THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

*--* IN A LEAGUE BY THEM -- ER, ITSELF 1. BOSTON (21-3) Bench gets five points in home loss to Pistons, so its time is coming too. (1) SHRUNKEN ELEPHANTS 2. SAN ANTONIO (19-7) We just learned who most valuable Spur is: They went 1-3 as Tony Parker rested. (2) 3. DETROIT (19-7) Can still play when they’re into it and Rasheed doesn’t lose it. (3) 4. DALLAS (19-9) Just went 5-0, so it might be a tad early to write them off. (4) 5. PHOENIX (19-8) Why people are wondering: Last year at this time they were on 33-3 run. (5) IF NO ONE DOMINATES, EVERYONE CAN DREAM 6. LAKERS (16-10) Let’s just say if Kwame starts, he’ll have NBA’s most overqualified backup.(10) 7. NEW ORLEANS (17-10) KG’s a lock for MVP, but if NO makes playoffs, CP will be up there IMHO. (6) 8. ORLANDO (18-10) $118-million signee Rashard Lewis has sore neck, averages 16 as Magic goes 2-6.(7) 9. PORTLAND (15-12) Another budding MVP: Roy averages 24, 6.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists in 10-0 run. (16) 10. DENVER (15-11) With J.R. Smith back in his doghouse, they’re happy to see Chucky Atkins. (9) 11. GOLDEN STATE (15-12) Someone’s in trouble: Terry, Stackhouse leading Baron Davis in All-Star vote. (11) 12. UTAH (15-14) Good news: Salvaged one win on Eastern trip. Better news: 30 of last 52 at home. (8) 13. TORONTO (15-14) 2006 No. 1 pick Bargnani averaging 15 minutes off bench this month. (12) 14. INDIANA (15-13) Tinsley having best season. Of course, for him, living through it is good. (15) 15. ATLANTA (14-12) Marvin Williams (finally) on a roll, gets 20-21-26-22 as Hawks go 4-0. (17) 16. WASHINGTON (13-13) Oops: Former Laker Butler in career year, averaging 22.4, 43% on threes. (13) 17. CLEVELAND (12-15) Lakers see what Varejao can do as his 15 rebounds put crimp in their trip. (18) 18. HOUSTON (13-14) Adelman asks announcer Drexler “Can you shoot?” as they lose 13 of 20. (14) 19. NEW JERSEY (12-15) Big Three Minus Two: Kidd has blues as does Carter’s scoring average. (23) OK, NOT EVERYONE 20. SACRAMENTO (11-14) Emerging Salmons averages 19 as Kings go 3-1 on road after 0-8 start. (24) 21. MILWAUKEE (11-15) Tracking up: Yi averaged 9.7 points, shot 41% in November; 11, 48% this month. (21) 22. PHILADELPHIA (11-16) In a bad place: not good, not awful, not interesting to their fan base. (20) 23. CHARLOTTE (10-15) Real reason MJ practiced with them is he thought they’d be way better. (25) 24. CHICAGO (9-16) If Kobe and Lakers split, they can always send him here and get even with him. (19) 25. MIAMI (8-19) At least that’s finally the real Dwyane Wade, averaging 29 over last nine. (29) 26. CLIPPERS (9-17) Nice offense: Frahm, whom they got off waivers, already No. 3 option? (22) 27. MEMPHIS (8-19) Gasol’s on way out, Darko’s Darko and they pass up Yi, Noah for Mike Conley? (26) 28. SEATTLE (8-19) What might carpetbaggers have done with Durant, Lewis and Allen? (27) 29. NEW YORK (8-18) What tough town? They can’t put together one little boycott of Cablevision? (28) 30. MINNESOTA (4-22) Should have tanked when they were looking at Oden and Durant, not Beasley. (30) *--*