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       71 15 10325  9210  0.076 42.552    1  0.899    1  0.898    1  0.937    1 0.5798   16  3.961    1  0.936    1  0.939
CAVALIERS     66 18 10241  9429  0.009 39.873    2  0.726    2  0.720    2  0.578    2 0.5658    5  4.028    2  0.930   10  0.226
CELTICS       63 22  9839  9068 -0.003 40.072    3  0.583    3  0.575    3  0.555    3 0.5544   24  3.921    8  0.350    3  0.759
ROCKETS       53 31  9566  9191  0.068 42.747    4  0.371    4  0.361    7  0.299    4 0.5348   23  3.926   15  0.121    6  0.476
CLIPPERS      52 33  9588  9171  0.058 42.845    5  0.316    5  0.305    4  0.494    5 0.5295   27  3.893   14  0.152    2  0.837
KNICKS        53 32  9829  9486 -0.009 41.039    6  0.293    6  0.283    8  0.208    6 0.5274   17  3.954   12  0.171    9  0.245
TIMBERWOLVES  51 34  9690  9255  0.050 42.581    7  0.278    8  0.264    5  0.438    7 0.5265   25  3.916   11  0.209    5  0.666
NUGGETS       51 34 10199  9915  0.041 42.761    8  0.270    9  0.264   12  0.191    8 0.5256    4  4.036    4  0.583   18 -0.201
LAKERS        51 34  9591  9516  0.033 43.115    9  0.269    7  0.270   14  0.134    9 0.5255   20  3.945   17  0.050   11  0.217
WARRIORS      50 35  9640  9370  0.053 43.207   10  0.260   10  0.253    6  0.300   11 0.5241   22  3.934   13  0.163    7  0.438
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PACERS        52 33  9965  9771 -0.023 41.038   11  0.250   11  0.244    9  0.207   10 0.5242    7  4.002    5  0.421   15 -0.006
GRIZZLIES     49 38 10503 10172  0.061 44.143   12  0.206   12  0.193   11  0.191   13 0.5184    1  4.059    3  0.704   22 -0.321
BUCKS         50 36  9899  9691  0.003 42.246   13  0.200   13  0.190   13  0.185   12 0.5194   15  3.969   10  0.226   12  0.144
PISTONS       45 40  9799  9650  0.010 42.154   14  0.064   14  0.065   10  0.200   14 0.5074   14  3.974    9  0.270   13  0.130
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.030 42.980   15 -0.015   15 -0.017   21 -0.199   16 0.4968   10  3.984   19 -0.082   20 -0.315
MAGIC         43 43  9046  9055 -0.029 41.968   16 -0.021   16 -0.023   16  0.006   15 0.4978   30  3.816   27 -0.712    4  0.723
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571  0.004 41.358   17 -0.033   17 -0.036   17 -0.008   17 0.4956    9  3.984   16  0.110   16 -0.125
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.033 41.204   18 -0.075   18 -0.076   20 -0.093   18 0.4922    2  4.053    7  0.390   27 -0.575
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.040 40.564   19 -0.106   19 -0.106   18 -0.058   19 0.4902    3  4.049    6  0.404   26 -0.521
HEAT          39 47  9513  9469 -0.015 42.212   20 -0.128   21 -0.133   15  0.055   20 0.4877   28  3.887   22 -0.318    8  0.428
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563  0.007 41.704   21 -0.131   20 -0.131   23 -0.216   21 0.4866   11  3.981   20 -0.115   21 -0.317
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.005 41.351   22 -0.146   22 -0.146   19 -0.062   22 0.4858   21  3.936   21 -0.188   14  0.064
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.000 41.416   23 -0.195   23 -0.196   22 -0.211   23 0.4799    8  3.996   18 -0.030   23 -0.391
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.048 40.481   24 -0.356   24 -0.364   24 -0.302   24 0.4657   18  3.952   23 -0.349   19 -0.255
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.050 41.066   25 -0.470   25 -0.467   26 -0.567   25 0.4550   29  3.874   29 -1.002   17 -0.132
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.057 40.599   26 -0.537   26 -0.546   25 -0.525   26 0.4479   19  3.948   26 -0.590   25 -0.460
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.010 42.588   27 -0.599   27 -0.606   27 -0.629   27 0.4437   13  3.975   25 -0.555   28 -0.704
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.076 40.697   28 -0.710   28 -0.720   29 -0.761   28 0.4329   26  3.894   30 -1.097   24 -0.425
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.010 42.539   29 -0.723   29 -0.735   28 -0.658   29 0.4318    6  4.008   24 -0.415   29 -0.901
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.071 41.344   30 -0.739   30 -0.746   30 -0.857   30 0.4312   12  3.977   28 -0.775   30 -0.938
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING

