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       67 18 10120  9146  0.068 41.463    1  0.784    1  0.777    1  0.787    1 0.5713   26  3.933    3  0.563    1  1.011
SPURS         64 22 10273  9581  0.066 42.347    2  0.657    2  0.651    2  0.639    2 0.5605   13  3.983    1  0.673    6  0.606
PISTONS       61 24  9961  9296  0.016 40.416    3  0.528    3  0.521    4  0.545    3 0.5506   25  3.938    7  0.346    3  0.744
CELTICS       58 27  9746  9089  0.030 40.916    4  0.461    4  0.447    3  0.564    4 0.5433   29  3.901   12  0.182    2  0.946
LAKERS        56 29  9860  9696  0.015 41.844    5  0.413    5  0.409   13  0.208    5 0.5381   15  3.978   11  0.217   12  0.199
KNICKS        56 31 10114  9559  0.042 42.568    6  0.377    6  0.366    5  0.467    6 0.5347   24  3.939    8  0.272    4  0.662
NUGGETS       55 31 10432 10037  0.034 42.225    7  0.361    7  0.355    7  0.319    7 0.5342    5  4.024    2  0.567   15  0.070
CAVALIERS     54 31 10146  9807  0.008 41.149    8  0.334    8  0.329    9  0.245    8 0.5310    8  4.015    5  0.443   17  0.047
ROCKETS       52 33  9749  9341  0.014 41.062    9  0.282    9  0.271    8  0.271    9 0.5265   28  3.906   21 -0.088    5  0.631
TIMBERWOLVES  52 34 10125  9823  0.018 42.020   10  0.265   10  0.255   11  0.237   10 0.5248   14  3.983    9  0.271   11  0.204
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         48 38 10130  9957  0.037 42.948   11  0.182   11  0.168   12  0.234   11 0.5152    9  4.008    6  0.395   14  0.073
MAGIC         48 39 10017  9942  0.041 43.915   12  0.170   12  0.161   16  0.093   12 0.5145   19  3.963   15  0.021   13  0.165
RAPTORS       47 38  9744  9513  0.025 41.963   13  0.152   13  0.139   10  0.240   13 0.5131   22  3.941   13  0.059    8  0.422
76ERS         47 39  9913  9942  0.008 42.742   14  0.134   14  0.133   19 -0.035   14 0.5116   17  3.973   18 -0.052   18 -0.018
SUNS          46 41  9753  9682  0.051 44.204   15  0.120   15  0.116   17  0.065   15 0.5109   27  3.918   23 -0.236    9  0.366
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.011 40.585   16  0.087   16  0.080    6  0.412   16 0.5070   21  3.944   10  0.245    7  0.579
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.025 41.088   17  0.057   17  0.056   14  0.103   17 0.5046    2  4.059    4  0.536   20 -0.331
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 42  9895  9937  0.018 43.042   18  0.049   18  0.051   18  0.053   18 0.5043   16  3.977   14  0.054   16  0.053
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.012 40.259   19  0.005   19 -0.002   15  0.098   19 0.4997   23  3.941   20 -0.085   10  0.282
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.013 41.932   20 -0.091   20 -0.098   20 -0.150   20 0.4901   18  3.965   22 -0.208   19 -0.091
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.051 40.561   21 -0.282   21 -0.282   25 -0.549   21 0.4718   20  3.951   29 -0.681   21 -0.417
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.040 40.559   22 -0.301   22 -0.308   22 -0.422   22 0.4690    3  4.041   19 -0.084   27 -0.761
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.024 40.768   23 -0.461   24 -0.469   21 -0.240   23 0.4560    7  4.015   17 -0.040   23 -0.439
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.038 40.665   24 -0.464   23 -0.468   23 -0.423   24 0.4550   11  3.994   24 -0.334   24 -0.512
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.039 40.688   25 -0.501   25 -0.510   27 -0.586   25 0.4520    6  4.019   25 -0.365   28 -0.807
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.044 41.111   26 -0.584   26 -0.592   26 -0.585   26 0.4442    1  4.080   16 -0.040   29 -1.130
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.051 41.188   27 -0.594   27 -0.596   28 -0.670   27 0.4441   12  3.988   28 -0.611   26 -0.728
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.065 40.980   28 -0.672   28 -0.676   29 -0.811   28 0.4373   30  3.899   30 -1.203   22 -0.419
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.043 41.121   29 -0.677   29 -0.690   24 -0.502   29 0.4351   10  3.998   26 -0.390   25 -0.614
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.073 41.049   30 -0.788   30 -0.802   30 -0.830   30 0.4283    4  4.038   27 -0.508   30 -1.152

