NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

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

1. Utah (26-8): If Lakers got Dennis to contain Mailman, someone had better tell Mailman. (1)

2. Portland (28-7): Schedule gets hard as they finally start season series with Lakers on Tuesday. (2)

3. Orlando (28-10): Penny’s game just did a Nick Anderson--it came back from beyond the grave. (4)

4. San Antonio (24-11): Movin’ on up: They’ve won 18 of 21, including an eye-opener at Houston. (8)

5. Houston (23-12): Now Scottie can’t even get into their defense. Elliott wins matchup, 19-4. (3)

6. Indiana (24-13): If they can’t catch Magic, may have to slug it out with Heat in East semis. (5)

7. Miami (23-11): Why they’re struggling: Tim Hardaway has sore knee, is shooting 30% in April. (7)

8. Lakers (25-13): Oops: Two at Portland, one at Utah, San Antonio, Houston in next 15 days. (6)

9. Detroit (22-14): They take a lot of threes, but Friday they dropped 11 of them on Pacers. (11)

10. Atlanta (22-16): Story of his (their): life: LaPhonso hurt again, will miss last 40% of season. (9)

11. Milwaukee (20-15): Traylor starting at center, Thomas at forward--and they’ll make playoffs? (10)

12. Philadelphia (19-16):Brown, Iverson strike an uneasy truce. You could time it with a stopwatch. (15)

13. Minnesota (20-16): Brandon’s hurt again. Let’s see if he heals faster than he did for Bucks. (14)

14. New York (19-17): See if Van Gundy makes it back home: eight of their next 10 on road. (12)

15. Toronto (18-17): Raptors’ good times end as opponents actually open eyes to play them. (13)

16. Cleveland (18-17): Fratello and Embry are fighting it out backstage again to see who stays. (16)

17. Seattle (17-18): How low can they go? Just became third team Grizzlies beat in six weeks. (17)

18. Phoenix (18-19): Kidd, Gugliotta, Cliff Robinson and nine guys you could get on waiver wire. (18)

19. New Jersey (10-25): Casey knows all about teams that wait till they’re 6-24 to start playing. (27)

20. Sacramento (16-20): Williams’ shooting dips to 38% as he starts firing from way downtown. (19)

21. Charlotte (15-20): They were doing this big number about making playoffs, but that’s over. (20)

22. Golden State (15-21):Well, it looks pretty good compared to their last few seasons, anyway. (21)

23. Washington (13-22): Nothing to do with these deadheads but break them up and start over. (22)

24. Boston (12-23): In Pitino-speak, “I like Kenny” means he has a contract out on him. (23)

25. Dallas (11-25): Finley, their star, down from 22 points, 45%, last season to 18 and 42%. (24)

26. Chicago (10-26): He left his game in dunk contest his rookie year: Brent Barry struggles on. (25)

27. Denver (11-26): Does that count? Nuggets end one-year road losing streak at Vancouver. (26)

28. Vancouver (7-29): Bibby heading up: shot 41% in February, 47% in March and 49% in April. (28)

29. Clippers (4-31): It’s spring, when six young free agents’ thoughts turn to getting outta here. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS AT PORTLAND

When--Tuesday. Time--5 p.m. TV--Ch. 9, TNT.

* Story line--This is how long it’s been since they played--the last time, everyone thought the Lakers were better. That was last spring when the Lakers polished them off, 3-1, in the playoffs. Since, the Trail Blazers added Jim Jackson and Greg Anthony and became one of the NBA’s biggest surprises. The Lakers added Dennis Rodman and Glen Rice and became whatever it is that they are.