NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

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

1. Seattle (31-8): But at 29-6, its roll screeched to a halt in New York and Chicago. (1)

2. Chicago (27-12): The team that was 62-20 on road for two seasons is 8-11 in this one. (3)

3. Lakers (29-9): When Van Exel’s knee is sore, the whole franchise walks with a limp. (2)

4. Miami (24-13): On bright side, another month of trade talk and Heat will know who stays. (4)

5. Utah (25-12): Greg Ostertag reclaims his job, life after that cruel slap of fate. (5)

6. San Antonio (26-12): Ex-Clipper Jaren Jackson now 39% three-point shooter, wins starting job. (6)

7. Indiana (25-11): Larry Legend back in Boston today; Celtic fans wonder who to root for. (8)

8. Atlanta (25-12): Steve Smith has talked the talk for years. Now he’s walking the walk. (10)

9. Phoenix (23-12): Shaq and Lakers coming in Wednesday to see how legitimate smurf Suns are. (7)

10. Charlotte (22-16): Hornets take 0-3 pratfall as trade talks swirl around Divac, Geiger. (9)

11. Cleveland (22-15): Once Kemp needed an umbrella in Seattle. Now he needs ear plugs and helmet. (11)

12. Portland (20-16): New warden, same story: Mike Dunleavy’s Trail Blazers look like P.J. Carlesimo’s. (12)

13. New Jersey (21-17): They were all set to move ahead of the Knicks--then the Clippers hit town. (13)

14. Washington (21-20): Lose home-and-home to hurt Hawks--but Muresan still 10th in All-Star vote! (14)

15. Minnesota (21-16): Oops: Marbury says he wants $125 million, hates living in winter wonderland. (15)

16. New York (21-16): Home for 8 of 11 without Ewing, but now Knicks have 10 of 16 on road. (16)

17. Houston (18-16): Rockets would need Olajuwon in his prime to make up for this much wrangling. (17)

18. Boston (17-19): Pitino says he’s looking for good home for Brown (and his $3-million pact). (18)

19. Detroit (18-19): Collins junks slow-down game to run. May help (as long as he’s there). (20)

20. Milwaukee (18-20): The Big Dog shows Clippers what he’s got. Of course, so does Ervin Johnson. (21)

21. Orlando (20-19): Trying to hang on till Hardaway returns, but he says that will be mid-February. (19)

22. Sacramento (17-22): Won six in a row at home, but then the Sad Sacs had to go on the road. (22)

23. Philadelphia (12-23): Real Larry Brown production: Just when things looked their darkest . . . (25)

24. Clippers (10-30): The only thing worse than their team defense was Keith Closs’ hairdo. (24)

25. Vancouver (10-30): Biggest Country scores 41 against the Celtics. Of course, Grizzlies lose. (23)

26. Golden State (7-29): Warriors in free fall as they shop Joe Smith, prepare to start over (again). (26)

27. Toronto (6-32): If Houston deal is out, Stoudamire says he could play with Hardaway in Orlando. (28)

28. Dallas (6-32): Nellie, who traded Cassell, now trying Michael Finley at the point. (27)

29. Denver (2-34): Might not be week Nuggets turn it around: 4 of 5 on road, 2 back-to-backs. (2)

GAME OF THE WEEK / LAKERS AT SEATTLE

* When--Saturday Time--12:15 p.m. TV--Channel 4.

* Storyline--The Pacific kingpins meet for the first time in the season’s best test of Laker ambitions. Everyone’s favorites when they tore to an 11-0 start, the Lakers lost Shaquille O’Neal and were eclipsed by the SuperSonics’ 29-6 start. The Lakers won last season’s series, 3-1, but this is a happier, deeper SuperSonic team, bolstered by Vin Baker, Dale Ellis, Aaron Williams and Jerome Kersey.