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       70 18 10484  9465  0.063 43.147    1  0.816    1  0.798    1  0.805    1 0.5730   25  3.936    2  0.605    1  1.006
SPURS         67 23 10736  9968  0.060 44.447    2  0.668    2  0.648    2  0.701    2 0.5602   14  3.977    1  0.714    5  0.688
PISTONS       66 25 10592  9870  0.015 43.650    3  0.558    3  0.544    4  0.573    3 0.5527   26  3.925    7  0.321    3  0.826
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.020 43.027    5  0.408    5  0.390    5  0.490    4 0.5386   29  3.899   12  0.105    2  0.874
KNICKS        60 31 10625  9945  0.034 44.442    4  0.417    4  0.396    3  0.608    5 0.5379   23  3.939    5  0.424    4  0.793
LAKERS        57 33 10344 10221  0.040 45.615    6  0.377    6  0.371   12  0.181    6 0.5343   17  3.969   11  0.152   11  0.209
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.030 43.500    7  0.357    7  0.345    7  0.303    7 0.5334    5  4.023    3  0.556   15  0.051
CAVALIERS     56 35 10782 10452  0.024 45.054    8  0.306    8  0.296    9  0.233    8 0.5277    9  4.005    6  0.392   14  0.074
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.009 42.762    9  0.287    9  0.272    8  0.254    9 0.5271   30  3.899   21 -0.132    6  0.640
TIMBERWOLVES  54 36 10547 10281  0.034 44.973   10  0.274   10  0.261   11  0.197   10 0.5254   13  3.979   10  0.219   12  0.175
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.029 44.515   14  0.158   14  0.138   10  0.217   11 0.5130   24  3.936   13  0.017    8  0.418
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.055 46.916   13  0.160   13  0.144   16  0.062   12 0.5129   19  3.955   17 -0.041   13  0.165
76ERS         50 42 10537 10605  0.035 47.110   11  0.166   11  0.154   19 -0.027   13 0.5128   16  3.971   18 -0.048   17 -0.005
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.039 44.645   12  0.163   12  0.144   13  0.110   14 0.5124    8  4.009    8  0.286   18 -0.065
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.051 45.102   15  0.116   15  0.102   17  0.058   15 0.5094   27  3.922   23 -0.210    9  0.325
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.003 40.696   16  0.091   16  0.072    6  0.401   16 0.5063   21  3.946    9  0.251    7  0.550
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.017 41.187   17  0.061   17  0.047   14  0.092   17 0.5038    2  4.061    4  0.543   20 -0.360
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.022 44.690   18  0.038   18  0.028   18  0.005   18 0.5021   15  3.974   14 -0.002   16  0.011
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.020 40.358   19  0.008   19 -0.011   15  0.091   19 0.4989   22  3.942   20 -0.077   10  0.258
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.005 42.046   20 -0.089   20 -0.106   20 -0.155   20 0.4894   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.113
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 -0.060 40.670   21 -0.280   21 -0.291   25 -0.552   21 0.4710   20  3.953   29 -0.667   22 -0.438
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.047 40.700   22 -0.300   22 -0.316   22 -0.424   22 0.4683    3  4.043   19 -0.067   27 -0.781
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.032 40.876   23 -0.461   24 -0.478   21 -0.245   23 0.4552    7  4.016   16 -0.028   23 -0.461
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.046 40.780   24 -0.464   23 -0.477   23 -0.428   24 0.4543   11  3.995   24 -0.322   24 -0.533
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.048 40.797   25 -0.502   25 -0.519   27 -0.588   25 0.4513    6  4.020   25 -0.350   28 -0.826
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.053 41.207   26 -0.587   26 -0.602   26 -0.586   26 0.4435    1  4.081   15 -0.024   29 -1.148
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.060 41.280   27 -0.597   27 -0.606   28 -0.670   27 0.4433   12  3.989   28 -0.595   26 -0.746
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.073 41.096   28 -0.675   28 -0.686   29 -0.810   28 0.4366   28  3.901   30 -1.185   21 -0.436
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.051 41.256   29 -0.680   29 -0.699   24 -0.502   29 0.4344   10  4.000   26 -0.372   25 -0.633
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.083 41.144   30 -0.794   30 -0.813   30 -0.829   30 0.4275    4  4.040   27 -0.489   30 -1.169

