NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record through Friday): Comment (Last week’s rank)

1. Seattle (39-12): Clearly NBA’s best. Players begging reporters not to stir up George Karl. (1)

2. Chicago (37-15): Still more like old Bulls than Bulls of old--Jordan sits out end of close game.(4)

3. Utah (34-15): O’Neal has an alibi for this one: Ostertag goes on injured list. (3)

4. Lakers (35-13): Media blitz shows Kobe how it feels to be like Mike. He’s still recovering. (2)

5. Indiana (36-14): Think Pacers weren’t looking ahead to Bulls game? Lose to Mavericks at home. (5)

6. San Antonio (34-16): Didn’t play elite team during 24-4 run, met SuperSonics at home, lost. (6)

7. Phoenix (33-16): Ainge, in love with small lineups, playing McDyess only 29 minutes. (7)

8. Miami (32-18): Riley can’t get Richmond, decides not to trade Mashburn, sees him break thumb. (8)

9. New Jersey (30-21): Calipari has heart set on catching Heat as Nets hit soft spot in schedule. (10)

10. Atlanta (30-22): Henderson stars in start. Laettner is a goner if Hawks can find a taker. (12)

11. Portland (29-20): Trail Blazers would be higher if they could hire Dr. Frankenstein to give Rider new brain. (14)

12. Charlotte (30-20): Heading into trade deadline with two of this year’s top free-agent centers. (11)

13. Cleveland (28-22): You can only go so far with four rookies. Treading water since 14-6 start. (9)

14. Minnesota (27-21): Some sharp general managers think T’Wolves should trade Gugliotta to force Garnett to step up. 13)

15. New York (25-21): $8 million doesn’t buy what it used to: Larry Johnson averaging 17 points since Ewing left. (17)

16. Washington (27-25): Not that Murray’s important--he has 93 three-pointer baskets. Rest of Wizards have 94. (16)

17. Houston (24-25): Laker alert: Moving up with stars back. Not your ideal first-round opponent. (18)

18. Milwaukee (25-25): Terrell Brandon misses first two after All-Star break. So do the Bucks. (15)

19. Orlando (24-27): Penny pleads not to be traded after he almost becomes a Net or Raptor. (19)

20. Detroit (23-26): Stackhouse bristles as Mr. Nice Guy Gentry makes him the sixth man. (20)

21. Boston (23-27): Turning back into pumpkins?: Western trip starts with loss . . . at Denver. (21)

22. Sacramento (22-29): Kings have waited all year for this time. Not the playoffs, trade deadline. (22)

23. Philadelphia (15-33): Iverson on block. Soon No. 3 pick in ’95 draft, No. 1 in ‘96, will be gone. (23)

24. Vancouver (14-37): Abdur-Rahim says he might leave if things don’t improve. Better get some veterans. (24)

25. Toronto (11-39): Got good package for Stoudamire, after all. Of course, they’re still doomed. (25)

26. Clippers (11-40): On the bright side, they clearly have best players of any of bottom five. (26)

27. Dallas (10-40): Scratch another cornerstone. Mascot “Mavs Man” quits in salary dispute.(27)

28. Golden State (8-40): Dead man walking with $15-million contract: Players mutter big-time about Carlesimo. (28)

29. Denver (5-44): After stirring 3-4 run, Nuggets are still on record-setting 8-74 pace. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK: INDIANA AT CHICAGO

* When--Tuesday. Time--5:30 p.m. TV--WGN.

* Storyline--Even if the Bulls can’t get back to their old form, does the East have a team good enough to knock them off? Larry Bird’s Pacers won their season series with the Heat, 3-1, and are 1-0 against the Bulls. Of course, that game was in Indianapolis, before Scottie Pippen’s return.