The Times’ NBA rankings
| RANKINGS, COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY |
| LeBRON HASN’T LEFT THE BUILDING YET | |
| 1. CLEVELAND (27-8) | Including win after donning paper party hats for LeBron’s birthday --really -- they’re 7-0. (4) |
| 2. LAKERS (26-6) | At this pace, Kobe will lock up MVP by March 1 and need IV fluids rest of way. (2) |
| 3. ORLANDO (24-9) | With defenses taking him away, Howard down to 9.0 shots, 17 points a game. (3) |
| 4. BOSTON (24-8) | Pierce gains in MVP race as Celtics turn into the Nets without him. (1) |
| 5. SAN ANTONIO (20-11) | Don’t we know you guys from somewhere? Just went 8-1 with rookie Blair starting. (11) |
| YOUNG COMERS/OLD GOERS | |
| 6. DALLAS (23-10) | Terry, Howard, Gooden get 195 off bench over five, making up for Nowitzki slump. (8) |
| 7. ATLANTA (21-11) | Only New Year’s Day worse than Wizards’: blew 14-point fourth-quarter lead vs. Knicks. (5) |
| 8. PHOENIX (21-14) | Looks who’s back to where they were before Lakers got too big for them. (6) |
| 9. DENVER (21-12) | 2-5 since Billups left because of sore groin, as he tries to return, leaves again. (7) |
| 10. HOUSTON (20-14) | Tired of TMac’s act, Rockets tell him to take a hike if he can’t take a hint. (10) |
| 11. PORTLAND (22-13) | Can’t go on like this: Just went 10-5 while losing Oden, Przybilla, Aldridge. (9) |
| 12. OKLAHOMA CITY (18-15) | Major move, given fact they were 3-29 a year ago and made no major deals. (14) |
| 13. MEMPHIS (16-16) | We’re talking major surprise now after 1-8 start; just won in Phoenix. (16) |
| 14. UTAH (18-15) | Despite all the times in last two seasons I said they were back, they aren’t. (12) |
| 15. MIAMI (16-15) | Fading: 7-10 since their 9-5 start with 19 of next 26 on road. (13) |
| 16. TORONTO (16-18) | Ended 2009 on 5-0 streak but it ends in Boston -- with no KG, Pierce, Rondo. (19) |
| 17. CLIPPERS (14-18) | Hanging in there waiting for Griffin, even if debut was just nudged back again. (20) |
| 18. NEW ORLEANS (15-16) | Getting ready to move again? No. 11 in West as Shinn tries to dump salary. (15) |
| 19. CHICAGO (14-17) | Now for the comeback of the ages? Amid reports Vinny’s gone, they go 4-0. (24) |
| 20. NEW YORK (13-20) | Krypto-Nate indeed: Gets 40 in first game in month as they stun Hawks. (23) |
| 21. SACRAMENTO (14-19) | If they won half their close games, they would be shocking the world too. (17) |
| 22. MILWAUKEE (13-18) | Yanked by Skiles as they lose 15th in 19, Bogut gets 23-15 in win over Thunder. (18) |
| 23. CHARLOTTE (12-18) | Augustin, whom Brown wanted over Brook Lopez, now chained to his bench. (21) |
| WAIT ‘TIL NEXT NEW YEAR | |
| 24. PHILADELPHIA (9-23) | It works?! 2-0 with AI and clone Lou Williams starting before reality sets in. (26) |
| 25. DETROIT (11-21) | Not all they hoped for: Lost six in row, got Hamilton, Prince back, now up to nine. (22) |
| 26. INDIANA (10-22) | Not that they were in slump, but starters scored 26-46-50 to opponents’ 76-63-105. (27) |
| 27. MINNESOTA (7-28) | Love is all you need, almost: Averaging 15-12, missed triple-double with 17-11-9 game. (28) |
| 28. GOLDEN STATE (9-23) | Anthony Randolph Tango: Averaging 12-7, still playing only 23 minutes a game. (29) |
| 29. WASHINGTON (10-21) | Nice knowing you. (25) |
| 30. NEW JERSEY (3-30) | Yi averaging 20 in five games since returning. Nets even won one! (30) |
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