Comment (last week’s rank)
1. Cavaliers 43-11 (1): Full of themselves, er, so confident they may not make a deal after all.
2. Lakers 41-13 (2): Now we know what the problem was: Too many stars.
3. Nuggets 35-18 (3): Lakers of Rockies trail real ones by
5 1/2 for all-important home court.
4. Magic 36-18 (4): Reports of Vince Carter’s death apparently exaggerated: Scores 48 to end slump.
5. Hawks 33-18 (5): Proving they still have some Hawk in them, lost last one at home to Miami.
More Top Picks Best Premium Recliners For Post Surgery Recovery
6. Jazz 32-19 (7): Problem matchup: Went 13-1 before losing to Lakers at home without Kobe Bryant.
7. Celtics 32-18 (6): Just lost to Hornets without Chris Paul. Next: four-game West Coast trip.
8. Mavericks 32-20 (8): Set to upgrade — a little — dealing Josh Howard, Drew Gooden for Wizards’ Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood.
9. Spurs 30-21 (10): Hello, garbage heap of history: 35-15 at break last season.
10. Thunder 30-21 (11): Two-man show or no two-man show, they
were 13-40 at break last season.
11. Suns 31-22 (9): Steve Nash urges them to keep Amare Stoudemire without whom he’s old guy in rebuilding project.
12. Raptors 29-23 (14): Leader in Chris Bosh Derby? 21-34 at break in ’09, 11-17 on Dec. 16, 18-6 since.
13. Trail Blazers 31-24 (12): Phil Jackson has them guessing: Nate McMillan says sitting Kobe Bryant was psychological ploy.
14. Rockets 27-24 (13): Still have hottest property on market: Tracy McGrady’s expiring $23 million deal.
15. Grizzlies 26-25 (15): 15-37 at break in ’09 when they would have been 1,000-1 to be in race in ’10.
16. Bobcats 26-25 (16): D.J. Augustin, whom Larry Brown wanted over Brook Lopez, can be had for phone call.
17. Hornets 28-25 (20): Darren Collison happens, averaging 18
over six but they’re 2-4 without Chris Paul.
18. Bucks 24-27 (17): Hottest team in East race for No. 8, closed 6-2 as Andrew Bogut averaged 17-12.
19. Heat 26-27 (19): Pat Riley at crossroads: Upgrade now (Amare Stoudemire?) to get help for Dwyane Wade or gut it out?
20. Bulls 25-26 (18): Oops: Derrick Rose joins Joakim Noah on sideline, leaving instant D-league team.
21. Clippers 21-31 (21): They don’t make honeymoons the way they used to.
22. 76ers 20-32 (27): Andre Igoudala, Elton Brand look likeliest to
leave as trade rumors swirl.
24. Knicks 19-32 (22): Mike D’Antoni kept them respectable—at cost of junking plan to showcase Eddy Curry.
25. Kings 18-34 (25): Even if they went 2-16 in Kevin Martin’s first 18, won’t trade him for Ray Allen. (25)
25. Wizards 17-33 (24): Can’t trade Gilbert Arenas, they like Antawn Jamison so Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood get tickets to ride.
26. Pistons 18-33 (26): Oops: Best new Piston isn’t Ben Gordon or Charlie Villanueva but Ben Wallace.
More Top Picks Vacuum Mop Combo
27. Pacers 18-34 (23): Reggie Miller: Drawing No. 1 pick only way out of post-Auburn Hills fall.
28. Timberwolves 13-40 (28): Al Jefferson back, averages 11, shoots 85 percent in fourth quarters of 4-0 run.
29. Warriors 14-37 (29): Don Nelson is 11 wins from Lenny Wilkens record — which may be all keeping him there.
30. Nets 4-48 (30): Rick Pitino denies interest in job, which means he wants the job.