NBA

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

1. Portland (41-11) All wearing headbands except Sabonis, who can’t find one big enough. (1)

2. Lakers (40-11) Paradigm shift? Shaq makes free throws, Kobe averages 6.9 assists this month. (2)

3. San Antonio (33-18) Popovich breaking up furniture as defending champs play like retirees on road. (3)

4. Indiana (34-17) Jalen Rose, upset at not being an all-star, averaging 21.8 in February. (4)

5. New York (31-19) For all their turmoil, the Knicks are 20-10 since Ewing rejoined them. (7)

6. Seattle (33-21) 20-year-old Rashard Lewis breaks out, scoring 21, 30 off bench in week. (6)

7. Miami (31-19) Riley has some decisions to make after Heat loses to Bulls and Nets. (5)

8. Sacramento (31-20) Now if Kings can teach Jason difference between All-Star game and season . . . (8)

9. Utah (31-19) Won only 11 of 20 and still looking for help in middle (Ike Austin?). (9)

10. Phoenix (31-19) Suns going nuts, trying to trade for a real center, Mutombo or Ewing. (10)

11. Charlotte (29-21) 12 points a game? 7.5 rebounds? Still looks like Our Elden to me. (12)

12. Philadelphia (28-23) Oops: Insiders say free agent-to-be Kukoc isn’t wild about Philly. (13)

13. Minnesota (28-22) Worried about piling minutes on Garnett, but they’re no good without him. (11)

14. Toronto (27-23) Price of fame: Raptors’ opponents are now loading up for Vince Carter. (14)

15. Milwaukee (27-26) Remember Tractor Traylor? Anyone who wants him can have him. (15)

16. Detroit (25-26) Not that Pistons are bad on defense: Only team worse is Clippers, who don’t try. (16)

17. Orlando (25-27) No-names set to post sixth win in row before Shaq broke Magic’s hearts. (17)

18. Denver (23-28) Heat’s on Antonio (Too Nice) McDyess to show he’s $9.9-million worth. (18)

19. Boston (22-30) Celtics are 3 1/2 games out of the last playoff slot and dropping fast. (19)

20. Houston (21-31) Stern, Rockets run usual low-life scam to scare city into funding arena. (20)

21. New Jersey (20-31) Tick, tick, tick: President Rowe goes on road to see what problem is. (21)

22. Dallas (21-29) Rodmania fades. Attendance off 7,000 for Game 2. He’s off for Game 3. (22)

23. Cleveland (21-31) Out to move Kemp, but he has four years on back-loaded deal at $73 million. (23)

24. Atlanta (20-29) Rider in annual pre-trade deadline funk, waiting to see if he’s going. (24)

25. Vancouver (16-35) So much for new regime: Heisley hires gasbag Versace as “consultant.” (25)

26. Washington (15-37) Let’s see, Jordan fired coach. What else can he do? Oh. Nothing. (26)

27. Chicago (12-38) Smooth: Krause acquires Jordan’s No. 1 pick, keeps Kukoc away from Phil Jackson. (27)

28. Golden State (13-37) With lowest attendance in the league, Warriors hope fans like Larry Hughes. (28)

29. Clippers (11-42) Even in long, desolate history of franchise, this season stands out. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS at PHILADELPHIA

When--Today. Time--2:30 PST. TV--Ch. 4.

* Story line--If NBC (as in ratings Never Been Crummier) has a prayer, it’s that the Shaq-Kobe Lakers become the team they’re supposed to. The 76ers, 23-15 after a 5-8 start, hope newly acquired Toni Kukoc balances out their team. In last year’s game at Philadelphia, Allen Iverson hit Kobe and the Lakers for 41 points in a 105-90 victory.