NBA this week

NBA rankings

1. L.A Lakers: Defending champs start the new season at the top simply based on last year.

2. Boston Celtics: Win at Cleveland was impressive since Cavs were 39-2 at home last season.

3. Orlando Magic: Good team got better as long as Vince Carter can play team basketball.

4. San Antonio Spurs: Still the only real threat the Lakers have in the West. (Sorry Nuggets)

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Don't fret about 0-2 start. LeBron's boys will still win 60-plus game.

6. Denver Nuggets: Win over Jazz nice. Downing Portland at Rose Garden impressive.

7. Portland Trail Blazers: Eraestio dunt utation sequatum doluptat dipis dignisit vel iusci.

8. Dallas Mavericks: Shawn Marion and Josh Howard give Mavs a nice set of Wings.

9. Utah Jazz: Injury bug is already infecting Jerry Sloan's club again this season.

10. Atlanta Hawks: There is a huge divide between East's top 3 teams and the No. 4 Hawks.

Game of the week

Spurs at Trail Blazers

San Antonio will get a chance to see exactly what it's made of this week with back-to-back nationally televised road games against top Northwest Division teams. The Spurs play the Jazz on Thursday night on TNT and then 24 hours later will face the Blazers on ESPN.

Quick takes from the NBA

Shaquille O'Neal is looking to continue a sideline career in law enforcement now that he's in Ohio playing for the Cavaliers.

Spokesman John O'Brien of the Cuyahoga County sheriff's office says the Cavs' center has applied to become a special deputy. He would have the right to carry a gun and make arrests but not be a paid, formal employee. O'Neal previously served roles with law enforcement agencies in Arizona, Virginia and Florida.

The sheriff has forwarded the application to the state agency that must consider the request to deputize O'Neal. State attorney general's spokeswoman Holly Hollingsworth says that if approved, O'Neal would need 36 hours of police training and would have to take the Ohio police exam. ...

Much has been made about the Detroit Pistons adding shooting guard Ben Gordon when their best player, Richard Hamilton, plays the same position. But they say it's not a problem — in part because they both played for the same college.