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       64 16  9550  8584  0.068 38.851    1  0.805    1  0.808    1  0.855    1 0.5739   26  3.929    2  0.603    1  1.106
CELTICS       54 25  9055  8449  0.036 38.153    4  0.457    4  0.453    3  0.576    4 0.5440   29  3.900   11  0.179    2  0.972
PISTONS       58 22  9406  8767  0.020 38.037    3  0.536    3  0.540    4  0.576    3 0.5528   23  3.941    7  0.386    3  0.765
SPURS         61 20  9682  9021  0.081 40.237    2  0.684    2  0.687    2  0.689    2 0.5639   14  3.983    1  0.717    4  0.660
HORNETS       43 37  9303  8903  0.002 38.197   16  0.084   16  0.073    5  0.496   16 0.5068   21  3.948    8  0.340    5  0.652
ROCKETS       50 29  9072  8682  0.021 38.250    9  0.323    9  0.326    9  0.293    9 0.5313   28  3.908   19 -0.063    6  0.650
KNICKS        52 28  9353  8832  0.032 38.719    5  0.372    5  0.369    6  0.463    5 0.5358   22  3.947    9  0.306    7  0.620
RAPTORS       44 35  9041  8841  0.020 38.860   12  0.150   12  0.145   11  0.214   12 0.5138   25  3.939   14  0.015    8  0.414
SUNS          44 36  9024  8908  0.021 39.599   13  0.140   13  0.137   14  0.090   13 0.5130   27  3.921   23 -0.199    9  0.379
CLIPPERS      41 39  9117  9010 -0.002 38.962   18  0.026   18  0.021   13  0.151   18 0.5020   24  3.939   16 -0.048   10  0.349
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  47 33  9408  9143  0.005 38.712   10  0.207   10  0.202   12  0.177   10 0.5197   15  3.983   10  0.203   11  0.150
CAVALIERS     51 29  9569  9222  0.017 38.823    8  0.332    8  0.337    8  0.302    8 0.5324    7  4.014    4  0.493   12  0.112
HAWKS         45 35  9473  9271  0.016 39.200   11  0.160   11  0.157   10  0.277   11 0.5149    8  4.012    6  0.456   13  0.098
NUGGETS       52 28  9755  9363  0.009 38.453    6  0.354    6  0.356    7  0.323    6 0.5344    5  4.030    3  0.595   14  0.051
MAGIC         44 36  9256  9223  0.015 39.732   14  0.136   14  0.135   18 -0.015   14 0.5122   18  3.973   15 -0.042   15  0.013
LAKERS        50 29  9189  9113  0.013 39.032    7  0.332    7  0.343   15  0.082    7 0.5325   11  3.992   12  0.155   16  0.008
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 40  9231  9286  0.009 39.776   19  0.015   19  0.015   17  0.020   19 0.5006   16  3.982   13  0.043   17 -0.003
WARRIORS      37 42  9067  9086  0.021 39.510   20 -0.045   20 -0.053   20 -0.096   20 0.4942   19  3.963   22 -0.173   18 -0.019
76ERS         43 36  9169  9204  0.000 39.039   15  0.118   15  0.120   19 -0.072   15 0.5106   17  3.982   17 -0.049   19 -0.095
NETS          20 59  8383  9121 -0.043 39.873   28 -0.633   28 -0.630   29 -0.717   28 0.4410   30  3.895   30 -1.134   20 -0.299
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          41 38  9514  9358  0.027 39.207   17  0.066   17  0.062   16  0.064   17 0.5055    2  4.055    5  0.469   21 -0.342
PELICANS      26 54  9229  9566 -0.029 39.504   23 -0.450   23 -0.450   21 -0.223   23 0.4574    9  4.008   20 -0.067   22 -0.379
BUCKS         31 49  8841  9347 -0.034 40.007   21 -0.279   21 -0.272   26 -0.551   21 0.4725   20  3.948   29 -0.705   23 -0.397
MAVERICKS     25 55  9089  9543 -0.034 39.743   24 -0.476   24 -0.472   23 -0.451   25 0.4542   12  3.986   25 -0.409   24 -0.494
PACERS        18 61  8881  9542 -0.032 39.950   29 -0.681   29 -0.683   25 -0.541   29 0.4352   10  3.999   26 -0.432   25 -0.651
BULLS         30 49  9187  9580 -0.017 39.624   22 -0.284   22 -0.283   22 -0.369   22 0.4712    3  4.039   18 -0.050   26 -0.689
GRIZZLIES     25 55  9201  9617 -0.029 39.749   25 -0.482   25 -0.482   24 -0.489   24 0.4543    6  4.018   24 -0.280   27 -0.698
KINGS         21 59  8868  9682 -0.045 40.352   27 -0.609   27 -0.604   28 -0.691   27 0.4433   13  3.986   28 -0.650   28 -0.731
WIZARDS       17 62  8915  9851 -0.064 39.719   30 -0.766   30 -0.766   30 -0.814   30 0.4310    4  4.037   27 -0.503   29 -1.126
JAZZ          21 59  9388 10101 -0.035 40.391   26 -0.594   26 -0.594   27 -0.641   26 0.4436    1  4.079   21 -0.103   30 -1.178

