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       8 2 1122 1042  0.300  5.579    1  0.636    1  0.620    1  0.585    1 0.5856   28  3.888   11  0.245    1  0.925 P
SPURS         8 2 1184 1081  0.197  5.128    2  0.538    2  0.542    4  0.519    2 0.5686   14  3.961    2  0.547    6  0.492 P
ROCKETS       7 3 1160 1070  0.324  5.784    4  0.460    4  0.461    3  0.559    3 0.5670   19  3.935    5  0.453    3  0.664 P
LAKERS        8 2 1220 1143  0.044  4.804    3  0.472    3  0.470    5  0.333    4 0.5588    4  4.027    1  0.704   15 -0.037 P
76ERS         8 2 1094 1066 -0.117  4.398    5  0.414    5  0.412   17  0.000    5 0.5545   26  3.899   23 -0.287    8  0.287 P
WARRIORS      7 3 1186 1136  0.142  5.198    7  0.374    7  0.377    6  0.300    6 0.5520   12  3.975    8  0.401   10  0.200 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 6 3 1074 1024  0.188  4.876    8  0.307    8  0.314    8  0.268    7 0.5509   10  3.995    3  0.470   13  0.065 P
PISTONS       6 2  889  814 -0.156  3.171   11  0.248   11  0.242    9  0.232    8 0.5505   23  3.911   18  0.007    7  0.457 P
TIMBERWOLVES  7 3 1184 1077  0.233  5.253    6  0.402    6  0.403    2  0.576    9 0.5441   20  3.930    6  0.444    2  0.707 P
NUGGETS       5 3  922  905  0.154  4.297   10  0.248   10  0.248   10  0.208   10 0.5361   17  3.943   15  0.146    9  0.271 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CELTICS       7 2 1033  946 -0.237  3.138    9  0.293    9  0.286    7  0.277   11 0.5356   27  3.896   19 -0.023    5  0.577 P
MAVERICKS     5 4 1009  998  0.217  5.047   13  0.174   12  0.171   13  0.143   12 0.5229   16  3.947   16  0.099   11  0.188 P
GRIZZLIES     6 3 1061 1006 -0.089  3.890   12  0.175   13  0.165   15  0.123   13 0.5173   13  3.970   13  0.199   14  0.048 P
CAVALIERS     5 5 1170 1141  0.085  5.033   15  0.051   15  0.044   11  0.192   14 0.5118    5  4.008    4  0.462   17 -0.079 P
HAWKS         7 4 1305 1270 -0.179  4.523   14  0.118   14  0.104   16  0.007   15 0.5115    3  4.033    7  0.409   25 -0.395 P
SUNS          3 5  899  949  0.299  4.979   17  0.003   16 -0.000   19 -0.053   16 0.5072    8  4.001   14  0.179   23 -0.285 P
KNICKS        5 4  989  938 -0.154  3.658   18  0.001   18 -0.015   12  0.166   17 0.5064   29  3.869   22 -0.270    4  0.602 P
RAPTORS       5 4 1064 1015 -0.083  3.904   16  0.013   17 -0.002   14  0.124   18 0.4931   11  3.992    9  0.311   16 -0.063 P
HEAT          3 6 1044 1103  0.030  4.748   20 -0.203   20 -0.216   21 -0.213   19 0.4715    2  4.045   10  0.254   28 -0.679 P
PELICANS      4 5 1082 1069 -0.098  4.061   19 -0.135   19 -0.152   18 -0.035   20 0.4694    6  4.004   12  0.214   22 -0.284 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
WIZARDS       4 6 1078 1125 -0.391  3.939   22 -0.341   22 -0.370   27 -0.501   21 0.4546   22  3.914   29 -0.710   24 -0.292 P
MAGIC         2 7  963 1046  0.106  5.067   21 -0.314   21 -0.324   23 -0.308   22 0.4488   21  3.925   27 -0.465   19 -0.151 P
HORNETS       3 7  963 1102 -0.340  4.114   26 -0.469   26 -0.458   30 -0.833   23 0.4438   30  3.823   30 -1.491   20 -0.175 P
CLIPPERS      1 7  873  925  0.210  4.728   24 -0.398   24 -0.426   20 -0.101   24 0.4415   24  3.911   24 -0.326   12  0.124 P
PACERS        3 7 1103 1142 -0.174  4.359   23 -0.365   23 -0.390   22 -0.294   25 0.4401   18  3.939   25 -0.379   21 -0.208 P
KINGS         1 8  983 1110  0.230  5.538   25 -0.466   25 -0.444   26 -0.448   26 0.4332    9  3.997   20 -0.235   27 -0.660 P
JAZZ          1 8  962 1064  0.212  5.447   27 -0.495   27 -0.476   24 -0.393   27 0.4321   25  3.900   28 -0.672   18 -0.114 P
NETS          2 7  974 1027 -0.274  3.952   29 -0.566   29 -0.564   25 -0.426   28 0.4234   15  3.951   26 -0.451   26 -0.401 P
BULLS         1 7  893 1037 -0.114  4.181   28 -0.549   28 -0.542   29 -0.707   29 0.4216    1  4.095   17  0.030   30 -1.443 P
BUCKS         1 8  987 1099 -0.139  4.527   30 -0.626   30 -0.629   28 -0.514   30 0.4134    7  4.003   21 -0.268   29 -0.760 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        8 2 1220 1143  0.044  4.804    3  0.472    3  0.470    5  0.333    4 0.5588    4  4.027    1  0.704   15 -0.037 P
WARRIORS      7 3 1186 1136  0.142  5.198    7  0.374    7  0.377    6  0.300    6 0.5520   12  3.975    8  0.401   10  0.200 P
