coach Barkley announced he was coming off bench from now on. (17)

17. Washington (27-28): Remember when Howard said the Fab Five could have won a title in NBA? (16)

18. Milwaukee (27-26): A real Big Dog after all: Robinson is averaging 26.3 since Christmas. (18)

19. Orlando (27-27): Anderson, missing since bricking free throws in ’95 finals, averages 28 over five. (19)

20. Boston (25-29): Bad news: Pitino has to wait till end of the season to trade anyone else. (21)

21. Detroit (24-29): No recapturing old magic. Coach Alvin Gentry, GM Rick Sund might both go. (20)

22. Sacramento (24-30): Kings’ new strategy: Create cap space, offer Richmond a big package to stay. (22)

23. Philadelphia (17-34): One for Brown: Getting Smith, Iverson’s pal, gives him a shot to keep both. (23)

24. Vancouver (14-39): Still searching for veteran leader: Dump dour Thorpe, bring in Doug West. (24)

25. Golden State (11-41): P.J.’s last stand? Warriors go 2-0 after trading Smith in drive to retain No. 1 pick. (28)

26. Clippers (11-43): If only they were in the CBA, I bet they could outrecruit those teams. (26)

27. Dallas (10-44): Nelson better get serious. What kind of father would hand his son this mess? (27)

28. Toronto (11-42): Decline, fall and end of Isiah Empire: Darrell Walker quits as Damon goes. (25)

29. Denver (5-48): These are dog days when teams are bored. Nuggets better win some now or else. (29)

Game of the Week

LAKERS AT INDIANA

* When--Wednesday. * Time--5 p.m. * TV--Channel 9, TBS.

* Story line--This is the week the Lakers get it together or crash on national TV. Their trip starts today in Orlando (NBC) and continues in Milwaukee (local TV only), Indiana (TBS), Minnesota (TNT) and New York (NBC). This is also the week the networks that hyped Kobe Bryant as the next you-know-who switch to What’s Wrong With Kobe?