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

1. Portland (35-15) Like last season, Trail Blazers have easier second-half schedule than Lakers. (3)

2. Philadelphia (36-14) Not home free yet: Lost two of last three and Ratliff for six weeks. (1)

3. San Antonio (31-16) Went into break on 8-1 run, with Elliott, Johnson due back soon. (4)

4. Utah (32-15) Donyell Marshall got there fat, but his monthly averages are 7-12-18-21. (5)

5. Sacramento (31-15) 0-3 trip, no-show at Minnesota suggest Webber situation finally taking toll. (2)

6. Lakers (31-16) Memories: A year ago, went 3-0 before break . . . and won next 16 after it. (6)

7. New York (29-18) Camby, who once had no position, is in top 10 in rebounds, blocks and shooting. (8)

8. Miami (30-20) Mourning now sure he’ll be back--and still hoping to make it for this season. (7)

9. Minnesota (32-18) Garnett, the pride of Generation X, gets 70 as Timberwolves win 10th, 11th in a row. (10)

10. Dallas (31-19) Live by jump shot, die by jump shot but Mavericks have a lot of jump shooters. (9)

11. Milwaukee (29-18) Bucks have same deal as Mavericks with added advantage of being in East. (11)

12. Phoenix (28-20) Management wants to rip Suns apart, but Hardaway’s $67-million contract is killer. (12)

13. Seattle (28-24) McMillan has SuperSonics playing, but the pieces don’t fit very well. (13)

14. Denver (27-24) Lost six of seven. Snarling at refs. Soon could start in on each other. (14)

15. Charlotte (26-25) Going down tubes: Hornets started 20-9 and almost fell under .500 at break. (15)

16. Toronto (26-23) Divorce in works? Locals muttering that Carter is babying his sore knee. (16)

17. Orlando (25-23) Armstrong breaks out, averaging 23 as 6-0 run takes Magic to No. 7 in East. (17)

18. Houston (25-25) Kids: Francis late for Clipper loss, then totals 52 as Rockets rout Knicks, 76ers. (19)

19. Boston (22-27) Huh? No. 8 in East, 10-5 under O’Brien but seven-game Western swing looms. (21)

20. Indiana (21-27) Thomas changes lineups like immortal Dick Versace, but Pacers lose six of seven. (18)

21. Cleveland (20-27) Wittman asks unselfish Miller to start shooting more as Cavaliers lose 20 of 25. (20)

22. Detroit (19-31) Stackhouse says “legs are gone.” Upper body still strong enough to keep shooting. (23)

23. New Jersey (17-34) Nets go 3-0 in belated rally, but Scott will take anything he can get. (25)

24. Golden State (15-33) Blaylock, acquired for leadership, blows off practice to play golf. (24)

25. Clippers (16-34) Team holds up its end, however dizzily. Now let’s see if ownership can. (26)

26. Atlanta (16-33) Rebuilding project is on: now starting Mutombo and four who are 25 or younger. (22)

27. Washington (12-37) Howard having best season since he got his mega-deal, wins back boo birds. (27)

28. Vancouver (13-36) Stern won’t let Heisley out this easy, says he can find another buyer. (28)

29. Chicago (6-42) Hard to use “young” excuse anymore after Clipper kids dunk on their heads. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS AT PHILADELPHIA

* When--Wednesday. * Time--5 PST. * TV--Channel 9, TNT.

* Story line--The Lakers will be trying to recapture the magic, but they’ll have to start with a a six-game trip taking them from the East Coast to San Antonio. This will be their second stop (on the second night of a back-to-back), so it’ll be a challenge.