The Times’ NBA rankings

Ranking the 30 teams in the NBA. Last week’s ranking in parentheses; statistics are through Friday’s games:

1. GOLDEN STATE: Played only two home games in February but still finished the month with an 8-3 record. (1)

2. MEMPHIS: Since small forward Jeff Green joined the team in mid-January, Grizzlies are 15-5. (2)

3. CLEVELAND: Another week, another statement game by LeBron (42 points, 11 boards) in a win over the Warriors. (5)

4. ATLANTA: Starters (Millsap, Carroll, Horford, Teague and Korver) average only 32 minutes because of a deep bench. (4)

5. HOUSTON: Still waiting for Dwight Howard, but won four straight with James Harden (9.8 assists) as playmaker. (8)

6. PORTLAND: All-Stars Aldridge and Lillard are workhorses, contributing 72 minutes and 45 points a game. (7)

7. TORONTO: In a four-game skid the Raptors’ offense went ice cold, averaging only 88.5 points. (3)

8. CLIPPERS: After Blake Griffin went down Chris Paul turned it on, with 19.8 points, 12.5 assists over eight games. (6)

9. CHICAGO: Jimmy Butler is rolling, with career-best 20.4 points and leading NBA in minutes per game (39.2). (9)

10. DALLAS: Maybe Rick Carlisle, Rajon Rondo were arguing about free-throw technique. Rondo shoots 31.1% from line. (11)

11. SAN ANTONIO: Gregg Popovich is still looking for answers with his aging team, has tried 23 different lineups. (10)

12. OKLAHOMA CITY: Russell Westbrook was league MVP, at least in February: 31.2 points, 10.3 assists and 9.1 rebounds. (13)

13. MILWAUKEE: Hanging around East playoff seedings, but hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record since Feb. 2. (14)

14. NEW ORLEANS: A four-game win streak, including three close ones, matches Pelicans’ best this season. (16)

15. MIAMI: With Chris Bosh sidelined, Heat signs head-case Michael Beasley for a third stint to shore up frontcourt. (17)

16. PHOENIX: Suns a playoff team? Their “defense” ranks 28th in NBA, giving up 105.1 points a game. (15)

17. WASHINGTON: Wizards have lost 11 of 13 and haven’t won on the road since Jan. 27 at the Lakers. (12)

18. INDIANA: Playing .500 ball since late December, enough to keep Pacers in the East playoff scrum. (22)

19. CHARLOTTE: Another playoff hopeful because Bobcats take care of the ball: league-best 11.1 turnovers a game. (18)

20. DETROIT: PG Reggie Jackson off the mark so far in Motown, needs 19 shots a game to average 18.3 points. (19)

21. BOSTON: Isaiah Thomas an energy jolt off the bench, dropping 21, 21, 19 and 28 in his first games with Celtics. (21)

22. BROOKLYN: Talent shows, or doesn’t. Nets are 7-23 against teams with .500 or better records. (20)

23. UTAH: A gloomy Jazz season, but fifth-year forward Gordon Hayward keeps maturing, averaging 19.6 points. (24)

24. ORLANDO: The Magic’s problems aren’t at center; Nikola Vucevic has 35 double-doubles, second-best in NBA. (23)

26. SACRAMENTO: Coach George Karl’s rebuilding effort is underway, and Kings are 2-2 so far. (26)

25. DENVER: Coming up on the outside in the lottery tanking derby, after losing 11 of 12. (25)

27. LAKERS: Three-game win streak hurts their odds to move up in the May 19 draft lottery. (27)

28. MINNESOTA: Kevin Garnett takes it slow; 38-year-old plays 19 minutes in homecoming win, sits out the next one. (28)

29. PHILADELPHIA: Friday win over Washington was 76ers’ first against a team with a winning record since Jan. 5. (29)

30. NEW YORK: Maybe Derek Fisher wishes Steve Kerr had taken the Knicks’ coaching job. (30)