NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

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

1. Lakers (54-12) Famous last words: “He can’t hurt it any more by playing on it.” (1)

2. Utah (43-21) Don’t look now, but the old gentlemen just put together a 16-3 run. (3)

3. Portland (50-16) While Lakers lose on road, Trail Blazers lose at home to Timberwolves to lock up No. 3 seeding. (4)

4. Indiana (45-21) Proving East’s top four are this close, Pacers just lost at home to Heat. (2)

5. Phoenix (41-23) Where do they go from here? Suns 1-7 vs. three Western teams ahead of them. (6)

6. San Antonio (42-24) Wounded Duncan’s average drops to 17.3 in March as Spurs’ troubles continue. (5)

7. Miami (42-23) Doug Collins, on watching Tim Hardaway try to come back: “It makes me ache.” (7)

8. New York (40-24) Little early for “finals preview,” but tabloids are psyched for this one. (8)

9. Toronto (38-26) Where Raptors stop, nobody knows: They go 10-1 as Carter averages 29.4. (9)

10. Seattle (40-27) Baker’s average actually going down: 16.2 in February, 15.8 this month. (10)

11. Minnesota (38-26) Meet best team nobody knows about: Timberwolves 30-13 since 8-13 start. (11)

12. Sacramento (38-27) Even home fans are booing their Just-Doesn’t-Get-It Kid, Jason Williams. (12)

13. Philadelphia (36-28) Brown, Iverson in what may be final showdown. Oddsmakers favor the kid. (13)

14. Charlotte (35-29) Under .500 this year. How would Hornets look to Jones after first-round KO? (14)

15. Detroit (32-32) Pistons timed Gentry firing so Irvine could have first six at home but they’re over. (15)

16. Orlando (31-35) Still four-team race to see whose losing record is worth a playoff berth. (16)

17. Milwaukee (31-35) When Big Dog was rookie, he got to line 6.2 times a game. Now he’s at 3.1. (17)

18. New Jersey (28-36) Where would Nets be without 2-15 start? In No. 7 slot, 2 1/2 up on Pistons. (18)

19. Boston (30-36) Celtics just went on 6-1 run, but seven of their next nine are on road. (19)

20. Dallas (27-38) Cuban gets Del Harris to coach defense. It’s working better than his last bright idea. (21)

21. Denver (27-39) Kind of hard to believe Nuggets were 15-13 on New Year’s Day, isn’t it? (20)

22. Cleveland (25-40) Honor Kemp as one of greatest Cavaliers, but with no team official at ceremony. (21)

23. Houston (24-41) Francis should ask his pal, the commish, if he can be rookie of year too. (19)

24. Atlanta (24-40) So much for Rider era: Another NBA city where they’ll never forget him. (23)

25. Washington (22-45) Jordan didn’t like media noting Laker game was first he had been to this month. (27)

26. Vancouver (18-48) Veteran leadership: Doug West announces, “Golf season is around the corner.” (25)

27. Golden State (17-48) No reason to tank since Magic has pick. Warriors just not very interested. (26)

28. Clippers (14-53) Management heads for bomb shelters: Sports Illustrated coming out with profile on Sterling. (29)

29. Chicago (13-52) Bulls need Tex or Mike back: Last in scoring, Floyd may scrap triangle. (28)

* GAME OF THE WEEK--Lakers at New York, 9 a.m. today, Ch. 4: It’s NBC’s game of the year so far. But to the Lakers, who have all but wrapped up best record, it’s mostly a chance to show off.