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       80 19 11835 10623  0.100 50.805    1  0.906    1  0.878    1  0.898    1 0.5779   16  3.955    2  0.875    1  0.921
CAVALIERS     69 22 11074 10187  0.006 43.772    2  0.675    2  0.640    2  0.591    2 0.5597    5  4.025    1  0.930   10  0.251
CELTICS       67 26 10697  9889  0.001 44.737    3  0.561    3  0.527    3  0.516    3 0.5501   25  3.915    8  0.289    2  0.742
ROCKETS       55 34 10100  9730  0.062 45.859    4  0.347    5  0.327    7  0.259    5 0.5313   23  3.925   15  0.084    6  0.433
PACERS        61 36 11377 11145  0.024 49.040    5  0.345    4  0.330    6  0.286    4 0.5324    7  3.998    5  0.485   13  0.087
NUGGETS       57 39 11400 11149  0.107 51.201    6  0.331    6  0.315   10  0.237    8 0.5293    4  4.025    4  0.578   16 -0.104
KNICKS        61 38 11358 11005  0.032 50.022    7  0.324    7  0.307    8  0.249    7 0.5294   20  3.942   12  0.160    8  0.339
TIMBERWOLVES  58 39 11008 10558  0.097 50.843    8  0.323    8  0.303    4  0.449    6 0.5298   24  3.916   10  0.231    4  0.668
CLIPPERS      53 36 10014  9628  0.052 45.426    9  0.285    9  0.263    5  0.399    9 0.5255   27  3.893   16  0.062    3  0.736
WARRIORS      54 41 10688 10449  0.073 49.783   10  0.249   11  0.226    9  0.248   11 0.5207   22  3.929   14  0.095    7  0.402
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        51 36  9800  9735  0.027 44.541   11  0.246   10  0.231   14  0.110   10 0.5216   19  3.945   17  0.034   11  0.186
GRIZZLIES     49 39 10618 10289  0.053 44.980   12  0.195   12  0.169   12  0.176   12 0.5159    1  4.059    3  0.700   22 -0.347
BUCKS         50 38 10120  9939 -0.008 43.542   13  0.170   13  0.148   13  0.125   13 0.5158   15  3.969   11  0.171   14  0.079
PISTONS       46 42 10111  9963  0.004 44.025   14  0.057   14  0.042   11  0.179   14 0.5052   14  3.971    9  0.238   12  0.120
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.013 43.039   15 -0.014   15 -0.033   21 -0.208   15 0.4953   10  3.985   19 -0.078   21 -0.338
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571 -0.012 41.423   16 -0.028   16 -0.052   15 -0.023   17 0.4941    9  3.985   13  0.108   18 -0.153
MAGIC         43 45  9233  9282 -0.033 43.509   17 -0.032   17 -0.055   16 -0.052   16 0.4947   30  3.817   28 -0.755    5  0.650
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.051 41.202   18 -0.074   18 -0.093   20 -0.109   18 0.4906    2  4.054    7  0.387   27 -0.606
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.057 40.614   19 -0.105   19 -0.122   17 -0.074   19 0.4887    3  4.050    6  0.402   26 -0.549
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563 -0.009 41.765   20 -0.133   20 -0.148   23 -0.223   20 0.4851   11  3.982   20 -0.109   20 -0.337
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          39 49  9683  9731 -0.023 43.794   21 -0.146   22 -0.164   19 -0.087   21 0.4847   28  3.886   24 -0.458    9  0.283
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.021 41.428   22 -0.148   21 -0.163   18 -0.075   22 0.4844   21  3.937   21 -0.188   15  0.039
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.017 41.469   23 -0.195   23 -0.213   22 -0.218   23 0.4783    8  3.997   18 -0.026   23 -0.410
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.065 40.514   24 -0.360   24 -0.381   24 -0.307   24 0.4641   17  3.953   22 -0.340   19 -0.274
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.066 41.144   25 -0.470   25 -0.484   26 -0.559   25 0.4534   29  3.875   29 -0.981   17 -0.137
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.074 40.645   26 -0.538   26 -0.563   25 -0.522   26 0.4464   18  3.949   26 -0.573   25 -0.470
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.026 42.666   27 -0.599   27 -0.622   27 -0.622   27 0.4423   13  3.977   25 -0.534   28 -0.710
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.094 40.718   28 -0.710   28 -0.738   29 -0.748   28 0.4312   26  3.895   30 -1.072   24 -0.425
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.026 42.602   29 -0.723   29 -0.753   28 -0.647   29 0.4303    6  4.009   23 -0.391   29 -0.903
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.088 41.400   30 -0.738   30 -0.763   30 -0.840   30 0.4297   12  3.978   27 -0.744   30 -0.935
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING

