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       24  2 3200 2765 -0.067 11.185    1  0.839    1  0.865    1  0.903    1 0.5904   30  3.931    2  0.626    1  1.179
ROCKETS       16  7 2779 2557  0.125 11.651    7  0.430    7  0.434    2  0.561    6 0.5525   23  3.956    5  0.410    2  0.713
CELTICS       15 11 3020 2882  0.064 13.142   10  0.183   10  0.172    6  0.327   10 0.5222   24  3.948   12  0.135    3  0.519
KNICKS        19  7 3149 2919  0.014 12.471    4  0.481    5  0.461    3  0.533    7 0.5473   12  3.998    3  0.596    4  0.469
WARRIORS      13 14 3088 3056  0.083 14.135   16  0.017   16  0.014   11  0.151   16 0.5025   29  3.936   19 -0.104    5  0.406
MAGIC         15 11 3065 2966  0.158 14.166    8  0.259    8  0.256    5  0.351    8 0.5272   16  3.978    7  0.310    6  0.391
PISTONS       21  5 3103 2938 -0.048 12.023    2  0.605    2  0.597    7  0.309    2 0.5667   14  3.985    8  0.306    7  0.312
SUNS          14 12 2984 2977  0.062 13.508   12  0.122   12  0.122   12  0.072   11 0.5173   22  3.956   16 -0.077    8  0.221
TIMBERWOLVES  17 10 3225 3093 -0.091 12.120    9  0.192    9  0.183    9  0.191    9 0.5231   13  3.985   11  0.189    9  0.192
RAPTORS       16 11 3116 3057 -0.062 12.717   11  0.136   11  0.134   14  0.040   13 0.5123   21  3.959   18 -0.098   10  0.178
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         18  8 3106 3003  0.101 13.613    5  0.475    3  0.468    8  0.288    4 0.5539    8  4.007    6  0.401   11  0.175
GRIZZLIES     13 14 3089 3110  0.017 13.739   18 -0.031   18 -0.025   15  0.023   18 0.4962   20  3.965   17 -0.084   12  0.130
NUGGETS       19  6 3140 2906 -0.024 11.481    3  0.481    4  0.461    4  0.469    5 0.5531    2  4.057    1  0.849   13  0.089
76ERS         14 11 2921 2896 -0.090 11.614   15  0.056   15  0.057   18 -0.033   15 0.5049   19  3.970   20 -0.111   14  0.045
MAVERICKS     10 17 3048 3154 -0.062 13.430   23 -0.302   23 -0.295   20 -0.211   23 0.4649   28  3.939   26 -0.449   15  0.028
CLIPPERS       6 20 2894 3038  0.078 14.166   27 -0.494   27 -0.494   22 -0.243   26 0.4432   25  3.945   25 -0.448   16 -0.037
LAKERS        18  7 2956 2917 -0.007 12.328    6  0.437    6  0.441   13  0.066    3 0.5547    7  4.010   10  0.192   17 -0.061
CAVALIERS     15 13 3316 3256 -0.086 12.946   17  0.003   17  0.004   16  0.003   17 0.4981   11  3.999   14  0.076   18 -0.069
NETS           7 18 2755 2897 -0.080 12.261   26 -0.487   26 -0.489   23 -0.297   27 0.4423   26  3.943   28 -0.516   19 -0.078
HEAT          14 12 3139 3061  0.071 13.441   13  0.114   13  0.113   10  0.165   14 0.5110    5  4.035    4  0.424   20 -0.095
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         15 12 3186 3171 -0.031 13.158   14  0.086   14  0.082   17 -0.012   12 0.5151   10  4.002   15  0.074   21 -0.097
HORNETS        8 18 2986 3079 -0.073 12.627   25 -0.437   25 -0.441   21 -0.233   25 0.4481   18  3.973   22 -0.298   22 -0.167
BUCKS         11 16 3075 3177 -0.101 12.902   22 -0.254   22 -0.247   24 -0.331   22 0.4714   17  3.973   24 -0.392   23 -0.269
PACERS         6 20 2864 3075 -0.150 12.471   29 -0.644   29 -0.655   29 -0.536   29 0.4300   27  3.942   30 -0.760   24 -0.311
TRAIL BLAZERS 10 16 3073 3169  0.164 14.836   19 -0.102   19 -0.094   19 -0.096   19 0.4905    3  4.051    9  0.248   25 -0.440
KINGS          6 20 2882 3182  0.139 15.335   24 -0.412   24 -0.411   28 -0.512   24 0.4597   15  3.983   29 -0.523   26 -0.501
PELICANS       5 22 3083 3316  0.033 14.480   28 -0.629   28 -0.635   27 -0.422   28 0.4322    9  4.007   23 -0.312   27 -0.532
BULLS         11 15 3058 3170 -0.112 12.394   21 -0.221   21 -0.209   25 -0.369   21 0.4732    6  4.027   21 -0.153   28 -0.585
JAZZ          10 15 2975 3153 -0.003 13.164   20 -0.180   20 -0.164   26 -0.370   20 0.4824    1  4.071   13  0.083   29 -0.822
WIZARDS        4 20 2706 3041 -0.102 12.212   30 -0.723   30 -0.727   30 -0.780   30 0.4180    4  4.042   27 -0.481   30 -1.079

