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
ROCKETS       5 0 615 544  0.289  2.811    1  0.444    1  0.457    1  0.433    1 0.6026   15  3.976    2  0.487    6  0.379 P
THUNDER       4 1 541 523  0.106  2.527    2  0.324    2  0.288    4  0.231    3 0.5722   27  3.899   21 -0.103    2  0.565 P
GRIZZLIES     4 0 467 428 -0.205  1.551    3  0.306    3  0.262   13  0.082    5 0.5583   22  3.923   22 -0.132   10  0.296 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 3 0 388 332  0.039  1.357    4  0.281    6  0.236    6  0.213    2 0.5749   10  4.002    5  0.405   15  0.020 P
LAKERS        4 1 616 568  0.115  2.559    5  0.269    4  0.254    3  0.265    6 0.5529    2  4.037    1  0.640   17 -0.109 P
PISTONS       4 1 549 517  0.048  2.467    6  0.255    5  0.239   10  0.157    4 0.5646   26  3.902   23 -0.160    5  0.473 P
76ERS         4 1 554 537 -0.078  2.277    7  0.192    7  0.202   17  0.022    7 0.5488   24  3.913   27 -0.245   12  0.288 P
CAVALIERS     3 1 479 471 -0.122  1.722    8  0.145    8  0.156   14  0.059    9 0.5323   11  3.997    7  0.226   16 -0.108 P
CELTICS       3 1 479 447 -0.210  1.458    9  0.135   10  0.135    7  0.198   10 0.5309   19  3.947   10  0.107   11  0.289 P
MAVERICKS     3 2 570 560  0.275  2.980   10  0.128    9  0.142   11  0.118    8 0.5367   18  3.961   11  0.099   14  0.137 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  3 2 602 539  0.176  2.647   11  0.118   11  0.123    2  0.388   12 0.5240   21  3.925    8  0.185    1  0.590 P
RAPTORS       3 1 470 410 -0.054  1.623   12  0.090   12  0.118    5  0.226   13 0.5203   25  3.904   18 -0.084    4  0.537 P
SPURS         3 2 583 550  0.112  2.548   13  0.077   13  0.103    8  0.190   11 0.5304   20  3.935   12  0.038    8  0.342 P
WARRIORS      2 3 588 597  0.323  3.097   14  0.026   14  0.035   12  0.094   15 0.5099    3  4.036    3  0.464   22 -0.276 P
HORNETS       3 2 505 541 -0.263  2.119   15  0.010   15  0.008   25 -0.296   17 0.4933   30  3.830   30 -0.965    7  0.372 P
NUGGETS       2 2 443 456 -0.080  1.847   16  0.004   16 -0.001   18 -0.019   20 0.4771   28  3.897   28 -0.363    9  0.325 P
SUNS          1 2 328 371  0.332  1.986   17 -0.009   17 -0.012   21 -0.136   14 0.5110   12  3.987   14 -0.022   21 -0.250 P
HAWKS         2 3 601 576  0.198  2.720   18 -0.034   18 -0.049    9  0.164   16 0.5007    5  4.022    4  0.459   18 -0.130 P
MAGIC         1 3 428 478  0.333  2.626   19 -0.111   19 -0.075   22 -0.155   21 0.4606   14  3.977   19 -0.096   20 -0.214 P
KNICKS        2 3 549 548 -0.093  2.238   20 -0.126   20 -0.092   16  0.040   18 0.4899   23  3.920   24 -0.191   13  0.271 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CLIPPERS      1 3 426 432  0.212  2.305   21 -0.150   21 -0.110   15  0.049   19 0.4780   29  3.868   29 -0.439    3  0.538 P
PACERS        2 3 575 574 -0.253  1.969   22 -0.184   22 -0.163   20 -0.126   24 0.4486   17  3.971   20 -0.098   19 -0.153 P
HEAT          1 4 565 604  0.131  2.827   23 -0.199   23 -0.175   19 -0.105   22 0.4595    4  4.034    6  0.255   25 -0.465 P
WIZARDS       2 3 568 579 -0.315  2.011   24 -0.208   24 -0.197   26 -0.302   23 0.4555   13  3.980   25 -0.225   24 -0.379 P
JAZZ          1 4 562 601 -0.037  2.575   25 -0.254   25 -0.254   24 -0.265   25 0.4373   16  3.973   26 -0.226   23 -0.305 P
BULLS         1 4 570 651 -0.194  2.453   26 -0.265   26 -0.274   30 -0.446   27 0.4296    1  4.075    9  0.136   30 -1.028 P
KINGS         0 4 431 502  0.170  2.447   27 -0.279   27 -0.291   29 -0.355   28 0.4286    6  4.021   16 -0.063   29 -0.646 P
BUCKS         1 4 567 621 -0.287  2.160   28 -0.286   28 -0.309   27 -0.331   26 0.4356    7  4.018   15 -0.058   28 -0.605 P
PELICANS      0 4 465 488 -0.245  1.652   29 -0.346   29 -0.394   23 -0.239   30 0.3757    9  4.014   13  0.015   26 -0.494 P
NETS          0 4 457 496 -0.204  1.871   30 -0.351   30 -0.396   28 -0.337   29 0.3996    8  4.016   17 -0.073   27 -0.601 P

