Team/Record	Prev rank/ Last week	ESPN.com skinny
CLOSE AT THE TOP
1. Kings 27-9	2/1-0	OK, Kings fans, you're the last of the Big West 5 to make it to No. 1, just by coincidence. It just seemed like every time the Kings deserved it, the Lakers did more. Now, no excuses. Of course, Wolves fans will disagree. CWebb and Sacramento are so good they don't even appear to need Mike Bibby.
2. Wolves 27-9	4/3-0	KG and crew have won eight straight, and that's without Brandon and Joe Smith and now Gary Trent. Yes, Mr. Garnett is that good. As for No. 1, sorry, we couldn't jump them from fourth over Sacramento.
3. Lakers 27-8	1/3-2	Sure, they lost to the Bulls, but let's not go overboard on that one. The loss at Minnesota was much more telling. Can Kobe get the Lakers over the Spurs this Saturday?
4. Nets 25-11	6/4-0	What, an East team at No. 4? Above the Spurs and Mavs? Say it ain't so. Well, it is so and Kidd's bunch deserves it. That win over San Antone Monday clinched it.
5. Spurs 25-10	3/1-2	Look at their record closely: There's a startling number of close losses, and losses to other good teams. Of course, the Spurs are still pretty dangerous. Well, other than Admiral.
6. Mavs 25-12	5/3-1	Did well in general after Michael Finley went down, but Monday was why they need him: Nash and Dirk combined for eight points, nobody else could score in blowout at Orlando.
WHAT, EVEN MORE GOOD EAST TEAMS?
7. Bucks 21-13	7/3-0	The No. 2 team in the East and in the minds of many, the most dangerous. While the Nets have little playoff experience, the Bucks were ever so close to seeing Shaq in the Finals.
8. Celtics 22-14	8/2-1	A close loss to San Antonio notwithstanding, Boston did well with Antoine limping around. But if Walker goes out, nobody else other than Pierce can score.
9. Raptors 20-17	11/2-1	Something we don't get: Why just stop playing emerging big man Keon Clark when Hakeem returns? Clark's outperforming Antonio Davis, and Junkyard Dog.
10. Pacers 21-17	9/1-2	Apparently Jalen does still have game (38 points). Hard to tell when he doesn't get plays called for him.
JORDAN (AND LUE) SECTION
11. Wizards 18-16	10/1-2	It sounds strange, but can they keep up the intensity when Rip and Christian return?
PLAYOFF WORTHY
12. Jazz 20-17	15/3-1	Lottery? We don't need no stinkin' lottery! Fact is Utah has played very well without Donyell and they're winning those close ones.
13. Magic 20-20	16/2-2	While Armstrong sputters miserably and Miller remains inconsistent, Tracy carries the ball and Orlando wins. This team has six more games than Wizards though.
14. Clippers 19-19	12/1-3	Don't say you weren't warned; Clips don't win on the road. They are 3-12 away from home, and that's real bad news when you consider they've played 23 games at home already.
STILL COULD MAKE IT
15. Sonics 19-17	14/1-1	Have won eight of 10 as Rashard, Baker take more heat off of Payton.
16. 76ers 16-20	17/1-1	Looked like they had turned the corner in the Spurs win, but they had brought nothing against Orlando. This is hardly the same Sixers team as last season.
17. Blazers 18-19	18/3-1	You know things are bad when the Blazers are trying to get Sabonis back to fix everything.
FLOUNDERING
18. Suns 19-19	13/1-3	Tom Petty called it Freefalling. Certainly looks like they overachieved the first two months the way they're playing now.
19. Hornets 17-19	20/2-1	Return of George Lynch shouldn't be overlooked. Just take a look at Lee Nailon's spiraling numbers the last month.
20. Pistons 17-18	19/1-2	Speaking of Phoenix, Clifford's old home, they're a shadow of their November selves as well. What, you expected Clifford to not shoot 40 percent?
21. Rockets 12-24	24/2-1	When we look back on Houston's season, we'll see a nice record with Stevie, and 1-16 without him (so far).
ONE WORD: LOTTERY
22. Grizzlies 12-25	25/3-1	Hey, they might actually be better than New York; they just beat Toronto, Phoenix and Utah, and have a win at Madison Square.
23. Knicks 14-22	21/0-3	You might as well trade Sprewell and start over because this doesn't look like a playoff team. Miami's only 4.5 games back of them.
24. Hawks 13-23	22/1-3	If Theo Ratliff was OK, maybe we'd consider a playoff run a possibility. But now it's Leon Smith they're relying on. Forget it.
25. Nuggets 11-25	26/1-3	Not a good team, but they do keep a bunch of these losses close. Does that count for anything?
MAKE US CRINGE
26. Cavaliers 13-24	23/0-3	Now that Andre Miller is no longer superhuman, and Jumaine Jones is no longer consistent, it doesn't matter if Ilgauskas is healthy.
27. Heat 9-26	27/1-3	Heat and Hornets are only league teams with more road wins than home; maybe that's because South Florida has given up on Pat Riley.
28. Bulls 7-29	29/1-2	Cherish this Lakers win, Mr. Cartwright. Of course, if Bulls can beat Jordan on Saturday, then that would be another accomplishment.
29. Warriors 12-24	28/0-2	The Bulls have those teenagers from this draft, but what is Golden State counting on? Is Larry Hughes going to all of a sudden blossom?