THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

*--* ELITE CLASS 1. SAN ANTONIO (5-1) Age, schmage: With Ginobili, Parker each averaging 20, Spurs could be better than ever. (1) 2. BOSTON (5-0) Not that they’re giddy but if Patriots can go unbeaten, why can’t Celtics? (4) 3. DALLAS (4-2) Shooting 51% to opponents’ 39%. In other words, they’re not going away. (5) 4. PHOENIX (4-2) At 33, creaky Nash averaging 23, shooting 59%, 59% on threes, 100% at line. (6) 5. HOUSTON (5-1) Yao, who used to be way behind the play, in top 10 in blocks for first time. (2) 6. UTAH (5-2) Williams up from last season’s 16 points a game and 32% on threes, to 21 and 46%. (7) ONE OR MORE BRICKS SHY OF A LOAD 7. DETROIT (4-1) Ugly loss to Bulls shows Pistons are still just best team without a No. 1 option. (3) 8. CLIPPERS (4-1) Just goes to show the sun doesn’t shine on the same dog’s tail every day. (12) 9. NEW ORLEANS (4-2) Maybe they guarded him: After going 12 for 21 vs. Lakers, Peja’s 2 for 13 in Portland. (11) 10. NEW JERSEY (4-2) Jefferson back after woeful season in which he averaged 16, now at 26. (14) 11. ORLANDO (5-2) Stan Van Gundy out early in coach of the year race with new team 4-0 on road. (13) WORKING ON THEIR ISSUES OR VICE VERSA 12. CLEVELAND (3-3) Hanging in there: 2-2 on West Coast trip, winning in Golden State, Sacramento. (16) 13. DENVER (4-3) Salvaged East swing with two wins, coming from 25 down to win in Indiana. (8) 14. LAKERS (3-2) I guess that talk about trading Bynum is over for, like, forever. (15) 15. TORONTO (4-3) Bosh missed most of preseason, scored 51 in first four, 56 in last three. (10) BEEN DOWN SO LONG, THIS LOOKS LIKE UP TO THEM 16. CHARLOTTE (3-2) Reality bites: after 2-0 start, Bobcats lose two in a row by 32, 31. (21) 17. INDIANA (3-3) Oops! Scored 74 in first half, led Nuggets by 25, lost third in a row. (9) 18. ATLANTA (2-3) With Josh Smith, Marvin Williams happening, joke could be over. (20) 19. NEW YORK (2-2) Big week: Thomas talks Rev. Sharpton out of protesting and team goes 2-1. (29) 20. MILWAUKEE (2-3) After slow start, Yi scores 16-12-19, with 21 rebounds, shoots 49%. (23) BOOM, BOOM, OUT GO THE LIGHTS 21. GOLDEN STATE (0-5) You know that bad start Nelson said you can’t afford in West? This is it. (18) 22. WASHINGTON (0-5) Not too soon to panic with Arenas’ knee sore, shot off, contract expiring. (19) 23. CHICAGO (1-5) Fans chant “Kobe! Kobe!” as Bulls hit new low in 101-71 loss to Raptors. (17) 24. MIAMI (0-5) Heat would really like to be able to say it won at least one without Wade. (27) REBUILDING, THEY HOPE 25. PORTLAND (3-3) Musical lineups: Blake, Frye replace Jack, Przybilla as starters. (24) 26. SACRAMENTO (2-4) Hotbed cools, or freezes: Sellout streak dating back to 1999 ends -- in opener. (28) 27. MEMPHIS (1-4) Rudy Gay, Jerry West’s last gift to franchise, averaging 21. (25) 28. PHILADELPHIA (2-3) See ya: GM Billy King’s deal running out and he’s not getting an extension. (26) 29. SEATTLE (0-6) Franchise getting heavy for those thin shoulders: Durant 10 for 38 in last two. (22) 30. MINNESOTA (0-5) On the bright side, at least Garnett’s happy. (30) *--*