THE TIMES RANKINGS

Mark Heisler’s NBA rankings and comments

Team (through Fri.) Comment (last week’s rank)

1 LAKERS (5-0) Shaq doesn’t get upset at Kobe, Kobe passes the ball--this isn’t fair. (1)

2 SAN ANTONIO (4-2) Huh? French rookie Tony Parker, 19, gets 22 in second start at point guard. (3)

3 MILWAUKEE (4-0) Ray Allen finally emerging as the biggest of Big Three, averaging 29. (2)

4 DALLAS (5-1) Mavericks looking good but have played only one winning team, 2-1 Hornets at Dallas. (7)

5 SACRAMENTO (4-2) Webber is out until end of month, but Kings start 4-0 as Peja averages 26. (5)

6 MINNESOTA (5-0) That which didn’t kill Timberwolves--Marbury, Falk, Stern--must have made them stronger. (4)

7 NEW JERSEY (4-1) Size, esprit: Nets looking so legit, Barkley says they’ll win Atlantic. (13)

8 INDIANA (5-2) Jalen’s team now: Rose is averaging 25 points, five rebounds and five assists. (10)

9 ORLANDO (3-3) With eight of first 13 on road, Doc Rivers says Magic is just trying to survive. (6)

10 TORONTO (3-2) Maybe he decided to retire, after all: Olajuwon averaging eight points, eight rebounds. (8)

11 PORTLAND (3-3) Even worse logjam than usual as Pippen, Anderson, Wells, Patterson vie for minutes. (11)

12 HOUSTON (5-2) Still another team misusing him: Rice averaging 8.0 for Rockets, who start him. (12)

13 BOSTON (4-2) Of 10 drafted ahead of Joe Johnson, only other starters are on lowly Grizzlies. (16)

14 DETROIT (4-1) It’s early, but I have 29 of these to do: Carlisle leads in coach-of-year race. (24)

15 MIAMI (2-3) Mourning is averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, so Heat should be OK. (14)

16 CHARLOTTE (2-3) Soon even for Hornets: After four games, hold first players-only meeting. (9)

17 UTAH (2-4) Mailman says now’s not time to discuss report he’ll demand trade. OK, when is good? (20)

18 CLIPPERS (2-4) Barkley of backcourt: Richardson, your rare 230-pound guard, averages 15 off bench. (19)

19 PHOENIX (3-3) When Suns play Clippers, it’s test of which is still/potentially playoff team. (15)

20 SEATTLE (2-5) Kids: Rashard Lewis scores 36 at Orlando, then gets 37 in next three combined. (18)

21 NEW YORK (2-4) Here’s how bad it is: Tabloids float stories about getting ... Wally Szczerbiak? (17)

22 PHILADELPHIA (0-5) Started last season 41-14, then got hurt. This time, doing injuries first. (22)

23 DENVER (2-4) Absolute last chance (cont.): Rider gets 28, starting in upset at Houston. (25)

24 GOLDEN STATE (3-3) 6-7 Fortson, rebounding machine, is averaging 12, 6-11 Dampier is at 7. (27)

25 WASHINGTON (2-4) If you have All-Star break in How-Long-Can-MJ-Take-It Derby, you’re alive. (21)

26 ATLANTA (1-5) In over their heads: Hawks on four-game Western swing with Theo Ratliff out. (26)

27 CLEVELAND (1-5) Offense looks tad overmatched: Cavaliers have already been held under 70 twice. (23)

28 CHICAGO (1-4) Oakley, acquired for veteran leadership, leads the second-guessing of Floyd. (28)

29 MEMPHIS (0-6) Junior varsity: Gasol, Swift, Battier give them hope ... a long way off. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

TORONTO AT SACRAMENTO

When--Tuesday. Time--5 p.m. TV--TBS.

Story line--Will the East ever field another team that can compete with the West powers? Could the Raptors be it? Can they wake Olajuwon up, or revive him? Or should they play Keon Clark ahead of him? Who is Vince Carter, really?