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          44 36  9024  8908  0.021 39.599   13  0.140   13  0.137   14  0.090   13 0.5130   27  3.921   23 -0.199    9  0.379
CLIPPERS      41 39  9117  9010 -0.002 38.962   18  0.026   18  0.021   13  0.151   18 0.5020   24  3.939   16 -0.048   10  0.349
LAKERS        50 29  9189  9113  0.013 39.032    7  0.332    7  0.343   15  0.082    7 0.5325   11  3.992   12  0.155   16  0.008
WARRIORS      37 42  9067  9086  0.021 39.510   20 -0.045   20 -0.053   20 -0.096   20 0.4942   19  3.963   22 -0.173   18 -0.019
KINGS         21 59  8868  9682 -0.045 40.352   27 -0.609   27 -0.604   28 -0.691   27 0.4433   13  3.986   28 -0.650   28 -0.731

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       64 16  9550  8584  0.068 38.851    1  0.805    1  0.808    1  0.855    1 0.5739   26  3.929    2  0.603    1  1.106
TIMBERWOLVES  47 33  9408  9143  0.005 38.712   10  0.207   10  0.202   12  0.177   10 0.5197   15  3.983   10  0.203   11  0.150
NUGGETS       52 28  9755  9363  0.009 38.453    6  0.354    6  0.356    7  0.323    6 0.5344    5  4.030    3  0.595   14  0.051
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 40  9231  9286  0.009 39.776   19  0.015   19  0.015   17  0.020   19 0.5006   16  3.982   13  0.043   17 -0.003
JAZZ          21 59  9388 10101 -0.035 40.391   26 -0.594   26 -0.594   27 -0.641   26 0.4436    1  4.079   21 -0.103   30 -1.178

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         61 20  9682  9021  0.081 40.237    2  0.684    2  0.687    2  0.689    2 0.5639   14  3.983    1  0.717    4  0.660
ROCKETS       50 29  9072  8682  0.021 38.250    9  0.323    9  0.326    9  0.293    9 0.5313   28  3.908   19 -0.063    6  0.650
PELICANS      26 54  9229  9566 -0.029 39.504   23 -0.450   23 -0.450   21 -0.223   23 0.4574    9  4.008   20 -0.067   22 -0.379
MAVERICKS     25 55  9089  9543 -0.034 39.743   24 -0.476   24 -0.472   23 -0.451   25 0.4542   12  3.986   25 -0.409   24 -0.494
GRIZZLIES     25 55  9201  9617 -0.029 39.749   25 -0.482   25 -0.482   24 -0.489   24 0.4543    6  4.018   24 -0.280   27 -0.698

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       58 22  9406  8767  0.020 38.037    3  0.536    3  0.540    4  0.576    3 0.5528   23  3.941    7  0.386    3  0.765
CAVALIERS     51 29  9569  9222  0.017 38.823    8  0.332    8  0.337    8  0.302    8 0.5324    7  4.014    4  0.493   12  0.112
BUCKS         31 49  8841  9347 -0.034 40.007   21 -0.279   21 -0.272   26 -0.551   21 0.4725   20  3.948   29 -0.705   23 -0.397
PACERS        18 61  8881  9542 -0.032 39.950   29 -0.681   29 -0.683   25 -0.541   29 0.4352   10  3.999   26 -0.432   25 -0.651
BULLS         30 49  9187  9580 -0.017 39.624   22 -0.284   22 -0.283   22 -0.369   22 0.4712    3  4.039   18 -0.050   26 -0.689

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       43 37  9303  8903  0.002 38.197   16  0.084   16  0.073    5  0.496   16 0.5068   21  3.948    8  0.340    5  0.652
HAWKS         45 35  9473  9271  0.016 39.200   11  0.160   11  0.157   10  0.277   11 0.5149    8  4.012    6  0.456   13  0.098
MAGIC         44 36  9256  9223  0.015 39.732   14  0.136   14  0.135   18 -0.015   14 0.5122   18  3.973   15 -0.042   15  0.013
HEAT          41 38  9514  9358  0.027 39.207   17  0.066   17  0.062   16  0.064   17 0.5055    2  4.055    5  0.469   21 -0.342
WIZARDS       17 62  8915  9851 -0.064 39.719   30 -0.766   30 -0.766   30 -0.814   30 0.4310    4  4.037   27 -0.503   29 -1.126

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       54 25  9055  8449  0.036 38.153    4  0.457    4  0.453    3  0.576    4 0.5440   29  3.900   11  0.179    2  0.972
KNICKS        52 28  9353  8832  0.032 38.719    5  0.372    5  0.369    6  0.463    5 0.5358   22  3.947    9  0.306    7  0.620
RAPTORS       44 35  9041  8841  0.020 38.860   12  0.150   12  0.145   11  0.214   12 0.5138   25  3.939   14  0.015    8  0.414
76ERS         43 36  9169  9204  0.000 39.039   15  0.118   15  0.120   19 -0.072   15 0.5106   17  3.982   17 -0.049   19 -0.095
NETS          20 59  8383  9121 -0.043 39.873   28 -0.633   28 -0.630   29 -0.717   28 0.4410   30  3.895   30 -1.134   20 -0.299

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 224 176 0.560    1  0.167
ATLANTIC DIVISION  213 183 0.538    2  0.109
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 190 208 0.477    3 -0.013
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 187 213 0.468    4 -0.035
PACIFIC DIVISION   193 205 0.485    5 -0.087
CENTRAL DIVISION   188 210 0.472    6 -0.121

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu Apr  9 05:30:10 2026
games through: Wed Apr  8 2026

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