THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

MARK HEISLER’S NBA RANKINGS WITH COMMENTS:

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

1. San Antonio (20-4) Since the Spurs started the season 2-2, guess who has been the NBA’s hottest team? (2)

2. Lakers (19-4) For fans as bored as this team, first game against the Spurs is at San Antonio on Jan. 19. (1)

3. Sacramento (19-9) Kings are 4-3 with Webber, so now, of course, talk shows say they’re better without him. (3)

4. Minnesota (18-8) Had to end sometime: Brandon has knee ‘scoped, Timberwolves slide a little. (4)

5. Dallas (18-9) Steve Nash averaging 19, shooting 51%--though one-third of shots are three-pointers. (7)

6. New Jersey (16-9) Times, they have changed: Nets are 2-0 vs. Knicks, outscoring them, 223-179. (6)

7. Milwaukee (14-9) Better cover up the kids’ ears: Bucks are back out on road, struggling. (8)

8. Detroit (14-11) Another test of top East team on West swing: Starting weekend, Pistons are 0-4. (5)

9. Boston (16-8) Celtics are kind of like Bucks or Mavericks, but with two scorers instead of three. (11)

10. Clippers (15-11) Bravado aside, kids starting to figure out they can play with anyone. (14)

11. Toronto (14-12) After four free throws in eight games, Peterson scores 29 going to hoop. (12)

12. Phoenix (15-12) Little problem in Backcourt 2001: Marbury, Hardaway have a shouting match. (10)

13. Portland (13-13) Still Rasheed after all these years: Cheeks can’t get him to shoot more. (15)

14. Indiana (16-13) The coach the Pacers miss is Bird’s defense-minded assistant, Dick Harter. (13)

15. Utah (13-15) Sloan after loss to Celtics: “We knew this thing wasn’t going to last forever.” (9)

16. Washington (14-12) This is as much about Collins, Hamilton and rookie Brendan Haywood as Jordan. (19)

17. Charlotte (12-15) Started weekend 9-7 on the road but only 3-7 at home, where nobody comes. (16)

18. Philadelphia (11-15) Make-or-break time: Seven-game Western swing starts vs. Lakers and Clippers. (20)

19. New York (12-15) Could be coincidence: Knicks gave up 88 a game under Van Gundy, 102 under Chaney. (17)

20. Seattle (14-15) Of course, the SuperSonics needed him yesterday: 6-10 rookie Radmanovic showing something. (22)

21. Orlando (13-16) It’s always darkest before the dawn, assuming there’s going to be one. (18)

22. Cleveland (11-16) Big-timer no one sees: Miller averaging 18 points, 11 assists this month. (21)

23. Denver (9-17) Who cares if Issel isn’t really a racist? What he really is not is a coach. (23)

24. Atlanta (10-17) Counting on Ratliff return in January to propel them into race for, oh, No. 11. (24)

25. Memphis (7-19) Another Dookie you don’t appreciate until you see him every day: Shane Battier. (28)

26. Miami (5-19) Does that 56-point game suggest players are trying to tell Riley something? (25)

27. Golden State (11-17) Cowens didn’t do much, but then neither has GM St. Jean or owner Cohan. (27)

28. Houston (8-20) You know you’re going bad when everyone on injured list gets busted too. (26)

29. Chicago (4-21) Tim Floyd glad to see Brian Winters, the only coach in NBA history with worse career mark. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

PHILADELPHIA AT LAKERS

When--Tuesday. Time--5:30 PST. TV--Channel 4.

Story line--Our annual (yawn) Yuletide matchup of last spring’s finalists. The Lakers look as if they’re bored, bored, bored. The 76ers have real problems, but toppling a giant would make them feel a lot better.