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       38 11 5894 5290  0.018 23.123    1  0.587    1  0.593    1  0.684    1 0.5625   25  3.937    1  0.477    1  0.891
PISTONS       34 12 5371 5065 -0.047 21.221    2  0.462    2  0.460    2  0.356    2 0.5520   24  3.941   10  0.166    3  0.545
SPURS         32 16 5623 5392  0.065 24.073    3  0.397    3  0.392    4  0.315    3 0.5428   19  3.964    7  0.246    6  0.385
NUGGETS       32 16 5764 5556 -0.055 22.230    4  0.301    4  0.295   12  0.104    5 0.5326    7  4.014    5  0.291   17 -0.082
ROCKETS       29 17 5339 5060  0.034 22.550    5  0.294    5  0.277    5  0.312    4 0.5335   29  3.918   17  0.008    2  0.616
SUNS          29 19 5471 5339  0.048 24.136    6  0.258    6  0.253    8  0.225    6 0.5281   26  3.933   18 -0.005    5  0.456
KNICKS        30 18 5647 5407 -0.021 22.800    7  0.241    7  0.233    7  0.259    8 0.5264   12  3.983    6  0.285   11  0.233
TIMBERWOLVES  30 19 5833 5590 -0.008 23.360    8  0.223    9  0.213    6  0.297   10 0.5242   11  3.986    4  0.339    9  0.255
LAKERS        28 18 5332 5361 -0.008 22.680    9  0.220    8  0.223   20 -0.087    7 0.5266   10  3.998   16  0.017   22 -0.191
CELTICS       29 18 5470 5174 -0.032 21.997   10  0.205   10  0.199    3  0.323    9 0.5260   23  3.941   12  0.135    4  0.512
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAVALIERS     29 20 5843 5690  0.003 23.902   11  0.187   11  0.188   10  0.198   11 0.5211    5  4.018    3  0.410   14 -0.013
RAPTORS       29 20 5565 5492 -0.010 23.865   12  0.180   12  0.184   15  0.057   12 0.5194   27  3.929   24 -0.190    8  0.305
WARRIORS      27 22 5709 5568  0.022 24.228   13  0.117   13  0.117    9  0.213   14 0.5129   17  3.970    9  0.170   10  0.255
HEAT          26 23 5868 5794  0.069 25.331   14  0.111   14  0.114   13  0.092   13 0.5130    2  4.046    2  0.449   24 -0.265
76ERS         26 21 5477 5443 -0.043 22.393   15  0.074   15  0.079   16 -0.013   15 0.5082   14  3.974   19 -0.031   13  0.005
MAGIC         24 22 5309 5318  0.023 23.151   16  0.058   16  0.064   19 -0.081   16 0.5059   18  3.969   21 -0.125   15 -0.038
TRAIL BLAZERS 23 25 5545 5637  0.060 25.030   17  0.004   17  0.011   18 -0.062   17 0.5018    9  3.998   15  0.042   21 -0.167
HAWKS         24 26 5855 5906  0.045 25.649   18 -0.011   18 -0.004   17 -0.029   18 0.5013    4  4.019    8  0.187   23 -0.245
CLIPPERS      22 24 5184 5188  0.016 23.017   19 -0.036   19 -0.032   14  0.084   19 0.4965   28  3.925   23 -0.184    7  0.352
BULLS         23 25 5645 5745 -0.073 22.708   20 -0.100   20 -0.096   22 -0.164   20 0.4879    3  4.029   14  0.101   26 -0.429
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HORNETS       21 28 5701 5623 -0.033 23.408   21 -0.163   21 -0.176   11  0.178   21 0.4807   16  3.973   11  0.151   12  0.205
GRIZZLIES     18 27 5164 5235 -0.016 22.210   22 -0.213   22 -0.225   21 -0.100   22 0.4753   13  3.982   20 -0.076   19 -0.123
BUCKS         18 28 5144 5328 -0.024 22.835   23 -0.231   23 -0.239   24 -0.279   23 0.4737   22  3.953   27 -0.409   20 -0.148
MAVERICKS     19 29 5483 5602 -0.080 22.682   24 -0.263   24 -0.273   23 -0.170   24 0.4689   20  3.962   25 -0.254   18 -0.086
JAZZ          15 33 5702 6134  0.042 25.487   25 -0.345   25 -0.339   28 -0.508   25 0.4606    1  4.097   13  0.124   30 -1.141
KINGS         12 37 5414 5911  0.053 26.410   26 -0.488   26 -0.488   29 -0.532   26 0.4488   15  3.974   29 -0.551   28 -0.514
NETS          12 34 4953 5276 -0.010 23.216   27 -0.499   27 -0.500   27 -0.440   28 0.4419   30  3.905   30 -0.813   16 -0.068
PELICANS      12 37 5607 5938  0.033 25.576   28 -0.514   29 -0.519   25 -0.317   27 0.4433    8  4.012   22 -0.137   27 -0.497
PACERS        12 36 5293 5679 -0.002 24.770   29 -0.516   28 -0.518   26 -0.426   29 0.4419   21  3.958   28 -0.529   25 -0.323
WIZARDS       12 34 5162 5626 -0.048 22.931   30 -0.540   30 -0.537   30 -0.552   30 0.4396    6  4.017   26 -0.346   29 -0.757

