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       44 14 6929 6249  0.018 27.560    1  0.576    1  0.591    1  0.678    1 0.5598   24  3.934    4  0.458    1  0.898
PISTONS       42 13 6466 6013 -0.019 25.708    2  0.547    2  0.559    2  0.548    2 0.5594   23  3.946    6  0.388    3  0.707
SPURS         40 17 6752 6397  0.053 28.216    3  0.480    3  0.486    4  0.449    3 0.5496   13  3.979    3  0.462    5  0.435
CELTICS       37 19 6456 6050 -0.009 26.498    4  0.331    4  0.328    3  0.451    4 0.5373   28  3.914   10  0.134    2  0.768
KNICKS        38 21 6939 6596  0.008 28.528    5  0.313    5  0.310    5  0.368    5 0.5343   19  3.966    8  0.315    6  0.421
CAVALIERS     36 22 6942 6692  0.023 28.480    7  0.280    6  0.279    6  0.327    6 0.5294    6  4.020    1  0.554   12  0.101
ROCKETS       34 21 6287 6019  0.039 27.203    6  0.280    7  0.277    7  0.246    7 0.5290   29  3.906   20 -0.115    4  0.607
LAKERS        34 22 6479 6499 -0.011 27.522    9  0.231    9  0.233   18 -0.064    8 0.5251   12  3.996   14  0.036   20 -0.164
NUGGETS       36 22 7008 6745 -0.020 27.602    8  0.240    8  0.237   11  0.207    9 0.5245    5  4.022    5  0.443   15 -0.029
RAPTORS       34 23 6490 6369 -0.018 27.534   10  0.203   10  0.198   13  0.114   10 0.5214   25  3.930   22 -0.126    7  0.354
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  35 23 6932 6672 -0.037 27.183   11  0.192   11  0.183    8  0.221   11 0.5188   10  4.002    7  0.352   13  0.091
SUNS          33 25 6533 6474  0.031 29.179   12  0.188   12  0.183   15  0.046   12 0.5186   27  3.920   25 -0.241    8  0.334
76ERS         31 26 6626 6610 -0.014 27.856   15  0.094   15  0.089   17 -0.026   13 0.5099   14  3.979   16 -0.012   16 -0.039
HEAT          31 27 6961 6779  0.035 29.016   13  0.108   14  0.093   10  0.209   14 0.5098    2  4.033    2  0.503   18 -0.084
MAGIC         30 26 6450 6424  0.021 28.076   14  0.103   13  0.097   16 -0.004   15 0.5096   20  3.964   19 -0.072   14  0.063
WARRIORS      30 27 6592 6491  0.029 28.543   16  0.087   16  0.078   12  0.128   16 0.5082   18  3.967   13  0.080   11  0.176
TRAIL BLAZERS 28 30 6709 6858  0.052 30.173   17  0.015   17  0.015   20 -0.127   17 0.5012    9  4.007   15  0.031   23 -0.284
HAWKS         28 31 6898 6982  0.035 30.139   18 -0.020   18 -0.023   19 -0.084   18 0.4977    7  4.020    9  0.139   24 -0.307
CLIPPERS      27 30 6389 6416  0.033 28.936   19 -0.021   19 -0.027   14  0.058   19 0.4976   26  3.924   23 -0.212    9  0.327
HORNETS       27 31 6706 6594 -0.009 28.191   20 -0.075   20 -0.087    9  0.209   20 0.4914   21  3.960   11  0.124   10  0.295
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         24 31 6158 6345 -0.023 27.330   21 -0.154   21 -0.148   23 -0.232   21 0.4847   22  3.948   26 -0.382   17 -0.083
BULLS         24 34 6733 6975 -0.022 28.891   22 -0.201   22 -0.194   25 -0.305   22 0.4779    3  4.027   17 -0.042   27 -0.568
GRIZZLIES     21 34 6352 6476 -0.019 27.176   23 -0.282   23 -0.282   21 -0.170   23 0.4705   11  3.997   18 -0.065   22 -0.275
MAVERICKS     20 36 6398 6592 -0.035 27.526   24 -0.338   24 -0.339   22 -0.221   24 0.4635   15  3.978   24 -0.217   21 -0.225
JAZZ          18 39 6737 7175 -0.002 29.249   25 -0.399   25 -0.389   27 -0.448   25 0.4572    1  4.080   12  0.097   30 -0.993
PELICANS      16 42 6661 6993 -0.001 29.453   26 -0.505   26 -0.504   24 -0.281   26 0.4470    8  4.007   21 -0.122   26 -0.441
NETS          15 41 5980 6423 -0.028 28.211   27 -0.538   28 -0.535   28 -0.563   27 0.4447   30  3.896   30 -0.973   19 -0.153
WIZARDS       16 40 6298 6878 -0.078 27.518   28 -0.543   27 -0.531   29 -0.641   28 0.4446    4  4.024   27 -0.394   29 -0.887
PACERS        15 43 6466 6900 -0.033 29.280   29 -0.553   29 -0.556   26 -0.447   29 0.4419   17  3.974   28 -0.462   25 -0.433
KINGS         12 46 6384 7025  0.016 30.603   30 -0.638   30 -0.644   30 -0.683   30 0.4353   16  3.975   29 -0.694   28 -0.672

