NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

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

1. Utah (20-8) Could be oldest lineup ever: Jazz starters average 35.2 years of age. (1)

2. Lakers (20-9) Chemistry still weird, but if they’ve got it going, no one can deal with them. (5)

3. San Antonio (17-10) Robinson, now 35, needs to kick it up from current 13 points, 8.4 rebounds. (6)

4. Sacramento (19-7) Adelman, in trouble before season, gets extension from giddy Maloofs. (7)

5. Portland (18-10) Another once-proud defense: Just gave up 106, 116 in consecutive losses. (3)

6. Phoenix (16-9) Marion averaged 19 points, 13 rebounds last month, is at 11-9 in this one. (4)

7. Philadelphia (18-8) So much for the happiest story of the season in the woebegone East. (2)

8. Charlotte (19-9) It wasn’t Hornets’ idea to trade Eddie Jones for P.J. Brown and Jamal Mashburn, but now it’s a steal. (10)

9. Dallas (18-11) Mavericks are for real? They just played 16 of 21 on the road and went 13-8. (9)

10. Seattle (15-13) Early-season promise finally shows as SuperSonics start 9-3 under McMillan. (13)

11. Minnesota (15-13) Looks like Timberwolves and Seattle for No. 8 in West--and they’re the underdog. (8)

12. Cleveland (15-10) Oh oh: Ilgauskas, who sat out two seasons because of foot injury, tweaks it again. (11)

13. New York (16-12) Thanks for coming: New York Post says Knicks already are shopping Rice. (12)

14. Milwaukee (14-12) Karl back in love with Robinson, who’s averaging 25 in December. (14)

15. Miami (15-14) 56 vs. Charlotte? Riley’s Showtime teams used to get that before halftime. (15)

16. Toronto (14-13) For what it’s worth: East’s top scoring center, Davis, is averaging 13.6. (16)

17. Denver (14-14) Now everyone will have to try this: Nuggets go 4-1 after their mutiny. (19)

18. Houston (13-13) Didn’t you used to be: Shandon Anderson, starting guard, averages 6.3 points. (17)

19. Indiana (12-16) Croshere takes new $50-million deal and 36% shooting to bench with him. (18)

20. Detroit (12-15) Career rebirth: Joe Smith averaging 16 points, 9.4 rebounds as starter. (20)

21. Orlando (12-14) Gulp: Suddenly they’re looking at the possibility of no Hill this season. (21)

22. Boston (11-16) More Pitino magic: Potapenko, who got $30 million, averaging 20 minutes. (22)

23. Clippers (10-18) Odom deserves all-star berth--but 10 West forwards are scoring more. (23)

24. Atlanta (9-18) Since Hawks’ 0-7 start, they’ve become a pretty mediocre little team. (27)

25. Golden State (8-19) Nice knowing you, Erick Dampier: Marc Jackson averages 22 points in last six. (24)

26. New Jersey (9-18) Who’s running this team? Marbury bristles after Scott moves him to two guard. (25)

27. Vancouver (8-19) New GM Versace has everyone on block as new owner Heisley bemoans losses. (26)

28. Washington (5-23) Players bristle at Jordan rips. Press upset he’s doing it in Chicago papers. (28)

29. Chicago (3-24) Needed: lives. Still averaging 21,638 to watch, uh, whatever this is. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

PORTLAND AT LAKERS

* When--Monday. * Time--2:30 p.m. * TV--Ch. 4.

* Story line--Ho, ho, ho and a Merry Christmas to everyone but these two teams, who get to beat on each other for your holiday viewing pleasure. Neither team is playing as well as last season, when the Lakers won 67 games and the Trail Blazers won 59, so they both have something to prove.