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       64 18  9760  8846  0.074 40.003    1  0.755    1  0.758    1  0.743    1 0.5698   26  3.931    4  0.502    1  0.984
SPURS         62 21  9939  9269  0.076 40.985    2  0.663    2  0.668    2  0.663    2 0.5619   14  3.987    1  0.707    7  0.620
PISTONS       60 22  9657  8988  0.023 38.894    3  0.554    3  0.562    3  0.595    3 0.5541   23  3.943    7  0.413    3  0.777
CELTICS       56 26  9418  8787  0.040 39.559    4  0.459    4  0.457    4  0.574    4 0.5437   29  3.904   12  0.195    2  0.954
NUGGETS       54 28 10010  9588  0.031 39.854    5  0.395    5  0.397    7  0.386    5 0.5382    5  4.031    2  0.659   13  0.113
KNICKS        54 29  9673  9143  0.041 40.370    6  0.383    6  0.382    6  0.461    6 0.5362   22  3.943    9  0.282    6  0.639
LAKERS        53 29  9540  9396  0.010 40.097    7  0.365    7  0.373   13  0.175    7 0.5349   15  3.985   11  0.207   11  0.143
ROCKETS       52 30  9449  9021  0.017 39.390    8  0.327    9  0.326    8  0.323    8 0.5311   28  3.912   16 -0.015    4  0.660
CAVALIERS     52 30  9801  9463  0.010 39.532    9  0.325    8  0.327   10  0.259    9 0.5310    8  4.013    6  0.442   15  0.077
TIMBERWOLVES  49 33  9676  9401  0.007 39.598   10  0.232   10  0.228   12  0.185   10 0.5221   12  3.990   10  0.244   12  0.126
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         46 36  9714  9516  0.023 40.269   11  0.165   11  0.160    9  0.268   11 0.5150    9  4.012    5  0.446   14  0.091
RAPTORS       46 36  9400  9168  0.020 40.150   12  0.162   12  0.155   11  0.244   12 0.5144   24  3.940   14  0.048    8  0.441
SUNS          45 38  9342  9226  0.033 41.345   14  0.134   14  0.132   16  0.100   13 0.5125   27  3.917   22 -0.210    9  0.410
MAGIC         45 37  9491  9439  0.023 40.756   13  0.139   13  0.138   18  0.026   14 0.5124   18  3.972   15 -0.009   16  0.061
76ERS         45 37  9502  9517 -0.005 40.163   15  0.123   15  0.125   19 -0.046   15 0.5111   17  3.978   17 -0.048   18 -0.045
HORNETS       45 38  9640  9243  0.016 39.990   16  0.108   16  0.098    5  0.482   16 0.5088   21  3.944    8  0.307    5  0.656
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.032 41.113   17  0.064   17  0.062   15  0.111   17 0.5052    2  4.058    3  0.529   20 -0.306
TRAIL BLAZERS 43 40  9583  9603  0.004 40.875   18  0.050   18  0.052   17  0.061   18 0.5043   16  3.980   13  0.071   17  0.050
CLIPPERS      42 40  9329  9236 -0.002 39.867   19  0.026   19  0.022   14  0.120   19 0.5020   25  3.937   20 -0.091   10  0.331
WARRIORS      37 45  9398  9444  0.015 40.792   20 -0.093   20 -0.099   20 -0.142   20 0.4900   19  3.963   23 -0.220   19 -0.064
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 -0.044 40.610   21 -0.279   21 -0.275   25 -0.548   21 0.4725   20  3.950   29 -0.694   21 -0.401
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.033 40.598   22 -0.298   22 -0.300   22 -0.421   22 0.4697    3  4.040   21 -0.097   27 -0.745
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.016 40.810   23 -0.461   24 -0.462   21 -0.236   23 0.4567    7  4.014   18 -0.052   23 -0.420
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.031 40.710   24 -0.464   23 -0.460   23 -0.422   24 0.4557   11  3.993   24 -0.348   24 -0.495
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.032 40.739   25 -0.502   25 -0.503   26 -0.584   25 0.4527    6  4.018   25 -0.378   28 -0.790
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.037 41.145   26 -0.586   26 -0.585   27 -0.584   26 0.4448    1  4.078   19 -0.055   29 -1.114
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.043 41.239   27 -0.595   27 -0.588   28 -0.669   27 0.4447   13  3.987   28 -0.626   26 -0.713
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.057 41.020   28 -0.675   28 -0.669   29 -0.813   28 0.4379   30  3.898   30 -1.219   22 -0.406
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.036 41.170   29 -0.681   29 -0.683   24 -0.501   29 0.4358   10  3.997   26 -0.403   25 -0.599
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.066 41.092   30 -0.794   30 -0.795   30 -0.832   30 0.4289    4  4.037   27 -0.525   30 -1.139

