THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

Mark Heisler’s NBA rankings with comments

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

1 Lakers (23-6) Welcome back Gen. Patton, it was way quiet around here with you gone. (3)

2 San Antonio (23-8) “We’re not a 20-5 team,” Popovich says. Proving him astute, Spurs go 3-3. (1)

3 Sacramento (25-9) Nobody to mess with in Mayberry RFD: Kings 18-1 at home, best in NBA. (2)

4 Dallas (22-11) After 10-0 run, Hardaway says they feel ‘unbeatable.’ So then they go 0-2. (4)

5 Minnesota (23-9) That which can’t kill you, like your commissioner, must make you stronger. (5)

6 Milwaukee (18-12) Big 4 woes: Allen, Robinson are hurt, Cassell pouting, Karl is Karl. (6)

7 New Jersey (21-11) Raising franchise from grave will get Kidd major consideration for MVP. (7)

8 Toronto (18-14) Alvin Williams gets it back: Averaged 9.6 in November, 14.4 in December. (11)

9 Boston (20-12) Magic says he’s eager for Laker-Celtic finals. Why not, he’s a Laker owner. (8)

10 Utah (17-16) Free-agent-to-be Marshall having career year, averaging 17-8, shooting 56%. (9)

11 Washington (17-14) We weren’t only ones writing them off: Jordan says he was “a little nervous.” (14)

12 Indiana (20-15) What’s going on here? That was quality win, on the road, in San Antonio? (12)

13 Clippers (18-15) All but unnoticed, Olowokandi had fine month, averaging 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks. (13)

14 Phoenix (18-16) Skiles considers 12 heart transplants as 76ers win by 21 in America West. (10)

15 Seattle (16-16) Guess who moved into rotation ahead of Shammond Williams? Earl Watson. (15)

16 Orlando (17-18) Looks like their annual OK-now-we-know-Hill-won’t-be-back rally. (18)

17 Detroit (16-15) Fun while it lasted: Pistons score 85 points a game as they go 1-8. (16)

18 Charlotte (14-18) Oops: Co-owner Wooldridge misses Jan. 1 deadline he set to choose new city. (19)

19 Philadelphia (14-19) Now just a matter of whether it’ll be a polite divorce or a messy one. (20)

20 Miami (7-23) Did the worms just turn? Heat wins at Indiana, Boston in first signs of life. (28)

21 New York (14-18) Where to turn? Knicks have more scapegoats than can point fingers at each other. (21)

22 Portland (14-18) Whitsitt reportedly considers trading Wallace to a planet closer to home. (17)

23 Cleveland (13-20) Bringing him along slowly: Ilgauskas, back for a month, averaging 18 minutes. (23)

24 Memphis (9-23) Grizzlies buying out Big Country, whose back hurts him and contract hurts them. (24)

25 Houston (10-23) Some think he’s a tweener but rookie Griffin averages 19 in six starts. (26)

26 Golden State (12-21) Our gift to the East: Not-Such-Warriors are 0-3 on their four-game trip. (22)

27 Denver (10-21) Well, he’s steady anyway: LaFrentz’s scoring averages: 14-12-13-13. (25)

28 Atlanta (12-20) Kruger starts 11 Hawks, seeking right combo. He’d better warm up No. 12. (27)

29 Chicago (6-26) Not that they hated Floyd but they celebrated with two-game win streak. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS AT TORONTO

When--Today Time--12:10 p.m. TV--Ch. 9

Another week light on glamour matchups. After spending most of their first two months at home, the Lakers are off to see the world, with Shaquille O’Neal hobbled and everyone out to get them.