The Times' Rankings

1 DALLAS (43-12) Cuban, already dangling Nelson, won't go for tanking to avoid Lakers. (3) 2 SAN ANTONIO (38-17) Unlike Parker, Ginobili didn't make seamless transition but he's coming. (1) 3 SACRAMENTO (38-18) So deep, even with their injuries, Turkoglu can't get 20 minutes a game. (2) 4 LAKERS (29-25) Oops: If they finish No. 6 or 7, may have to play Mavs, Kings and Spurs. (4) 5 PORTLAND (35-20) Record looks good but game they played here suggests their roll's over. (5) 6 UTAH (33-22) Mailman in love: Averaging 23 since Jan. 1 as he notices they can win. (8) 7 MINNESOTA (35-21) Western GM: Saunders is one of NBA's best coaches and no one knows it. (10) 8 DETROIT (37-18) Hamilton at 25 averages 20, shoots 45% to Stackhouse's 22, 42% at 28.(7) 9 INDIANA (37-19) They'll be sorry: Might have had Payton for Harrington, Bender or Artest. (6) 10 NEW JERSEY (37-19) Big test is later: Can they integrate Mutombo better than on first try? (9) 11 BOSTON (31-24) Definitely tougher than they look, prove it by going 4-2 out here. (11) 12 HOUSTON (29-26) No Shaq, no dice: Tomjanovich says 2-OT loss to Lakers was devastating. (12) 13 NEW ORLEANS (31-27) Getting Anderson shows how worried they are about Davis, out since Jan. 24. (15) 14 PHILADELPHIA (30-24) So much for the Brown Era: Iverson smolders as Bibby is chosen for Olympics. (16) 15 PHOENIX (30-25) Nice knowing you: Went 1-4, benched Stoudemire for "breaking team rule." (13) 16 MILWAUKEE (28-27) Good luck: Karl's mouth, Mason in Your Face, Sam I Am Cassell and now, Payton. (14) 17 GOLDEN STATE (25-30) Nice knowing you: Dampier, Bay Area's Elden Campbell, rips coach "Mussel-head." (17) 18 WASHINGTON (26-28) Jordan is NBA's first 40-40 guy: First 40-year-old to score 40. (18) 19 ORLANDO (27-29) Gambled last trading chip, Miller, that Gooden's more talented than loopy. (19) 20 TORONTO (17-36) Wait till (yawn) next year; They're 7-3 since Carter rejoined lineup. (23) 21 NEW YORK (23-31) Almost traded Sprewell for Antonio Davis, who's perfect for them, being 34. (20) 22 SEATTLE (23-30 GM Sund says he'll spend rest of season watching college games. Good idea. (21) 23 CLIPPERS (19-35) Odom proposes to Sterling but our hero has a problem with commitment. (22) 24 MEMPHIS (16-38) Who cares if he traded top pick? West needed small forward, got good one. (27) 25 MIAMI (19-36) Riley tried to unload Jones or Grant, will try again before the draft. (26) 26 ATLANTA (21-34) Well, George Karl can't say Terry Stotts never got a shot, anyway. (24) 27 CHICAGO (19-38) Happening: Chandler comes out of break with 88-54, 19 blocks over five. (25) 28 DENVER (12-44) Gang that can't shoot, period: Last in shooting, threes and free throws.(28) 29 CLEVELAND (10-45) Miles lets them know he's unhappy. Of course, at 8.3 a game, so are they. (29) ============================================ ▷◁ 대구지하철 희생자를 추모합니다!