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       24  2 3200 2765 -0.067 11.165    1  0.838    1  0.868    1  0.906    1 0.5904   30  3.931    2  0.629    1  1.183
PISTONS       21  5 3103 2938 -0.050 11.983    2  0.597    2  0.597    7  0.309    2 0.5663   14  3.985    8  0.306    7  0.312
LAKERS        18  7 2956 2917 -0.006 12.325    6  0.447    6  0.444   13  0.067    3 0.5550    7  4.010   11  0.193   18 -0.059
SPURS         18  8 3106 3003  0.100 13.580    4  0.466    3  0.469    8  0.288    4 0.5536    8  4.007    6  0.401   11  0.175
NUGGETS       19  6 3140 2906 -0.024 11.454    5  0.465    5  0.461    4  0.470    5 0.5531    2  4.057    1  0.849   13  0.090
ROCKETS       16  7 2779 2557  0.125 11.644    7  0.439    7  0.436    2  0.565    6 0.5524   23  3.956    5  0.414    2  0.716
KNICKS        19  7 3149 2919  0.014 12.445    3  0.470    4  0.461    3  0.534    7 0.5471   12  3.998    3  0.597    4  0.471
TIMBERWOLVES  17  9 3115 2977 -0.082 11.679    9  0.249    9  0.239    9  0.225    8 0.5297   13  3.986   10  0.229    9  0.221
MAGIC         15 11 3065 2966  0.155 14.119    8  0.260    8  0.254    5  0.349    9 0.5268   16  3.978    7  0.309    6  0.389
CELTICS       15 11 3020 2882  0.068 13.170   10  0.190   10  0.176    6  0.331   10 0.5225   24  3.948   12  0.139    3  0.524
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          14 12 2984 2977  0.063 13.504   12  0.125   12  0.123   12  0.073   11 0.5176   22  3.956   16 -0.076    8  0.223
HAWKS         15 12 3186 3171 -0.029 13.159   14  0.088   14  0.083   17 -0.010   12 0.5152   10  4.002   15  0.076   21 -0.096
RAPTORS       16 11 3116 3057 -0.056 12.760   11  0.142   11  0.139   15  0.044   13 0.5126   21  3.959   17 -0.094   10  0.183
HEAT          14 12 3139 3061  0.071 13.430   13  0.116   13  0.113   10  0.165   14 0.5108    5  4.035    4  0.425   20 -0.094
76ERS         14 11 2921 2896 -0.088 11.612   15  0.057   15  0.058   18 -0.032   15 0.5049   19  3.970   19 -0.110   14  0.046
CAVALIERS     15 12 3205 3129 -0.076 12.510   16  0.056   16  0.051   14  0.058   16 0.5026   11  3.999   13  0.130   16 -0.013
WARRIORS      13 14 3088 3056  0.082 14.111   17  0.024   17  0.013   11  0.151   17 0.5024   29  3.936   18 -0.104    5  0.406
TRAIL BLAZERS 10 16 3073 3169  0.163 14.816   19 -0.093   19 -0.095   19 -0.097   18 0.4904    3  4.051    9  0.247   25 -0.441
GRIZZLIES     12 14 2973 3000 -0.000 13.084   18 -0.073   18 -0.080   16 -0.010   19 0.4898   20  3.966   20 -0.112   12  0.092
JAZZ          10 15 2975 3153 -0.004 13.148   20 -0.172   20 -0.165   25 -0.372   20 0.4825    1  4.071   14  0.080   29 -0.824
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         11 16 3075 3177 -0.099 12.917   21 -0.249   21 -0.246   24 -0.330   21 0.4715   17  3.974   24 -0.392   23 -0.269
BULLS         10 15 2931 3059 -0.120 11.937   22 -0.259   22 -0.252   27 -0.431   22 0.4680    6  4.026   21 -0.215   28 -0.646
MAVERICKS     10 17 3048 3154 -0.063 13.408   23 -0.303   23 -0.297   20 -0.212   23 0.4647   28  3.939   26 -0.451   15  0.026
KINGS          6 20 2882 3182  0.138 15.324   24 -0.416   24 -0.412   28 -0.514   24 0.4600   15  3.983   29 -0.526   26 -0.502
HORNETS        8 18 2986 3079 -0.074 12.616   25 -0.442   25 -0.443   21 -0.234   25 0.4481   18  3.973   22 -0.300   22 -0.169
CLIPPERS       6 20 2894 3038  0.077 14.144   27 -0.501   27 -0.497   22 -0.245   26 0.4429   25  3.945   25 -0.451   17 -0.038
NETS           7 18 2755 2897 -0.078 12.268   26 -0.492   26 -0.489   23 -0.297   27 0.4425   26  3.943   28 -0.516   19 -0.078
PELICANS       5 22 3083 3316  0.028 14.424   28 -0.642   28 -0.642   26 -0.427   28 0.4318    9  4.006   23 -0.318   27 -0.537
PACERS         6 20 2864 3075 -0.151 12.461   29 -0.655   29 -0.659   29 -0.538   29 0.4300   27  3.942   30 -0.763   24 -0.314
WIZARDS        4 20 2706 3041 -0.099 12.239   30 -0.732   30 -0.727   30 -0.780   30 0.4184    4  4.042   27 -0.481   30 -1.079

