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       49 15 7607 6896  0.046 30.891    1  0.647    1  0.650    1  0.672    1 0.5643   25  3.929    5  0.436    1  0.908
PISTONS       45 15 7030 6567  0.020 28.804    2  0.571    2  0.575    2  0.550    2 0.5589   23  3.942    6  0.383    3  0.717
SPURS         44 18 7322 6922  0.072 30.957    3  0.532    3  0.535    3  0.500    3 0.5537   16  3.976    3  0.508    7  0.493
CELTICS       41 21 7096 6642 -0.012 29.097    4  0.337    4  0.336    4  0.459    4 0.5364   30  3.902   12  0.091    2  0.827
KNICKS        41 23 7485 7090  0.037 31.391    5  0.331    5  0.332    5  0.453    5 0.5358   20  3.955    8  0.351    5  0.554
CAVALIERS     39 24 7505 7237  0.042 31.215    7  0.294    7  0.299    7  0.345    6 0.5308    7  4.013    1  0.542   11  0.148
ROCKETS       38 22 6881 6562  0.016 28.927    6  0.299    6  0.301    8  0.270    7 0.5305   28  3.908   19 -0.067    4  0.608
TIMBERWOLVES  39 23 7384 7099 -0.029 29.102    8  0.250    8  0.253    9  0.250    8 0.5258   11  3.996    7  0.358   12  0.142
NUGGETS       38 24 7468 7198 -0.000 29.808    9  0.241    9  0.242   10  0.226    9 0.5243    6  4.016    4  0.441   15  0.011
LAKERS        37 24 7065 7028 -0.020 29.536   10  0.225   10  0.230   17  0.023   10 0.5241   12  3.993   11  0.114   16 -0.068
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          35 26 6841 6784  0.025 30.456   11  0.197   11  0.195   16  0.028   11 0.5198   27  3.915   24 -0.278    9  0.333
RAPTORS       35 26 6933 6831 -0.000 29.786   12  0.170   12  0.167   13  0.083   12 0.5170   24  3.933   22 -0.132   10  0.298
76ERS         34 28 7180 7188 -0.014 30.265   13  0.101   13  0.105   19 -0.070   13 0.5104   15  3.977   17 -0.059   17 -0.082
MAGIC         32 28 6886 6861  0.023 30.017   14  0.096   14  0.097   18 -0.011   14 0.5091   19  3.960   20 -0.087   14  0.064
HEAT          33 29 7434 7234  0.030 30.747   15  0.094   15  0.085   11  0.213   15 0.5086    2  4.036    2  0.532   18 -0.106
HAWKS         32 31 7409 7390  0.011 31.236   17  0.032   17  0.026   15  0.057   16 0.5032    5  4.017   10  0.276   19 -0.163
WARRIORS      31 30 7036 6959  0.015 30.199   16  0.036   16  0.030   14  0.057   17 0.5031   18  3.969   14  0.027   13  0.087
HORNETS       32 31 7314 7074 -0.010 30.158   19  0.012   20 -0.001    6  0.398   18 0.5001   21  3.954    9  0.292    6  0.504
CLIPPERS      30 31 6858 6835  0.025 30.546   18  0.012   18  0.005   12  0.124   19 0.4999   26  3.924   23 -0.134    8  0.382
TRAIL BLAZERS 30 33 7267 7452  0.052 32.677   20  0.006   19  0.000   20 -0.168   20 0.4994    8  4.006   15 -0.009   24 -0.328
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         26 35 6793 7064 -0.016 30.552   21 -0.162   21 -0.164   25 -0.343   21 0.4827   22  3.947   27 -0.487   20 -0.200
BULLS         25 37 7172 7440 -0.020 30.881   22 -0.218   22 -0.221   23 -0.316   22 0.4753    4  4.025   16 -0.056   26 -0.576
GRIZZLIES     23 38 7051 7182 -0.042 29.529   23 -0.317   23 -0.322   21 -0.189   23 0.4676   10  4.000   18 -0.060   22 -0.318
MAVERICKS     21 40 6924 7177 -0.054 29.679   24 -0.394   24 -0.392   24 -0.323   24 0.4588   17  3.975   25 -0.321   23 -0.326
PELICANS      19 44 7236 7572 -0.011 31.582   25 -0.464   25 -0.464   22 -0.272   25 0.4529    9  4.005   21 -0.115   25 -0.429
JAZZ          18 44 7292 7778 -0.011 31.568   26 -0.477   26 -0.470   26 -0.487   26 0.4501    1  4.074   13  0.036   30 -1.010
WIZARDS       16 45 6844 7506 -0.068 30.215   28 -0.608   28 -0.598   30 -0.695   27 0.4406    3  4.026   26 -0.430   29 -0.959
NETS          15 46 6515 7050 -0.018 31.038   27 -0.600   27 -0.598   28 -0.634   28 0.4401   29  3.906   30 -0.983   21 -0.284
KINGS         14 49 6941 7630  0.013 33.015   30 -0.627   30 -0.626   29 -0.688   29 0.4389   14  3.980   29 -0.660   28 -0.717
PACERS        15 47 6902 7423 -0.045 31.062   29 -0.616   29 -0.618   27 -0.564   30 0.4365   13  3.982   28 -0.526   27 -0.603

