The Los Angeles Times' NBA rankings (records through Saturday's games):

Rematch still on?

1. Lakers (13-1)/Great when they're into it: Winning first halves by 4.9, second by 8.5.

2. Boston (16-2)/Yet to be tested, too: 19 of first 30 at home -- before Laker game on Christmas.

3. Cleveland (14-3)/For what it's worth: No 2 in differential isn't Celtics (8.3) but Cavaliers (10.9).

They've got your rematch right here

4. Houston (11-6)/With McGrady, Brooks out, Luther Head starts, gets 21 in win over Spurs.)

5. San Antonio (9-7)/Guess who's not finished yet: Recently went 7-2 and Manu, Tony are back.

6. Orlando (13-4)/Just lost starting guards Nelson, Pietrus and top sub Bogans.

7. Portland (11-6)/7-0 at home where they gave Lakers fits when they weren't any good.

8. Utah (11-7)/Haven't had first team on floor yet: Williams back, Boozer still out.

9. Phoenix (11-6)/Reunions R Not Us: Shaq's new team loses by 13 to Lakers, 15 to Heat.

10. Denver (11-6)/Rebirth continues: 1-3 when Billups arrived, 10-3 since.

11. New Orleans (9-6)/Chased Lakers to wire last season, now just hoping to climb out of pack.

12. Detroit (10-5)/Practice? Iverson blows one off, gets fined, says he's sorry.

Would settle for first-round rematch

13. Atlanta (10-6)/Mr. Excitement, Josh Smith, due back this week, after they go 6-6 without him.

14. Dallas (8-8)/Days of winning 55-60 are over but as they show Lakers, can still play.

15. Toronto (8-7)/Heat is on Sam Mitchell as Raptors come west for three games.

16. Miami (8-9)/Wade, who had to show he wasn't hurt to play in Olympics, back at MVP level.

17. New York (8-8)/Do Knicks know something no one else does? Harrington gets 13-25-36 for them.

18. New Jersey (8-7)/Huh? Devin Harris averages 23 as they go 2-1 on West Coast trip.

19. Chicago (7-9)/Hughes unhappy about playing time. Bulls unhappy they pay him $12.8 million.

20. Philadelphia (7-9)/Cheeks, saved by last season's 22-12 finish, better think of something.

Slip sliding away

21. Milwaukee (7-12)/Bogut off to nice start, averaging 11-11, but he's out for a week or two.

22. Indiana (6-10)/Dunleavy weighing surgery, one Pacer-Granger-making two threes a game.

23. Golden State (5-12)/Oops: Harrington, freed from Nelson's doghouse, gets 36 against him.

24. Sacramento (5-14)/Bobby Brown, whom Jerry West loved at CS Fullerton, shows Lakers why.

25. Charlotte (5-11)/One too many expansion teams for one town: No. 28 in attendance.

26. Minnesota (4-11)/Owner Taylor backs Wittman, suggesting he's safe-for rest of season.

27. Memphis (4-13)/Free Darko, indeed: Big bust says, 'The only way to be me is in Europe.'

28. Clippers (3-13)/A year ago they were 6-10 starting Kaman, Maggette, Thomas, Ross, Knight.

29. Washington (2-12)/Helpful as ever: Arenas says finishing last might work, like Spurs in 1997.

30. Oklahoma City (2-16)/Brooks moves Durant from guard, were they put him to protect him, to forward.