TOP TO BOTTOM

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

1. Philadelphia (39-14) No debate on who MVP of season would be now either: All-Star MVP Iverson. (2)

2. San Antonio (34-16) With Spurs winning 10 of 11, looks as if Lakers picked a bad week to visit. (3)

3. Portland (37-16) Two ejections in three games suggest Wallace is even more upset than usual. (1)

4. Utah (33-16) These old guys are different: Jazz 7-3 on second night of back-to-backs. (4)

5. Lakers (33-17) Ask Shaq, if Kobe averages triple-double rest of the way, everything will be OK. (6)

6. Miami (32-21) Heaven help East when Mourning’s back: After 5-9 start, Heat now No. 3 in conference. (8)

7. Sacramento (33-16) Now Kings can see how it’ll be without him: Webber out for a week. (5)

8. New York (30-20) Western reality check: Start second half, losing by 19 at Denver, 16 at Utah. (7)

9. Minnesota (32-21) All-Star break came at bad time: Timberwolves were 11-0 before it, 0-3 since. (9)

10. Dallas (33-20) Too bad Cuban can’t go on floor vs. Lakers Tuesday so Shaq could step on him. (10)

11. Milwaukee (30-20) In case they meet in spring: Bucks have lost five in row at home to 76ers. (11)

12. Phoenix (30-20) Next seven games are against teams in playoff slots with five on road. (12)

13. Seattle (28-26) Live hard, fade early: SuperSonic insiders insist Payton isn’t what he was. (13)

14. Denver (28-25) Good news: On pace to go 43-39. Bad news: Nuggets would miss playoffs by five games. (14)

15. Orlando (27-23) Eight-game winning streak takes Magic from nowhere to No. 5 in East. (17)

16. Toronto (27-24) Wanted: More athletes. Raptors are 12-7 since putting Peterson in lineup. (16)

17. Houston (27-26) Mr. Rocket, Olajuwon averages 17 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks in 4-0 run. (18)

18. Charlotte (28-26) Silas’ prayers are answered. Coleman hurts calf, goes back on injured list. (15)

19. Indiana (22-28) Led in three-point shooting last season. With Rose at point, now No. 24. (20)

20. Boston (24-28) Going to new level: Walker is averaging 26.6 since Pitino left. (19)

21. Cleveland (20-30) Chucky Brown signs second 10-day deal and starts at center next night. (21)

22. Detroit (20-32) Buzzards are already circling George Irvine, in first of three-year deal. (22)

23. New Jersey (17-37) Looking for taker for Van Horn, now a small forward and lost defensively. (23)

24. Vancouver (16-36) Now they start playing? After getting cleared to leave, Grizzlies go 3-0. (28)

25. Clippers (16-37) Big question rest of way: Is Olowokandi making progress or not happening? (25)

26. Atlanta (17-35) Wasted career: All-Star Game shows what Mutombo could do in right setting. (26)

27. Golden State (15-36) Looking for taker for Dampier, Bay Area’s version of Elden Campbell. (24)

28. Washington (12-40) Will soon trade Strickland or put him on injured list for rest of career here. (27)

29. Chicago (8-42) Bulls play “Another One Bites the Dust” after ending 0-16 streak. Really. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS at SAN ANTONIO

When--Wednesday. Time--5 p.m. PST

TV--Channel 9, TNT.

* Story line--The grand finale of the Lakers’ six-game trip and, of course, a possible Western finals preview. The Spurs have been warming up. Who knows where the Lakers are?