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          29 19 5471 5339  0.048 24.136    6  0.258    6  0.253    8  0.225    6 0.5281   26  3.933   18 -0.005    5  0.456
LAKERS        28 18 5332 5361 -0.008 22.680    9  0.220    8  0.223   20 -0.087    7 0.5266   10  3.998   16  0.017   22 -0.191
WARRIORS      27 22 5709 5568  0.022 24.228   13  0.117   13  0.117    9  0.213   14 0.5129   17  3.970    9  0.170   10  0.255
CLIPPERS      22 24 5184 5188  0.016 23.017   19 -0.036   19 -0.032   14  0.084   19 0.4965   28  3.925   23 -0.184    7  0.352
KINGS         12 37 5414 5911  0.053 26.410   26 -0.488   26 -0.488   29 -0.532   26 0.4488   15  3.974   29 -0.551   28 -0.514

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       38 11 5894 5290  0.018 23.123    1  0.587    1  0.593    1  0.684    1 0.5625   25  3.937    1  0.477    1  0.891
NUGGETS       32 16 5764 5556 -0.055 22.230    4  0.301    4  0.295   12  0.104    5 0.5326    7  4.014    5  0.291   17 -0.082
TIMBERWOLVES  30 19 5833 5590 -0.008 23.360    8  0.223    9  0.213    6  0.297   10 0.5242   11  3.986    4  0.339    9  0.255
TRAIL BLAZERS 23 25 5545 5637  0.060 25.030   17  0.004   17  0.011   18 -0.062   17 0.5018    9  3.998   15  0.042   21 -0.167
JAZZ          15 33 5702 6134  0.042 25.487   25 -0.345   25 -0.339   28 -0.508   25 0.4606    1  4.097   13  0.124   30 -1.141

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         32 16 5623 5392  0.065 24.073    3  0.397    3  0.392    4  0.315    3 0.5428   19  3.964    7  0.246    6  0.385
ROCKETS       29 17 5339 5060  0.034 22.550    5  0.294    5  0.277    5  0.312    4 0.5335   29  3.918   17  0.008    2  0.616
GRIZZLIES     18 27 5164 5235 -0.016 22.210   22 -0.213   22 -0.225   21 -0.100   22 0.4753   13  3.982   20 -0.076   19 -0.123
MAVERICKS     19 29 5483 5602 -0.080 22.682   24 -0.263   24 -0.273   23 -0.170   24 0.4689   20  3.962   25 -0.254   18 -0.086
PELICANS      12 37 5607 5938  0.033 25.576   28 -0.514   29 -0.519   25 -0.317   27 0.4433    8  4.012   22 -0.137   27 -0.497

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       34 12 5371 5065 -0.047 21.221    2  0.462    2  0.460    2  0.356    2 0.5520   24  3.941   10  0.166    3  0.545
CAVALIERS     29 20 5843 5690  0.003 23.902   11  0.187   11  0.188   10  0.198   11 0.5211    5  4.018    3  0.410   14 -0.013
BULLS         23 25 5645 5745 -0.073 22.708   20 -0.100   20 -0.096   22 -0.164   20 0.4879    3  4.029   14  0.101   26 -0.429
BUCKS         18 28 5144 5328 -0.024 22.835   23 -0.231   23 -0.239   24 -0.279   23 0.4737   22  3.953   27 -0.409   20 -0.148
PACERS        12 36 5293 5679 -0.002 24.770   29 -0.516   28 -0.518   26 -0.426   29 0.4419   21  3.958   28 -0.529   25 -0.323

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          26 23 5868 5794  0.069 25.331   14  0.111   14  0.114   13  0.092   13 0.5130    2  4.046    2  0.449   24 -0.265
MAGIC         24 22 5309 5318  0.023 23.151   16  0.058   16  0.064   19 -0.081   16 0.5059   18  3.969   21 -0.125   15 -0.038
HAWKS         24 26 5855 5906  0.045 25.649   18 -0.011   18 -0.004   17 -0.029   18 0.5013    4  4.019    8  0.187   23 -0.245
HORNETS       21 28 5701 5623 -0.033 23.408   21 -0.163   21 -0.176   11  0.178   21 0.4807   16  3.973   11  0.151   12  0.205
WIZARDS       12 34 5162 5626 -0.048 22.931   30 -0.540   30 -0.537   30 -0.552   30 0.4396    6  4.017   26 -0.346   29 -0.757

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
KNICKS        30 18 5647 5407 -0.021 22.800    7  0.241    7  0.233    7  0.259    8 0.5264   12  3.983    6  0.285   11  0.233
CELTICS       29 18 5470 5174 -0.032 21.997   10  0.205   10  0.199    3  0.323    9 0.5260   23  3.941   12  0.135    4  0.512
RAPTORS       29 20 5565 5492 -0.010 23.865   12  0.180   12  0.184   15  0.057   12 0.5194   27  3.929   24 -0.190    8  0.305
76ERS         26 21 5477 5443 -0.043 22.393   15  0.074   15  0.079   16 -0.013   15 0.5082   14  3.974   19 -0.031   13  0.005
NETS          12 34 4953 5276 -0.010 23.216   27 -0.499   27 -0.500   27 -0.440   28 0.4419   30  3.905   30 -0.813   16 -0.068

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 138 104 0.570    1  0.164
ATLANTIC DIVISION  126 111 0.532    2  0.068
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 110 126 0.466    3  0.005
PACIFIC DIVISION   118 120 0.496    4 -0.040
CENTRAL DIVISION   116 121 0.489    5 -0.094
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 107 133 0.446    6 -0.099

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.156 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: Fri Jan 30 05:30:12 2026
games through: Thu Jan 29 2026

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