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

1. Portland (24-10): Trail Blazers haven’t lost since leaving that lump of coal in Lakers’ sock Christmas Day. (1)

2. Lakers (23-10): We’re used to seeing Kobe Bryant take quantum leaps--but not every month. (2)

3. Philadelphia (24-8): Since Iverson was hurt, he’s averaging 38, shooting 55.7% (3)

4. San Antonio (21-11): Spurs still haven’t played their best ball. Of course, neither have Lakers, Trail Blazers. (5)

5. Sacramento (21-9): Divac’s minutes, points and rebounds drop to 28, 10 and 8.6 a game. (4)

6. Phoenix (20-11): It’s January, do you know where your $10-million-a-year shooting guard is? (8)

7. Utah (21-13): It ain’t over, but it’s getting late: For first time, Sloan uses O (old) word. (6)

8. New York (21-12): Fans, media want run’n’gun Knicks, but Van Gundy keeps grinding it out. (12)

9. Charlotte (21-13): Just your basic East power getting some of that (1-4) Western hospitality. (7)

10. Dallas (22-13): Comeback player of year: Nash almost doubling 1999-2000 average of 8.6. (9)

11. Miami (20-15): Riley: Ceballos has to get down to 230 to play. Problem: he started at 252. (14)

12. Minnesota (19-15): Would like to move Brandon and his $8.4-million salary, play Billups at point. (10)

13. Milwaukee (18-14): One thing Bucks can do: Scored 100 a game, went 10-4 in December. (13)

14. Seattle (17-17): Payton has strained groin. I don’t even want to think about how he got it. (11)

15. Denver (18-15): Now everyone will want one (cont.): Nuggets 6-3 since the mutiny. (17)

16. Cleveland (16-15): Cavaliers celebrate getting Jackson, but he isn’t same JJ who left Ohio State. (16)

17. Toronto (15-17): Bright side: Still on pace to win 38 games and finish seventh in East. (15)

18. Houston (16-17): Tomjanovich has a trick: go small and out-quick ‘em with Francis and Mobley. (18)

19. Indiana (15-19): Perkins on starting again: “If I’m out there, you know something’s wrong.” (21)

20. Orlando (14-19): Last season it was one for all, all for one. Now it’s just Tracy McGrady. (19)

21. Detroit (14-20): Oops: Pistons play nine of 15 on road this month, 11 against winning teams. (20)

22. Atlanta (12-21): Brevin Knight just looking for a place that needs pint-sized point guard. (22)

23. Boston (12-22): Leave of absence? This guy can’t even quit without making it a soap opera. (23)

24. Clippers (11-23): Kids: After two good games, forgot they were scheduled to play Friday too. (24)

25. Golden State (11-22): Find of season: Marc Jackson averaged 2.8 in November, 15.3 in December. (25)

26. New Jersey (11-22): Averaging 25, shooting 46%--this year they’ll have to make Marbury an all-star. (26)

27. Vancouver (9-23): Seems like another century when Grizzlies started 4-1. Actually, it was. (27)

28. Chicago (6-26): OK, so they won’t be worst ever: Krause’s Bulls go 3-2, beat Jordan’s Wizards. (29)

29. Washington (7-27): Strickland on sit-down strike, claiming bad shoulder, hamstrings, whatever. (28)

GAME OF THE WEEK

PORTLAND at PHILADELPHIA

When--Wednesday. Time--5 p.m. PST. TV--TNT.

* Story line--The Trail Blazers, who looked as though they were on the verge of their own players’ uprising, turned it around at Staples Center on Christmas and haven’t looked back. But now they’re on a five-game Eastern swing while the Lakers play five of six at home. The scrappy 76ers in Philadelphia are a tough test for anyone.