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        53 29  9540  9396  0.010 40.097    7  0.365    7  0.373   13  0.175    7 0.5349   15  3.985   11  0.207   11  0.143
SUNS          45 38  9342  9226  0.033 41.345   14  0.134   14  0.132   16  0.100   13 0.5125   27  3.917   22 -0.210    9  0.410
CLIPPERS      42 40  9329  9236 -0.002 39.867   19  0.026   19  0.022   14  0.120   19 0.5020   25  3.937   20 -0.091   10  0.331
WARRIORS      37 45  9398  9444  0.015 40.792   20 -0.093   20 -0.099   20 -0.142   20 0.4900   19  3.963   23 -0.220   19 -0.064
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.043 41.239   27 -0.595   27 -0.588   28 -0.669   27 0.4447   13  3.987   28 -0.626   26 -0.713

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       64 18  9760  8846  0.074 40.003    1  0.755    1  0.758    1  0.743    1 0.5698   26  3.931    4  0.502    1  0.984
NUGGETS       54 28 10010  9588  0.031 39.854    5  0.395    5  0.397    7  0.386    5 0.5382    5  4.031    2  0.659   13  0.113
TIMBERWOLVES  49 33  9676  9401  0.007 39.598   10  0.232   10  0.228   12  0.185   10 0.5221   12  3.990   10  0.244   12  0.126
TRAIL BLAZERS 43 40  9583  9603  0.004 40.875   18  0.050   18  0.052   17  0.061   18 0.5043   16  3.980   13  0.071   17  0.050
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.037 41.145   26 -0.586   26 -0.585   27 -0.584   26 0.4448    1  4.078   19 -0.055   29 -1.114

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         62 21  9939  9269  0.076 40.985    2  0.663    2  0.668    2  0.663    2 0.5619   14  3.987    1  0.707    7  0.620
ROCKETS       52 30  9449  9021  0.017 39.390    8  0.327    9  0.326    8  0.323    8 0.5311   28  3.912   16 -0.015    4  0.660
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.016 40.810   23 -0.461   24 -0.462   21 -0.236   23 0.4567    7  4.014   18 -0.052   23 -0.420
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.031 40.710   24 -0.464   23 -0.460   23 -0.422   24 0.4557   11  3.993   24 -0.348   24 -0.495
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.032 40.739   25 -0.502   25 -0.503   26 -0.584   25 0.4527    6  4.018   25 -0.378   28 -0.790

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       60 22  9657  8988  0.023 38.894    3  0.554    3  0.562    3  0.595    3 0.5541   23  3.943    7  0.413    3  0.777
CAVALIERS     52 30  9801  9463  0.010 39.532    9  0.325    8  0.327   10  0.259    9 0.5310    8  4.013    6  0.442   15  0.077
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.044 40.610   21 -0.279   21 -0.275   25 -0.548   21 0.4725   20  3.950   29 -0.694   21 -0.401
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.033 40.598   22 -0.298   22 -0.300   22 -0.421   22 0.4697    3  4.040   21 -0.097   27 -0.745
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.036 41.170   29 -0.681   29 -0.683   24 -0.501   29 0.4358   10  3.997   26 -0.403   25 -0.599

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         46 36  9714  9516  0.023 40.269   11  0.165   11  0.160    9  0.268   11 0.5150    9  4.012    5  0.446   14  0.091
MAGIC         45 37  9491  9439  0.023 40.756   13  0.139   13  0.138   18  0.026   14 0.5124   18  3.972   15 -0.009   16  0.061
HORNETS       45 38  9640  9243  0.016 39.990   16  0.108   16  0.098    5  0.482   16 0.5088   21  3.944    8  0.307    5  0.656
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.032 41.113   17  0.064   17  0.062   15  0.111   17 0.5052    2  4.058    3  0.529   20 -0.306
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.066 41.092   30 -0.794   30 -0.795   30 -0.832   30 0.4289    4  4.037   27 -0.525   30 -1.139

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       56 26  9418  8787  0.040 39.559    4  0.459    4  0.457    4  0.574    4 0.5437   29  3.904   12  0.195    2  0.954
KNICKS        54 29  9673  9143  0.041 40.370    6  0.383    6  0.382    6  0.461    6 0.5362   22  3.943    9  0.282    6  0.639
RAPTORS       46 36  9400  9168  0.020 40.150   12  0.162   12  0.155   11  0.244   12 0.5144   24  3.940   14  0.048    8  0.441
76ERS         45 37  9502  9517 -0.005 40.163   15  0.123   15  0.125   19 -0.046   15 0.5111   17  3.978   17 -0.048   18 -0.045
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.057 41.020   28 -0.675   28 -0.669   29 -0.813   28 0.4379   30  3.898   30 -1.219   22 -0.406

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 232 179 0.564    1  0.176
ATLANTIC DIVISION  221 190 0.538    2  0.107
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 196 216 0.476    3 -0.005
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 191 220 0.465    4 -0.044
PACIFIC DIVISION   199 212 0.484    5 -0.082
CENTRAL DIVISION   194 216 0.473    6 -0.126

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.145 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: Wed Apr 15 05:30:11 2026
games through: Tue Apr 14 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.