THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

*--* MIDSEASON CHAMPION 1. DALLAS (44-9) Good news: The Mavericks are great. Bad news: There’s no midseason championship. (1) POSSE CHASING MAVERICKS 2. PHOENIX (39-13) Can you spell MVP? Suns 151-49 with Nash last three seasons, 4-12 without him. (2) 3. SAN ANTONIO (35-18) Hold the wake: Spurs went into the break with nice wins in New Jersey and Detroit. (3) 4. UTAH (35-17) Deron Williams, almost an All-Star, averages 19.8 as Jazz wins last six. (5) 5. DETROIT (32-19) Not what they were, but neither is East the Pistons won by 12 games last season. (4) 6. HOUSTON (33-19) Fabulous half season for what was once Yao, McGrady and 10 nobodies. (6) 7. CLEVELAND (31-22) James looked OK getting 38 vs. Lakers for a guy who’s out on his feet. (8) 8. TORONTO (29-24) Raptors are 26-15 after 3-9 start, now lead Atlantic by 4 1/2 games. (10) ALL THEY’RE CHASING IS THEIR OWN TAILS 9. LAKERS (30-24) Bottled lightning in 23-11 start. About what people had expected since. (7) 10. CHICAGO (29-25) Bulls trying to decide whether to deal. Losing five of six could be a clue. (11) 11. WASHINGTON (29-21) Wizards are to the East race what Sgt. Bilko’s platoon was to the Army. (9) 12. INDIANA (28-24) Finding rivals even more messed up than they are, Pacers beat Clippers, Grizzlies. (12) 13. MIAMI (26-26) With Kapono leading three-point shooters at gaudy 56%, Heat ready to make move. (16) 14. DENVER (26-25) Iverson has played only six with Anthony, but this would be big hole for Shaq, Kobe. (13) 15. NEW ORLEANS (25-28) On Jan. 8 Byron Scott’s team was 12-22, six games out of last playoff spot. (17) 16. ORLANDO (27-26) Redick started late because of injury, averaging 11 off bench this month. (15) 17. MINNESOTA (25-27) Role model for Clippers: Timberwolves ain’t much but they compete. (19) 18. CLIPPERS (25-28) Valentine’s Day uniforms closest they’ve come lately to showing any heart. (14) WAIT ‘TIL NEXT YEAR OR ONE OF THESE YEARS 19. NEW JERSEY (25-29) Lost in Jersey and in general: Nets 4 1/2 games back in Atlantic, shopping their stars. (18) 20. GOLDEN STATE (25-29) Baron Davis gets knee scoped, meaning Warriors are working on next season. (21) 21. NEW YORK (23-30) Matching last season’s wins with owner interested only in PR, Thomas appears safe. (22) 22. PORTLAND (22-32) Promising young roster has already topped last season’s 21 wins. (23) 23. SACRAMENTO (22-29) You’re so over (cont.): After 5-0 run, Kings went into break on 0-3 swoon. (20) 24. SEATTLE (20-32) Rashard Lewis gets 23 in second game back as Sonics win in Sacramento. (24) 25. MILWAUKEE (19-34) GM says “now’s not the time” to talk about Stotts. Translation: Goner. (25) 26. PHILADELPHIA (17-36) Dalembert awakens, averaging 10 rebounds, 2.5 blocks since Jan. 1. (26) 27. ATLANTA (21-31) Who woke you up? Hawks started 4-1, then went 14-29, finished with 3-1 West trip. (27) 28. CHARLOTTE (19-33) Tell Jordan his team is on pace to break last season’s record 26 wins. (28) 29. MEMPHIS (14-40) Rudy Gay shot 32% for first three months, at 50% this month. (29) 30. BOSTON (13-38) On behalf of 50 years of Celtics tradition, thank heavens for the Bucks. (30)

*--*