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       68 18 10251  9268  0.066 42.108    1  0.797    1  0.784    1  0.782    1 0.5717   24  3.937    2  0.587    1  0.976
SPURS         66 22 10501  9769  0.060 43.318    2  0.676    2  0.663    2  0.670    2 0.5615   14  3.980    1  0.693    6  0.648
PISTONS       63 25 10258  9578  0.015 42.082    3  0.527    3  0.518    4  0.540    3 0.5504   26  3.930    7  0.308    3  0.771
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.024 43.010    4  0.407    4  0.394    5  0.497    4 0.5391   29  3.899   12  0.109    2  0.886
KNICKS        58 31 10380  9745  0.040 43.547    5  0.395    6  0.382    3  0.571    5 0.5364   23  3.939    6  0.385    4  0.757
LAKERS        57 31 10147  9988  0.024 43.821    6  0.393    5  0.388   12  0.210    6 0.5361   16  3.971   11  0.187   11  0.233
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.034 43.463    7  0.357    7  0.348    7  0.309    7 0.5336    5  4.023    3  0.556   14  0.062
CAVALIERS     55 33 10470 10132  0.012 42.964    8  0.314    8  0.307   11  0.236    8 0.5289    8  4.010    5  0.416   15  0.055
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.013 42.709    9  0.286    9  0.275    8  0.260    9 0.5276   30  3.898   21 -0.130    5  0.650
TIMBERWOLVES  53 35 10348 10046  0.021 43.301   10  0.263   10  0.251   10  0.236   10 0.5245   13  3.982    9  0.268   12  0.205
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
76ERS         50 40 10337 10360  0.026 45.493   11  0.184   11  0.173   18  0.018   11 0.5148   17  3.971   15 -0.006   16  0.041
RAPTORS       49 39 10069  9837  0.028 43.765   12  0.171   13  0.152    9  0.237   12 0.5144   25  3.936   13  0.038    8  0.437
MAGIC         49 41 10299 10239  0.051 46.022   13  0.169   12  0.153   16  0.086   13 0.5137   19  3.955   16 -0.017   13  0.189
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.041 44.539   14  0.163   14  0.145   13  0.111   14 0.5126    9  4.008    8  0.282   18 -0.059
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.053 45.018   15  0.117   15  0.104   17  0.060   15 0.5096   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.332
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.006 40.628   16  0.092   16  0.075    6  0.405   16 0.5066   21  3.945   10  0.251    7  0.559
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.020 41.118   17  0.062   17  0.050   14  0.095   17 0.5041    2  4.060    4  0.542   20 -0.352
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.025 44.590   18  0.038   18  0.030   19  0.006   18 0.5025   15  3.973   14 -0.005   17  0.017
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.017 40.299   19  0.009   19 -0.007   15  0.094   19 0.4992   22  3.942   20 -0.078   10  0.266
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.008 41.974   20 -0.088   20 -0.103   20 -0.153   20 0.4897   18  3.966   22 -0.200   19 -0.107
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.056 40.606   21 -0.280   21 -0.287   25 -0.551   21 0.4713   20  3.952   29 -0.671   22 -0.432
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.044 40.623   22 -0.299   22 -0.313   22 -0.423   22 0.4686    3  4.042   19 -0.071   27 -0.775
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.028 40.814   23 -0.461   24 -0.474   21 -0.242   23 0.4555    7  4.016   18 -0.031   23 -0.454
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.042 40.717   24 -0.464   23 -0.473   23 -0.426   24 0.4546   11  3.995   24 -0.325   24 -0.527
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.044 40.729   25 -0.501   25 -0.515   27 -0.587   25 0.4516    6  4.020   25 -0.353   28 -0.821
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.049 41.147   26 -0.586   26 -0.598   26 -0.585   26 0.4438    1  4.081   17 -0.027   29 -1.143
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.056 41.224   27 -0.596   27 -0.601   28 -0.670   27 0.4436   12  3.989   28 -0.599   26 -0.741
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.069 41.024   28 -0.675   28 -0.681   29 -0.811   28 0.4368   28  3.901   30 -1.190   21 -0.432
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.047 41.186   29 -0.680   29 -0.694   24 -0.501   29 0.4347   10  4.000   26 -0.376   25 -0.627
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.078 41.081   30 -0.793   30 -0.808   30 -0.830   30 0.4278    4  4.039   27 -0.494   30 -1.165

