THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

MARK HEISLER’S NBA RANKINGS, COMMENTS:

No Team (Rec) Comment (last week)

1 MINNESOTA

(56-24) Olowokandi gets it at last (?), averages 8-11 over five, coming off bench. (3)

2 SAN ANTONIO

(54-25) Huh? Even with Duncan easing back in, Spurs are on a 10-1 finishing kick. (4)

3 INDIANA

(59-21) Miller after rout by Pistons: “Pendulum definitely swings their way.” (2)

4 DETROIT

(52-27) Another candidate arises in the East. They’re 18-5 with Rasheed Wallace. (7)

5 LAKERS

(54-25) Faster than you can mix metaphors, the wheels came off their bandwagon. (1)

6 SACRAMENTO

(54-25) Whatever they’ve got left in them, the Lakers will see it this afternoon. (5)

7 MEMPHIS

(50-29) Gasol, Wells out. May not mind dropping to No. 6, hoping to miss Lakers. (6)

8 DALLAS

(50-28) Nowitzki now center as Nelson goes small, figuring he’s got nothing to lose. (8)

9 NEW JERSEY

(46-33) Kidd back getting ready for playoffs, but Frank says he has to play in pain. (10)

10 HOUSTON

(44-35) Van Gundy, their prophet of doom, warns of “historic collapse” after 0-5 skid.(9)

11 DENVER

(41-38) Bzdelik may go from 17-65, make playoffs for first time since ‘95, get axe. (12)

12 MIAMI

(40-39) Team no one wants to meet in playoffs, in East anyway: Heat run now 15-3. (15)

13 UTAH

(41-38) Driving them to wire, Sloan calls Jazz “little babies” -- after a victory. (13)

14 PORTLAND

(41-38) Abdur-Rahim, Randolph logjam looks sorted out. Zach stays, Shareef goes.(11)

15 MILWAUKEE

(41-38) Even if it is the little East, Bucks’ late surge to No. 4 is impressive. (14)

16 NEW ORLEANS

(39-40) Press calls for firing of coach and GM. Owner says he’ll evaluate both. (16)

17 NEW YORK

(37-42) Desperate Knicks put Houston, out with bad knee, on their playoff roster. (18)

18 BOSTON

(35-44) Gee, thanks: Ainge says Pierce provided valuable input in Ricky Davis deal. (19)

19 SEATTLE

(35-44) Brent Barry reconsidered: A friend says his No. 1 hope locally is Lakers. (17)

20 GOLDEN STATE

(35-44) Rudderless since Nelson left -- in 1995 -- now set to let Mullin run operation. (20)

21 CLEVELAND

(32-47) Not his fault: James averaging 22-5-6 since All-Star break, shooting 44%. (21)

22 PHILADELPHIA

(33-46) Latest in Iverson-goes-home-early debacle: He cuts short rehab session.(22)

23 PHOENIX

(27-52) Laying in weeds clinic: Team with Marion, Stoudemire, Johnson won’t win 30. (24)

24 TORONTO

(31-48) TNT’s Barkley says he’d rather sleep than watch the Raptor-Cavalier game. (23)

25 ATLANTA

(26-53) Stephen Jackson, king of let-me-outta-here free agents, averaging 24 post-break.(25)

26 WASHINGTON

(25-43) Better get someone like Cliff Robinson because clueless quotient’s way high.(26)

27 CLIPPERS

(27-52) Brand blasts refs in 78th game. Rest look like they went home around 60th. (27)

28 CHICAGO

(22-57) It’s every kid for himself now: Crawford says he’d love to play for Knicks. (28)

29 ORLANDO

(19-60) Adding new dimension to word “quit,” lost record seven in row by 15 or more. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS at SACRAMENTO

When -- Today. Time -- 12:40 p.m. TV -- Channel 7.

Update -- Words fail me.