The Times’ NBA rankings

BEN BOLCH’S RANKINGS, COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY

THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES

1. CHICAGO (17-4) Bulls circle birthdays, anniversaries and rematch with Indiana on calendar. (1)

2. OKLAHOMA CITY (16-3) Seattle called; it wants its franchise back. (2)

3. MIAMI (14-5) Dwyane Wade thanks James Jones for filling in, asks who he is. (3)

WISH YOU WERE HERE

4. DENVER (14-5) If signing results in that kind of output, put Danilo Gallinari on 10-day deals. (4)

5. INDIANA (12-6) Pacers no longer granted entry to Sears Tower, Navy Pier after Bulls flap. (6)

6. PHILADELPHIA (14-6) Exciting team gives fans something to ponder besides Geno’s vs. Pat’s debate. (7)

7. ATLANTA (14-6) Spurned owner Alex Meruelo keeping tabs on Mater Dei instead of Hawks. (8)

8. ORLANDO (12-7) Hornets, Celtics losses show Dwight Howard needs help or needs out. (5)

9. SAN ANTONIO (12-8) You’re still here? Spurs somehow impervious to age, injuries. (9)

10. CLIPPERS (10-6) Rubber match with Lakers to be held in a cage, sanctioned by WWE. (10)

11. LAKERS (11-9) It’s status woe as team goes from title contenders to playoff contenders. (11)

12. DALLAS (12-8) Ring and banner ceremonies over, Mavs can focus on being average. (14)

13. UTAH (11-7) Goldman Sachs awards Jazz “buy” rating, except when playing Lakers (0-2). (12)

14. PORTLAND (12-8) Erratic Blazers make as much sense as ordering diet cola with Big Mac. (13)

15. MEMPHIS (10-9) Green-and-yellow ABA jerseys are a sight that leads to sore eyes. (15)

16. HOUSTON (12-8) Pretty decent liftoff for a team that was nearly blown up. (16)

17. BOSTON (9-9) Celtics still kicking amid “Bring out your dead” chant. (21)

COMFORTABLY NUMB

18. MINNESOTA (9-10) Extension is great, but T-Wolves can’t take “All you need is Love” approach. (22)

19. MILWAUKEE (8-11) Forbes: Bucks worth NBA-low 268 million. Is that in dollars or Pick Up Stix? (18)

20. CLEVELAND (7-11) Surprise, surprise: Cavaliers playoff contenders in weak East. (17)

21. PHOENIX (7-12) Double trouble: Nash, Gortat only players averaging at least 10 points. (19)

22. NEW YORK (7-13) Just when it seems Carmelo Anthony gets the point, Knicks regress again. (20)

23. GOLDEN STATE (6-12) Warriors would be OK if they could play every game at home versus Portland. (24)

24. NEW JERSEY (7-13) Looks like there are two reality TV disasters unfolding along Jersey shore. (27)

25. SACRAMENTO (6-14) Might have trouble beating Sacramento State. (23)

26. TORONTO (6-14) NBA accreditation in jeopardy when team plays without Andrea Bargnani. (25)

DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

27. NEW ORLEANS (4-15) The Clippers Curse, now playing nightly on Bourbon Street. (26)

28. DETROIT (4-17) Rooting for a recount of player, owner votes so lockout can resume. (28)

29. WASHINGTON (4-16) Wizards need to flip more than their coach to get this mess turned around. (30)

30. CHARLOTTE (3-18) Autopsy reveals deficiencies in heart, talent, ownership. (29)