THE TIMES RANKINGS

MARK HEISLER’S NBA RANKINGS WITH COMMENTS:

Team (record): Comment (last week’s rank)

1 LAKERS (15-1): Now Shaq’s getting thrown out of games to try to make them more interesting. (1)

2 SACRAMENTO (13-4): Whatever happened to old what’s-his-name? Kings win at San Antonio without Webber. (3)

3 SAN ANTONIO (11-4): You’d think Spurs would be ones to challenge the Lakers, but they’re not there yet. (2)

4 MILWAUKEE (9-4): Pride of East has little problem in the middle: Dale Davis gets 25-16 on Bucks. (4)

5 NEW JERSEY (10-6): Van Horn reborn: Leading team in scoring after surviving Stephon Era, barely. (5)

6 MINNESOTA (10-5): Zone shmone, willowy teams aren’t going to win nine of every 10 they play. (6)

7 TORONTO (11-6): Davis, learning to share post with Hakeem, averages 14-10 as Raptors go 4-0. (9)

8 PHILADELPHIA (8-7): Tick, tick, tick: Brown zings Iverson, shooting 34%, for not passing ball. (7)

9 DALLAS (11-6): Cuban, who needs projects, is sure Mailman would put Mavericks over the top. (10)

10 PHOENIX (11-7): Despite fragility concerns, physical and mental, Hardaway averages 19-5-4. (14)

11 PORTLAND (9-8): Remember talk Kemp was getting in shape? Still huge, plays 12 minutes a game.(15)

12 DETROIT (11-5): More reasons to think this isn’t mirage: Pistons went 2-1 with Stackhouse injured. (13)

13 NEW YORK (8-9): GM Scott Layden vows to make big move. If he’s smart, it’ll be out of town. (21)

14 BOSTON (8-6): 1-2 punch (and that’s all): Pierce, Walker get 73 in upset win at New Jersey. (17)

15 INDIANA (10-9): Still Reggie after all these years: At 36, Miller knocking down 47% of threes.(11)

16 CHARLOTTE (7-9): Brass skeptical as outside doctors say Mashburn stomach pull may keep him out two months. (18)

17 CLIPPERS (7-9) What they really need to work on: No. 21 defense that keeps their games close. (19)

18 ORLANDO (8-9): With Hill out, Magic loses three in a row at home. Rivers: “We’re feeling sorry for ourselves.” (8)

19 UTAH (6-11): Is his morale their problem? As usual, trade-Mailman talk comes from Mailman. (16)

20 SEATTLE (8-10): Where does Schultz think he’s going with Payton and Baker making $24 million a year? (20)

21 HOUSTON (7-10): Fun while it lasted: Stevie Franchise is out 4-6 weeks with a bad foot. (12)

22 DENVER (7-9): One and only Van Exel asks how they could trade Willis when they needed size. (22)

23 GOLDEN STATE (7-10): Brilliant: Warriors sign Marc Jackson when he tries to leave, chain him to bench. (23)

24 ATLANTA (6-12): Best young player few see: Abdur-Rahim averages 28-11 in seven-game burst. (25)

25 CLEVELAND (6-11): Oops: Ricky Davis, who ripped Riley for trading him, averages 11 off bench.(26)

26 WASHINGTON (5-11): He still has it: Wizards go on win streak as MJ snarls, “I just think we stink.” (27)

27 MIAMI (2-13): Curtain dropping on Riley Era: Mourning a shadow of himself in losses to Bulls, Wizards. (24)

28 MEMPHIS (3-12): Case for contraction, or these are the good times? Grizzlies averaging 13,762. (29)

29 CHICAGO (2-13): Back in their hole: Plan to add vets, win 30 is a little behind schedule. (28)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS AT SACRAMENTO

When--Friday. Time--7. TV--Ch. 9.

Even if Chris Webber, who has been out since suffering a high ankle sprain Oct. 14, doesn’t make it back, this is always a hot night in the old town, and not only because they get to ring cowbells in Phil Jackson’s ear.