THE TIMES’ RANKINGS / Top 10

CAPSULES AND RANKINGS

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

1. Lakers (7-0): No way Campbell can blame media for his benching. We tried that for years. (1)

2. Atlanta (9-0): Not that Wilkens is getting excited: Mookie, Steve Smith 1-2 in NBA in minutes. (2)

3. San Antonio (6-3): Robinson, Duncan get 58 at Minnesota. The other nine players split 34. (3)

4. Seattle (6-3): Great pickup: Dale Ellis among leaders in three-point baskets--in 20 minutes off bench. (4)

5. Portland (6-2): Kenny Anderson, averaging 21.5, looking like star people thought he’d be. (8)

6. New York (6-3): Not that guards are a problem, but Ewing says defense can make up for turnovers. (9)

7. Milwaukee (5-3): Time to get off Big Dog’s tail: Robinson is averaging 25, shooting 57%. (10)

8. Phoenix (5-1): Here’s one you never thought you’d see: Kidd in top 30 in shooting at 52%. (13)

9. Chicago (6-4): They should waive Rodman, but Krause is enjoying torturing “the coach.” (5)

10. Charlotte (5-3): Falk vows revenge for Bogues slight. Who else does he have? Oh, Glen Rice. (12)

11. Miami (6-3): Still looking for shooting guard: Lenard fades and Majerle is hurt again. (6)

12. Utah (5-4): The latest slap to Ostertag is delivered by Jerry Sloan, who benches him.( 14)

13. Cleveland (4-4): With three rookies starting: Brevin Knight, Derek Anderson, Zydrunas Ilgauskas. (19)

14. Washington (4-5): Big week: Wiz topples Bulls in Chicago and Timberwolves in Minneapolis. (20)

15. Houston (3-4): Olajuwon averaging 15 points, 8 rebounds. If he has had it, so have they. (7)

16. Minnesota (5-2): Too bad can’t rebound a little. Last in NBA, hammered by 8 a game. (15)

17. New Jersey (4-3): They’re almost out of bodies without Kittles, Van Horn and Gatling. (11)

18. Orlando (5-4): Forget Nick Anderson. Most disappointing Magician so far is Penny Hardaway. (18)

19. Indiana (4-5): So far, Bird’s no offensive genius: Pacers are one of six teams under 90 points. (17)

20. Detroit (4-6): Insiders say Hill is exhausted, trying to carry a team that can’t score. (16)

21. Vancouver (4-4): Brought in wrong veteran for leadership. Otis Thorpe already wants out. (24)

22. Philadelphia (2-6) After 0-5 start, beat Rockets, Mavericks on road. Brown calls off three trades. (27)

23. Boston (4-5): Thank heaven for little Nuggets, Raptors. Pitino calls off three trades. (26)

24. Dallas (3-5): Big surprise: After 3-0 start, go 0-4 as players rip Cleamons’ offense. (21)

25. Sacramento (2-7): Richmond campaigns for trade to Heat, but Kings don’t want Mashburn or Lenard. (25)

26. Clippers (1-7): A year ago they allowed 99.5 points a game. Now they’re up to 107.2. (23)

27. Toronto (1-8): Thomas will spend a long time regretting drafting Camby over Abdur-Rahim. (22)

28. Denver (0-8): Scantily clad Bally’s dancers at opener. What’s Christmas show, strippers? (28)

29. Golden State (0-8): Sprewell, Carlesimo at odds. Spree figures it got B.J. Armstrong out of there. (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

NEW YORK AT HOUSTON

When--Tuesday. Time--5 p.m. TV--TNT

* Storyline--Three years ago, they were NBA finalists. Now they’re old teams, hoping they have a future. Chris Mills gives the Knicks more depth, which is good because Johnson looks like the most overpriced player in an overpriced age. The Rockets have been sound, but Barkley did so much sniping at Drexler and Olajuwon, they finally sniped back. Last season, the Rockets were 32-8 with their Big Three. This season, they’re 3-4 with them.