Ben Bolch’s NBA rankings

RANKINGS AND COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY

IT’S A MIRACLE

1. MIAMI (25-8) “Birdman” would be a sensation on Twitter since language confined to tweets. (1)

2. INDIANA (26-6) Danny Granger (8 ppg) picking up where he left off last season (5.4 ppg). (3)

THE .700 CLUB

3. PORTLAND (26-8) Blazers let threedom ring by making 21 shots from beyond arc vs. Bobcats. (4)

4. OKLA. CITY (26-7) Russell Westbrook ahead of schedule for return before his next injury. (7)

5. SAN ANT. (26-8) Spurs have a bad loss vs. Knicks to go with those defeats against contenders. (2)

6. CLIPPERS (23-13) Suffering from separation anxiety after learning Chris Paul out 3-5 weeks. (6)

7. GOLD. ST. (22-13) Whenever Andre Iguodala hits a game-winner, fans should yell “Iggy Pop!” (8)

8. HOUSTON (22-13) Who could have guessed Kings would be Superman’s foil in his new home? (5)

9. PHOENIX (20-12) Nash’s old team flush with point guards while Lakers use Kendall Marshall. (9)

AMEN

10. DALLAS (19-14) Shawn Marion gets 17,000th career point vs. Clippers, but not late basket. (10

11. ATLANTA (18-16) Al Horford’s torn pectoral muscle keeps team from puffing chest over record. (11)

12. MINN. (16-17) Will Shabazz Muhammad (12 points this season) reach jersey number (15)? (13)

13. TORONTO (16-15) It’s not me, it’s you: Fastest way for a team to improve is to trade Rudy Gay. (21)

14. N. ORL. (15-17) Ryan Anderson’s cervical stinger has fans checking medical glossary. (19)

15. WASH. (14-16) Wizards have been spooked since last being over .500 on Oct. 31, 2009. (18)

16. DENVER (15-17) Nuggets hope rescinding Andre Miller suspension is start of a larger do-over. (12)

SEA OF FAITH

17. MEMPH. (14-18) Phoenix native Jerryd Bayless is Suns’ problem in happy homecoming. (14)

18. DETROIT (14-19) Maurice Cheeks, Josh Smith should let Judge Judy decide who’s right in flap. (17)

19. LAKERS (14-19) A home victory over Jazz last season started a 28-12 run. #wishfulthinking (15)

20. CHARL. (15-20) Cody Zeller’s failed dunk on Blake Griffin is the inverse of getting Mozgoved. (16)

21. CHICAGO (14-18) Call him Testy Tom: Thibodeau leads NBA coaches with six technical fouls. (20)

22. BOSTON (13-20) Celtics still battling Lakers … for draft lottery positioning. (22)

23. CLEVE. (11-22) Andrew Bynum now free to drag race Yasiel Puig on Pacific Coast Highway. (23)

24. PHILA. (12-21) Evan Turner’s game-ending dunk adds exult to injury against Lakers. (26)

25. BROOK. (12-21) Upset of Thunder improves team’s RPI in a season that’s RIP. (25)

26. N. YORK (10-22) Unexpected two-game scoring binge prompts Shumpertsanity in Manhattan. (24)

27. ORLANDO (10-23) Epic collapse in 81 seconds rivals Raptors yielding Kobe Bryant’s 81 points. (27)

A LITTLE MEN

28. SACRA. (10-22) Reaching double digits in victories otherwise known as fulfilling potential. (28)

29. UTAH (11-25) Only Jazz could turn Kendall Marshall into All-Star candidate in one game. (29)

30. MIL. (7-26) In a down season, Bucks will always have New Year’s Eve at Staples Center. (30)