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
INDIANA       71 27 8861 8318 -0.006 48.005    1  0.539    1  0.510    3  0.362    4 0.5493   25  3.654   18 -0.112    3  0.837
SAN ANTONIO   63 29 8394 7771  0.094 48.162    2  0.524    4  0.489    2  0.524    2 0.5514   27  3.637   13 -0.021    2  1.069
L.A. LAKERS   69 35 9991 9651  0.137 57.065    3  0.516    2  0.502    6  0.306    3 0.5502   12  3.804    3  0.517   11  0.095
MINNESOTA     68 32 9408 8959  0.100 53.236    4  0.512    3  0.491    4  0.359    1 0.5518   19  3.713    9  0.149    5  0.570
SACRAMENTO    62 32 9575 9163  0.103 50.203    5  0.477    5  0.452    7  0.285    5 0.5465    2  3.887    2  0.899   18 -0.329
DETROIT       70 35 9391 8765  0.028 52.585    6  0.413    6  0.387    1  0.528    6 0.5397   28  3.620   17 -0.093    1  1.150
DALLAS        53 34 9124 8753  0.078 45.680    7  0.316    7  0.299    5  0.330    7 0.5321    1  3.950    1  1.260   25 -0.600
MEMPHIS       50 36 8264 8120  0.067 45.466    8  0.255    8  0.234    9  0.110    8 0.5249   11  3.805    7  0.327   15 -0.108
NEW JERSEY    54 39 8371 8139 -0.009 46.325    9  0.196    9  0.171    8  0.135    9 0.5160   22  3.687   19 -0.190    6  0.460
HOUSTON       46 41 7785 7670  0.062 45.935   10  0.131   10  0.112   12  0.071   10 0.5131   26  3.648   25 -0.428    4  0.571
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DENVER        44 43 8425 8357  0.062 46.150   11  0.071   11  0.054   11  0.074   11 0.5077    8  3.837    5  0.441   17 -0.293
UTAH          42 40 7271 7371  0.026 42.916   12  0.060   12  0.048   17 -0.067   12 0.5062   24  3.670   27 -0.468    9  0.335
PORTLAND      41 41 7440 7544  0.025 42.922   13  0.038   13  0.024   14 -0.014   13 0.5033   20  3.699   24 -0.289   10  0.261
MIAMI         48 47 8495 8450 -0.045 46.791   14 -0.012   14 -0.036   10  0.085   14 0.4968   21  3.692   21 -0.217    8  0.388
NEW ORLEANS   44 45 8093 8122 -0.068 43.359   15 -0.049   15 -0.069   18 -0.099   15 0.4917   18  3.726   22 -0.252   13  0.054
MILWAUKEE     42 45 8467 8443 -0.034 43.239   16 -0.052   16 -0.073   16 -0.059   18 0.4916    3  3.864    4  0.443   24 -0.561
SEATTLE       37 45 7964 8016  0.028 42.857   17 -0.065   17 -0.085   13  0.022   17 0.4917    5  3.845    6  0.429   20 -0.386
GOLDEN STATE  37 45 7649 7709  0.027 42.876   18 -0.070   18 -0.091   15 -0.017   16 0.4917   15  3.764   12  0.005   14 -0.040
NEW YORK      39 47 7878 8050 -0.067 42.391   19 -0.147   19 -0.160   19 -0.192   19 0.4829   17  3.755   20 -0.208   16 -0.175
BOSTON        36 50 8149 8335 -0.062 42.575   20 -0.212   20 -0.227   22 -0.220   20 0.4757    6  3.840    8  0.161   26 -0.602
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CLEVELAND     35 47 7619 7834 -0.082 40.092   21 -0.217   21 -0.231   20 -0.202   21 0.4755   14  3.789   15 -0.061   19 -0.343
PHILADELPHIA  33 49 7215 7419 -0.082 40.105   22 -0.259   22 -0.280   24 -0.272   23 0.4698   23  3.681   28 -0.624   12  0.079
TORONTO       33 49 7006 7253 -0.083 40.287   23 -0.266   23 -0.286   23 -0.259   22 0.4699   29  3.612   29 -0.915    7  0.397
PHOENIX       29 53 7723 8030  0.015 43.222   24 -0.293   24 -0.316   21 -0.207   24 0.4684    9  3.825   10  0.107   22 -0.521
L.A. CLIPPERS 28 54 7771 8147  0.010 43.328   25 -0.325   25 -0.345   26 -0.325   25 0.4655    7  3.839   11  0.052   28 -0.702
ATLANTA       28 54 7611 7992 -0.093 40.385   26 -0.405   26 -0.421   25 -0.301   26 0.4551   10  3.807   16 -0.076   23 -0.525
WASHINGTON    25 57 7528 7990 -0.113 39.970   27 -0.508   27 -0.535   28 -0.444   27 0.4448   13  3.793   23 -0.283   27 -0.605
CHICAGO       23 59 7355 7876 -0.107 40.414   28 -0.560   28 -0.588   27 -0.441   28 0.4402   16  3.759   26 -0.441   21 -0.442
ORLANDO       21 61 7711 8287 -0.100 40.668   29 -0.607   29 -0.634   29 -0.512   29 0.4349    4  3.858   14 -0.041   29 -0.983