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        37 24 7065 7028 -0.020 29.536   10  0.225   10  0.230   17  0.023   10 0.5241   12  3.993   11  0.114   16 -0.068
SUNS          35 26 6841 6784  0.025 30.456   11  0.197   11  0.195   16  0.028   11 0.5198   27  3.915   24 -0.278    9  0.333
WARRIORS      31 30 7036 6959  0.015 30.199   16  0.036   16  0.030   14  0.057   17 0.5031   18  3.969   14  0.027   13  0.087
CLIPPERS      30 31 6858 6835  0.025 30.546   18  0.012   18  0.005   12  0.124   19 0.4999   26  3.924   23 -0.134    8  0.382
KINGS         14 49 6941 7630  0.013 33.015   30 -0.627   30 -0.626   29 -0.688   29 0.4389   14  3.980   29 -0.660   28 -0.717

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       49 15 7607 6896  0.046 30.891    1  0.647    1  0.650    1  0.672    1 0.5643   25  3.929    5  0.436    1  0.908
TIMBERWOLVES  39 23 7384 7099 -0.029 29.102    8  0.250    8  0.253    9  0.250    8 0.5258   11  3.996    7  0.358   12  0.142
NUGGETS       38 24 7468 7198 -0.000 29.808    9  0.241    9  0.242   10  0.226    9 0.5243    6  4.016    4  0.441   15  0.011
TRAIL BLAZERS 30 33 7267 7452  0.052 32.677   20  0.006   19  0.000   20 -0.168   20 0.4994    8  4.006   15 -0.009   24 -0.328
JAZZ          18 44 7292 7778 -0.011 31.568   26 -0.477   26 -0.470   26 -0.487   26 0.4501    1  4.074   13  0.036   30 -1.010

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         44 18 7322 6922  0.072 30.957    3  0.532    3  0.535    3  0.500    3 0.5537   16  3.976    3  0.508    7  0.493
ROCKETS       38 22 6881 6562  0.016 28.927    6  0.299    6  0.301    8  0.270    7 0.5305   28  3.908   19 -0.067    4  0.608
GRIZZLIES     23 38 7051 7182 -0.042 29.529   23 -0.317   23 -0.322   21 -0.189   23 0.4676   10  4.000   18 -0.060   22 -0.318
MAVERICKS     21 40 6924 7177 -0.054 29.679   24 -0.394   24 -0.392   24 -0.323   24 0.4588   17  3.975   25 -0.321   23 -0.326
PELICANS      19 44 7236 7572 -0.011 31.582   25 -0.464   25 -0.464   22 -0.272   25 0.4529    9  4.005   21 -0.115   25 -0.429

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       45 15 7030 6567  0.020 28.804    2  0.571    2  0.575    2  0.550    2 0.5589   23  3.942    6  0.383    3  0.717
CAVALIERS     39 24 7505 7237  0.042 31.215    7  0.294    7  0.299    7  0.345    6 0.5308    7  4.013    1  0.542   11  0.148
BUCKS         26 35 6793 7064 -0.016 30.552   21 -0.162   21 -0.164   25 -0.343   21 0.4827   22  3.947   27 -0.487   20 -0.200
BULLS         25 37 7172 7440 -0.020 30.881   22 -0.218   22 -0.221   23 -0.316   22 0.4753    4  4.025   16 -0.056   26 -0.576
PACERS        15 47 6902 7423 -0.045 31.062   29 -0.616   29 -0.618   27 -0.564   30 0.4365   13  3.982   28 -0.526   27 -0.603

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         32 28 6886 6861  0.023 30.017   14  0.096   14  0.097   18 -0.011   14 0.5091   19  3.960   20 -0.087   14  0.064
HEAT          33 29 7434 7234  0.030 30.747   15  0.094   15  0.085   11  0.213   15 0.5086    2  4.036    2  0.532   18 -0.106
HAWKS         32 31 7409 7390  0.011 31.236   17  0.032   17  0.026   15  0.057   16 0.5032    5  4.017   10  0.276   19 -0.163
HORNETS       32 31 7314 7074 -0.010 30.158   19  0.012   20 -0.001    6  0.398   18 0.5001   21  3.954    9  0.292    6  0.504
WIZARDS       16 45 6844 7506 -0.068 30.215   28 -0.608   28 -0.598   30 -0.695   27 0.4406    3  4.026   26 -0.430   29 -0.959

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       41 21 7096 6642 -0.012 29.097    4  0.337    4  0.336    4  0.459    4 0.5364   30  3.902   12  0.091    2  0.827
KNICKS        41 23 7485 7090  0.037 31.391    5  0.331    5  0.332    5  0.453    5 0.5358   20  3.955    8  0.351    5  0.554
RAPTORS       35 26 6933 6831 -0.000 29.786   12  0.170   12  0.167   13  0.083   12 0.5170   24  3.933   22 -0.132   10  0.298
76ERS         34 28 7180 7188 -0.014 30.265   13  0.101   13  0.105   19 -0.070   13 0.5104   15  3.977   17 -0.059   17 -0.082
NETS          15 46 6515 7050 -0.018 31.038   27 -0.600   27 -0.598   28 -0.634   28 0.4401   29  3.906   30 -0.983   21 -0.284

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 174 139 0.556    1  0.143
ATLANTIC DIVISION  166 144 0.535    2  0.090
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 145 162 0.472    3 -0.008
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 145 164 0.469    4 -0.034
CENTRAL DIVISION   150 158 0.487    5 -0.084
PACIFIC DIVISION   147 160 0.479    6 -0.092

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu Mar  5 05:30:10 2026
games through: Wed Mar  4 2026

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