THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

NBA RANKINGS AND COMMENTS:

*--* Rk Team (Rec.) Comment (last week’s position) 1 SAN ANTONIO (60-22) If Spurs are just rebuilding, they’ll be something when they’re rebuilt. (1) 1 SACRAMENTO (59-23) What will the Kings do if they don’t win, go out and get more players? (2) 3 LAKERS (50-32) At least we’ll know if they lose from now on, it wasn’t out of boredom. (3) 4 DALLAS (50-22) Nelson spoiled Mad Mark with early run. Now will Cuban ax him for early out?(4) 5 MINNESOTA (51-31) Problem in playoffs: Timberwolves always play hard. Now everyone else does too. (5) 6 PORTLAND (50-32) Stop me if you’ve heard this one: They have to bust up Wild Bunch this time.(6) 7 NEW JERSEY (49-33) Mutombo isn’t even starting, so the Nets are just a good, little team. (8) 8 UTAH (47-35) Hard truth for these arch-competitors: The Jazz is merely competitive now. (8) 9 DETROIT (50-32) Carlisle is 100-64 in two seasons with team that was 32-50 when he arrived. (7) 10 PHILADELPHIA (48-34) Thank heavens for Roy Williams: Next season will be No. 7 for Brown, Iverson! (7) 11 INDIANA (48-34) Isiah off to slow start in playoffs, keeps Reggie out as they blow lead. (10) 12 NEW ORLEANS (47-35) On behalf of people assigned to cover NBA Finals, two words: Go Hornets! (12) 13 PHOENIX (44-38) So much for that pick. Suns don’t look like 10-1 underdog to Spurs now. (13) 14 HOUSTON (43-39) Hype, no summer off, cultural clash and all, Yao was truly impressive. (14) 15 BOSTON (44-38) Best junk that Pitino stuff, get some size and give the ball to Paul. (16) 16 GOLDEN STATE (38-44) Before Musselman, clueless kids didn’t compete. Now at least they compete. (17) 17 MILWAUKEE (43-39) If Karl has anything left, now would be good time to show it. (18) 18 ORLANDO (42-40) Still seeking big guys -- as Magic has for seven years since Shaq left. (15) 19 SEATTLE (40-42) Nor does future look sparkling with Rockets, Warriors set to move up. (19) 20 NEW YORK (37-45) Dolan’s second year, second year Garden dark with Knicks, Rangers out. (21) 21 WASHINGTON (37-45) Before Jordan was transcendent. Last time around, just a basketball player. (20) 22 CHICAGO (30-52) Kids began happening, Krause left -- what more could they have wished for? (22) 23 MEMPHIS (28-54) Under Mr. Clutch, broke club win mark by five, went 28-41 after 0-13 start. (23) 24 ATLANTA (35-47) Oops: GM poll predicted this would be most improved team. Instead, this. (23) 25 CLIPPERS (27-55) Sterling’s masterpiece: Just staged first season that ended before it began. (27) 26 MIAMI (25-57) Will they be rebuilt when Riley’s deal ends in ’05 and if not, what then? (25) 27 TORONTO (24-58) This was supposed to be season Carter showed who he was. Maybe it was. (26) 28 DENVER (17-65) Given what he had, Bzdelik could have gotten some coach-of-year votes. (28) 29 CLEVELAND (17-65) Had way more talent than the Nuggets, and they played in the East too. (29)

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