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        18  7 2956 2917 -0.006 12.325    6  0.447    6  0.444   13  0.067    3 0.5550    7  4.010   11  0.193   18 -0.059
SUNS          14 12 2984 2977  0.063 13.504   12  0.125   12  0.123   12  0.073   11 0.5176   22  3.956   16 -0.076    8  0.223
WARRIORS      13 14 3088 3056  0.082 14.111   17  0.024   17  0.013   11  0.151   17 0.5024   29  3.936   18 -0.104    5  0.406
KINGS          6 20 2882 3182  0.138 15.324   24 -0.416   24 -0.412   28 -0.514   24 0.4600   15  3.983   29 -0.526   26 -0.502
CLIPPERS       6 20 2894 3038  0.077 14.144   27 -0.501   27 -0.497   22 -0.245   26 0.4429   25  3.945   25 -0.451   17 -0.038

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       24  2 3200 2765 -0.067 11.165    1  0.838    1  0.868    1  0.906    1 0.5904   30  3.931    2  0.629    1  1.183
NUGGETS       19  6 3140 2906 -0.024 11.454    5  0.465    5  0.461    4  0.470    5 0.5531    2  4.057    1  0.849   13  0.090
TIMBERWOLVES  17  9 3115 2977 -0.082 11.679    9  0.249    9  0.239    9  0.225    8 0.5297   13  3.986   10  0.229    9  0.221
TRAIL BLAZERS 10 16 3073 3169  0.163 14.816   19 -0.093   19 -0.095   19 -0.097   18 0.4904    3  4.051    9  0.247   25 -0.441
JAZZ          10 15 2975 3153 -0.004 13.148   20 -0.172   20 -0.165   25 -0.372   20 0.4825    1  4.071   14  0.080   29 -0.824

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         18  8 3106 3003  0.100 13.580    4  0.466    3  0.469    8  0.288    4 0.5536    8  4.007    6  0.401   11  0.175
ROCKETS       16  7 2779 2557  0.125 11.644    7  0.439    7  0.436    2  0.565    6 0.5524   23  3.956    5  0.414    2  0.716
GRIZZLIES     12 14 2973 3000 -0.000 13.084   18 -0.073   18 -0.080   16 -0.010   19 0.4898   20  3.966   20 -0.112   12  0.092
MAVERICKS     10 17 3048 3154 -0.063 13.408   23 -0.303   23 -0.297   20 -0.212   23 0.4647   28  3.939   26 -0.451   15  0.026
PELICANS       5 22 3083 3316  0.028 14.424   28 -0.642   28 -0.642   26 -0.427   28 0.4318    9  4.006   23 -0.318   27 -0.537

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       21  5 3103 2938 -0.050 11.983    2  0.597    2  0.597    7  0.309    2 0.5663   14  3.985    8  0.306    7  0.312
CAVALIERS     15 12 3205 3129 -0.076 12.510   16  0.056   16  0.051   14  0.058   16 0.5026   11  3.999   13  0.130   16 -0.013
BUCKS         11 16 3075 3177 -0.099 12.917   21 -0.249   21 -0.246   24 -0.330   21 0.4715   17  3.974   24 -0.392   23 -0.269
BULLS         10 15 2931 3059 -0.120 11.937   22 -0.259   22 -0.252   27 -0.431   22 0.4680    6  4.026   21 -0.215   28 -0.646
PACERS         6 20 2864 3075 -0.151 12.461   29 -0.655   29 -0.659   29 -0.538   29 0.4300   27  3.942   30 -0.763   24 -0.314

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         15 11 3065 2966  0.155 14.119    8  0.260    8  0.254    5  0.349    9 0.5268   16  3.978    7  0.309    6  0.389
HAWKS         15 12 3186 3171 -0.029 13.159   14  0.088   14  0.083   17 -0.010   12 0.5152   10  4.002   15  0.076   21 -0.096
HEAT          14 12 3139 3061  0.071 13.430   13  0.116   13  0.113   10  0.165   14 0.5108    5  4.035    4  0.425   20 -0.094
HORNETS        8 18 2986 3079 -0.074 12.616   25 -0.442   25 -0.443   21 -0.234   25 0.4481   18  3.973   22 -0.300   22 -0.169
WIZARDS        4 20 2706 3041 -0.099 12.239   30 -0.732   30 -0.727   30 -0.780   30 0.4184    4  4.042   27 -0.481   30 -1.079

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
KNICKS        19  7 3149 2919  0.014 12.445    3  0.470    4  0.461    3  0.534    7 0.5471   12  3.998    3  0.597    4  0.471
CELTICS       15 11 3020 2882  0.068 13.170   10  0.190   10  0.176    6  0.331   10 0.5225   24  3.948   12  0.139    3  0.524
RAPTORS       16 11 3116 3057 -0.056 12.760   11  0.142   11  0.139   15  0.044   13 0.5126   21  3.959   17 -0.094   10  0.183
76ERS         14 11 2921 2896 -0.088 11.612   15  0.057   15  0.058   18 -0.032   15 0.5049   19  3.970   19 -0.110   14  0.046
NETS           7 18 2755 2897 -0.078 12.268   26 -0.492   26 -0.489   23 -0.297   27 0.4425   26  3.943   28 -0.516   19 -0.078

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 80 48 0.625    1  0.283
ATLANTIC DIVISION  71 58 0.550    2  0.132
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 61 68 0.473    3  0.032
PACIFIC DIVISION   57 73 0.438    4 -0.111
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 56 73 0.434    5 -0.112
CENTRAL DIVISION   63 68 0.481    6 -0.212

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Wed Dec 17 05:30:14 2025
games through: Tue Dec 16 2025

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