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Team (Record): Comment (last week’s position)

1. Portland (10-1): I think this means Trail Blazers won’t give up Pippen, unless it’s for Shaq. (2)

2. San Antonio (8-3): That isn’t a lion in the zoo, that’s Popovich growling about Spurs’ effort so far. (1)

3. Miami (8-2): Heat would look better if it hadn’t blown 10-point fourth-quarter lead to Trail Blazers. (3)

4. Seattle (9-2): Not-Quite-as-Mad Max averaging red-hot 18 points in 27 minutes off bench. (9)

5. Sacramento (6-1): Last time team started this fast was ‘52, three homes ago, in Rochester. (10)

6. Lakers (8-3): Denver’s LaFrentz: “If Shaq shot 80% from the line, it wouldn’t be fair.” (5)

7. Toronto (6-3): Antonio Davis, who had 49 points in first six games, gets 53 in three.(6)

8. Milwaukee (6-4): Karl shopped Robinson but falls in love as Big Pooch turns it up. (8)

9. Minnesota (4-2): Timberwolves don’t worry about $128 million it cost to sign Garnett any more. (14)

10. Utah (6-4): Shandon, come home. The firepower-light Jazz go 10 games before hitting 100. (11)

11. Phoenix (6-4): Colangelo makes ominous noises about Ainge as Suns lurch out of block. (4)

12. Indiana (6-4): Oh oh: Smits is averaging 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and feet hurt again. (13)

13. Boston (6-4): Celtics are replacing old Garden parquet. What next, shoot the leprechaun? (15)

14. Charlotte (6-5): Hornets leave their hearts in Carolina: 5-0 at home but 1-4 on the road. (7)

15. New York (6-6): Hold that parade: Knicks in West, worried about returning under .500. (12)

16. Cleveland (4-5): Huh? Knight-Sura backcourt averaging 29 points, shooting over 50%. (16)

17. Philadelphia (5-6): Oh gosh, now he’s learned to shoot? Iverson making 55% of three-point baskets. (17)

18. Detroit (4-6): I’ve been sucked in before, but Jerry Stackhouse is averaging 23 a game. (22)

19. Denver (4-5): Not a bad little start for Van Exel: 19 points, nine assists a game. (20)

20. Atlanta (3-7): Maybe it was a coincidence: Hawks finally suspend Rider, end losing streak. (21)

21. Vancouver (3-5): This guy’s serious: Shareef averaging 23 points, 12 boards, five assists. (24)

22. Dallas (4-7): Not much for Nelson to enjoy, but Nowitzki, his No. 1 pick last year, averaging 15 points. (25)

23. Orlando (5-6): Wake-up call in Magic kingdom: Fairy tale fades with four consecutive losses. (18)

24. Houston (2-9): How long until Rockets bust up old-age home, starting with Barkley, Olajuwon? (19)

25. Clippers (3-7): After Anderson is KO’d, TNT’s Vecsey says to re-sign him while he’s groggy. (23)

26. Washington (2-8): How long until Wizards bust them up, starting with problem child Strickland? (27)

27. Golden State (2-7): Antawn Jamison doesn’t have position or jumper, but he’s happening anyway. (28)

28. New Jersey (1-9): Fired Calipari after 20 last season, may not make Casey wait that long. (26)

29. Chicago (1-9): Krause calls around as Kukoc dreams of being in Croatia, or anywhere. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

PORTLAND at MINNESOTA

When--Wednesday. Time--5 PST TV--TNT.

* Story line--Last game on the Trail Blazers’ six-game trip and a chance to see the Timberwolves’ breaking-out Kevin Garnett, who has become a good shooter, to go along with the other things he does, which is just about everything. Unfortunately, that’s what the Timberwolves need him to do.