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
CLIPPERS      53 36 10014  9628  0.052 45.426    9  0.285    9  0.263    5  0.399    9 0.5255   27  3.893   16  0.062    3  0.736
WARRIORS      54 41 10688 10449  0.073 49.783   10  0.249   11  0.226    9  0.248   11 0.5207   22  3.929   14  0.095    7  0.402
LAKERS        51 36  9800  9735  0.027 44.541   11  0.246   10  0.231   14  0.110   10 0.5216   19  3.945   17  0.034   11  0.186
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571 -0.012 41.423   16 -0.028   16 -0.052   15 -0.023   17 0.4941    9  3.985   13  0.108   18 -0.153
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563 -0.009 41.765   20 -0.133   20 -0.148   23 -0.223   20 0.4851   11  3.982   20 -0.109   20 -0.337

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       80 19 11835 10623  0.100 50.805    1  0.906    1  0.878    1  0.898    1 0.5779   16  3.955    2  0.875    1  0.921
NUGGETS       57 39 11400 11149  0.107 51.201    6  0.331    6  0.315   10  0.237    8 0.5293    4  4.025    4  0.578   16 -0.104
TIMBERWOLVES  58 39 11008 10558  0.097 50.843    8  0.323    8  0.303    4  0.449    6 0.5298   24  3.916   10  0.231    4  0.668
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.021 41.428   22 -0.148   21 -0.163   18 -0.075   22 0.4844   21  3.937   21 -0.188   15  0.039
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.026 42.602   29 -0.723   29 -0.753   28 -0.647   29 0.4303    6  4.009   23 -0.391   29 -0.903

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
ROCKETS       55 34 10100  9730  0.062 45.859    4  0.347    5  0.327    7  0.259    5 0.5313   23  3.925   15  0.084    6  0.433
GRIZZLIES     49 39 10618 10289  0.053 44.980   12  0.195   12  0.169   12  0.176   12 0.5159    1  4.059    3  0.700   22 -0.347
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.013 43.039   15 -0.014   15 -0.033   21 -0.208   15 0.4953   10  3.985   19 -0.078   21 -0.338
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.017 41.469   23 -0.195   23 -0.213   22 -0.218   23 0.4783    8  3.997   18 -0.026   23 -0.410
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.026 42.666   27 -0.599   27 -0.622   27 -0.622   27 0.4423   13  3.977   25 -0.534   28 -0.710

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
CAVALIERS     69 22 11074 10187  0.006 43.772    2  0.675    2  0.640    2  0.591    2 0.5597    5  4.025    1  0.930   10  0.251
PACERS        61 36 11377 11145  0.024 49.040    5  0.345    4  0.330    6  0.286    4 0.5324    7  3.998    5  0.485   13  0.087
BUCKS         50 38 10120  9939 -0.008 43.542   13  0.170   13  0.148   13  0.125   13 0.5158   15  3.969   11  0.171   14  0.079
PISTONS       46 42 10111  9963  0.004 44.025   14  0.057   14  0.042   11  0.179   14 0.5052   14  3.971    9  0.238   12  0.120
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.057 40.614   19 -0.105   19 -0.122   17 -0.074   19 0.4887    3  4.050    6  0.402   26 -0.549

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
MAGIC         43 45  9233  9282 -0.033 43.509   17 -0.032   17 -0.055   16 -0.052   16 0.4947   30  3.817   28 -0.755    5  0.650
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.051 41.202   18 -0.074   18 -0.093   20 -0.109   18 0.4906    2  4.054    7  0.387   27 -0.606
HEAT          39 49  9683  9731 -0.023 43.794   21 -0.146   22 -0.164   19 -0.087   21 0.4847   28  3.886   24 -0.458    9  0.283
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.094 40.718   28 -0.710   28 -0.738   29 -0.748   28 0.4312   26  3.895   30 -1.072   24 -0.425
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.088 41.400   30 -0.738   30 -0.763   30 -0.840   30 0.4297   12  3.978   27 -0.744   30 -0.935

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       67 26 10697  9889  0.001 44.737    3  0.561    3  0.527    3  0.516    3 0.5501   25  3.915    8  0.289    2  0.742
KNICKS        61 38 11358 11005  0.032 50.022    7  0.324    7  0.307    8  0.249    7 0.5294   20  3.942   12  0.160    8  0.339
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.065 40.514   24 -0.360   24 -0.381   24 -0.307   24 0.4641   17  3.953   22 -0.340   19 -0.274
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.066 41.144   25 -0.470   25 -0.484   26 -0.559   25 0.4534   29  3.875   29 -0.981   17 -0.137
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.074 40.645   26 -0.538   26 -0.563   25 -0.522   26 0.4464   18  3.949   26 -0.573   25 -0.470

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION   265 182 0.593    1  0.189
NORTHWEST DIVISION 248 208 0.544    2  0.158
PACIFIC DIVISION   234 202 0.537    3  0.096
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 199 226 0.468    4 -0.060
ATLANTIC DIVISION  208 230 0.475    5 -0.117
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 159 265 0.375    6 -0.400

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri May 30 05:30:14 2025
games through: Thu May 29 2025

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