TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (record): Comment (last week’s rank)

1. Lakers (24-7): Let’s hear it for little guys who went amazing 15-7 without their big guy. (2)

2. Chicago (22-10): Jordan up to 27 ppg, Rodman leads league in rebounds, Pippen practicing . . . (3)

3. Seattle (25-6): Time for schnauzers to move over as opponents get their big dogs back. (1)

4. Miami (20-11): After going 15-7 without Mourning, still trying to get it right with him. (4)

5. Indiana (21-10): Pacers’ 18-5 run shows they’re good. Now to see if they can crash the elite. (5)

6. Utah (20-11): Jazz at full strength but still not playing at last season’s level. (6)

7. San Antonio (20-11): Tim Duncan goes from averaging 15.2 in November to 19.4 in December. (7)

8. Atlanta (19-12): So much for fast starts. Since opening 11-0, the Hawks are under .500. (8)

9. Phoenix (19-9): OK, Suns have had their fun, time for the 12 dwarfs to head for .500. (10)

10. Charlotte (19-11): Hornets a lot like the Vlade Lakers: When he’s good, so are they. (11)

11. Portland (19-11): Askew latest suspendee after protesting playing time by skipping a game. (9)

12. Cleveland (19-11): Fratello can’t really make playoffs with this kindergarten. Can he? (12)

13. Houston (16-12): Allowing 120 on home floor to Hornets doesn’t inspire great confidence. (13)

14. New Jersey (17-14): Van Horn gets 32 vs. Webber in win over Wizards, 29 vs. LJ in win over Knicks. (15)

15. Washington (16-17): Magic time at new MCI Arena ends. After 8-0 start, Pacers wax Wizards by 18. (14)

16. New York (18-13): If they can just hang in till Ewing returns. Of course, that might be November. (17)

17. Boston (16-14): Pitino can’t really make playoff run with this kindergarten. Can he? (18)

18. Minnesota (16-15): Timberwolves end 26-game losing streak to SuperSonics! Beat Bulls for first time ever! (21)

19. Orlando (17-15): In free fall after 16-7 start. Without Penny, Magic struggling to score 90. (16)

20. Detroit (15-18): Countdown resumes as players prepare to launch Collins into space. (19)

21. Milwaukee (14-17): Bad news for an improved young team: East has about 12 better ones. (20)

22. Sacramento (12-20:) Half of his veterans want trades, but Eddie Jordan went 7-6 after 5-14 start. (22)

23. Vancouver (10-22): So much for fast starts. Since opening 6-7, Grizzlies have gone 4-15. (23)

24. Clippers (8-24): Looks like they found something at last, but tough January schedule looms. (26)

25. Philadelphia (8-22:) Derrick Coleman on pace to play fewer than 60 for fourth season in a row. (24)

26. Golden State (7-22:) Honeymoon, such as it was, ends. Warriors lose three in row at home, go on road. (25)

27. Dallas (5-27): Nelson gets Shawn Bradley back, not that it makes much difference. (27)

28. Toronto (4-28): Darrell Walker says his New Year’s resolution is “Not to kill myself.” (28)

29. Denver (2-28): So much for fast starts. Since opening 2-15, the Nuggets have gone 0-13. (29)

CHICAGO AT MIAMI

* When--Wednesday * Time--5 p.m. * TV--TBS.

* Storyline--Is Miami good enough to think about beating the Bulls? If it can’t, at home, before Scottie Pippen returns, it’s hard to imagine doing it next spring. After the Christmas meeting in Chicago, Pat Riley wrote “4-13” on the board in his dressing room, his record in Miami against them. He has since mewed about refereeing--a ploy designed to get more calls, usually reserved for the playoffs--even sneering at Jordan as “His Majesty.” Figure Jordan to take 30 shots, at least.