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 33 10344 10221  0.040 45.615    6  0.377    6  0.371   12  0.181    6 0.5343   17  3.969   11  0.152   11  0.209
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.051 45.102   15  0.116   15  0.102   17  0.058   15 0.5094   27  3.922   23 -0.210    9  0.325
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.020 40.358   19  0.008   19 -0.011   15  0.091   19 0.4989   22  3.942   20 -0.077   10  0.258
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.005 42.046   20 -0.089   20 -0.106   20 -0.155   20 0.4894   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.113
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.060 41.280   27 -0.597   27 -0.606   28 -0.670   27 0.4433   12  3.989   28 -0.595   26 -0.746

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       70 18 10484  9465  0.063 43.147    1  0.816    1  0.798    1  0.805    1 0.5730   25  3.936    2  0.605    1  1.006
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.030 43.500    7  0.357    7  0.345    7  0.303    7 0.5334    5  4.023    3  0.556   15  0.051
TIMBERWOLVES  54 36 10547 10281  0.034 44.973   10  0.274   10  0.261   11  0.197   10 0.5254   13  3.979   10  0.219   12  0.175
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.022 44.690   18  0.038   18  0.028   18  0.005   18 0.5021   15  3.974   14 -0.002   16  0.011
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.053 41.207   26 -0.587   26 -0.602   26 -0.586   26 0.4435    1  4.081   15 -0.024   29 -1.148

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         67 23 10736  9968  0.060 44.447    2  0.668    2  0.648    2  0.701    2 0.5602   14  3.977    1  0.714    5  0.688
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.009 42.762    9  0.287    9  0.272    8  0.254    9 0.5271   30  3.899   21 -0.132    6  0.640
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.032 40.876   23 -0.461   24 -0.478   21 -0.245   23 0.4552    7  4.016   16 -0.028   23 -0.461
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.046 40.780   24 -0.464   23 -0.477   23 -0.428   24 0.4543   11  3.995   24 -0.322   24 -0.533
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.048 40.797   25 -0.502   25 -0.519   27 -0.588   25 0.4513    6  4.020   25 -0.350   28 -0.826

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       66 25 10592  9870  0.015 43.650    3  0.558    3  0.544    4  0.573    3 0.5527   26  3.925    7  0.321    3  0.826
CAVALIERS     56 35 10782 10452  0.024 45.054    8  0.306    8  0.296    9  0.233    8 0.5277    9  4.005    6  0.392   14  0.074
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.060 40.670   21 -0.280   21 -0.291   25 -0.552   21 0.4710   20  3.953   29 -0.667   22 -0.438
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.047 40.700   22 -0.300   22 -0.316   22 -0.424   22 0.4683    3  4.043   19 -0.067   27 -0.781
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.051 41.256   29 -0.680   29 -0.699   24 -0.502   29 0.4344   10  4.000   26 -0.372   25 -0.633

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 42 10393 10355  0.055 46.916   13  0.160   13  0.144   16  0.062   12 0.5129   19  3.955   17 -0.041   13  0.165
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.039 44.645   12  0.163   12  0.144   13  0.110   14 0.5124    8  4.009    8  0.286   18 -0.065
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.003 40.696   16  0.091   16  0.072    6  0.401   16 0.5063   21  3.946    9  0.251    7  0.550
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.017 41.187   17  0.061   17  0.047   14  0.092   17 0.5038    2  4.061    4  0.543   20 -0.360
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.083 41.144   30 -0.794   30 -0.813   30 -0.829   30 0.4275    4  4.040   27 -0.489   30 -1.169

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  0.020 43.027    5  0.408    5  0.390    5  0.490    4 0.5386   29  3.899   12  0.105    2  0.874
KNICKS        60 31 10625  9945  0.034 44.442    4  0.417    4  0.396    3  0.608    5 0.5379   23  3.939    5  0.424    4  0.793
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.029 44.515   14  0.158   14  0.138   10  0.217   11 0.5130   24  3.936   13  0.017    8  0.418
76ERS         50 42 10537 10605  0.035 47.110   11  0.166   11  0.154   19 -0.027   13 0.5128   16  3.971   18 -0.048   17 -0.005
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.073 41.096   28 -0.675   28 -0.686   29 -0.810   28 0.4366   28  3.901   30 -1.185   21 -0.436

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 246 190 0.564    1  0.161
ATLANTIC DIVISION  238 205 0.537    2  0.108
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.034
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 198 226 0.467    4 -0.059
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 222 0.480    5 -0.098
CENTRAL DIVISION   204 224 0.477    6 -0.142

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri May  8 05:30:17 2026
games through: Thu May  7 2026

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