THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

*--* ELEPHANTS 1. BOSTON (19-2) Who cares who they play? If they never lose, they must be pretty good. (2) 2. SAN ANTONIO (18-5) Who needs Duncan? Ginobili gets 37, 37, 14, 13 . . . OK, I guess they do. (1) ONCE AND PERHAPS FUTURE ELEPHANTS 3. DETROIT (16-7) Curse of Rasheed: They’re lost without him and on tightrope with him. (5) 4. DALLAS (16-9) First career ever messed up by MVP award: Nowitzki’s 20.8 average eight-year low. (7) 5. PHOENIX (17-7) Mysterioso: Lost three of four, including games to 2-15 Minnesota, 5-15 Miami. (3) HOPING TO GROW UP TO BE ELEPHANTS 6. NEW ORLEANS (15-9) Who is this guy? Chris Paul averaging 28.5 this month, shooting 49.6%. (8) 7. ORLANDO (17-8) Seeking real level: Just went 1-4, losing at home to Indiana, Atlanta, Memphis. (4) 8. UTAH (14-11) Unfortunately, unlike other Sloan teams, high-scoring Jazz doesn’t defend. (6) 9. DENVER (14-9) Of top 10 in free-throw attempts, one is over 30: 32-year-old, 165-pound Iverson. (9) 10. LAKERS (13-9) Paradise regained, almost: Kobe says he’s happy but won’t rescind trade demand.(11) 11. GOLDEN STATE (13-10) Hard to believe Davis wasn’t All-Star for four years, but that’s over. (10) 12. TORONTO (14-10) Kapono, No. 1 in three-point shooting last season, No. 2 now at 54%. (14) 13. WASHINGTON (13-10) Eddie Jordan, thought to be goner, keeps head above water without Arenas. (16) 14. HOUSTON (12-12) Owner who fired Van Gundy for going 52-30 wants answers from Adelman. (12) 15. INDIANA (12-12) American Baghdad: Jamaal Tinsley’s Indianapolis. (13) 16. PORTLAND (11-12) However many elite teams West has, when Oden arrives there will be one more. (21) 17. ATLANTA (11-12) Super-athlete Josh Smith breaking out, averaging 21 as Hawks go 5-1. (18) 18. CLEVELAND (10-14) Good news: LeBron, Varejao back. Bad news: They’re 1-2 with them. (15) 19. CHICAGO (8-13) Bulls no longer look so promising with fewer pushovers in East. (17) HAVE TO GO TO ZOO TO SEE ELEPHANTS 20. PHILADELPHIA (10-14) Eddie Stefanski rally now up to 5-1 as 76ers take off under new GM. (24) 21. MILWAUKEE (10-13) If they held 2005 draft over, No. 1 pick Bogut might not make top 10. (19) 22. CLIPPERS (9-13) Bad as they looked when they went on road, we weren’t sure they’d be back.(22) 23. NEW JERSEY (10-14) Sounding less than convinced, teammates back Kidd but lose five of six. (20) 24. SACRAMENTO (9-14) Clippers could have signed Udrih for $350K. Now he’s here averaging 15. (23) 25. CHARLOTTE (8-14) Okafor scores 25 vs. Clippers as his guards finally notice he’s there. (26) 26. MEMPHIS (7-16) If they held 2003 draft over, No. 2 pick Milicic might not make first round. (27) 27. SEATTLE (7-18) Carpetbaggers seek taker -- Miami? -- for Ridnour’s $6.5-million salary. (28) PEOPLE WHO WALK BEHIND ELEPHANTS 28. NEW YORK (7-16) Vote of confidence or no, Isiah better not have many more weeks like this. (25) 29. MIAMI (6-17) Stick a fork in them: After inspirational win in Phoenix, went 0-2 at home. (29) 30. MINNESOTA (3-19) In showdown to see who’s worst, blew 15-point lead, lost to Seattle at home. (30) *--*