THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

MARK HEISLER’S NBA RANKINGS, COMMENTS (Last week’s rank)

*--* AND THEN THERE WAS ONE 1. DALLAS (41-9) Remember when the Mavericks were 0-4? They’re 41-5 since. (1) EFFETE EAST CRASHES TOP FIVE 2. PHOENIX (39-11) Good news: Banks comes to life. Bad news: Suns just went 0-3 without Nash. (2) 3. SAN ANTONIO (33-17) “Rodeo trip” used to turn Spurs’ seasons around. So far they’re just 2-3. (3) 4. DETROIT (31-18) Another nice move by Joe Dumars, who jumped all over Webber opportunity. (7) 5. UTAH (33-17) Memo Fever: With Boozer out Okur averages 27 as Jazz goes 4-0. (4) 6. HOUSTON (32-18) Yao due back March 1 with six of eight at home until then. (5) 7. LAKERS (30-21) Behind Jackson’s sharp tongue: He knows odds are against them in West. (6) 8. CLEVELAND (29-21) How’s this? After Wade says he lacks pep, James gets 29 in rout of Heat. (10) 9. WASHINGTON (28-20) Big Three Minus One: Since Antawn Jamison left, they’re 1-3. (8) 10. TORONTO (27-24) Now 24-15 since 3-9 start as shooters like Calderon, Garbajosa dial in. (14) 11. CHICAGO (28-23) If Bulls just need to lose some to make Gasol deal, it could be any day. (9) HAVE ISSUES, WILL TRAVEL 12. INDIANA (26-24) Season’s now in the hands of Pacers’ defense lawyers. (11) 13. DENVER (25-24) Iverson and Anthony still have played only six games together, losing four. (13) 14. CLIPPERS (25-25) Dear Donald: Maybe you need to meet with Maggette next. (12) 15. ORLANDO (26-26) Howard in dunk contest. Unfortunately, that’s about the limit of his range. (15) 16. MIAMI (24-26) So near yet so far: One win from .500 mark, lose at Cleveland -- by 24. (19) 17. NEW ORLEANS (24-27) Hornets 4-1 with Paul back, by far best chemistry of West teams going for No. 8. (20) 18. NEW JERSEY (25-27) Not only fading, management is shopping Carter, who can opt out in summer. (16) 19. MINNESOTA (23-27) Blowing eight-point fourth-quarter lead at Memphis drops Wittman to 3-6. (17) 20. SACRAMENTO (22-26) Hint of things to come? UC Irvine’s Scott Brooks 3-0 as interim coach. (25) 21. GOLDEN STATE (24-27) MRI exam on Davis’ knee looks bad enough to get second opinion here. (18) 22. NEW YORK (22-29) Eddy Curry, now game’s top low-post threat, averaging 22 since Dec. 1. (21) WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR OR ONE OF THESE YEARS 23. PORTLAND (21-30) Best player who didn’t even get All-Star mention: Randolph averaging 24-10. (22) 24. SEATTLE (18-32) Bob Hill, dead coach walking. Question is if Sonics are walking to Oklahoma too. (24) 25. MILWAUKEE (19-32) Why hurry? Redd’s return set back to next week or the one after or ... (26) 26. PHILADELPHIA (17-34) Improving morale, if not draft position, 76ers just won seven of 12. (28) 27. ATLANTA (19-30) Suns fans boo Johnson, who drops 32 on their team in Hawks’ 120-111 shocker. (29) 28. CHARLOTTE (18-33) So much for that boomlet: After 11-8 run, Bobcats just lost four in row. (23) 29. MEMPHIS (13-39) Team says West is selling home to find something smaller. Like in Malibu. (27) AND THEN THERE WAS ONE 30. BOSTON (12-37) Some millenniums are better than others. (30)

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