THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

RANKINGS, COMMENTS (WITH LAST WEEK’S RANK)

ONE OF THESE (NINE) TEAMS WILL WIN IT

1. (tie) DETROIT (39-13)

Rasheed becomes their third All-Star. Now come moans they got only three. (1)

1. (tie) BOSTON (41-9)

Still going: Allen, Pierce and 10 nobodies go 8-2 with Garnett out. (2)

3. (tie) SAN ANTONIO (34-17)

Still going: After 0-2 start, went 6-0 on Rodeo Trip with Parker out. (T3)

3. (tie) LAKERS (35-17)

What you call a good trip: Went 7-2 and came home with Pau Gasol. (T3)

3. (tie) UTAH (34-19)

Best team nobody knows about: 18-3 since Korver got there. (T3)

3. (tie) NEW ORLEANS (36-15)

You could have gotten some nice odds on them leading West at All-Star break.(8)

7. PHOENIX (37-16)

Not still going: 3-2 between Marion’s departure and Shaq’s debut. (T3)

8. DALLAS (35-18)

Another inside job? Former Laker Devean George sinks their Kidd deal.(T3)

9. HOUSTON (32-20)

Looks like Warriors vs. Nuggets for No. 8 in West with Rockets on 17-3 run. (9)

STILL WORKING ON ISSUES

10. ORLANDO (33-21)

Averaging 104 points, Van Gundy wants mad bombers to stop giving up 101. (11)

11. DENVER (32-20)

Whatever happened to the George Karl who cleaned out J.B. Carroll’s locker? (13)

12. GOLDEN STATE (32-20)

Oops: Nelson who said Webber would start from here on, deactivates him. (12)

13. CLEVELAND (29-23)

Better get LeBron help or they’ll have worse problems than wins and losses.(10)

14. TORONTO (28-23)

Saved their bacon: Calderon averaging 16 since Jan. 1, at 54% on threes. (14)

15. PORTLAND (28-24)

Weren’t they pretty good a while back? 6-11 since their 17-1 run ended. (15)

16. SACRAMENTO (23-28)

Tick, tick, tick (cont.): Artest wants out, but nobody’s offering anything.(16)

17. WASHINGTON (25-27)

Thank heavens, the break: Three starters -- Arenas, Butler, Stevenson -- out. (17)

STILL IN (GAG ME) EAST RACE

18. PHILADELPHIA (23-30)

Not again: Started another second-half rally going 5-0 but eight of next 12 on road. (22)

19. ATLANTA (21-28)

Team that passed up Chris Paul and Deron Williams finally gets a point guard. (19)

20. CHICAGO (21-31)

Didn’t look humanly possible to miss playoffs but giving it a shot.(21)

21. NEW JERSEY (23-30)

They’ll never forget Jason Kidd -- oh, he hasn’t gone anywhere yet? (18)

22. INDIANA (21-32)

Glut on the O’Neal market: If Miami can move Shaq, can’t they move Jermaine?(20)

FOULED UP BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION

23. MILWAUKEE (19-34)

Redd would look good alongside a star but a franchise player, he’s not. (23)

24. CHARLOTTE (19-34)

One thing goes right: Okafor at 15-16 this month. Oh, he’ll be free agent? (24)

25. CLIPPERS (17-33)

Dear Donald: I’ve been busy with all the stuff going on. How you guys doing? (25)

26. NEW YORK (15-37)

That’s progress: If Kidd goes, they won’t be worst team in the area. (26)

27. MEMPHIS (14-38)

Can now start All-Bust Twins: Kwame, No. 1 pick in ‘01, Darko, No. 2 in ’03. (28)

28. SEATTLE (13-38)

Mission accomplished, if mission was wearing out welcome in Seattle. (29)

29. MINNESOTA (10-41)

So much for the good times: Went 5-2 after 5-34 start, 0-5 since. (27)

BLACK HOLE OF MIAMI

30. MIAMI (9-42)

Slow start for Jordan & Pippen II: Wade and Marion are 0-3. (30)