The very good, bad and really ugly

The Hawks go 1-3 on the week yet move up one spot in the rankings. Minnesota loses three of four games and improves by three slots. Golden State moves from 21st to 19th after losing two of three games. Orlando has lost 16 of its last 21 games, yet there are still 10 teams behind the Magic in the rankings.

How is this possible? Because, after the top 10 teams or so, the rest of the league just is not very good.

From week to week, it's impossible to know what to expect from teams like the Clippers, Pacers, Nets or Kings. Or the Nuggets, Hornets and Knicks. The bottom line is that, for me, ranking the last 17 or 18 teams every week is increasingly difficult. It's a process of elimination, but it seems that almost every team in that range deserves to be eliminated.

Things are much easier at the top, where Dallas, Phoenix, Utah, Detroit and San Antonio seem to reside week after week.

Here's a look at the batch of good – and not so good – NBA teams: (records and statistics are through Feb. 26):

1.Dallas Mavericks (46-9, Last ranking: 1) – The beat goes on for the Mavs. They're at 11 wins in a row and counting as Dirk Nowitzki continues his quest for the MVP.

2.Phoenix Suns (43-13, Last ranking: 2) – Steve Nash's shoulder isn't quite right, but it didn't keep him from leading his team to four straight wins last week. He averaged 13 assists per game during the streak.

3.Utah Jazz (37-18, Last ranking: 3) – Back comes Carlos Boozer, out goes Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko. Despite all the injuries, however, the Jazz keep winning.

4.San Antonio Spurs (38-18, Last ranking: 4) – Watch out for the Spurs. They've won five in a row and have held opponents to 82 points or fewer in four of those games.

5.Detroit Pistons (36-19, Last ranking: 5) – A perfect 4-0 week was capped off with a thrilling comeback win over the Bulls. Chris Webber scored the game-winner with just 2.2 seconds left.

6.Houston Rockets (35-20, Last ranking: 6) – Tracy McGrady went back to Orlando and dropped 34 on his old team in the Rockets' 97-93 win.

7.Toronto Raptors (31-25, Last ranking: 8) – Since beginning the season 13-19, the Raptors have won 18 of 24 games.

8.Chicago Bulls (32-26, Last ranking: 11) – The Bulls went 3-1 and played as if they were trying to justify the non-trade for Pau Gasol. They knocked off Atlanta, Cleveland and Washington.

9.Cleveland Cavaliers (32-24, Last ranking: 7) – The Cavs couldn't pull off the Mike Bibby trade, and it may cost them. They need a clutch shooter to play next to LeBron James.

10.Washington Wizards (31-23, Last ranking: 10) – No Caron Butler, no victory. The Wizards' All-Star forward sits out the Minnesota game with back spasms and Washington goes down.

11.Los Angeles Lakers (32-25, Last ranking: 12) – Vladimir Radmanovic? Good grief.

12.New Orleans Hornets (27-29, Last ranking: 14) – David West averaged 27.5 points in two Hornets victories last week.

13.Indiana Pacers (29-26, Last ranking: 13) – Danny Granger showed his all-around game in a win over Milwaukee: 26 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three blocks and three steals.

14.New Jersey Nets (27-30, Last ranking: 17) – Vince Carter returned from the All-Star game refreshed and ready: He averaged 37 points in three games.

15.Los Angeles Clippers (26-29, Last ranking: 16) – Elton Brand helped the Clippers end their four-game losing skid with 31 points and 12 boards against Golden State.

16.Miami Heat (27-28, Last ranking: 9) – Dwyane Wade is trying to decide between rehab and surgery on his dislocated shoulder. In the meantime, the Heat try to hang on for dear life.

17.Minnesota Timberwolves (26-30, Last ranking: 20) – So much for that post All-Star break surge. The Wolves lost three in a row before knocking off the Wizards.

18.Atlanta Hawks (22-34, Last ranking: 19) – Anthony Johnson looked good in his first game as a Hawk, scoring 17 points and adding five assists in a loss to Phoenix.

19.Golden State Warriors (26-31, Last ranking: 21) – If the Warriors are going to make a playoff push, they'll have to survive a five-game Eastern road swing beginning Tuesday.

20.Orlando Magic (27-30, Last ranking: 15) – Get out the parachutes, Magic fans. Your team is plummeting.

21.Denver Nuggets (26-28, Last ranking: 18) – The Nuggets finally got Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony on the court together after the break, but the Nuggets went 0-3 last week. Time is running out on Denver.

22.New York Knicks (25-32, Last ranking: 22) – With Miami in trouble and the Magic struggling, the Knicks have a shot at a playoff spot in the East.

23.Charlotte Bobcats (22-34, Last ranking: 26) – Michael Jordan sent a letter to season ticket holders last week, promising that the team would spend whatever was necessary to build a winning team. Some of that money will have to go to Emeka Okafor, who is averaging almost 16.6 boards and three blocks over his last five games.

24.Portland Trail Blazers (24-33, Last ranking: 25) – Good week for the Blazers, who went 2-1 with wins over the Lakers and Jazz. Brandon Roy averaged 21 points and seven assists on the week.

25.Sacramento Kings (24-31, Last ranking: 23) – Kevin Martin figured his way out of a shooting slump by going to the basket in Indianapolis. Martin made 18 free throws on the way to 35 points in the Kings' win.

26.Seattle SuperSonics (21-34, Last ranking: 24) – How bad were the Sonics in their 102-71 loss to the Spurs? Ray Allen led them in scoring … with 12 points.

27.Milwaukee Bucks (20-37, Last ranking: 28) – The Bucks ended a seven-game skid with a 19-point thrashing of the Sixers, but this season looks like a lost cause.

28.Philadelphia 76ers (18-38, Last ranking: 27) – Sixers fans can take comfort in the fact that the Nuggets are struggling. Spite? Hardly. Philly has Denver's first-round pick, which conceivably could end up being a lottery selection.

29.Memphis Grizzlies (15-42, Last ranking: 29) – Pau Gasol still is in a Grizzly uniform, at least until the offseason. This summer figures to be pretty interesting for the franchise, though.

30.Boston Celtics (13-42, Last ranking: 30) – After beating Milwaukee to end their 18-game losing streak, the C's started a new one: four straight losses on the road last week.