NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (record) Comment (last week’s ranking)

1. Portland (13-2) Looks like the real deal. Fast-starting Trail Blazers played first 10 on road. (1)

2. San Antonio (12-3) Good news: Porter has been great. Bad news: Avery Johnson losing time, pressing. (2)

3. Sacramento (9-1) No, I don’t think the Kings are really this good, but it’s fun while it lasts. (5)

4. Seattle (10-3) Who was it who said SuperSonics were, over, out of here, finished, history? Oh, me. (4)

5. Miami (10-3) Mourning says Heat has shot at 72 wins, after which team loses to the 3-7 Hawks. (3)

6. Lakers (10-4) So much for O’Neal and the 11 Dwarfs. When does the real team get here? (6)

7. Toronto (9-5) Half-man, half-amazing: Now everyone in the West knows who Carter is, too. (7)

8. Phoenix (9-4) Ainge off hot seat (for moment) as Suns win four in row after Colangelo rip. (11)

9. Milwaukee (8-6) Little Eastern tykes: Karl says he held breath, sending out runts vs. Spurs. (8)

10. Utah (7-6) It’s been three games since anyone but Malone, Stockton or Hornacek reached double figures. (10)

11. Minnesota (6-5) Anthony Peeler, shooting under 40% in two of three seasons, is under again. (9)

12. Charlotte (8-6) Baron Davis better hit or another team will catch flak for passing on Odom. (14)

13. Detroit (7-6) Stirred by Hill rumors, go on win streak. Losses will return, with rumors. (18)

14. Indiana (7-6) Pacers have one victory vs. winning team--against 1-0 Boston in opener. (12)

15. Boston (7-7) Falling back into middle of pack while playing nine of first 14 at home. (13)

16. Denver (6-6) If Nuggets keep this going, Van Exel, Mercer make up one of league’s best backcourts. (19)

17. New York (7-7) Knicks limp home with Ewing, Johnson, Camby and won-loss record hurting. (15)

18. Cleveland (6-6) Surprise: With Ilgauskas out and Kemp at 280, Cavaliers are still going. (16)

19. Philadelphia (7-8) Iverson is out, but Hughes showing he can play. (17)

20. Orlando (6-7) World hasn’t fallen in on Magic yet, but it’s playing four of five away. (23)

21. Atlanta (5-9) Moribund: 11,279 (announced) in new 20,000-seat arena as Hawks beat Heat. (20)

22. Clippers (4-9) They have six bona fide athletes; maybe they could loan Lakers some. (25)

23. Dallas (5-9) Another big-timer toils in anonymity: Michael Finley, averaging 22. (22)

24. Vancouver (3-10) Abdur-Rahim is sixth in rebounding and 13th in scoring. (21)

25. Washington (4-10) Howard says he wants to carry team and gets 16 points in the next two games. (26)

26. Houston (3-11) Olajuwon went home from four-game trip because of shoulder injury. (24)

27. New Jersey (2-12) Nice knowing you: Owner says Casey “to be here next week and next month.” (28)

28. Golden State (2-10) Starks grumbling about shots: “If my teammates are down on me, so what?” (27)

29. Chicago (1-12) Looks like Bulls make another run at 72, but this time it’ll be losses. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS at SEATTLE

When--Tuesday. Time--7 p.m. TV--Channel 9.

* Story line--The Lakers’ chief rivals, for the moment, aren’t the big boys, Portland and San Antonio, but Sacramento, Phoenix and Seattle. The SuperSonics missed the playoffs last season but have pulled themselves together, with Vin Baker returning to form and big contributions from newcomers Horace Grant, Brent Barry, Ruben Patterson and Vern Maxwell (18.8 points in 28.2 minutes a game).