The Times’ NBA rankings
BEN BOLCH’S RANKINGS, COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY
THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
1. MIAMI (28-8) Kobe Bryant will be a masked man, Dwyane Wade a marked one in showdown. (1)
2. CHICAGO (30-8) Bulls celebrate being first to turn 30, hope to reach 50 by season’s end. (2)
3. OKLA. CITY (29-8) Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook may one day combine to score 100 points. (3)
4. SAN ANTONIO (25-11) Didn’t need Manu Ginobili . . . or just about anyone else to beat Bobcats. (4)
LIVE AND LET DIE
5. CLIPPERS (21-13) Clipper Darrell suddenly feels like half the man he used to be. (5)
6. ORLANDO (24-14) Soundtrack to Dwight Howard’s season provided by the Clash. (6)
7. INDIANA (23-12) Danny Granger among the ones who get it done for Pacers. (7)
8. PHILADELPHIA (22-15) Fans treated to free Big Macs on night 76ers pay tribute to Big Dipper. (8)
9. LAKERS (22-14) Hard to climb rankings when you’re 1-7 against teams above you. (9)
10. DALLAS (22-16) Lamar Odom takes a pass on filming of “My life in the D-League.” (10)
11. MEMPHIS (22-15) Last few weeks have been a “W” wonderland for Grizzlies. (13)
12. HOUSTON (21-16) Feeling “Sorry!” after losing board game against Denver. (11)
13. ATLANTA (22-15) “Space cadet” Vladimir Radmanovic can still occasionally provide liftoff. (12)
14. DENVER (20-17) Nuggets mining for usable bodies with starters Nene, Danilo Gallinari out. (15)
15. MINNESOTA (19-19) Michael Beasley could make more than a stopover at Staples Center. (16)
A VIEW TO A KILL
16. PORTLAND (18-19) Bring back Brandon Roy? At this rate, Blazers could use Bill Walton too. (14)
17. NEW YORK (18-18) Knicks win Oscar for Best Waiver Acquisitions in Jeremy Lin, Steve Novak. (17)
18. BOSTON (18-17) Lose five in a row, win three in a row . . . Celtics not too old to go streaking. (18)
19. UTAH (17-19) Fans congratulate Jeremy Evans on dunk contest win, ask if he’ll ever play. (19)
20. PHOENIX (16-20) Could factor in Pacific Division race after all -- as a spoiler. (21)
21. GOLDEN STATE (14-19) On 50th anniversary of Wilt’s 100-point game, 11 Warriors muster only 83. (20)
22. MILWAUKEE (14-23) At least the Ryan Braun saga takes some of the focus off fading Bucks. (22)
23. CLEVELAND (13-22) When Kyrie Irving is out, Cavaliers are over and done. (23)
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
24. SACRAMETO (12-24) Kings not fit for Monowi, Neb. (pop.: 1), much less Seattle or Anaheim. (24)
25. TORONTO (11-25) Season highlight film won’t include late-game images of Rudy Gay. (25)
26. DETROIT (12-26) Easy victory over Bobcats a reminder that things could be worse. (26)
27. NEW JERSEY (11-26) Nets aren’t even trending inside Prudential Center anymore. (27)
28. NEW ORLEANS (9-28) Chris Kaman tweet: “Well hey @clipperdarrell at least u got a phone call!” (28)
29. WASH. (7-28) Fixing team in his backyard should be Obama’s focus, not Blake Griffin’s jumper. (29)
DR. NO
30. CHARLOTTE (4-30) Fore! Golfing buddy Charles Barkley takes five-iron to Michael Jordan’s credibility. (30)
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