NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

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

1. San Antonio (5-2) This season doesn’t have an asterisk on it, but so far it looks OK. (1)

2. Utah (5-1) Who do you think leads league in shooting for umpteenth year in a row? (2)

3. Philadelphia (7-0) Brown says Iverson is doing all right things. What could go wrong now? (4)

4. Phoenix (6-1) Best unnoticed signing: Tony Delk, shooter Suns needed, averages 14 off bench. (7)

5. Lakers (3-3) I like Rick Fox a lot, but he’s going to have to make the occasional shot. (3)

6. Miami (3-3) Where did this come from? Brian Grant averaging 20 points, 13 rebounds. (11)

7. Portland (4-3) There you go again: Wallace ejected twice in a span of three games. (9)

8. Sacramento (5-2) Good news (for ESPN’s plays of week, anyway): Jason Williams is back. (10)

9. New York (5-2) Twiggy’s revenge: Since opener, Camby is averaging 14 points, 12 rebounds. (12)

10. Cleveland (5-1) Andre Miller still coming: averaging 14 points a game and shooting 50%. (20)

11. Toronto (4-3) Not too soon to panic: Reports surface Jordan intends to sign Vince Carter in 2003. (15)

12. Dallas (4-2) Not that Cuban can’t mess this up, but win over Spurs shows Mavericks are for real. (6)

13. Minnesota (3-4) Who made out schedule, David Stern? Five of Timberwolves’ first seven on road. (8)

14. Charlotte (4-3) Oops: Mashburn signing secures nucleus, including Coleman, Rip Van Campbell. (13)

15. Vancouver (4-3) Maybe no one remembers I once tabbed Michael Olowokandi over Mike Bibby. (22)

16. Seattle (2-5) Oh, and Payton and Baker don’t like Westphal, who has only lame-duck one-year deal. (5)

17. Orlando (3-4) Hill out. Luckily this is the East, so Magic has the whole season to play with. (14)

18. Indiana (4-2) Heartening sign: Knight works with Pacers without choking a single player. (18)

19. Houston (3-4) NBA’s best sub: Mobley leads Rockets in scoring (19.3) coming off bench. (16)

20. Boston (2-4) Don’t leave home with or without it: Celtics 9-32 on road last season, 0-3 now. (19)

21. Milwaukee (1-5) Something else to count on: No. 23 in defense last season, 27 now. (17)

22. New Jersey (3-3) Scott tees them up and knocks them down fairway again after loss to Pistons. (25)

23. Denver (2-4) No one flies over this cuckoos’ nest: Van Exel blasts teammates after loss. (23)

24. Detroit (2-5) Commodore Ceballos in snit with another coach, playing 12 minutes a game. (24)

25. Clippers (2-4) No one figured this: McInnis leading them in scoring and shooting 59%. (27)

26. Washington (2-6) Of course, Jordan has to assure Carter he doesn’t really think Kobe’s better. (26)

27. Golden State (1-4) Fortson leads NBA in rebounding at 15 a game. Not bad for a 6-7 guy. (21)

28. Atlanta (0-7) Returning Mutombo says layup line’s closed before Clippers get 115 against Hawks. (28)

29. Chicago (1-5) Facing seven-game, two-week trip. Bulls will be doing well just to make it back. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

NEW YORK AT SEATTLE

* When--Tuesday. * Time--7 p.m. * TV--None.

* Story line--Patrick Ewing faces his old teammates for the first time. In a surprise, the Knicks are off to a good start with the 220-pound Marcus Camby, who was a reserve when Ewing was there, now his successor at center. Meanwhile, the SuperSonics are struggling to get it together, amid the usual turmoil.