Top to Bottom : CAPSULES AND RANKINGS

Team (Record): 1. Chicago (62-9)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Nine victories and Bulls have posted NBA’s only two 70-win seasons--back to back. (1)

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Team (Record): 2. Utah (54-17)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Current pace projects to 62 wins, which would break club mark by two. (2)

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Team (Record): 3. Miami (53-17)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Went 10-4 without Mourning. Now Heat is the favorite to reach East finals. (5)

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Team (Record): 4. Seattle (50-21)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Still doesn’t look like last spring. The Suns just beat SuperSonics in Seattle. (4)

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Team (Record): 5. New York (50-21)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Some post-Bulls party. Lost to Mavericks, Nets, Bucks, Trail Blazers since. (3)

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Team (Record): 6. Atlanta (50-22)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Our highest ranking yet (congratulations). Gained four games on Pistons in March. (7)

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Team (Record): 7. Houston (48-23)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Barkley said he’d be back last week, but he swears he’ll make it this week. Really. (6)

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Team (Record): 8. Portland (43-30)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Laker unease continues as Trail Blazers (13-2) win in Charlotte, New York. (10)

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Team (Record): 9. Charlotte (45-26)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): One thing worse than having game’s most productive malcontent: having him hurt. (8)

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Team (Record): 10. Detroit (49-21)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Like Dow Jones, Pistons are correcting. Lost four of six since 47-17 zenith March 17. (9)

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Team (Record): 11. Orlando (40-30)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Oops: Magic lost to Spurs just when it seemed it might win 50 games. (11)

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Team (Record): 12. Lakers (48-23)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Team spokesman asks when I’ll move them up: When Shaq gets baq. (12)

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Team (Record): 13. Cleveland (36-34)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Cavalier management reportedly looking for excuse--late fold?--to fire Fratello. (13)

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Team (Record): 14. Minnesota (34-37)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Coach Flip lets Dean Garrett play Olajuwon one on one. 39 points later . . . (14)

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Team (Record): 15. Washington (36-35)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Making annual late run at No. 8. All the others in the ‘90s have fallen short. (15)

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Team (Record): 16. Indiana (34-36)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Only one Pacer is going anywhere, and he has to wait for phone to ring. (16)

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Team (Record): 17. Phoenix (32-39)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): KJ (21.2 ppg since Jan. 1) so hot, he has to wear shades, reconsidering retirement. (18)

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Team (Record): 18. Clippers (31-39)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Carved up by Hawks and Pistons, head to Indy, Miami. Where did good times go? (17)

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Team (Record): 19. Sacramento (29-43)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): New Coach Jordan prays for trip’s end, has Utah left--but six of last nine at home. (19)

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Team (Record): 20. Toronto (25-47)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Even with Isiah in his corner, Oliver Miller is behind Cliff Rozier, Sharone Wright. (20)

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Team (Record): 21. Milwaukee (28-42)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Nice effort at Forum. Bucks looked they might have lost to Lakers’ second team. (21)

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Team (Record): 22. Golden State (25-45)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Donyell Marshall, dud again; follows 71 in three games with 28 in next four. (22)

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Team (Record): 23. Dallas (22-48)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): First speculated successors for Cleamons: old Nellie aides Majerus, St. Jean. (23)

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Team (Record): 24. New Jersey (23-48)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Piped-in cheers not part of Calipari contract--probably. (24)

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Team (Record): 25. Denver (19-51)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Motta, making $500,000, isn’t making team practice. Talk about your good 401Ks. (25)

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Team (Record): 26. Philadelphia (19-50)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Johnny Davis’ farewell gift: He might get 76ers below Spurs, to No. 3 in draft. (26)

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Team (Record): 27. San Antonio (18-53)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): There’s still no Admiral on the horizon and none is expected any time soon. (27)

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Team (Record): 28. Boston (13-59)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Carr taking heat (Boston Herald: “Idiot�), should have thought of tanking in ’96. (28)

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Team (Record): 29. Vancouver (12-62)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): At their current pace, they’ll finish 13-69, fifth worst all-time. Congratulations. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

NEW YORK AT ORLANDO

* When--Today. Time--9:30 a.m. TV--Channel 4.

* Story line--A lot has happened to the Knicks since they beat the Bulls in their triumphant appearance on national TV two weeks ago, most of it bad. The Magic is a mystery team, either a reawakening young power or misguided youngsters who made a scapegoat of Coach Brian Hill, made it pay off for a while (they’re 16-5 under Richie Adubato) but need their heads screwed on tighter.