The Times’ NBA rankings
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| RANKINGS, COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY |
| THEN THERE WERE TWO? | |
| 1. CLEVELAND (43-11) | Full of themselves, er, so confident they may not make a deal after all. (1) |
| 2. LAKERS (41-13) | Now we know what the problem was: too many stars. (2) |
| CLOWN, ER, CROWN PRINCES | |
| 3. DENVER (35-18) | Lakers of the Rockies trail real ones by 5 1/2 games for all-important home court. (3) |
| 4. ORLANDO (36-18) | Reports of Carter’s death apparently exaggerated: Scores 48 to end slump. (4) |
| 5. ATLANTA (33-18) | Proving they still have some Hawk in them, lost last one at home to Miami. (5) |
| 6. UTAH (32-19) | Problem matchup: Went 13-1 before losing to Lakers at home without Bryant, Bynum. (7) |
| 7. BOSTON (32-18) | Just lost to Hornets without CP3. Next: four-game West Coast trip. (6) |
| 8. DALLAS (32-20) | Set to upgrade -- a little -- dealing Howard, Gooden for Wizards’ Butler, Haywood. (8) |
| 9. SAN ANTONIO (30-21) | This isn’t the rebuilding project they hoped for: 35-15 at break last season. (10) |
| 10. OKLAHOMA CITY (30-21) | Two-man show or no two-man show, they were 13-40 at break last season. (11) |
| 11. PHOENIX (31-22) | Nash urges them to keep Stoudemire, without whom he’s old guy in rebuilding project. (9) |
| 12. TORONTO (29-23) | Leader in Bosh Derby? Raptors 21-34 at break in ‘09, 11-17 on Dec. 16, 18-6 since.(14) |
| 13. PORTLAND (31-24) | Phil has them guessing: McMillan says sitting Kobe was psychological ploy. (12) |
| 14. HOUSTON (27-24) | Still have hottest property on market: McGrady’s expiring $23-million deal. (13) |
| 15. MEMPHIS (26-25) | They were 15-37 at ’09 break, when they’d have been 1,000-1 to be in race in ’10. (15) |
| 16. CHARLOTTE (26-25) | Augustin, whom Brown wanted over Brook Lopez, can he had for a phone call. (16) |
| 17. NEW ORLEANS (28-25) | Darren Collison happens, averaging 18 over six, but they’re 2-4 without Paul. (20) |
| 18. MILWAUKEE (24-27) | Hottest team in East race for No. 8, closed 6-2 as Bogut averaged 17-12. (17) |
| 19. MIAMI (26-27) | Riley at crossroads: Upgrade now (Amare?) to get help for Wade, or gut it out? (19) |
| 20. CHICAGO (25-26) | Oops: Rose joins Noah on sideline, leaving instant D-league team. (18) |
| BOOM, BOOM, OUT GO THE LIGHTS | |
| 21. CLIPPERS (21-31) | They don’t make honeymoons the way they used to. (21) |
| 22. PHILADELPHIA (20-32) | Iguodala, Brand look likeliest to leave as trade rumors swirl. (27) |
| 23. NEW YORK (19-32) | D’Antoni kept Knicks respectable -- at cost of junking plan to showcase Eddy Curry. (22) |
| 24. SACRAMENTO (18-34) | Even if they went 2-16 in Martin’s first 18, Kings won’t trade him for Ray Allen. (25) |
| 25. WASHINGTON (17-33) | Can’t trade Arenas, they like Jamison, so Butler, Haywood get tickets to ride. (24) |
| 26. DETROIT (18-33) | Oops: Best new Piston isn’t Gordon or Villanueva but Ben Wallace. (26) |
| 27. INDIANA (18-34) | Reggie Miller: Drawing No. 1 pick only way out of post-Auburn Hills fall. (23) |
| 28. MINNESOTA (13-40) | Al Jefferson back, averages 11 and shoots 85% in fourth quarters of 4-0 run. (28) |
| 29. GOLDEN STATE (14-37) | Nellie is 11 wins from Wilkens’ record -- which may be all that’s keeping him there. (29) |
| BLACK HOLE OF PITINO, ER, JERSEY | |
| 30. NEW JERSEY (4-48) | Rick Pitino denies interest in job, which means he wants the job. (30) |
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