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
L.A. LAKERS   69 35 9991 9651  0.137 57.065    3  0.516    2  0.502    6  0.306    3 0.5502   12  3.804    3  0.517   11  0.095
SACRAMENTO    62 32 9575 9163  0.103 50.203    5  0.477    5  0.452    7  0.285    5 0.5465    2  3.887    2  0.899   18 -0.329
PORTLAND      41 41 7440 7544  0.025 42.922   13  0.038   13  0.024   14 -0.014   13 0.5033   20  3.699   24 -0.289   10  0.261
SEATTLE       37 45 7964 8016  0.028 42.857   17 -0.065   17 -0.085   13  0.022   17 0.4917    5  3.845    6  0.429   20 -0.386
GOLDEN STATE  37 45 7649 7709  0.027 42.876   18 -0.070   18 -0.091   15 -0.017   16 0.4917   15  3.764   12  0.005   14 -0.040
PHOENIX       29 53 7723 8030  0.015 43.222   24 -0.293   24 -0.316   21 -0.207   24 0.4684    9  3.825   10  0.107   22 -0.521
L.A. CLIPPERS 28 54 7771 8147  0.010 43.328   25 -0.325   25 -0.345   26 -0.325   25 0.4655    7  3.839   11  0.052   28 -0.702

MIDWEST 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
SAN ANTONIO   63 29 8394 7771  0.094 48.162    2  0.524    4  0.489    2  0.524    2 0.5514   27  3.637   13 -0.021    2  1.069
MINNESOTA     68 32 9408 8959  0.100 53.236    4  0.512    3  0.491    4  0.359    1 0.5518   19  3.713    9  0.149    5  0.570
DALLAS        53 34 9124 8753  0.078 45.680    7  0.316    7  0.299    5  0.330    7 0.5321    1  3.950    1  1.260   25 -0.600
MEMPHIS       50 36 8264 8120  0.067 45.466    8  0.255    8  0.234    9  0.110    8 0.5249   11  3.805    7  0.327   15 -0.108
HOUSTON       46 41 7785 7670  0.062 45.935   10  0.131   10  0.112   12  0.071   10 0.5131   26  3.648   25 -0.428    4  0.571
DENVER        44 43 8425 8357  0.062 46.150   11  0.071   11  0.054   11  0.074   11 0.5077    8  3.837    5  0.441   17 -0.293
UTAH          42 40 7271 7371  0.026 42.916   12  0.060   12  0.048   17 -0.067   12 0.5062   24  3.670   27 -0.468    9  0.335

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
INDIANA       71 27 8861 8318 -0.006 48.005    1  0.539    1  0.510    3  0.362    4 0.5493   25  3.654   18 -0.112    3  0.837
DETROIT       70 35 9391 8765  0.028 52.585    6  0.413    6  0.387    1  0.528    6 0.5397   28  3.620   17 -0.093    1  1.150
NEW ORLEANS   44 45 8093 8122 -0.068 43.359   15 -0.049   15 -0.069   18 -0.099   15 0.4917   18  3.726   22 -0.252   13  0.054
MILWAUKEE     42 45 8467 8443 -0.034 43.239   16 -0.052   16 -0.073   16 -0.059   18 0.4916    3  3.864    4  0.443   24 -0.561
CLEVELAND     35 47 7619 7834 -0.082 40.092   21 -0.217   21 -0.231   20 -0.202   21 0.4755   14  3.789   15 -0.061   19 -0.343
TORONTO       33 49 7006 7253 -0.083 40.287   23 -0.266   23 -0.286   23 -0.259   22 0.4699   29  3.612   29 -0.915    7  0.397
ATLANTA       28 54 7611 7992 -0.093 40.385   26 -0.405   26 -0.421   25 -0.301   26 0.4551   10  3.807   16 -0.076   23 -0.525
CHICAGO       23 59 7355 7876 -0.107 40.414   28 -0.560   28 -0.588   27 -0.441   28 0.4402   16  3.759   26 -0.441   21 -0.442

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
NEW JERSEY    54 39 8371 8139 -0.009 46.325    9  0.196    9  0.171    8  0.135    9 0.5160   22  3.687   19 -0.190    6  0.460
MIAMI         48 47 8495 8450 -0.045 46.791   14 -0.012   14 -0.036   10  0.085   14 0.4968   21  3.692   21 -0.217    8  0.388
NEW YORK      39 47 7878 8050 -0.067 42.391   19 -0.147   19 -0.160   19 -0.192   19 0.4829   17  3.755   20 -0.208   16 -0.175
BOSTON        36 50 8149 8335 -0.062 42.575   20 -0.212   20 -0.227   22 -0.220   20 0.4757    6  3.840    8  0.161   26 -0.602
PHILADELPHIA  33 49 7215 7419 -0.082 40.105   22 -0.259   22 -0.280   24 -0.272   23 0.4698   23  3.681   28 -0.624   12  0.079
WASHINGTON    25 57 7528 7990 -0.113 39.970   27 -0.508   27 -0.535   28 -0.444   27 0.4448   13  3.793   23 -0.283   27 -0.605
ORLANDO       21 61 7711 8287 -0.100 40.668   29 -0.607   29 -0.634   29 -0.512   29 0.4349    4  3.858   14 -0.041   29 -0.983

DIVISION            W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
MIDWEST DIVISION  366 255 0.589    1  0.269
PACIFIC DIVISION  303 305 0.498    2  0.007
CENTRAL DIVISION  346 361 0.489    3 -0.108
ATLANTIC DIVISION 256 350 0.422    4 -0.245

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Oct 12 21:39:22 2025
games through: Tue Jun 15 2004

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