Dolphin Ratings - National Basketball Association

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
THUNDER       37 10 5679 5072  0.016 22.140    1  0.608    1  0.614    1  0.734    1 0.5659   25  3.940    1  0.528    1  0.939
PISTONS       33 11 5166 4844 -0.061 20.008    2  0.474    2  0.469    2  0.397    2 0.5529   24  3.944    7  0.215    2  0.580
SPURS         31 16 5512 5293  0.049 23.316    3  0.374    3  0.365    5  0.284    3 0.5403   19  3.964    9  0.203    6  0.365
NUGGETS       31 15 5550 5344 -0.055 21.281    4  0.315    4  0.307   12  0.113    4 0.5345    7  4.017    4  0.308   17 -0.083
ROCKETS       27 16 5028 4764  0.038 21.076    5  0.290    5  0.270    4  0.304    5 0.5338   28  3.930   16  0.048    3  0.560
SUNS          27 19 5251 5141  0.054 23.269    6  0.230    7  0.221    7  0.202    8 0.5247   26  3.934   20 -0.033    5  0.437
LAKERS        27 17 5104 5114 -0.011 21.585    7  0.223    6  0.228   19 -0.057    7 0.5275   10  3.996   17  0.028   21 -0.142
CELTICS       28 17 5262 4963 -0.018 21.230    8  0.223    8  0.218    3  0.364    6 0.5277   23  3.947   10  0.197    4  0.531
KNICKS        28 18 5425 5228 -0.018 21.993    9  0.202   10  0.202    8  0.196    9 0.5225   11  3.992    5  0.261   11  0.131
RAPTORS       29 19 5473 5373 -0.013 23.251   10  0.199    9  0.205   13  0.111   10 0.5213   27  3.931   21 -0.140    7  0.363
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAVALIERS     27 20 5600 5493  0.006 23.067   11  0.149   11  0.156   10  0.124   12 0.5162    6  4.022    3  0.346   18 -0.097
TIMBERWOLVES  27 19 5484 5291 -0.037 21.573   12  0.138   12  0.140    9  0.194   11 0.5174   12  3.991    6  0.251   10  0.137
WARRIORS      26 21 5486 5336  0.022 23.204   13  0.118   14  0.120    6  0.248   13 0.5135   16  3.971    8  0.205    9  0.290
HEAT          25 22 5628 5548  0.075 24.365   14  0.116   13  0.121   11  0.114   14 0.5135    2  4.043    2  0.445   23 -0.218
76ERS         24 20 5132 5080 -0.020 21.282   15  0.072   15  0.077   16  0.054   16 0.5082   17  3.968   18 -0.007   13  0.115
TRAIL BLAZERS 23 23 5340 5420  0.073 24.183   16  0.060   16  0.067   17 -0.032   15 0.5082    9  4.004   14  0.093   22 -0.157
MAGIC         23 21 5078 5080  0.008 21.889   17  0.053   17  0.054   21 -0.090   17 0.5044   18  3.967   23 -0.154   14 -0.026
HAWKS         22 25 5520 5580  0.043 24.105   18 -0.027   19 -0.031   18 -0.047   18 0.4988    4  4.023   11  0.178   24 -0.273
BULLS         23 22 5304 5387 -0.071 21.306   19 -0.030   18 -0.030   22 -0.135   19 0.4951    3  4.030   13  0.126   26 -0.397
CLIPPERS      21 24 5069 5085  0.029 22.735   20 -0.044   20 -0.046   15  0.074   20 0.4945   29  3.927   24 -0.195    8  0.344
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GRIZZLIES     18 25 4968 5015 -0.023 21.033   21 -0.182   21 -0.193   20 -0.065   21 0.4796   13  3.988   19 -0.021   20 -0.110
BUCKS         18 26 4923 5080 -0.015 21.916   22 -0.189   22 -0.197   24 -0.232   22 0.4777   22  3.948   27 -0.393   16 -0.070
MAVERICKS     19 27 5257 5361 -0.077 21.770   23 -0.225   23 -0.234   23 -0.146   23 0.4744   20  3.957   25 -0.260   15 -0.031
HORNETS       18 28 5336 5312 -0.036 22.059   24 -0.241   24 -0.250   14  0.089   24 0.4720   15  3.974   15  0.057   12  0.121
JAZZ          15 31 5475 5879  0.046 24.487   25 -0.313   25 -0.305   28 -0.483   25 0.4651    1  4.095   12  0.128   30 -1.094
KINGS         12 35 5216 5695  0.047 25.232   26 -0.467   26 -0.464   29 -0.539   26 0.4512   14  3.980   28 -0.537   28 -0.541
NETS          12 32 4748 5063 -0.027 21.911   27 -0.483   27 -0.482   27 -0.473   28 0.4425   30  3.908   30 -0.839   19 -0.106
PELICANS      12 36 5512 5834  0.016 24.705   28 -0.514   28 -0.519   25 -0.337   27 0.4435    8  4.016   22 -0.150   27 -0.524
PACERS        11 35 5064 5437  0.006 23.936   29 -0.529   29 -0.532   26 -0.417   29 0.4396   21  3.955   29 -0.545   25 -0.290
WIZARDS       10 34 4938 5416 -0.039 22.153   30 -0.600   30 -0.602   30 -0.603   30 0.4319    5  4.022   26 -0.381   29 -0.826

