THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

Team (record), Comment (last week’s rank)

1 SAN ANTONIO (20-7) Kobe’s MVP competition, Duncan, on career pace in scoring, rebounds and blocks. (1)

2 SACRAMENTO (22-9) Talk about short memories: Fans once giddy at .500, now booing Webber. (3)

3 LAKERS (20-6) You know that sense of urgency that has been missing? It’s about to return. (2)

4 DALLAS (21-9) One big man from elite status: Mavericks average 109 in nine-game win streak. (5)

5 MINNESOTA (19-9) Szczerbiak’s mouth gets him in trouble, but 52% shooting (47% on three-pointers) works. (4)

6 MILWAUKEE (18-9) Forty of Bucks’ last 50 games are vs. East: Good thing, otherwise they’d strangle Karl. (7)

7 NEW JERSEY (19-9) Nice tandem: Martin can play all the bigger or faster guys Van Horn can’t. (6)

8 BOSTON (18-10) Indiana’s loss was the Celtics’ gain: Assistant Harter gives them interior defense. (9)

9 UTAH (16-15) Malone may have missed it, but this is the best balance the Jazz has ever had. (15)

10 PHOENIX (18-13) People talk about Skiles’ “negativity,” but the Suns are still competitive. (12)

11 TORONTO (16-14) Have a seat, Hakeem: Keon Clark averages 14-11 with 2.5 blocks as a starter. (11)

12 INDIANA (18-14) Kids’ development carries them to high-water mark in Thomas’ two seasons. (14)

13 CLIPPERS (15-14) We’re still not sure who they are, but we’ll see: 25 of next 35 on road. (10)

14 WASHINGTON (15-14) Oops: Hamilton, Wizards’ leading scorer in 9-0 streak, out because of groin pull. (16)

15 SEATTLE (16-15) Yeah, I predicted this (not): Going-nowhere SuperSonics suddenly go 6-0. (20)

16 DETROIT (14-13) Don’t go West, young men: Pistons were 14-6 when 0-4 trip started them down chute. (8)

17 PORTLAND (13-15) Nice career choice/pickup: Anderson left Spurs for this, shooting 39%.(13)

18 ORLANDO (14-17) Anyway, now we know who’s going to win this season’s scoring race. (21)

19 CHARLOTTE (13-17) Mashburn works on stomach pull with Shaq’s therapist, but no word on return. (17)

20 PHILADELPHIA (12-18) Crunch time for Brown, the movable object, and Iverson, the resistant force. (18)

21 NEW YORK (13-16) Best recent news: Nets say they’d move to Garden if state doesn’t build arena.(19)

22 GOLDEN STATE (12-18) Not-so-aptly-named Warriors showing some life under Winters, who’s 5-3. (27)

23 CLEVELAND (12-18) As advertised, big and soft, or Mihm’s the word: averaging a quiet 10-6. (22)

24 MEMPHIS (9-20) Suddenly not clueless: After their 1-11 start, Grizzlies are like a real team. (25)

25 DENVER (10-19) Good news: Fans so fed up, Vandeweghe can break up team and no one will care. (23)

26 HOUSTON (9-21) Stevie Franchise back, but Rockets need time to dig out. Say ‘til 2003. (28)

27 ATLANTA (11-19) With Floyd gone, Kruger last college coach. Soon there will be none. (24)

28 MIAMI (5-22) Can’t go without Mourning, who’s averaging 12 points his last seven games. (26)

29 CHICAGO (5-23) Krause says lots of guys wanted job but promotes assistant Cartwright. (29)

*

GAME OF THE WEEK

PHOENIX AT LAKERS

When--Friday Time--7:30 p.m. TV--Fox Sports Net

There are no compelling games, so we’ll make do with O’Neal’s scheduled return from the injured list, the first sign of whether his toe was a little problem.