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        57 31 10147  9988  0.024 43.821    6  0.393    5  0.388   12  0.210    6 0.5361   16  3.971   11  0.187   11  0.233
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.053 45.018   15  0.117   15  0.104   17  0.060   15 0.5096   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.332
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.017 40.299   19  0.009   19 -0.007   15  0.094   19 0.4992   22  3.942   20 -0.078   10  0.266
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.008 41.974   20 -0.088   20 -0.103   20 -0.153   20 0.4897   18  3.966   22 -0.200   19 -0.107
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.056 41.224   27 -0.596   27 -0.601   28 -0.670   27 0.4436   12  3.989   28 -0.599   26 -0.741

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       68 18 10251  9268  0.066 42.108    1  0.797    1  0.784    1  0.782    1 0.5717   24  3.937    2  0.587    1  0.976
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.034 43.463    7  0.357    7  0.348    7  0.309    7 0.5336    5  4.023    3  0.556   14  0.062
TIMBERWOLVES  53 35 10348 10046  0.021 43.301   10  0.263   10  0.251   10  0.236   10 0.5245   13  3.982    9  0.268   12  0.205
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.025 44.590   18  0.038   18  0.030   19  0.006   18 0.5025   15  3.973   14 -0.005   17  0.017
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.049 41.147   26 -0.586   26 -0.598   26 -0.585   26 0.4438    1  4.081   17 -0.027   29 -1.143

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         66 22 10501  9769  0.060 43.318    2  0.676    2  0.663    2  0.670    2 0.5615   14  3.980    1  0.693    6  0.648
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.013 42.709    9  0.286    9  0.275    8  0.260    9 0.5276   30  3.898   21 -0.130    5  0.650
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.028 40.814   23 -0.461   24 -0.474   21 -0.242   23 0.4555    7  4.016   18 -0.031   23 -0.454
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.042 40.717   24 -0.464   23 -0.473   23 -0.426   24 0.4546   11  3.995   24 -0.325   24 -0.527
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.044 40.729   25 -0.501   25 -0.515   27 -0.587   25 0.4516    6  4.020   25 -0.353   28 -0.821

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       63 25 10258  9578  0.015 42.082    3  0.527    3  0.518    4  0.540    3 0.5504   26  3.930    7  0.308    3  0.771
CAVALIERS     55 33 10470 10132  0.012 42.964    8  0.314    8  0.307   11  0.236    8 0.5289    8  4.010    5  0.416   15  0.055
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.056 40.606   21 -0.280   21 -0.287   25 -0.551   21 0.4713   20  3.952   29 -0.671   22 -0.432
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.044 40.623   22 -0.299   22 -0.313   22 -0.423   22 0.4686    3  4.042   19 -0.071   27 -0.775
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.047 41.186   29 -0.680   29 -0.694   24 -0.501   29 0.4347   10  4.000   26 -0.376   25 -0.627

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         49 41 10299 10239  0.051 46.022   13  0.169   12  0.153   16  0.086   13 0.5137   19  3.955   16 -0.017   13  0.189
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.041 44.539   14  0.163   14  0.145   13  0.111   14 0.5126    9  4.008    8  0.282   18 -0.059
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.006 40.628   16  0.092   16  0.075    6  0.405   16 0.5066   21  3.945   10  0.251    7  0.559
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.020 41.118   17  0.062   17  0.050   14  0.095   17 0.5041    2  4.060    4  0.542   20 -0.352
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.078 41.081   30 -0.793   30 -0.808   30 -0.830   30 0.4278    4  4.039   27 -0.494   30 -1.165

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       59 30 10164  9513  0.024 43.010    4  0.407    4  0.394    5  0.497    4 0.5391   29  3.899   12  0.109    2  0.886
KNICKS        58 31 10380  9745  0.040 43.547    5  0.395    6  0.382    3  0.571    5 0.5364   23  3.939    6  0.385    4  0.757
76ERS         50 40 10337 10360  0.026 45.493   11  0.184   11  0.173   18  0.018   11 0.5148   17  3.971   15 -0.006   16  0.041
RAPTORS       49 39 10069  9837  0.028 43.765   12  0.171   13  0.152    9  0.237   12 0.5144   25  3.936   13  0.038    8  0.437
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.069 41.024   28 -0.675   28 -0.681   29 -0.811   28 0.4368   28  3.901   30 -1.190   21 -0.432

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 243 189 0.562    1  0.165
ATLANTIC DIVISION  236 202 0.539    2  0.114
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 225 0.473    3 -0.029
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 197 225 0.467    4 -0.059
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 220 0.482    5 -0.093
CENTRAL DIVISION   200 222 0.474    6 -0.142

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.148 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: Sun May  3 05:30:17 2026
games through: Sat May  2 2026

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