NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (record) Comment (last week’s position): 1. Portland (17-5): Best part of Trail Blazers’ start is that they have won 10 of 13 on road. (3)

2. Miami (15-5): Showed what it had in West, all right, winning in Portland, Sacramento. (4)

3. Lakers (16-5): Phil, who did wonders for Shaq, now gets to see what he can do for Kobe. (2)

4. Sacramento (12-6): Ask Lakers how much fun it is to visit Fun Bunch in their Arco Fun House. (5)

5. Indiana (13-7): They’re b-a-c-k. Pacers go 3-1 in West to show they’re not finished yet. (9)

6. San Antonio (15-7) What title defense? Just dropped four of five and did the impossible, losing at home to Wizards. (1)

7. Seattle (15-6): Another guy who works hard for his money: Payton in top 10 in six categories. (6)

8. Utah (12-7): Sloan isn’t even running home any more. Must know this is just how it is. (10)

9. Toronto (12-7): Vince Carter, whose rookie high was 32, posts 39, 34 and 32--in 16 days. (8)

10. Phoenix (13-7): Three wins over winning teams while playing 12 of first 19 at home. (7)

11. Charlotte (13-7): Baron’s having a problem getting used to NBA three. So far, he’s five for 28. (13)

12. New York (12-9): Can’t we all just get along? (14)

13. Milwaukee (11-10): Scoring, they’ve got: Robinson, Cassell, Allen averaging 61.8. (11)

14. Boston (10-8): Twelve of their first 18 were at home; 15 of their next 23 are on road. (15)

15. Detroit (10-10): Hill, Stackhouse getting to line 24 times a game, making 81% of them. (17)

16. Philadelphia (11-12): Brown tired of lecturing Hughes, now looking to deal him. (18)

17. Atlanta (9-10): It can’t last but: Rider averages 28.6, leading the Hawks on a 6-2 run. (19)

18. Cleveland (10-9): Sura averaging 15 which is pretty good, compared to last season’s 4.3. (20)

19. Denver (10-10): It’s either mirage or turning point; Nuggets go 3-2 on East trip. (21)

20. Orlando (10-10): Well, Magic has balance, anyway. Reserves scoring 51% of points. (16)

21. Minnesota (7-10): Timberwolves are still rolling and tumbling after starting 5-2. (12)

22. Washington (6-16): Bad news: Shallow-pockets owner Pollin says he won’t sell team after all.(22)

23. Houston (7-15): The only question left now is how high in the lottery can the Rockets get? (23)

24. Dallas (8-14): Maybe frontline could use help: Mavs getting outrebounded by 12 a game. (24)

25. New Jersey (5-16): At least Casey will have won more than Calipari, who was fired at 3-17. (27)

26. Clippers (4-16): This would be surprise if we hadn’t seen it on annual basis for two decades. (25)

27. Golden State (4-16): Just when you thought they’d quit, and gone home, they win two on road. (28)

28. Vancouver (4-16): Oh-oh: GM Jackson isn’t taking calls so no one can ask about Coach Hill. (26)

29. Chicago (2-16): Perdue is a 5-3-3 man: $5 million, three points a game, three rebounds. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

INDIANA PACERS at TORONTO RAPTORS

When--Tuesday. Time--5 p.m. PST.

* Story line--Two powers of the Central Division, such as it is, square off. The Pacers seem to be out of their early funk. The Raptors have two of the game’s most exciting young players, Vince Carter and free-agent-to-be Tracy McGrady.