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        34 22 6479 6499 -0.011 27.522    9  0.231    9  0.233   18 -0.064    8 0.5251   12  3.996   14  0.036   20 -0.164
SUNS          33 25 6533 6474  0.031 29.179   12  0.188   12  0.183   15  0.046   12 0.5186   27  3.920   25 -0.241    8  0.334
WARRIORS      30 27 6592 6491  0.029 28.543   16  0.087   16  0.078   12  0.128   16 0.5082   18  3.967   13  0.080   11  0.176
CLIPPERS      27 30 6389 6416  0.033 28.936   19 -0.021   19 -0.027   14  0.058   19 0.4976   26  3.924   23 -0.212    9  0.327
KINGS         12 46 6384 7025  0.016 30.603   30 -0.638   30 -0.644   30 -0.683   30 0.4353   16  3.975   29 -0.694   28 -0.672

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       44 14 6929 6249  0.018 27.560    1  0.576    1  0.591    1  0.678    1 0.5598   24  3.934    4  0.458    1  0.898
NUGGETS       36 22 7008 6745 -0.020 27.602    8  0.240    8  0.237   11  0.207    9 0.5245    5  4.022    5  0.443   15 -0.029
TIMBERWOLVES  35 23 6932 6672 -0.037 27.183   11  0.192   11  0.183    8  0.221   11 0.5188   10  4.002    7  0.352   13  0.091
TRAIL BLAZERS 28 30 6709 6858  0.052 30.173   17  0.015   17  0.015   20 -0.127   17 0.5012    9  4.007   15  0.031   23 -0.284
JAZZ          18 39 6737 7175 -0.002 29.249   25 -0.399   25 -0.389   27 -0.448   25 0.4572    1  4.080   12  0.097   30 -0.993

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         40 17 6752 6397  0.053 28.216    3  0.480    3  0.486    4  0.449    3 0.5496   13  3.979    3  0.462    5  0.435
ROCKETS       34 21 6287 6019  0.039 27.203    6  0.280    7  0.277    7  0.246    7 0.5290   29  3.906   20 -0.115    4  0.607
GRIZZLIES     21 34 6352 6476 -0.019 27.176   23 -0.282   23 -0.282   21 -0.170   23 0.4705   11  3.997   18 -0.065   22 -0.275
MAVERICKS     20 36 6398 6592 -0.035 27.526   24 -0.338   24 -0.339   22 -0.221   24 0.4635   15  3.978   24 -0.217   21 -0.225
PELICANS      16 42 6661 6993 -0.001 29.453   26 -0.505   26 -0.504   24 -0.281   26 0.4470    8  4.007   21 -0.122   26 -0.441

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       42 13 6466 6013 -0.019 25.708    2  0.547    2  0.559    2  0.548    2 0.5594   23  3.946    6  0.388    3  0.707
CAVALIERS     36 22 6942 6692  0.023 28.480    7  0.280    6  0.279    6  0.327    6 0.5294    6  4.020    1  0.554   12  0.101
BUCKS         24 31 6158 6345 -0.023 27.330   21 -0.154   21 -0.148   23 -0.232   21 0.4847   22  3.948   26 -0.382   17 -0.083
BULLS         24 34 6733 6975 -0.022 28.891   22 -0.201   22 -0.194   25 -0.305   22 0.4779    3  4.027   17 -0.042   27 -0.568
PACERS        15 43 6466 6900 -0.033 29.280   29 -0.553   29 -0.556   26 -0.447   29 0.4419   17  3.974   28 -0.462   25 -0.433

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
HEAT          31 27 6961 6779  0.035 29.016   13  0.108   14  0.093   10  0.209   14 0.5098    2  4.033    2  0.503   18 -0.084
MAGIC         30 26 6450 6424  0.021 28.076   14  0.103   13  0.097   16 -0.004   15 0.5096   20  3.964   19 -0.072   14  0.063
HAWKS         28 31 6898 6982  0.035 30.139   18 -0.020   18 -0.023   19 -0.084   18 0.4977    7  4.020    9  0.139   24 -0.307
HORNETS       27 31 6706 6594 -0.009 28.191   20 -0.075   20 -0.087    9  0.209   20 0.4914   21  3.960   11  0.124   10  0.295
WIZARDS       16 40 6298 6878 -0.078 27.518   28 -0.543   27 -0.531   29 -0.641   28 0.4446    4  4.024   27 -0.394   29 -0.887

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       37 19 6456 6050 -0.009 26.498    4  0.331    4  0.328    3  0.451    4 0.5373   28  3.914   10  0.134    2  0.768
KNICKS        38 21 6939 6596  0.008 28.528    5  0.313    5  0.310    5  0.368    5 0.5343   19  3.966    8  0.315    6  0.421
RAPTORS       34 23 6490 6369 -0.018 27.534   10  0.203   10  0.198   13  0.114   10 0.5214   25  3.930   22 -0.126    7  0.354
76ERS         31 26 6626 6610 -0.014 27.856   15  0.094   15  0.089   17 -0.026   13 0.5099   14  3.979   16 -0.012   16 -0.039
NETS          15 41 5980 6423 -0.028 28.211   27 -0.538   28 -0.535   28 -0.563   27 0.4447   30  3.896   30 -0.973   19 -0.153

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 161 128 0.557    1  0.151
ATLANTIC DIVISION  155 130 0.544    2  0.098
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 131 150 0.466    3 -0.002
CENTRAL DIVISION   141 143 0.496    4 -0.056
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 132 155 0.460    5 -0.078
PACIFIC DIVISION   136 150 0.476    6 -0.102

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.124 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: Mon Feb 23 05:30:07 2026
games through: Sun Feb 22 2026

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