THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

MARK HEISLER’S NBA RANKINGS AND COMMENTS:

GAME OF THE WEEK

DALLAS AT LAKERS

*--* Rank Team (record) Comment (last week’s position) 1 DALLAS (15-1) Zone with Bradley guarding hoop takes Mavericks from No. 28 to 11 on defense. (1) 2 SACRAMENTO (13-5) Barbaric but deep: Without Bibby, Kings still have six guys averaging 9.7 or more. (2) 3 INDIANA (13-2) Reggie waits until nine-game winning streak ends to return and helps start new one. (6) 4 PHILADELPHIA (14-4) Despite talk about others in East, Cavaliers’ Lucas calls 76ers best he has seen. (8) 5 DETROIT (12-5) East still East: After losing by 39 in Dallas, Pistons lose to Mavericks at home by 20. (4) 6 SAN ANTONIO (11-7) Duncan, who averaged 25-13 as MVP last season, only at 21-12 in this one. (3) 7 NEW JERSEY (11-6) Better rethink trade: Lost in offense, Mutombo plays only 25 minutes a game. (5) 8 NEW ORLEANS (11-5) Not like getting Shaq back, but Elden’s return makes Hornets big and deep again. (7) 9 HOUSTON (9-6) Yao Ming back to being a rookie, gets 34 in four games after 76 in previous four. (10) 10 UTAH (9-8) Mailman’s helper: Matt Harpring breaks out, averaging 20 as Jazz goes 5-0. (15) 11 SEATTLE (9-8) Old story for perimeter teams, when the three-pointers stop dropping, you drop. (11) 12 BOSTON (10-5) Thanks: While sale pends, Gaston has organization on shoestring budget. (9) 13 LAKERS (6-11) On the bright side, they’re only three games out of last playoff slot. (12) 14 MINNESOTA (9-8) It’s already a struggle: At this point last season, Timberwolves were 12-5. (13) 15 PHOENIX (8-7) Imagine that: Tired of passing, Marbury has to be himself, drops 43 on Spurs. (14) 16 ORLANDO (10-7) Rivers trots out Magic’s preferred lineup: McGrady, Mike Miller and Grant. (19) 17 PORTLAND (7-8) Trail Blazers are paying $105 million for this? Beginning of end for the Wild Bunch. (16) 18 CLIPPERS (6-11) Too good to fall apart, too distracted to hang together when things get tough. (22) 19 MILWAUKEE (8-8) No Allen, U.S. players rip Karl for Indy debacle. Friends better watch George. (18) 20 ATLANTA (8-9) RIP: New arena, rebuilt team, just drew three crowds in a row under 8,000. (17) 21 TORONTO (5-10) 1-1 with Carter. At least he’s not on stage at concerts as Raptors lose on road now.(21) 22 WASHINGTON (6-10) On the other hand, what did Wizards have better to do this season and last? (20) 23 GOLDEN STATE (6-11) Musselman urges Richardson to drive, but handle still isn’t there. (23) 24 DENVER (5-11) Bzdelik on three-point quarter: “I had more fun getting my wisdom teeth pulled.� (28) 25 CHICAGO (4-12) Crawford, No. 8 pick, won’t pass, Fizer, No. 4, doesn’t get in. (24) 26 NEW YORK (4-10) Clueless president/son of corporate boss Dolan: This is still a “fine� team. (26) 27 CLEVELAND (2-16) DaJuan Wagner comes out firing, with 51 points in first three games. (25) 28 MIAMI (4-12) Heat loses to Magic without McGrady, Grant; beats Lakers with Shaq, Kobe. (27) 29 MEMPHIS (2-14) Pals say West is OK, knows Grizzlies are young. Of course, it’s only been a month. (29)

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When -- Friday Time -- 7:30 p.m. TV -- Fox Sports Net

Story line -- If you’re wondering how legitimate the high-scoring Mavericks are, with their new defensive scheme and their new, revived Shawn Bradley, so are the Lakers.