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       52 15 7944 7221  0.050 32.480    1  0.691    1  0.689    1  0.655    1 0.5673   26  3.927    5  0.406    1  0.905
SPURS         48 19 7960 7512  0.088 33.774    2  0.562    2  0.571    2  0.545    2 0.5567   13  3.989    1  0.613    6  0.477
PISTONS       47 18 7620 7125  0.022 31.107    3  0.508    3  0.513    3  0.534    3 0.5524   22  3.945    7  0.378    3  0.691
CELTICS       43 23 7543 7069  0.020 31.565    4  0.343    4  0.342    4  0.486    4 0.5361   30  3.900   12  0.101    2  0.871
KNICKS        43 25 7976 7546  0.045 33.455    5  0.324    5  0.323    5  0.473    5 0.5346   20  3.958    6  0.379    4  0.567
ROCKETS       40 25 7426 7149  0.028 31.734    6  0.278    6  0.278   10  0.191    6 0.5280   29  3.907   22 -0.159    5  0.540
CAVALIERS     40 26 7840 7575  0.043 32.720    7  0.272    7  0.273    7  0.323    7 0.5278    8  4.009    4  0.497   12  0.148
NUGGETS       41 26 8082 7806  0.030 32.894    8  0.268    9  0.270    9  0.260    9 0.5273    5  4.024    3  0.509   15  0.011
LAKERS        41 25 7678 7598 -0.015 31.867    9  0.262    8  0.271   14  0.091    8 0.5275   12  3.993   11  0.180   16  0.001
SUNS          39 27 7425 7326  0.007 32.309   10  0.217   10  0.218   17  0.067   10 0.5219   27  3.915   24 -0.244    9  0.377
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  40 26 7825 7598 -0.025 31.223   11  0.213   11  0.211   12  0.134   11 0.5217   11  3.997    9  0.246   14  0.023
MAGIC         37 28 7514 7411  0.013 31.962   12  0.171   12  0.169   13  0.102   12 0.5163   19  3.960   13  0.020   11  0.183
HEAT          38 29 8071 7808  0.018 32.675   13  0.164   13  0.155    8  0.260   13 0.5155    2  4.040    2  0.598   17 -0.078
RAPTORS       36 29 7372 7273 -0.002 31.622   14  0.126   14  0.121   16  0.069   14 0.5116   25  3.930   23 -0.163   10  0.302
76ERS         35 31 7645 7688  0.001 32.572   15  0.077   15  0.079   19 -0.102   15 0.5069   15  3.982   20 -0.072   19 -0.132
HAWKS         35 31 7766 7715 -0.008 32.076   16  0.066   16  0.061   15  0.074   16 0.5065    6  4.014    8  0.273   18 -0.126
CLIPPERS      33 32 7372 7317  0.042 32.781   17  0.060   17  0.053   11  0.186   17 0.5049   24  3.937   15 -0.013    8  0.385
WARRIORS      32 33 7488 7425  0.024 32.328   18  0.011   18  0.001   18  0.039   18 0.5003   18  3.962   18 -0.033   13  0.111
HORNETS       34 33 7753 7523 -0.015 31.937   19  0.009   19 -0.004    6  0.335   19 0.4999   21  3.951   10  0.207    7  0.464
TRAIL BLAZERS 31 35 7598 7772  0.048 33.998   20 -0.015   20 -0.019   20 -0.145   20 0.4969   10  4.000   16 -0.020   22 -0.270
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         27 38 7216 7534 -0.027 32.270   21 -0.200   21 -0.198   25 -0.399   21 0.4790   23  3.943   27 -0.565   20 -0.233
BULLS         27 39 7647 7935 -0.019 32.789   22 -0.209   22 -0.209   23 -0.319   22 0.4775    4  4.026   19 -0.057   26 -0.581
GRIZZLIES     23 42 7527 7690 -0.053 31.136   23 -0.386   23 -0.389   22 -0.246   23 0.4611    9  4.008   21 -0.081   25 -0.411
MAVERICKS     22 44 7462 7770 -0.039 32.444   24 -0.416   24 -0.410   24 -0.358   25 0.4577   17  3.973   25 -0.375   23 -0.342
PELICANS      22 45 7745 8042 -0.031 32.921   25 -0.426   25 -0.423   21 -0.213   24 0.4581    7  4.011   17 -0.032   24 -0.394
JAZZ          20 46 7749 8253 -0.021 33.225   26 -0.463   26 -0.453   26 -0.484   26 0.4526    1  4.069   14  0.008   29 -0.976
NETS          17 49 7055 7642 -0.002 33.908   27 -0.562   27 -0.559   28 -0.617   27 0.4441   28  3.907   30 -0.966   21 -0.269
KINGS         16 51 7413 8099 -0.017 34.212   28 -0.620   28 -0.619   29 -0.652   28 0.4395   16  3.981   29 -0.625   28 -0.680
WIZARDS       16 49 7334 8052 -0.077 31.922   29 -0.658   29 -0.656   30 -0.725   29 0.4357    3  4.031   26 -0.437   30 -1.014
PACERS        15 51 7347 7919 -0.058 32.674   30 -0.666   30 -0.674   27 -0.611   30 0.4324   14  3.985   28 -0.566   27 -0.656