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
WARRIORS      13 14 3088 3056  0.083 14.135   16  0.017   16  0.014   11  0.151   16 0.5025   29  3.936   19 -0.104    5  0.406
SUNS          14 12 2984 2977  0.062 13.508   12  0.122   12  0.122   12  0.072   11 0.5173   22  3.956   16 -0.077    8  0.221
CLIPPERS       6 20 2894 3038  0.078 14.166   27 -0.494   27 -0.494   22 -0.243   26 0.4432   25  3.945   25 -0.448   16 -0.037
LAKERS        18  7 2956 2917 -0.007 12.328    6  0.437    6  0.441   13  0.066    3 0.5547    7  4.010   10  0.192   17 -0.061
KINGS          6 20 2882 3182  0.139 15.335   24 -0.412   24 -0.411   28 -0.512   24 0.4597   15  3.983   29 -0.523   26 -0.501

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       24  2 3200 2765 -0.067 11.185    1  0.839    1  0.865    1  0.903    1 0.5904   30  3.931    2  0.626    1  1.179
TIMBERWOLVES  17 10 3225 3093 -0.091 12.120    9  0.192    9  0.183    9  0.191    9 0.5231   13  3.985   11  0.189    9  0.192
NUGGETS       19  6 3140 2906 -0.024 11.481    3  0.481    4  0.461    4  0.469    5 0.5531    2  4.057    1  0.849   13  0.089
TRAIL BLAZERS 10 16 3073 3169  0.164 14.836   19 -0.102   19 -0.094   19 -0.096   19 0.4905    3  4.051    9  0.248   25 -0.440
JAZZ          10 15 2975 3153 -0.003 13.164   20 -0.180   20 -0.164   26 -0.370   20 0.4824    1  4.071   13  0.083   29 -0.822

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       16  7 2779 2557  0.125 11.651    7  0.430    7  0.434    2  0.561    6 0.5525   23  3.956    5  0.410    2  0.713
SPURS         18  8 3106 3003  0.101 13.613    5  0.475    3  0.468    8  0.288    4 0.5539    8  4.007    6  0.401   11  0.175
GRIZZLIES     13 14 3089 3110  0.017 13.739   18 -0.031   18 -0.025   15  0.023   18 0.4962   20  3.965   17 -0.084   12  0.130
MAVERICKS     10 17 3048 3154 -0.062 13.430   23 -0.302   23 -0.295   20 -0.211   23 0.4649   28  3.939   26 -0.449   15  0.028
PELICANS       5 22 3083 3316  0.033 14.480   28 -0.629   28 -0.635   27 -0.422   28 0.4322    9  4.007   23 -0.312   27 -0.532

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       21  5 3103 2938 -0.048 12.023    2  0.605    2  0.597    7  0.309    2 0.5667   14  3.985    8  0.306    7  0.312
CAVALIERS     15 13 3316 3256 -0.086 12.946   17  0.003   17  0.004   16  0.003   17 0.4981   11  3.999   14  0.076   18 -0.069
BUCKS         11 16 3075 3177 -0.101 12.902   22 -0.254   22 -0.247   24 -0.331   22 0.4714   17  3.973   24 -0.392   23 -0.269
PACERS         6 20 2864 3075 -0.150 12.471   29 -0.644   29 -0.655   29 -0.536   29 0.4300   27  3.942   30 -0.760   24 -0.311
BULLS         11 15 3058 3170 -0.112 12.394   21 -0.221   21 -0.209   25 -0.369   21 0.4732    6  4.027   21 -0.153   28 -0.585

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         15 11 3065 2966  0.158 14.166    8  0.259    8  0.256    5  0.351    8 0.5272   16  3.978    7  0.310    6  0.391
HEAT          14 12 3139 3061  0.071 13.441   13  0.114   13  0.113   10  0.165   14 0.5110    5  4.035    4  0.424   20 -0.095
HAWKS         15 12 3186 3171 -0.031 13.158   14  0.086   14  0.082   17 -0.012   12 0.5151   10  4.002   15  0.074   21 -0.097
HORNETS        8 18 2986 3079 -0.073 12.627   25 -0.437   25 -0.441   21 -0.233   25 0.4481   18  3.973   22 -0.298   22 -0.167
WIZARDS        4 20 2706 3041 -0.102 12.212   30 -0.723   30 -0.727   30 -0.780   30 0.4180    4  4.042   27 -0.481   30 -1.079

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       15 11 3020 2882  0.064 13.142   10  0.183   10  0.172    6  0.327   10 0.5222   24  3.948   12  0.135    3  0.519
KNICKS        19  7 3149 2919  0.014 12.471    4  0.481    5  0.461    3  0.533    7 0.5473   12  3.998    3  0.596    4  0.469
RAPTORS       16 11 3116 3057 -0.062 12.717   11  0.136   11  0.134   14  0.040   13 0.5123   21  3.959   18 -0.098   10  0.178
76ERS         14 11 2921 2896 -0.090 11.614   15  0.056   15  0.057   18 -0.033   15 0.5049   19  3.970   20 -0.111   14  0.045
NETS           7 18 2755 2897 -0.080 12.261   26 -0.487   26 -0.489   23 -0.297   27 0.4423   26  3.943   28 -0.516   19 -0.078

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 80 49 0.620    1  0.276
ATLANTIC DIVISION  71 58 0.550    2  0.130
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 62 68 0.477    3  0.041
PACIFIC DIVISION   57 73 0.438    4 -0.111
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 56 73 0.434    5 -0.112
CENTRAL DIVISION   64 69 0.481    6 -0.211

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu Dec 18 05:30:15 2025
games through: Wed Dec 17 2025

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