RANKINGS, COMMENTS THROUGH SATURDAY
CAVALIER TREATMENT
1. CLEVELAND (34-11)- Now LeBron can try carrying them without Mo Williams, Delonte West. (1)

2. LAKERS (33-10)- If Knicks beat them, Kobe might have shown guys his ’Wolfman’ imitation. (2)
FEELING BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES
3. BOSTON (28-13)- KG back after Rivers made him take 10 games off and they went 4-6. (3)
4. ORLANDO (29-15)- Howard averaged 15 as they went 4-8, gets 19-32-20 as they go 3-0. (7)
5. DENVER (29-14)- Chauncey should rest sore groin more often: Averages 24 as they go 7-1. (5)
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN PLAYOFF CLUB
6. Atlanta (28-14)- Right there with struggling Celtics, Magic but 10 of next 14 on road. (4)
7. Dallas (28-15)- With lots of teams in dump mode, Cuban who’ll pay, stands to land someone.(6)
8. San Antonio (25-17)- Manu, Tony averaged 35, shot 50 percent in last title run in ’07, now at 30, 45 percent. (8)
9. Utah (25-18)- Averaging usual 19, shooting usual 49 percent, can DWill finally be an All-Star? (12)
10. Portland (27-18)- Hits keep happening: Roy comes back from hamstring injury, lasts a week. (10)
11. Oklahoma City (24-20)- How good is Durant? At 29 points, 7.2 rebounds, lone OKC player over 16, 6.1. (11)
12. Phoenix (26-19)- 12-17 since 14-2 start amid reports Sarver doesn’t want to re-sign Amare. (9)
13. Houston (24-19)- Concern getting to point of worry with gritty Rockets 4-6 this month. (13)
14. Memphis (23-19)- GMs lick chops at buzz that Heisley won’t pay and would deal Rudy Gay. (15)
15. New Orleans (23-20)- George Shinn Alert: Still smidge over tax threshold so no one’s safe. (14)
18. Charlotte (21-21)- Now 18-14 with Stephen Jackson. If they win 45, he should get MVP votes. (18)
17. Miami (23-20)- Thought they had a lock on No. 5 but Bobcats, Raptors could win 42, too. (16)
18. Toronto (22-22)- Move that sank Magic hasn’t helped them either: Turkoglu averaging 13, 41 percent. (17)
19. Chicago (20-22)- Confused: Just lost to Warriors, Clippers on West trip, beat Suns, Rockets. (19)
20. Clippers (19-23)- Must really want to be All-Star: Last time Kaman didn’t score 18 was Dec. 8.(20)
STILL IN IT, AT LEAST IN EAST
21. New York (17-25)- Eddy Curry needs knee surgery. Must have hurt himself thinking about playing. (23)
22. Milwaukee (18-24)- Reality check: Jennings averaged 22, shot 42 percent in November, at 15 and 34 percent since. (21)
23. Philadelphia (15-28)- Igoudala who insists on being introduced last, must love original AI All-Star nod. (28)
24. Indiana (15-29)- Pacers, Pistons, Bucks, Knicks within four games of No. 8 in Birdbath East. (24)
25. Sacramento (15-28)- With all their players, it would be nice to win a few: Just went 2-13. (22)
26. Detroit (15-28)- Prince, who remembers better days, yells at Kuester on sideline. (26)
27. Golden State (13-29)- Must really want to be All-Star: Monta averages 31 over 13 games. (25)
28. Washington (14-28)- 4-11 since Arenas story broke, just waiting for tickets to ride. (27)
29. Minnesota (9-36)- Rambis, whose teams won 10 by Thanksgiving, should still do it by Easter. (29)
BLACK HOLE OF EAST RUTHERFORD
30. New Jersey (3-40)- On 6-76 pace, which would break record for least wins—by three. (30)