Spurs move back into top spot of The Times’ NBA rankings

RANKINGS, COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY?

GRAY PANTHERS RULE

?1. SAN ANTONIO (42-8) Forget Lakers, the race they’re focused on now is with Celtics. (2)

2. BOSTON (37-12) Scary part is they’re built for playoffs, when they get days off. (1)

THE YOUNG, THE RESTLESS, THE LAKERS

3. MIAMI (36-14) Modern-NBA-in-a-nutshell rocks Magic’s world on its own floor. (4)

4. DALLAS (35-15) In Dirk we trust: 1-3 upon his return, 8-0 since, winning in Boston. (9)

5. LAKERS (35-16) Stick a fork in them . . . oh, it’s Feb. 6? Make it a salad fork. (3)

6. CHICAGO (34-15) Up past bedtime or not, East’s hottest team is on a 25-6 run. (5)

7. OKLAHOMA CITY (33-17) Small forward for the ages: Durant just scored 47-40-33-43. (8)

8. ATLANTA (33-18) Needed a rest: Johnson averaged 26 last month post-elbow surgery. (10)

9. ORLANDO (32-19) Might need another blockbuster. (7)

10. NEW ORLEANS (32-20) Wheels come off: Okafor, Ariza out, Paul playing with ankle sprain. (6)

YOU STILL HERE?

11. DENVER (30-21) Lost three of five, one to Anthony’s almost-teammate Nets. (12)

12. MEMPHIS (27-25) One for Lionel Hollins: Went 8-1 amid Randolph, Mayo trade rumors. (15)

13. UTAH (30-22) Rolling and tumbling: Losses to Wizards, Nets started 3-9 skid. (11)

14. PORTLAND (27-24) End, or new beginning, is near: Miller on block as Blazers go 2-4. (13)

15. NEW YORK (25-24) Flattening out, but 41-41 means some JV East team must go .667. (14)

16. PHILADELPHIA (23-26) Not bad for a team that finished last season 5-21 and started 3-13. (18)

17. PHOENIX (23-25) Just went 8-4 as Gortat blew up, but Memphis got a bigger bounce. (16)

18. HOUSTON (24-28) At least Rockets can still scare the daylights out of the Lakers. (17)

19. CLIPPERS (19-30) They’re 14-9 since 5-21 start -- but 22 of last 33 are on road. (21)

20. GOLDEN STATE (22-27) Curry averaged 19 last month, first in which he didn’t miss a game. (22)

21. INDIANA (20-27) Honeymoon suite: 3-0 under ex-assistant Vogel since O’Brien axed. (24)

22. CHARLOTTE (21-29) Assistant Charles Oakley revives Kwame Brown. OK, intermittently. (19)

23. DETROIT (19-32) A 7-6 run puts Pistons in East playoff race, such as it is. (23)

24. MILWAUKEE (19-30) Going wrong way: 1-4 with Jennings back, with home loss to Pistons. (20)

HAVE TO TAKE KINDERGARTEN AGAIN

25. SACRAMENTO (12-35) If few others grasped Kings’ potential, the Lakers just did. (25)

26. NEW JERSEY (15-36) Next turning point: 4-1 after ending Anthony talks . . . 1-4 since. (26)

27. WASHINGTON (13-37) Hit Wall: Point guard prospect of the ages at 38% since Dec. 1. (27)

28. TORONTO (14-37) Amir Johnson at 18 and 10 in last five. Raptors are 1-13 in last 14. (29)

29. MINNESOTA (11-39) KG, a head shorter: Love is Timberwolves’ first post-Garnett All-Star. (28)

30. CLEVELAND (8-43) Cavaliers’ 24th loss in a row makes history; 1-33 since ‘Bron’s return. (30)