THE SECOND HALF / by Mark Heisler

QUOTAGE

NO CORPSE, NO FOUL

New York’s Renaldo Balkman, above, on his suspension for leveling the Lakers’ Sasha Vujacic with an elbow to the jaw:

“He flopped a little bit. I don’t think I hit him that hard. I think he exaggerated a lot. He’s hit, all of a sudden he’s hurt, then he goes back out and gets his career high.”

WATCHED ONE TOO MANY NIKE ADS

Cleveland’s LeBron James, asked if acquiring New Jersey’s Jason Kidd would mean a title for the Cavaliers:

“Yeah. . . . It’s that easy.”

PLEASE BE OK, PLEASE BE OK

Boston’s Paul Pierce, on Kevin Garnett’s abdominal injury:

“It’s not like he’s walking around with a limp or in pain. He’s still funny and he’s still upbeat. That’s more than he has been in the last couple of days.”

MAYBE HE CAN GET A HEAD START

Denver’s Allen Iverson, on former 76ers teammate Chris Webber’s signing with Golden State:

“How’s he going to run with them?”

WINNING ISN’T EVERYTHING

San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich, on New Orleans’ Byron Scott locking up the race for West coach in the All-Star Game:

“Sometimes, blessings come in weird packages, like losses.”

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Dallas’ Jerry Stackhouse, on seeing his name in trade rumors:

“They cash checks in all 50 states.”

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THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

RANKINGS, COMMENTS (WITH LAST WEEK’S RANK)

WHO OUT THERE ISN’T IN THIS RACE?

1. BOSTON (36-8)

On the bright side, a modest upgrade (say, Delonte West) would mean a lot. (T1)

2. DETROIT (33-13)

Plus-13 in road wins/home losses tops league. Celtics, Suns at plus-12. (T1)

3. PHOENIX (33-14)

Had a tough schedule but just went 14-2 with eight of next nine at home. (T1)

4. NEW ORLEANS (32-14)

Hornets’ 16-2 roll ends with losses to Warriors and Kings, with next game in Utah. (T1)

5. DALLAS (31-14)

Mavericks, 31-10 on road last season, are 11-11 now and headed to Detroit, Orlando. (T1)

6. SAN ANTONIO (29-16)

Despite struggles, they showed they’re still the Spurs, winning in Phoenix. (T1)

7. UTAH (30-18)

Some good team will miss the playoffs but it won’t be the Jazz: Just went 14-2. (9)

8. LAKERS (29-16) If you think the Kobe dunkathon after Gasol deal was coincidence, think again. (7)

9. ORLANDO (31-18)

Now he really do, er, does: Turkoglu averages 24 as they go Magic goes 8-1. (13)

HAS TO BE A DROPOFF HERE SOMEWHERE

10. GOLDEN STATE (29-19) ABC’s Jon Barry: Can Webber get over halfcourt before Warriors get a shot up? (8)

11. HOUSTON (27-20)

He’s a big guy now: Yao averages 24.5 as Rockets win 12 of 15. (15)

12. CLEVELAND (26-20)

Humility’s just a sprain away: With LeBron James out, lost to Seattle. (12)

13. DENVER (27 28-18)

This was is what most people thought they’d be with AI Iverson: good but not great. (10)

14. PORTLAND (27-19)

Good news: Still on a 48-win pace. Bad news: Now No. 9 in West. (11)

15. WASHINGTON (24-21) Butler out for three games as he gets first All-Star nod; they lose two. (14)

16. TORONTO (24 25-21)

Whatever they’ve got, they didn’t show much of it against Lakers. (16)

EAST CONTENDERS, WEST REBUILDING PROGRAMS

17. ATLANTA (19-24)

Like old times: Lost five of six on West trip, seven of eight overall. (17)

18. NEW JERSEY (20-27)

No. 8 team in East, on 35-win pace. (18)

19. SACRAMENTO (21 22-24) On bright side, Artest settled question of rebuilding with this nucleus. (19)

20. INDIANA (19-29)

Offered Jermaine O’Neal to Nets, who backed off when he left again with sore knee. (20)

21. MILWAUKEE (18-30)

One and done? Just went 3-10 and GM who hired Krystkowiak is a lame duck. (21)

22. CHICAGO (18-28 27)

Is anyone home? Traded Chandler and Aldridge, watched Lakers get Gasol. (22)

23. PHILADELPHIA (18-29) Slow market for Kidd means they’re can’t get much for Andre Miller. (23)

24. CHARLOTTE (18-29 30) Favorable early schedule with 28 of first 44 at home is over. (24)

FOULED UP BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION

25. MINNESOTA (10-36)

Sky’s the limit, or at least 20 wins: After 5-34 start, just went 5-2. (28)

26. NEW YORK (14-32 33) Led in fourth quarter in three of first four games on West trip, went 0-4. (27)

27. CLIPPERS (14-30)

When Thornton’s good, he’s really good, and vice versa: 22-14-23-6-8-8-33-10-23. (26)

28. MEMPHIS (13-34)

Expansion team when Jerry West got there, expansion team again. (25)

29. SEATTLE (11 12-35)

Durant hit the wall Dec. 31: Shooting 39% since, 20% from three-point range. on threes. (29)

BLACK HOLE OF MIAMI

30. MIAMI (9-36)

Latest indignity: lost by 30 to last season’s Celtics without KGarnett, Allen. (30)

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LOOKING AHEAD

In keeping with our theme of the whole league kicking in to help the Lakers and Celtics, does anyone have a 7-foot All-Star they can loan Boston for a couple of weeks?

Kevin Garnett has missed three games because of an abdominal pull but the Celtics, who’ve been off for four days, hope to get him back for Tuesday’s game in Cleveland.

The Celtics had already flattened out after their 30-4 start but played well without Garnett, going 2-1, including last week’s win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Forced to try new players, Boston Coach Doc Rivers saw Leon Powe average 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench in the three games.

So it’s too soon to panic but Celtics fans are staying tuned.

Rivers, whose real first name is Glenn, was asked so many questions about Garnett, he replied, “You know Doc’s a nickname, correct?”