NBA / TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (record) Comment (last week’s position)

1. San Antonio (49-20) Imagine that: a Western elite team whose players all like one another. (2)

2. Sacramento (46-21) Management isn’t backing Jason Williams: They’d just as soon start Bobby Jackson. (4)

3. Utah (47-21) Sloan’s 13th season with Jazz. One other coach (Tomjanovich) is over six. (3)

4. Portland (45-24) Now for darndest rally you ever saw? After 1-6 fall, Trail Blazers win at Dallas, Utah. (6)

5. Philadelphia (48-21) Pulled rabbits out of hats all year but not last week without Brown, Iverson. (1)

6. Milwaukee (43-25) Could beat or lose to anyone: Bucks are 7-3 against NBA’s top six teams. (7)

7. Lakers (46-23) So much for late-season rally. Better start praying for playoff miracle. (5)

8. Dallas (44-25) Nelson now starting Bradley, preparing for big playoff foes. (8)

9. New York (41-27) Oops: On 7-1 run before heading west, managed to lose to Nets at home. (10)

10. Miami (41-27) East teams are scared Mourning’s coming back this spring rather than next fall. (11)

11. Minnesota (41-28) Nothing a little home stand hosting the Cavaliers, Nuggets and Nets couldn’t cure. (12)

12. Phoenix (41-27) Skiles says he’s “frankly tired” of watching “lethargic” Rodney Rogers. (9)

13. Charlotte (40-30) Even for the East they’re pretty lame: After 12-2 run, Hornets lose to Bulls. (13)

14. Houston (38-32) On pace to finish a remarkable 45-37, not that it’ll get Rockets anything. (16)

15. Orlando (37-32) Miller makes a push in rookie race, averaging 15 a game since break. (14)

16. Toronto (37-32) One brick short of a load and its name is McGrady and it’s in Orlando. (15)

17. Seattle (38-34) SuperSonics turned down Longley, Knight for Baker, may do it in summer. (17)

18. Denver (33-37) Van Exel’s best season: scoring career-high 17.6, third in league in assists. (18)

19. Indiana (31-37) Tyus gets a chance: Edney in rotation as fourth guard as Pacers go 4-1. (20)

20. Boston (30-38) Paul Pierce happening big time with three 40-point games in last four. (19)

21. Clippers (25-45) Getting dangerous: Helped knock Philadelphia off top, put kink in Houston’s hopes. (21)

22. New Jersey (24-48) Two fractures within 12 months on same bone doesn’t sound good for Martin. (24)

23. Detroit (25-45) Right shoulder may be tiring: Since break, Stackhouse is shooting 38%. (22)

24. Cleveland (26-43) Miller carrying too much load, drops from 48% last month to 40%. (23)

25. Vancouver (20-51) Best idea I’ve heard was fold the franchise, hold dispersal draft. (25)

26. Atlanta (21-49) Lon Kruger’s Illini in Elite Eight, but his Hawks are in the dumper. (26)

27. Washington (17-53) Between now and 2003 when Jordan has cap room, Wizards will lose a lot of games. (27)

28. Golden State (17-52) So-called Warriors win three times in two months, even lose at home to Wizards. (28)

29. Chicago (12-56) Just waived rookie El Amin, who started 14 games at point guard for Bulls. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS AT SACRAMENTO

* When--Today. * Time--3:30 p.m. * TV--Ch. 4.

* Story line--This was supposed to be a test for the Lakers, but with Kobe Bryant out, it’s more like a test for the Kings, as in, if Sacramento can’t handle the Lakers now in their even-more-weakened state, when can it ever?