born leta: The Times' NBA rankings: L.A. team in top 5, but it's not Lakers

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Records through Friday's games

Top of the Pops

1. Miami (7-3) ? Amazing how Dwyane Wade seems to get older after losses, younger after wins. (1)

2. San Antonio (7-2) ? Maybe we should call it Top of the Pop(ovich). One spot away. (2)

3. Memphis (7-1) ? Fastbreaking, not walking, in Memphis. Grizzlies first to beat Knicks. (6)

4. Oklahoma City (7-3) ? Kendrick, never take on someone (Randolph) with dogs named Gucci & Prada. (3)

5. Clippers (6-2) ? Four-game trip features first venture out of the cozy Pacific time zone. (4)

Climbing the charts

6. Boston (5-4) ? Celtics mirroring stock market volatility. #buyrondo (5)

7. New York (6-1) ? Seats suddenly opened up on bandwagon after first loss. (8)

8. Dallas (5-5) ? Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman last played together when it counted . . . in Lithuania last fall. (7)

9. Denver (4-5) ? Power forward Kenneth Faried had 20 rebounds to 18 for Heat starters in Thursday's loss. (10)

10. Houston (4-5) ? Kelvin Sampson 2-2 since stepping in during Kevin McHale's leave of absence. (9)

11. Brooklyn (5-2) ? Avery Johnson, the "Little General," making The Association must-see TV. (12)

12. Chicago (5-3) ? Best K.C. Johnson tweet: "Wish I had saved those 'Draft Michael Beasley over Derrick Rose' emails." (11)

Stuck in the middle (without you)

13. Lakers (4-5) ? Wonder who will be hosting the Buss family Thanksgiving dinner this year? (14)

14. Minnesota (5-4) ? John Howard fulfills his Minnesota destiny. Only took nine years to get there. (15)

15. Indiana (4-6) ? Pacers win round one of the Rick Carlisle derby. (13)

16. Milwaukee (5-2) ? Next test for early road success (3-0) comes Monday at Charlotte. (16)

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