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        4 1 616 568  0.115  2.559    5  0.269    4  0.254    3  0.265    6 0.5529    2  4.037    1  0.640   17 -0.109 P
WARRIORS      2 3 588 597  0.323  3.097   14  0.026   14  0.035   12  0.094   15 0.5099    3  4.036    3  0.464   22 -0.276 P
SUNS          1 2 328 371  0.332  1.986   17 -0.009   17 -0.012   21 -0.136   14 0.5110   12  3.987   14 -0.022   21 -0.250 P
CLIPPERS      1 3 426 432  0.212  2.305   21 -0.150   21 -0.110   15  0.049   19 0.4780   29  3.868   29 -0.439    3  0.538 P
KINGS         0 4 431 502  0.170  2.447   27 -0.279   27 -0.291   29 -0.355   28 0.4286    6  4.021   16 -0.063   29 -0.646 P

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       4 1 541 523  0.106  2.527    2  0.324    2  0.288    4  0.231    3 0.5722   27  3.899   21 -0.103    2  0.565 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 3 0 388 332  0.039  1.357    4  0.281    6  0.236    6  0.213    2 0.5749   10  4.002    5  0.405   15  0.020 P
TIMBERWOLVES  3 2 602 539  0.176  2.647   11  0.118   11  0.123    2  0.388   12 0.5240   21  3.925    8  0.185    1  0.590 P
NUGGETS       2 2 443 456 -0.080  1.847   16  0.004   16 -0.001   18 -0.019   20 0.4771   28  3.897   28 -0.363    9  0.325 P
JAZZ          1 4 562 601 -0.037  2.575   25 -0.254   25 -0.254   24 -0.265   25 0.4373   16  3.973   26 -0.226   23 -0.305 P

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       5 0 615 544  0.289  2.811    1  0.444    1  0.457    1  0.433    1 0.6026   15  3.976    2  0.487    6  0.379 P
GRIZZLIES     4 0 467 428 -0.205  1.551    3  0.306    3  0.262   13  0.082    5 0.5583   22  3.923   22 -0.132   10  0.296 P
MAVERICKS     3 2 570 560  0.275  2.980   10  0.128    9  0.142   11  0.118    8 0.5367   18  3.961   11  0.099   14  0.137 P
SPURS         3 2 583 550  0.112  2.548   13  0.077   13  0.103    8  0.190   11 0.5304   20  3.935   12  0.038    8  0.342 P
PELICANS      0 4 465 488 -0.245  1.652   29 -0.346   29 -0.394   23 -0.239   30 0.3757    9  4.014   13  0.015   26 -0.494 P

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       4 1 549 517  0.048  2.467    6  0.255    5  0.239   10  0.157    4 0.5646   26  3.902   23 -0.160    5  0.473 P
CAVALIERS     3 1 479 471 -0.122  1.722    8  0.145    8  0.156   14  0.059    9 0.5323   11  3.997    7  0.226   16 -0.108 P
PACERS        2 3 575 574 -0.253  1.969   22 -0.184   22 -0.163   20 -0.126   24 0.4486   17  3.971   20 -0.098   19 -0.153 P
BULLS         1 4 570 651 -0.194  2.453   26 -0.265   26 -0.274   30 -0.446   27 0.4296    1  4.075    9  0.136   30 -1.028 P
BUCKS         1 4 567 621 -0.287  2.160   28 -0.286   28 -0.309   27 -0.331   26 0.4356    7  4.018   15 -0.058   28 -0.605 P

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
HORNETS       3 2 505 541 -0.263  2.119   15  0.010   15  0.008   25 -0.296   17 0.4933   30  3.830   30 -0.965    7  0.372 P
HAWKS         2 3 601 576  0.198  2.720   18 -0.034   18 -0.049    9  0.164   16 0.5007    5  4.022    4  0.459   18 -0.130 P
MAGIC         1 3 428 478  0.333  2.626   19 -0.111   19 -0.075   22 -0.155   21 0.4606   14  3.977   19 -0.096   20 -0.214 P
HEAT          1 4 565 604  0.131  2.827   23 -0.199   23 -0.175   19 -0.105   22 0.4595    4  4.034    6  0.255   25 -0.465 P
WIZARDS       2 3 568 579 -0.315  2.011   24 -0.208   24 -0.197   26 -0.302   23 0.4555   13  3.980   25 -0.225   24 -0.379 P

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
76ERS         4 1 554 537 -0.078  2.277    7  0.192    7  0.202   17  0.022    7 0.5488   24  3.913   27 -0.245   12  0.288 P
CELTICS       3 1 479 447 -0.210  1.458    9  0.135   10  0.135    7  0.198   10 0.5309   19  3.947   10  0.107   11  0.289 P
RAPTORS       3 1 470 410 -0.054  1.623   12  0.090   12  0.118    5  0.226   13 0.5203   25  3.904   18 -0.084    4  0.537 P
KNICKS        2 3 549 548 -0.093  2.238   20 -0.126   20 -0.092   16  0.040   18 0.4899   23  3.920   24 -0.191   13  0.271 P
NETS          0 4 457 496 -0.204  1.871   30 -0.351   30 -0.396   28 -0.337   29 0.3996    8  4.016   17 -0.073   27 -0.601 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 13  9 0.591    1  0.253
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 15  8 0.652    2  0.247
ATLANTIC DIVISION  12 10 0.545    3  0.080
PACIFIC DIVISION    8 13 0.381    4 -0.037
CENTRAL DIVISION   11 13 0.458    5 -0.262
SOUTHEAST DIVISION  9 15 0.375    6 -0.266

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu Oct 29 05:30:19 2026
games through: Wed Oct 28 2026

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