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

1. Seattle (17-5): Just got home from a long trip, with a bunch of easy games coming up. (2)

2. Lakers (16-5): Can everybody take a deep breath? Until Shaq’s back, this is preseason. (1)

3. Miami (15-6): If the Heat is just a little better with Mourning than without him . . . (4)

4. Atlanta (16-5): Let’s see what they’ve got--playing nine of 12 games on the road. (3)

5. Portland (13-7): Rider skips another drill. Unfortunately, it’s after he plays Eddie Jones. (5)

6. Phoenix (13-6): KJ to get knee ‘scoped, but Energizer bunnies keep going and going and . . . (6)

7. Indiana (13-8): Pacers just bombed Heat to show they’re back to elite status in the East. (7)

8. Utah (13-8): So much for Jazz doctor who said surgery might threaten Stockton’s career. (11)

9. Cleveland (14-7): You can’t do this with four rookies in the rotation, but nobody told them. (14)

10. Houston (12-6): Take all the time you need, Dream. Rockets 10-1 with Willis starting. (12)

11. Orlando (16-8): 9-1 without Penny, but see how long that lasts in eight weeks he’s gone. (10)

12. Charlotte (14-7): Mason’s personality, free agency, Falk doom them long-term--but they can play. (15)

13. Chicago (13-9): Lost 19 on road last two seasons combined. This one, they’re already up to eight. (13)

14. New York (13-9): NY tabloids to Phil Jackson: You Can Coach Here (If You Bring MJ). (9)

15. San Antonio (12-10): Can’t find Rifleman when you need one. Person, shooting 25.6%, is benched. (16)

16. New Jersey (12-10): Keith Van Horn, rusty and all, scores 104 points in first five games. (8)

17. Milwaukee (11-11): Bucks shoot too many jumpers. Opponents averaging 4.5 more free throws. (17)

18. Detroit (11-12): Dumars’ return, Williams’ scoring save Collins’ career, Hill’s life. (21)

19. Washington (9-14): Never good idea for teammates to date woman who tapes her phone calls. (19)

20. Minnesota (9-12): Young man blues: Marbury barely above 40% trying to carry the Timberwolves. (18)

21. Boston (9-12): Pitino promises Out-of-Service Pervis a horse for 82 games. He falls at 18. (20)

22. Vancouver (8-14): You’ll know they’re serious if they ever leave bottom 10 in defense. (22)

23. Sacramento (7-15): Richmond, asked what team he’d like to go to: “Any of them would be fine.” (23)

24. Philadelphia (6-14): Brown, ejected in loss to Raptors, was hoping he’d never have to return. (24)

25. Clippers (4-18): Now might be good time to forget that playoff run, start playing kids. (25)

26. Dallas (5-16): Nellie didn’t have very long honeymoon; Mavericks beat Knicks, lose next four. (26)

27. Golden State (4-16): Smith may go next. Marshall looks good in supplementary rotisserie drafts. (27)

28. Toronto (2-20): Walker: Owners promised not to fire him. Great. Damon leaves, he’ll stay. (28)

29. Denver (2-19): 7,053 doze as they beat Clippers. Bobby Jackson: “You could hear a pin drop.” (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK / LAKERS AT BULLS

* When--Wednesday, 5 p.m.

* TV--Channel 9, TBS.

* Storyline--The only way this is a finals preview is if the Lakers make it without Shaquille O’Neal and the Bulls without Scottie Pippen. The Lakers won early without their big lug, suggesting to themselves and their most ardent fans that they could be a super team with or without him. Wrong. The Bulls are trying to keep from falling apart until Pippen returns, hopefully with them.