NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

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

1. Lakers (61-12): Shaq will be unanimous MVP: Voters fear he’d hunt down dissenters one by one. (1)

2. San Antonio (47-25): Duncan is back: Averages 26 points, 16 rebounds, four assists in 5-0 run. (5)

3. Utah (49-23): Three Jazz players--Hornacek, Russell, Eisley--in top 30 in three-point shooting. (2)

4. Portland (53-19): Just lost four in row at home. Too many headbands, not enough go-to guys. (3)

5. Indiana (48-24): Proving they aren’t good enough to coast, even in the East, Pacers went 9-7 in March. (4)

6. Miami (45-26): Mourning’s big tab comes due: Riley has an old team, little to trade, no cap room. (6)

7. New York (45-27): Traveling Van Gundys in L.A. after beating Trail Blazers and SuperSonics on this trip. (7)

8. Philadelphia (42-30): Brown’s happy: His teams are known for late rolls and it’s only the East. (9)

9. Minnesota (44-28): Doughnut: As starting center, Garrett averages 2.1 points, 2.6 rebounds. (8)

10. Sacramento (41-30): Divac, under fire for uninspired play, just torched Patrick Ewing, 19-8. (10)

11. Phoenix (47-25): Hanging in, but next four are against Timberwolves, Lakers, Jazz and Kings. (11)

12. Seattle (41-31): Oops: SuperSonics trail season series with Kings, 2-1, with one more--at Sacramento. (12)

13. Toronto (40-32): Raptors go 1-6 as Oakley says they run too many plays for Carter. (13)

14. Charlotte (41-31): Oops: Now Eddie Jones says he needs arena issue resolved before he re-signs. (14)

15. Detroit (36-35): Oops: After 7-2 start under Irvine, Pistons go 1-3 with five of next six on road. (15)

16. Orlando (37-36): Couldn’t get Clipper interview, but it looks as if Rivers can coach a little. (16)

17. Milwaukee (34-38): Karl finds one to rebuild with, anyway: Allen averages 31 over four games. (17)

18. Dallas (31-41): In rare week in his young tenure, Mark Cuban didn’t do one dumb thing. (20)

19. New Jersey (31-41): Van Horn recovering, anyway: Averaged 21 points in March and shot 50%. (18)

20. Boston (30-43): Out of race, coach says city is negative, and now Celtics have dissension too. (19)

21. Denver (30-43): Van Exel, as the bottom drops out: “It’s [messed] up around here right now.” (21)

22. Cleveland (29-43): Good news: After Fratello, scoring 10 more a game. Bad news: Everything else. (22)

23. Washington (26-47): Jordan home in Chicago. Except for his news conference, it’s like last season. (25)

24. Houston (28-45): Garbage time? Shandon Anderson, dud all season, up to 15 a game in March. (23)

25. Atlanta (26-46): Big deal: Everyone aflutter as Wilkens, on way out, says Mutombo is no leader. (24)

26. Vancouver (19-52): One win gets Grizzlies to No. 20 for first time. Should have a 50-50 chance. (26)

27. Golden State (17-56): Don’t think Magic, which has Warriors’ pick, doesn’t appreciate 1-14 nose dive. (27)

28. Chicago (14-58): No longer in Pink Floyd: 65-loss pace has coach reviewing career choices. (28)

29. Clippers (14-59): Between boo-boos and mutinies, may not have enough bodies to finish season. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

SAN ANTONIO at LAKERS

When--Saturday. Time--5:30 p.m. TV--Channel 4.

* Story line--The Spurs have struggled in their title defense, but they still have two 7-footers to the Lakers’ one and Sean Elliott is back. Phil Jackson, who is trying to ease off but is also big on messages, may insist the Lakers do the sending, rather than the receiving.