PACIFIC DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          27 19 5251 5141  0.054 23.269    6  0.230    7  0.221    7  0.202    8 0.5247   26  3.934   20 -0.033    5  0.437
LAKERS        27 17 5104 5114 -0.011 21.585    7  0.223    6  0.228   19 -0.057    7 0.5275   10  3.996   17  0.028   21 -0.142
WARRIORS      26 21 5486 5336  0.022 23.204   13  0.118   14  0.120    6  0.248   13 0.5135   16  3.971    8  0.205    9  0.290
CLIPPERS      21 24 5069 5085  0.029 22.735   20 -0.044   20 -0.046   15  0.074   20 0.4945   29  3.927   24 -0.195    8  0.344
KINGS         12 35 5216 5695  0.047 25.232   26 -0.467   26 -0.464   29 -0.539   26 0.4512   14  3.980   28 -0.537   28 -0.541

NORTHWEST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
THUNDER       37 10 5679 5072  0.016 22.140    1  0.608    1  0.614    1  0.734    1 0.5659   25  3.940    1  0.528    1  0.939
NUGGETS       31 15 5550 5344 -0.055 21.281    4  0.315    4  0.307   12  0.113    4 0.5345    7  4.017    4  0.308   17 -0.083
TIMBERWOLVES  27 19 5484 5291 -0.037 21.573   12  0.138   12  0.140    9  0.194   11 0.5174   12  3.991    6  0.251   10  0.137
TRAIL BLAZERS 23 23 5340 5420  0.073 24.183   16  0.060   16  0.067   17 -0.032   15 0.5082    9  4.004   14  0.093   22 -0.157
JAZZ          15 31 5475 5879  0.046 24.487   25 -0.313   25 -0.305   28 -0.483   25 0.4651    1  4.095   12  0.128   30 -1.094

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         31 16 5512 5293  0.049 23.316    3  0.374    3  0.365    5  0.284    3 0.5403   19  3.964    9  0.203    6  0.365
ROCKETS       27 16 5028 4764  0.038 21.076    5  0.290    5  0.270    4  0.304    5 0.5338   28  3.930   16  0.048    3  0.560
GRIZZLIES     18 25 4968 5015 -0.023 21.033   21 -0.182   21 -0.193   20 -0.065   21 0.4796   13  3.988   19 -0.021   20 -0.110
MAVERICKS     19 27 5257 5361 -0.077 21.770   23 -0.225   23 -0.234   23 -0.146   23 0.4744   20  3.957   25 -0.260   15 -0.031
PELICANS      12 36 5512 5834  0.016 24.705   28 -0.514   28 -0.519   25 -0.337   27 0.4435    8  4.016   22 -0.150   27 -0.524

CENTRAL DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PISTONS       33 11 5166 4844 -0.061 20.008    2  0.474    2  0.469    2  0.397    2 0.5529   24  3.944    7  0.215    2  0.580
CAVALIERS     27 20 5600 5493  0.006 23.067   11  0.149   11  0.156   10  0.124   12 0.5162    6  4.022    3  0.346   18 -0.097
BULLS         23 22 5304 5387 -0.071 21.306   19 -0.030   18 -0.030   22 -0.135   19 0.4951    3  4.030   13  0.126   26 -0.397
BUCKS         18 26 4923 5080 -0.015 21.916   22 -0.189   22 -0.197   24 -0.232   22 0.4777   22  3.948   27 -0.393   16 -0.070
PACERS        11 35 5064 5437  0.006 23.936   29 -0.529   29 -0.532   26 -0.417   29 0.4396   21  3.955   29 -0.545   25 -0.290

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          25 22 5628 5548  0.075 24.365   14  0.116   13  0.121   11  0.114   14 0.5135    2  4.043    2  0.445   23 -0.218
MAGIC         23 21 5078 5080  0.008 21.889   17  0.053   17  0.054   21 -0.090   17 0.5044   18  3.967   23 -0.154   14 -0.026
HAWKS         22 25 5520 5580  0.043 24.105   18 -0.027   19 -0.031   18 -0.047   18 0.4988    4  4.023   11  0.178   24 -0.273
HORNETS       18 28 5336 5312 -0.036 22.059   24 -0.241   24 -0.250   14  0.089   24 0.4720   15  3.974   15  0.057   12  0.121
WIZARDS       10 34 4938 5416 -0.039 22.153   30 -0.600   30 -0.602   30 -0.603   30 0.4319    5  4.022   26 -0.381   29 -0.826

ATLANTIC DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CELTICS       28 17 5262 4963 -0.018 21.230    8  0.223    8  0.218    3  0.364    6 0.5277   23  3.947   10  0.197    4  0.531
KNICKS        28 18 5425 5228 -0.018 21.993    9  0.202   10  0.202    8  0.196    9 0.5225   11  3.992    5  0.261   11  0.131
RAPTORS       29 19 5473 5373 -0.013 23.251   10  0.199    9  0.205   13  0.111   10 0.5213   27  3.931   21 -0.140    7  0.363
76ERS         24 20 5132 5080 -0.020 21.282   15  0.072   15  0.077   16  0.054   16 0.5082   17  3.968   18 -0.007   13  0.115
NETS          12 32 4748 5063 -0.027 21.911   27 -0.483   27 -0.482   27 -0.473   28 0.4425   30  3.908   30 -0.839   19 -0.106

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 133  98 0.576    1  0.164
ATLANTIC DIVISION  121 106 0.533    2  0.081
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 107 120 0.471    3  0.007
PACIFIC DIVISION   113 116 0.493    4 -0.036
CENTRAL DIVISION   112 114 0.496    5 -0.087
SOUTHEAST DIVISION  98 130 0.430    6 -0.123

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.155 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.016 points in improved RPI (0.019 for semineutral)
Average of 2.15 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Mon Jan 26 05:30:14 2026
games through: Sun Jan 25 2026

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