How they rank

How they rank

RANKINGS, COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY

WHAT A RACE/CAN THIS PLEASE BE OVER?

1.(tie) CLEVELAND (61-15)

Lakers, Celtics know they can win on road. Cavaliers know they need home-court. (1)

1.(t) LAKERS (60-16)

Plan B: Gasol and Bryant can rest this summer when there are no Olympics. (2)

3.(t) BOSTON (58-19)

Without Garnett, Pierce, derided as gunner for bad teams, shows how good he is now. (4)

3.(t) ORLANDO (57-19)

11-6 versus rest of Big Four last two seasons after bombing Cavaliers. (3)

STILL SEEKING BEST OF REST

5.(t) DENVER (50-26)

Anthony, subpar until now, averages 29, shoots 51% as they go 6-0. (6)

5.(t) SAN ANTONIO (49-26)

What’s big deal about Big Three back if they can’t beat Thunder at home? (5)

7.(t) PORTLAND (48-27)

Well, it’s something: Oden’s rebounds, blocks per minute up since return. (8)

7.(t) HOUSTON (48-28)

One superstar shy of a load: With McGrady gone, teams take Yao away at end. (7)

7.(t) NEW ORLEANS (47-28)

Good news for a change: Julian Wright, who was lost, wins starting job. (10)

10. UTAH (46-30)

Bad time for wheels to come off: Just lost four of six, giving up 110 a game. (9)

11. DALLAS (45-31)

Kidd drops hints about taking mid-level exception to play with James -- or Bryant. (11)

12. ATLANTA (43-34)

One more year of players smoldering under Woodson while owners sue each other. (14)

13. PHOENIX (42-34)

Today’s game in Dallas may end playoff hopes -- and the Suns as we know them. (12)

14. MIAMI (41-36)

Not bad for non-MVP: Wade shortest player ever to get 100 blocks, 100 steals. (13)

15. PHILADELPHIA (40-35)

Major blow to major comer: Young out 2-3 weeks because of badly sprained ankle. (15)

16. CHICAGO (37-40)

Batting practice fastball for Celtics or Magic: Looks as if Bulls are in. (17)

17. DETROIT (36-40)

Iverson says he hates coming off bench. They say he doesn’t have to, send him home.(16)

18. CHARLOTTE (34-42)

Little Engine That Almost Could has five of last six on road. (18)

19. INDIANA (32-44)

Getting minutes late in rookie season, Rush averages 17 in last seven. (23)

20. TORONTO (30-45)

Late push now 6-0 with Jay Triano trying to stay and GM Colangelo behind him. (21)

21. OKLAHOMA CITY (21-54)

Voters will go Rose, but ESPN’s discerning Thorpe has Westbrook as top rookie. (24)

PACKING AS WE SPEAK

22. MILWAUKEE (32-46)

Still just Charlie Villanueva: Averaged 20 from Jan. 1 to March 21, 12 since. (19)

23. NEW JERSEY (31-45)

Harris, asked if embattled Lawrence Frank has lost team: “I don’t think so.” (20)

24. NEW YORK (29-47)

Hoping to re-sign hardworking Lee. Not sure about rock-head Krypto-Nate. (22)

25. GOLDEN STATE (27-49)

Unnoticed amid turmoil, Azubuike makes stealth move to next level. (25)

26. MEMPHIS (22-54)

Not that no one knows they’re there: Hope to woo local fans with Calipari gone.(28)

27. MINNESOTA (22-54)

Launching rookie-of-year campaign for Love. You mean last year in Pac-10? (26)

SHOULD GIVE BACK $$ LIKE AIG

28. WASHINGTON (18-60)

Insiders say this is Flip Saunders’ job next season. (29)

29. CLIPPERS (18-58)

I’m a Dunleavy guy, but he cut them way too much slack as far as not trying. (27)

30. SACRAMENTO (16-59)

Are they commuting from Cancun? Gave up 124 a game in last six. (30)

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Looking ahead

SAN ANTONIO AT CLEVELAND

Today, 10 a.m. PDT, ABC

CLEVELAND AT PHILADELPHIA

Friday, 4 p.m. PDT

Hold that vacation, guys.

The Lakers seemed locked into No. 2 overall, but strange things happen late in seasons, when teams that mailed it in for months may decide to try for a night.

Take Washington -- please.

With Cleveland looking capable of running the table, its rival from first-round battles in 2006 and 2007 got Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood back just in time to end the Cavaliers’ winning streak at 13 games.

The Cavaliers were then routed the next night in Orlando, losing 1 1/2 games of their 2 1/2 -game lead over the Lakers in two days.

The Lakers and Cavaliers each play four of their last six at home.

The Cavaliers play tougher teams, including these two and, in next Sunday’s attraction of the week, the Boston Celtics.

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Quoteage

How about yesterday?

Coach Stan Van Gundy, after Miami’s Dwyane Wade scored 42 points in a loss to Orlando as Alonzo Mourning’s jersey was retired:

“I personally am pushing to retire Dwyane Wade’s jersey. . . . I say we retire him and his jersey as quickly as possible.”

Payback is sweet, assuming they notice

Coach Mike D’Antoni on Denver’s Renaldo Balkman saying New York regrets trading him:

“Who’s that?”

Wusses? Us?

New York’s David Lee, who played with a sore knee after being introduced to Willis Reed, who played Game 7 of the 1970 Finals with his hip numbed by painkillers:

“How could I tell him I couldn’t?”

Ask his wife

Boston’s Brian Scalabrine, attending his first game since his concussion:

“Man can only be in the house for so long before he can hunt and gather. . . . Men are not built that way [helping around the house.] Men are not meant to be at home. Men are built to go on trips.”