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
LAKERS        56 29  9860  9696  0.015 41.844    5  0.413    5  0.409   13  0.208    5 0.5381   15  3.978   11  0.217   12  0.199
SUNS          46 41  9753  9682  0.051 44.204   15  0.120   15  0.116   17  0.065   15 0.5109   27  3.918   23 -0.236    9  0.366
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.012 40.259   19  0.005   19 -0.002   15  0.098   19 0.4997   23  3.941   20 -0.085   10  0.282
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.013 41.932   20 -0.091   20 -0.098   20 -0.150   20 0.4901   18  3.965   22 -0.208   19 -0.091
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.051 41.188   27 -0.594   27 -0.596   28 -0.670   27 0.4441   12  3.988   28 -0.611   26 -0.728

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       67 18 10120  9146  0.068 41.463    1  0.784    1  0.777    1  0.787    1 0.5713   26  3.933    3  0.563    1  1.011
NUGGETS       55 31 10432 10037  0.034 42.225    7  0.361    7  0.355    7  0.319    7 0.5342    5  4.024    2  0.567   15  0.070
TIMBERWOLVES  52 34 10125  9823  0.018 42.020   10  0.265   10  0.255   11  0.237   10 0.5248   14  3.983    9  0.271   11  0.204
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 42  9895  9937  0.018 43.042   18  0.049   18  0.051   18  0.053   18 0.5043   16  3.977   14  0.054   16  0.053
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.044 41.111   26 -0.584   26 -0.592   26 -0.585   26 0.4442    1  4.080   16 -0.040   29 -1.130

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         64 22 10273  9581  0.066 42.347    2  0.657    2  0.651    2  0.639    2 0.5605   13  3.983    1  0.673    6  0.606
ROCKETS       52 33  9749  9341  0.014 41.062    9  0.282    9  0.271    8  0.271    9 0.5265   28  3.906   21 -0.088    5  0.631
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.024 40.768   23 -0.461   24 -0.469   21 -0.240   23 0.4560    7  4.015   17 -0.040   23 -0.439
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.038 40.665   24 -0.464   23 -0.468   23 -0.423   24 0.4550   11  3.994   24 -0.334   24 -0.512
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.039 40.688   25 -0.501   25 -0.510   27 -0.586   25 0.4520    6  4.019   25 -0.365   28 -0.807

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       61 24  9961  9296  0.016 40.416    3  0.528    3  0.521    4  0.545    3 0.5506   25  3.938    7  0.346    3  0.744
CAVALIERS     54 31 10146  9807  0.008 41.149    8  0.334    8  0.329    9  0.245    8 0.5310    8  4.015    5  0.443   17  0.047
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.051 40.561   21 -0.282   21 -0.282   25 -0.549   21 0.4718   20  3.951   29 -0.681   21 -0.417
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.040 40.559   22 -0.301   22 -0.308   22 -0.422   22 0.4690    3  4.041   19 -0.084   27 -0.761
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.043 41.121   29 -0.677   29 -0.690   24 -0.502   29 0.4351   10  3.998   26 -0.390   25 -0.614

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
HAWKS         48 38 10130  9957  0.037 42.948   11  0.182   11  0.168   12  0.234   11 0.5152    9  4.008    6  0.395   14  0.073
MAGIC         48 39 10017  9942  0.041 43.915   12  0.170   12  0.161   16  0.093   12 0.5145   19  3.963   15  0.021   13  0.165
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.011 40.585   16  0.087   16  0.080    6  0.412   16 0.5070   21  3.944   10  0.245    7  0.579
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.025 41.088   17  0.057   17  0.056   14  0.103   17 0.5046    2  4.059    4  0.536   20 -0.331
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.073 41.049   30 -0.788   30 -0.802   30 -0.830   30 0.4283    4  4.038   27 -0.508   30 -1.152

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       58 27  9746  9089  0.030 40.916    4  0.461    4  0.447    3  0.564    4 0.5433   29  3.901   12  0.182    2  0.946
KNICKS        56 31 10114  9559  0.042 42.568    6  0.377    6  0.366    5  0.467    6 0.5347   24  3.939    8  0.272    4  0.662
RAPTORS       47 38  9744  9513  0.025 41.963   13  0.152   13  0.139   10  0.240   13 0.5131   22  3.941   13  0.059    8  0.422
76ERS         47 39  9913  9942  0.008 42.742   14  0.134   14  0.133   19 -0.035   14 0.5116   17  3.973   18 -0.052   18 -0.018
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.065 40.980   28 -0.672   28 -0.676   29 -0.811   28 0.4373   30  3.899   30 -1.203   22 -0.419

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 240 185 0.565    1  0.175
ATLANTIC DIVISION  228 197 0.536    2  0.105
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 201 221 0.476    3 -0.012
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 193 224 0.463    4 -0.057
PACIFIC DIVISION   204 217 0.485    5 -0.089
CENTRAL DIVISION   197 219 0.474    6 -0.137

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Apr 26 05:30:13 2026
games through: Sat Apr 25 2026

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