NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

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

1. Chicago (47-17): Jordan says his old Nikes gave him blisters. Think of kids who paid $100 for them. (1)

2. Seattle (48-15): Oops: Jazz has cut four games off SuperSonics’ lead since All-Star break. (2)

3. Utah (46-16): Wants trade, packing gun, etc. Mailman ought to rest his mouth for playoffs. (3)

4. Miami (44-20): Bad news: Askins is out six weeks and Mashburn might not be back this season. (4)

5. Lakers (44-18): Looking more and more like last year: No. 3 in West, Trail Blazers in first round. (5)

6. Indiana (44-19): Duel Heat for home court in East semis. Hole card: Pacers won series, 3-1. (7)

7. San Antonio (43-21): GM calls Duncan best in game. Averaging 26 points, 13.5 rebounds in March. (8)

8. Charlotte (40-24): Every time Hornets fade, everyone says it was about time. Then this happens. (10)

9. Phoenix (42-21): Crunch time: Starting Wednesday, Suns meet Lakers, SuperSonics, Spurs, Jazz. (6)

10. Atlanta (37-25): Looking at No. 5 finish, facing Hornets who’ll have home-court advantage. (11)

11. Portland (35-27): Problem: $80-million forward Wallace fits badly with $56-million forward Grant. (9)

12. New York (35-28): Starks in one of his famous black holes, shoots 30 for 93 over nine games. (12)

13. Cleveland (34-30): Kemp, career 51% shooter who made 48% as 19-year-old rookie, now at 45%. (14)

14. Minnesota (33-31): Garnett steps it up, anyway. Averaged 17 with Gugliotta; at 21 in March. (16)

15. Washington (34-31): Be it ever so humble: Murray, fourth on team at 15 ppg, finds a home at last. (17)

16. Orlando (32-31): Whatever happened to guy with the puppet? Penny calls it a season at 19 games. (15)

17. New Jersey (34-31): There has been a little change in plans: no longer chasing Knicks but Cavaliers. (13)

18. Houston (33-31): Rockets were 15-11 on Jan. 1 so they’re still under .500 for the calendar year. (18)

19. Milwaukee (29-34): Big Dog joins Brandon on injured list. Ford might as well call Realtors. (19)

20. Boston (29-34): Falling by wayside. Pitino has to be shoo-in for coach of year, anyway. (20)

21. Detroit (29-34): Already tired of Brian Williams’ act. Anyone who wants him can have him. (21)

22. Sacramento (26-40): Williamson averaged six as rookie, 12 last season, 18 this one, 24 this month. (22)

23. Philadelphia (24-39): Should top last season by eight wins, but what’s point if 76ers run off stars? (23)

24. Vancouver (15-47): Another point guard bust from ’97 draft: Antonio Daniels now third string. (24)

25. Golden State (14-49): Capping boffo week, Sprewell says he’s still looking for the real choker of Carlesimo. (25)

26. Dallas (14-50): Probably had to wake up Nellie to tell him Mavericks rallied to beat the Bulls. (26)

27. Clippers (14-49): On the bright side, Clippers are still outdrawing ABL finalist StingRays. (27)

28. Toronto (13-49): Doesn’t look promising: Since trading Stoudamire Feb. 13, Raptors have won twice. (28)

29. Denver (7-58): Ain’t over till it’s over: Two more with Mavericks, one vs. Warriors and Raptors. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

CHICAGO AT INDIANA

* When--Tuesday. * Time--6 p.m. * TV--TNT.

* Story line--What’s going on with the Bulls? Against Miami at home, they look like world beaters and Michael Jordan looks like his old game-transcending self. Then they blow a 10-point lead in the last :55 to the Mavericks. They haven’t beaten any of the other six winningest teams on the road all season, so here’s another chance.