THE TIMES’ RANKINGS: Top to Bottom

CAPSULES AND RANKINGS

Team (Record): 1. Chicago (69-13)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank) A 1-3 finish gives Bulls first-ever disappointing 69-13 season. (1)

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Team (Record): 2. Utah (63-18)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Three teams have shot 50% in the last five seasons; the Jazz did it twice. (2)

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Team (Record): 3. Miami (61-21)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): First 60-win season. Also, first 50-win season. Before this, record was 42. (3)

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Team (Record): 4. Houston (56-25)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Here’s the only stat Rockets care about: Went 31-8 with their Big Three. (4)

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Team (Record): 5. Lakers (56-25)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Here’s the only stat they care about: Finished 22-4 with their Big One. (5)

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Team (Record): 6. Atlanta (56-25)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Knick bench outscores Hawks’, 32-5. If Lenny wants help, better unretire. (6)

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Team (Record): 7. New York (57-25)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): News flash: Source close to Checketts says Garden boss thinking of Larry Brown. (7)

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Team (Record): 8. Charlotte (54-27)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Best team nobody knows about. With Mason out, started nine-game win streak. (10)

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Team (Record): 9. Seattle (57-25)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Which Kemp will show up for playoffs? Will any Kemp show up for playoffs? (8)

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Team (Record): 10. Portland (48-33)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): What to do today? Who’d you rather open playoffs with, Shaq or Jim McIlvaine? (9)

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Team (Record): 11. Detroit (53-28)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Maybe he’s a tad too emotional for this: Collins sobs after Pistons beat Bulls. (11)

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Team (Record): 12. Orlando (45-37)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): So much for honeymoon. After 16-4 start under Adubato, Magic has gone 5-9. (12)

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Team (Record): 13. Cleveland (42-39)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Little Engine That Could wins in Detroit, plays Bullets at home for 8th slot. (14)

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Team (Record): 14. Washington (43-38)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): So far, last postseason game for any Fab Five member was at Michigan. (13)

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Team (Record): 15. Phoenix (40-42)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Ainge is 40-34, with a team in his image: Lots of guards firing up threes. (15)

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Team (Record): 16. Minnesota (40-42)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): For Timberwolves, with two 20-year-old starters, playoffs are past their bedtime. (16)

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Team (Record): 17. Indiana (39-42)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): So as the sun sets over the cornstalks, we bid adieu to Brown era in Indy. (17)

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Team (Record): 18. Clippers (36-46)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Gutty band finds light at end of tunnel. What can we say but, congratulations? (18)

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Team (Record): 19. Sacramento (34-47)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Now to see if Kings can calm Richmond down in off-season. Otherwise, new dark ages. (19)

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Team (Record): 20. Toronto (29-52)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Improved from 21 wins. Mark Raptors down for the mid-30s next season. (20)

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Team (Record): 21. Milwaukee (32-49)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Good news: Gained six wins in standings. Bad news: Had first 15 by Christmas. (21)

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Team (Record): 22. Golden State (30-52)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Now to see what Warriors can get for Mullin. Got zip for Hardaway, Seikaly, Gugliotta. (22)

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Team (Record): 23. New Jersey (25-56)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Thanks for that Kerry Kittles packet. He almost squeezed into top four. (23)

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Team (Record): 24. Dallas (24-58)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): On behalf of Celtics, who have Mavericks’ pick, thanks for that 2-16 finish. (24)

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Team (Record): 25. Philadelphia (22-60)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Long season’s march back into lottery for some, unemployment for others. (25)

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Team (Record): 26. Denver (21-61)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Nuggets 5-29 after the All-Star break. Barkley: “They quit like dogs.” (26)

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Team (Record): 27. San Antonio (20-61)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Popovich may return as coach, on assumption nothing worse can happen. (27)

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Team (Record): 28. Boston (15-66)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): So much for Szabo-Driggers-Hamer-Hawkins era. Who were those guys? (28)

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Team (Record): 29. Vancouver (14-68)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Maybe Stu Jackson (6-33) was a bit hasty when he fired Brian Winters (8-35). (29)

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS AT PORTLAND

When--Today. Time--12:30 p.m. TV--Channel 4 Story line--This could decide the seedings in the West, matching teams that probably would just as soon get out of each other’s way--which a Laker victory would accomplish. The Lakers aren’t looking forward to opening against a big, physical team that finished 19-5 and was 2-1 against them. The Trail Blazers can’t be thrilled about drawing the Lakers, after watching O’Neal score 123 points in 127 minutes since his return.