THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

*--* WEST/NBA ELITE 1. DALLAS (61-11) Whoever you think deserves MVP, Dirk will run away with it. (1) 2. SAN ANTONIO (52-20) Ready for our close-up, Mr. DeMille: Old guys just went 19-2. (3) 3. PHOENIX (54-18) Oops: They only play eight, and one, James Jones, shot 32% in March. (2) 4. HOUSTON (47-26) 11-3 since Yao’s return, showed local teams there’s a level above theirs. (5) 5. UTAH (47-25) Happiest at seeing Jazz locked into other bracket: Suns, who are 0-3 vs. Utah. (6) NO, REALLY, YOU GUYS GET A FINALS BERTH? 6. DETROIT (46-26) Just went 4-4. At least there’s no chance they’ll burn themselves out. (4) 7. CLEVELAND (44-29) Set to drop three spots in a day before rallying in last 42 seconds vs. Bulls.(7) 8. CHICAGO (43-31) One moment they were looking at No. 2 and Orlando, the next No. 5 and Miami. (8) 9. TORONTO (40-32) 27-13 since 13-19 start. They may be young, but they’re also in East. (11) 10. MIAMI (39-33) Wade aiming for last few games -- meaning he’s still not much better. (12) 11. WASHINGTON (38-33) Hurling ball in air too early lets Toronto tie, shows Wizards can mess up anything. (10) STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU 12. LAKERS (38-34) It’s not good if Kobe plays the right way and they’re worse for it. (9) 13. CLIPPERS (36-37) Most unheralded of them: Mobley, who averaged 19.4 over seven. (14) 14. DENVER (35-36) Talented guys as opposed to a talented team. After 5-0 spurt, they go 1-5. (13) 15. GOLDEN STATE (34-39) Oops: 8-28 on road, going to San Antonio, Houston, Memphis this week. (15) 16. NEW ORLEANS (33-40) Stojakovic didn’t quite make it back and neither did Hornets. (16) 17. ORLANDO (34-39) After going 12-26 since Dec. 20, 5-3 run should get them in playoffs. (19) 18. NEW JERSEY (34-39) Talk about your inspiring stretch runs: They were 6-9 in March. (18) 19. INDIANA (31-41) Carlisle averaged 47 wins, never had loser until these guys who may get him fired.(17) 20. NEW YORK (31-42) With Lee, Crawford, Richardson out and Dolan saying not to worry, worry. (21) ALMOST EVERYONE INTO THE POOL 21. PHILADELPHIA (29-44) 19-15 since Jan. 17. Maybe they don’t know teams draft in reverse order. (24) 22. SACRAMENTO (30-41) Bibby back to being Bibby, so loony Artest needs to be the one to go. (23) 23. MINNESOTA (30-42) Now to see if they can stay in bottom 10 and keep draft pick from Clippers. (22) 24. SEATTLE (30-42) Allen shuts it down for ankle surgery. Now to see if he suits up here again. (25) 25. PORTLAND (29-44) Zach shuts it down for hand surgery as they finally worry about pick. (20) 26. CHARLOTTE (28-45) Sean May shuts it down, meaning he’ll have missed 104 of his first 162. (28) 27. ATLANTA (27-46) Joe Johnson shuts it down. Cheering comes from Phoenix, which has Hawks’ pick. (27) 28. MILWAUKEE (25-46) Villanueva, Bogut shut it down as Bucks prepare for yet another new start. (26) 29. BOSTON (22-50) Pierce shuts it down in nick of time, after 9-7 run endangers draft slot. (29) 30. MEMPHIS (19-55) Heisley shut them down before season, pending sale he’s still working on. (30)

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