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        41 25 7678 7598 -0.015 31.867    9  0.262    8  0.271   14  0.091    8 0.5275   12  3.993   11  0.180   16  0.001
SUNS          39 27 7425 7326  0.007 32.309   10  0.217   10  0.218   17  0.067   10 0.5219   27  3.915   24 -0.244    9  0.377
CLIPPERS      33 32 7372 7317  0.042 32.781   17  0.060   17  0.053   11  0.186   17 0.5049   24  3.937   15 -0.013    8  0.385
WARRIORS      32 33 7488 7425  0.024 32.328   18  0.011   18  0.001   18  0.039   18 0.5003   18  3.962   18 -0.033   13  0.111
KINGS         16 51 7413 8099 -0.017 34.212   28 -0.620   28 -0.619   29 -0.652   28 0.4395   16  3.981   29 -0.625   28 -0.680

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       52 15 7944 7221  0.050 32.480    1  0.691    1  0.689    1  0.655    1 0.5673   26  3.927    5  0.406    1  0.905
NUGGETS       41 26 8082 7806  0.030 32.894    8  0.268    9  0.270    9  0.260    9 0.5273    5  4.024    3  0.509   15  0.011
TIMBERWOLVES  40 26 7825 7598 -0.025 31.223   11  0.213   11  0.211   12  0.134   11 0.5217   11  3.997    9  0.246   14  0.023
TRAIL BLAZERS 31 35 7598 7772  0.048 33.998   20 -0.015   20 -0.019   20 -0.145   20 0.4969   10  4.000   16 -0.020   22 -0.270
JAZZ          20 46 7749 8253 -0.021 33.225   26 -0.463   26 -0.453   26 -0.484   26 0.4526    1  4.069   14  0.008   29 -0.976

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         48 19 7960 7512  0.088 33.774    2  0.562    2  0.571    2  0.545    2 0.5567   13  3.989    1  0.613    6  0.477
ROCKETS       40 25 7426 7149  0.028 31.734    6  0.278    6  0.278   10  0.191    6 0.5280   29  3.907   22 -0.159    5  0.540
GRIZZLIES     23 42 7527 7690 -0.053 31.136   23 -0.386   23 -0.389   22 -0.246   23 0.4611    9  4.008   21 -0.081   25 -0.411
MAVERICKS     22 44 7462 7770 -0.039 32.444   24 -0.416   24 -0.410   24 -0.358   25 0.4577   17  3.973   25 -0.375   23 -0.342
PELICANS      22 45 7745 8042 -0.031 32.921   25 -0.426   25 -0.423   21 -0.213   24 0.4581    7  4.011   17 -0.032   24 -0.394

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       47 18 7620 7125  0.022 31.107    3  0.508    3  0.513    3  0.534    3 0.5524   22  3.945    7  0.378    3  0.691
CAVALIERS     40 26 7840 7575  0.043 32.720    7  0.272    7  0.273    7  0.323    7 0.5278    8  4.009    4  0.497   12  0.148
BUCKS         27 38 7216 7534 -0.027 32.270   21 -0.200   21 -0.198   25 -0.399   21 0.4790   23  3.943   27 -0.565   20 -0.233
BULLS         27 39 7647 7935 -0.019 32.789   22 -0.209   22 -0.209   23 -0.319   22 0.4775    4  4.026   19 -0.057   26 -0.581
PACERS        15 51 7347 7919 -0.058 32.674   30 -0.666   30 -0.674   27 -0.611   30 0.4324   14  3.985   28 -0.566   27 -0.656

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         37 28 7514 7411  0.013 31.962   12  0.171   12  0.169   13  0.102   12 0.5163   19  3.960   13  0.020   11  0.183
HEAT          38 29 8071 7808  0.018 32.675   13  0.164   13  0.155    8  0.260   13 0.5155    2  4.040    2  0.598   17 -0.078
HAWKS         35 31 7766 7715 -0.008 32.076   16  0.066   16  0.061   15  0.074   16 0.5065    6  4.014    8  0.273   18 -0.126
HORNETS       34 33 7753 7523 -0.015 31.937   19  0.009   19 -0.004    6  0.335   19 0.4999   21  3.951   10  0.207    7  0.464
WIZARDS       16 49 7334 8052 -0.077 31.922   29 -0.658   29 -0.656   30 -0.725   29 0.4357    3  4.031   26 -0.437   30 -1.014

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       43 23 7543 7069  0.020 31.565    4  0.343    4  0.342    4  0.486    4 0.5361   30  3.900   12  0.101    2  0.871
KNICKS        43 25 7976 7546  0.045 33.455    5  0.324    5  0.323    5  0.473    5 0.5346   20  3.958    6  0.379    4  0.567
RAPTORS       36 29 7372 7273 -0.002 31.622   14  0.126   14  0.121   16  0.069   14 0.5116   25  3.930   23 -0.163   10  0.302
76ERS         35 31 7645 7688  0.001 32.572   15  0.077   15  0.079   19 -0.102   15 0.5069   15  3.982   20 -0.072   19 -0.132
NETS          17 49 7055 7642 -0.002 33.908   27 -0.562   27 -0.559   28 -0.617   27 0.4441   28  3.907   30 -0.966   21 -0.269

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 184 148 0.554    1  0.132
ATLANTIC DIVISION  174 157 0.526    2  0.090
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 155 175 0.470    3 -0.018
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 160 170 0.485    4 -0.019
PACIFIC DIVISION   161 168 0.489    5 -0.067
CENTRAL DIVISION   156 172 0.476    6 -0.105

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Mar 13 05:30:10 2026
games through: Thu Mar 12 2026

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