THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

RANKINGS, COMMENTS (WITH LAST WEEK’S RANK)

BIG EAST

1. BOSTON (61-15)

So hot, Celtics just won by 23 at Charlotte with Big Three sitting out. (1)

2. DETROIT (54-21)

San Antonio of the East: This makes seven 50-win seasons in a row. (2)

BIG MESS, ER, WEST

3. NEW ORLEANS (53-22)

Still going: Hottest team in West on 9-1 run with its only loss in Boston. (3)

4. PHOENIX (51-25)

On 11-3 run with Stoudemire going wild, averaging 30 points, 9.8 rebounds. (5)

5. SAN ANTONIO (52-24)

Key Spur: Finley, who looked finished at 35, averaged 14 in 8-0 run. (4)

6. LAKERS (52-24)

Offense is a thing of beauty with Gasol. Unfortunately, defense is still awful. (8)

7. UTAH (51-26)

Lakers won season series. That’s huge if they have to play Jazz, 35-4 at home. (6)

8. ORLANDO (48-28)

Relentless uber-athlete Howard’s 14.5 rebound average highest in five years. (9)

9. DALLAS (47-29)

Won game it had to, beating Golden State in Dallas to take season series, 3-1. (11)

10. DENVER (46-30)

Controls tiebreaker with Golden State, leading series, 2-1, with better record in West.(10)

11. GOLDEN STATE (46-30)

1-6 start with Jackson suspended for 2006 gun incident may be what dooms them. (12)

12. HOUSTON (51-25)

Team everyone wants to play in first round: 5-5 since streak ended. (7)

13. CLEVELAND (42-35)

Magic just outscored Cavaliers, 54-31, in second half as they lost fifth of seven. (13)

14. WASHINGTON (40-37)

Gilbert, finally allowed back on floor, gets 17 in 20 minutes of first game. (14)

15. PHILADELPHIA (39-38)

Once a reluctant shooter, Igoudala averaging 21 in 76ers’ 21-8 run. (15)

16. PORTLAND (38-38)

With Lakers headed there, Roy, who strained groin, returning to go for 41 wins. (16)

17. TORONTO (38-39)

Missing piece: top ’06 pick who plays like one. Bargnani averaging 10 off bench. (17)

18. SACRAMENTO (36-40)

Theus keeps Kings playing it out with nothing to play for: Just went 4-0. (18)

19. ATLANTA (36-41)

Bibby trade finally paying off: Started 4-10 with him, 10-3 since. (19)

FOULED UP BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION

20. NEW JERSEY (32-45)

Running with Harris, averaged 103 in last nine. Unfortunately Nets lost six. (20)

21. INDIANA (32-44)

Good thought if a little late: Jermaine O’Neal vows to spend summer working on body. (21)

22. CHICAGO (30-46)

Won 49 last season. Miami, which won 44, may be only team taking bigger drop. (22)

23. CHARLOTTE (29-48)

With Jordan publicly cool, Vincent better get off to good start next season. (23)

24. MILWAUKEE (26-49)

Not a bust after all: Bogut, top pick in 2005, averaging 16-12 since break. (24)

25. MINNESOTA (19-56)

7-11 since 12-48 start. Must be because Garnett wasn’t there to tank this season. (25)

26. CLIPPERS (23-53)

Wavy Gravy’s bit of heaven in disaster area: Thornton scores 21-13-39-26-21. (26)

27. MEMPHIS (20-56)

Would they take local hero Rose -- with Conley, Crittenton, Lowry at point? (27)

28. SEATTLE (17-59)

Couldn’t someone around here use scrappy Earl Watson, who makes 37% of threes? (28)

29. NEW YORK (20-56)

Walsh, who hired Isiah Thomas once, is his boss again, however briefly. (29)

BLACK HOLE OF MIAMI

30. MIAMI (13-63)

Talk about pulling the plug: Wade, Haslem, Marion, Williams, Banks, Wright out. (30)