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
CLIPPERS      52 33  9588  9171  0.058 42.845    5  0.316    5  0.305    4  0.494    5 0.5295   27  3.893   14  0.152    2  0.837
LAKERS        51 34  9591  9516  0.033 43.115    9  0.269    7  0.270   14  0.134    9 0.5255   20  3.945   17  0.050   11  0.217
WARRIORS      50 35  9640  9370  0.053 43.207   10  0.260   10  0.253    6  0.300   11 0.5241   22  3.934   13  0.163    7  0.438
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571  0.004 41.358   17 -0.033   17 -0.036   17 -0.008   17 0.4956    9  3.984   16  0.110   16 -0.125
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563  0.007 41.704   21 -0.131   20 -0.131   23 -0.216   21 0.4866   11  3.981   20 -0.115   21 -0.317

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       71 15 10325  9210  0.076 42.552    1  0.899    1  0.898    1  0.937    1 0.5798   16  3.961    1  0.936    1  0.939
TIMBERWOLVES  51 34  9690  9255  0.050 42.581    7  0.278    8  0.264    5  0.438    7 0.5265   25  3.916   11  0.209    5  0.666
NUGGETS       51 34 10199  9915  0.041 42.761    8  0.270    9  0.264   12  0.191    8 0.5256    4  4.036    4  0.583   18 -0.201
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.005 41.351   22 -0.146   22 -0.146   19 -0.062   22 0.4858   21  3.936   21 -0.188   14  0.064
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.010 42.539   29 -0.723   29 -0.735   28 -0.658   29 0.4318    6  4.008   24 -0.415   29 -0.901

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       53 31  9566  9191  0.068 42.747    4  0.371    4  0.361    7  0.299    4 0.5348   23  3.926   15  0.121    6  0.476
GRIZZLIES     49 38 10503 10172  0.061 44.143   12  0.206   12  0.193   11  0.191   13 0.5184    1  4.059    3  0.704   22 -0.321
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.030 42.980   15 -0.015   15 -0.017   21 -0.199   16 0.4968   10  3.984   19 -0.082   20 -0.315
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.000 41.416   23 -0.195   23 -0.196   22 -0.211   23 0.4799    8  3.996   18 -0.030   23 -0.391
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.010 42.588   27 -0.599   27 -0.606   27 -0.629   27 0.4437   13  3.975   25 -0.555   28 -0.704

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
CAVALIERS     66 18 10241  9429  0.009 39.873    2  0.726    2  0.720    2  0.578    2 0.5658    5  4.028    2  0.930   10  0.226
PACERS        52 33  9965  9771 -0.023 41.038   11  0.250   11  0.244    9  0.207   10 0.5242    7  4.002    5  0.421   15 -0.006
BUCKS         50 36  9899  9691  0.003 42.246   13  0.200   13  0.190   13  0.185   12 0.5194   15  3.969   10  0.226   12  0.144
PISTONS       45 40  9799  9650  0.010 42.154   14  0.064   14  0.065   10  0.200   14 0.5074   14  3.974    9  0.270   13  0.130
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.040 40.564   19 -0.106   19 -0.106   18 -0.058   19 0.4902    3  4.049    6  0.404   26 -0.521

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         43 43  9046  9055 -0.029 41.968   16 -0.021   16 -0.023   16  0.006   15 0.4978   30  3.816   27 -0.712    4  0.723
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.033 41.204   18 -0.075   18 -0.076   20 -0.093   18 0.4922    2  4.053    7  0.390   27 -0.575
HEAT          39 47  9513  9469 -0.015 42.212   20 -0.128   21 -0.133   15  0.055   20 0.4877   28  3.887   22 -0.318    8  0.428
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.076 40.697   28 -0.710   28 -0.720   29 -0.761   28 0.4329   26  3.894   30 -1.097   24 -0.425
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.071 41.344   30 -0.739   30 -0.746   30 -0.857   30 0.4312   12  3.977   28 -0.775   30 -0.938

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       63 22  9839  9068 -0.003 40.072    3  0.583    3  0.575    3  0.555    3 0.5544   24  3.921    8  0.350    3  0.759
KNICKS        53 32  9829  9486 -0.009 41.039    6  0.293    6  0.283    8  0.208    6 0.5274   17  3.954   12  0.171    9  0.245
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.048 40.481   24 -0.356   24 -0.364   24 -0.302   24 0.4657   18  3.952   23 -0.349   19 -0.255
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.050 41.066   25 -0.470   25 -0.467   26 -0.567   25 0.4550   29  3.874   29 -1.002   17 -0.132
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.057 40.599   26 -0.537   26 -0.546   25 -0.525   26 0.4479   19  3.948   26 -0.590   25 -0.460

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION   252 171 0.596    1  0.191
NORTHWEST DIVISION 226 194 0.538    2  0.163
PACIFIC DIVISION   229 191 0.545    3  0.119
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 197 222 0.470    4 -0.041
ATLANTIC DIVISION  196 220 0.471    5 -0.105
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 159 261 0.379    6 -0.365

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.148 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: Sat Apr 26 05:30:14 2025
games through: Fri Apr 25 2025

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.