SUNS          3 5  899  949  0.299  4.979   17  0.003   16 -0.000   19 -0.053   16 0.5072    8  4.001   14  0.179   23 -0.285 P
CLIPPERS      1 7  873  925  0.210  4.728   24 -0.398   24 -0.426   20 -0.101   24 0.4415   24  3.911   24 -0.326   12  0.124 P
KINGS         1 8  983 1110  0.230  5.538   25 -0.466   25 -0.444   26 -0.448   26 0.4332    9  3.997   20 -0.235   27 -0.660 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       8 2 1122 1042  0.300  5.579    1  0.636    1  0.620    1  0.585    1 0.5856   28  3.888   11  0.245    1  0.925 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 6 3 1074 1024  0.188  4.876    8  0.307    8  0.314    8  0.268    7 0.5509   10  3.995    3  0.470   13  0.065 P
TIMBERWOLVES  7 3 1184 1077  0.233  5.253    6  0.402    6  0.403    2  0.576    9 0.5441   20  3.930    6  0.444    2  0.707 P
NUGGETS       5 3  922  905  0.154  4.297   10  0.248   10  0.248   10  0.208   10 0.5361   17  3.943   15  0.146    9  0.271 P
JAZZ          1 8  962 1064  0.212  5.447   27 -0.495   27 -0.476   24 -0.393   27 0.4321   25  3.900   28 -0.672   18 -0.114 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
SPURS         8 2 1184 1081  0.197  5.128    2  0.538    2  0.542    4  0.519    2 0.5686   14  3.961    2  0.547    6  0.492 P
ROCKETS       7 3 1160 1070  0.324  5.784    4  0.460    4  0.461    3  0.559    3 0.5670   19  3.935    5  0.453    3  0.664 P
MAVERICKS     5 4 1009  998  0.217  5.047   13  0.174   12  0.171   13  0.143   12 0.5229   16  3.947   16  0.099   11  0.188 P
GRIZZLIES     6 3 1061 1006 -0.089  3.890   12  0.175   13  0.165   15  0.123   13 0.5173   13  3.970   13  0.199   14  0.048 P
PELICANS      4 5 1082 1069 -0.098  4.061   19 -0.135   19 -0.152   18 -0.035   20 0.4694    6  4.004   12  0.214   22 -0.284 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       6 2  889  814 -0.156  3.171   11  0.248   11  0.242    9  0.232    8 0.5505   23  3.911   18  0.007    7  0.457 P
CAVALIERS     5 5 1170 1141  0.085  5.033   15  0.051   15  0.044   11  0.192   14 0.5118    5  4.008    4  0.462   17 -0.079 P
PACERS        3 7 1103 1142 -0.174  4.359   23 -0.365   23 -0.390   22 -0.294   25 0.4401   18  3.939   25 -0.379   21 -0.208 P
BULLS         1 7  893 1037 -0.114  4.181   28 -0.549   28 -0.542   29 -0.707   29 0.4216    1  4.095   17  0.030   30 -1.443 P
BUCKS         1 8  987 1099 -0.139  4.527   30 -0.626   30 -0.629   28 -0.514   30 0.4134    7  4.003   21 -0.268   29 -0.760 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
HAWKS         7 4 1305 1270 -0.179  4.523   14  0.118   14  0.104   16  0.007   15 0.5115    3  4.033    7  0.409   25 -0.395 P
HEAT          3 6 1044 1103  0.030  4.748   20 -0.203   20 -0.216   21 -0.213   19 0.4715    2  4.045   10  0.254   28 -0.679 P
WIZARDS       4 6 1078 1125 -0.391  3.939   22 -0.341   22 -0.370   27 -0.501   21 0.4546   22  3.914   29 -0.710   24 -0.292 P
MAGIC         2 7  963 1046  0.106  5.067   21 -0.314   21 -0.324   23 -0.308   22 0.4488   21  3.925   27 -0.465   19 -0.151 P
HORNETS       3 7  963 1102 -0.340  4.114   26 -0.469   26 -0.458   30 -0.833   23 0.4438   30  3.823   30 -1.491   20 -0.175 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         8 2 1094 1066 -0.117  4.398    5  0.414    5  0.412   17  0.000    5 0.5545   26  3.899   23 -0.287    8  0.287 P
CELTICS       7 2 1033  946 -0.237  3.138    9  0.293    9  0.286    7  0.277   11 0.5356   27  3.896   19 -0.023    5  0.577 P
KNICKS        5 4  989  938 -0.154  3.658   18  0.001   18 -0.015   12  0.166   17 0.5064   29  3.869   22 -0.270    4  0.602 P
RAPTORS       5 4 1064 1015 -0.083  3.904   16  0.013   17 -0.002   14  0.124   18 0.4931   11  3.992    9  0.311   16 -0.063 P
NETS          2 7  974 1027 -0.274  3.952   29 -0.566   29 -0.564   25 -0.426   28 0.4234   15  3.951   26 -0.451   26 -0.401 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 30 17 0.638    1  0.388
NORTHWEST DIVISION 27 19 0.587    2  0.384
ATLANTIC DIVISION  27 19 0.587    3  0.050
PACIFIC DIVISION   20 25 0.444    4  0.007
CENTRAL DIVISION   16 29 0.356    5 -0.324
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 19 30 0.388    6 -0.515

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Nov  8 05:30:15 2026
games through: Sat Nov  7 2026

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