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 17  9657  8711  0.076 39.575    1  0.787    1  0.787    1  0.816    1 0.5722   26  3.929    3  0.567    1  1.064
SPURS         62 20  9821  9141  0.075 40.485    2  0.689    2  0.691    2  0.690    2 0.5639   14  3.986    1  0.734    5  0.646
PISTONS       59 22  9524  8867  0.028 38.708    3  0.553    3  0.557    3  0.602    3 0.5539   23  3.941    7  0.411    3  0.793
CELTICS       55 26  9305  8679  0.042 39.219    4  0.454    4  0.448    4  0.583    4 0.5429   29  3.904   11  0.209    2  0.958
KNICKS        54 28  9577  9033  0.040 39.885    5  0.403    5  0.398    5  0.493    5 0.5382   22  3.946    8  0.329    4  0.657
NUGGETS       53 28  9882  9470  0.020 39.196    6  0.377    6  0.376    7  0.365    6 0.5362    5  4.030    2  0.638   14  0.091
LAKERS        52 29  9409  9289  0.016 39.969    7  0.358    7  0.367   13  0.156    7 0.5347   15  3.986   12  0.197   13  0.115
CAVALIERS     51 30  9671  9346  0.020 39.496    8  0.318    8  0.323   10  0.268    8 0.5310    7  4.013    6  0.453   15  0.083
ROCKETS       51 30  9317  8920  0.021 39.212    9  0.316    9  0.319    9  0.293    9 0.5306   28  3.912   17 -0.042    6  0.628
TIMBERWOLVES  48 33  9544  9275  0.012 39.386   10  0.223   10  0.220   12  0.190   10 0.5215   12  3.988   10  0.242   11  0.138
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         46 35  9597  9373  0.020 39.732   11  0.176   11  0.173    8  0.310   11 0.5164    9  4.011    4  0.484   12  0.137
RAPTORS       45 36  9264  9067  0.028 40.119   12  0.154   12  0.150   11  0.213   12 0.5141   24  3.938   14  0.011    8  0.415
MAGIC         45 36  9383  9326  0.014 40.115   13  0.146   13  0.147   18  0.020   13 0.5134   18  3.972   15 -0.010   16  0.049
SUNS          44 37  9097  9009  0.021 40.213   14  0.122   14  0.123   17  0.041   14 0.5120   27  3.915   23 -0.277    9  0.358
76ERS         44 37  9376  9411  0.002 40.049   15  0.113   15  0.118   19 -0.066   15 0.5103   17  3.978   19 -0.065   18 -0.067
HORNETS       43 38  9403  9021  0.007 38.895   16  0.071   16  0.063    6  0.464   16 0.5057   21  3.947    9  0.308    7  0.621
HEAT          42 39  9768  9603  0.024 40.066   17  0.058   17  0.058   15  0.065   17 0.5051    2  4.057    5  0.482   20 -0.351
TRAIL BLAZERS 41 40  9347  9383  0.009 40.211   18  0.027   18  0.028   16  0.050   18 0.5020   16  3.981   13  0.065   17  0.035
CLIPPERS      41 40  9214  9126 -0.002 39.518   19  0.013   19  0.008   14  0.118   19 0.5008   25  3.938   21 -0.088   10  0.324
WARRIORS      37 44  9288  9329  0.011 40.300   20 -0.082   20 -0.089   20 -0.141   20 0.4912   19  3.964   22 -0.215   19 -0.068
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         32 49  8966  9455 -0.044 40.179   21 -0.268   21 -0.264   25 -0.530   21 0.4733   20  3.950   29 -0.674   22 -0.387
BULLS         31 50  9409  9815 -0.028 40.319   22 -0.284   22 -0.285   22 -0.393   22 0.4712    4  4.036   20 -0.086   26 -0.701
PELICANS      26 55  9347  9710 -0.022 40.253   23 -0.455   23 -0.456   21 -0.242   23 0.4571    8  4.012   18 -0.065   23 -0.419
MAVERICKS     25 56  9209  9682 -0.026 40.533   24 -0.478   24 -0.476   23 -0.453   24 0.4542   11  3.989   25 -0.396   24 -0.510
GRIZZLIES     25 56  9302  9764 -0.037 40.117   25 -0.497   25 -0.498   26 -0.559   25 0.4530    6  4.018   24 -0.350   28 -0.768
KINGS         22 59  8992  9800 -0.046 40.773   27 -0.587   27 -0.581   28 -0.670   26 0.4453   13  3.987   28 -0.622   27 -0.719
JAZZ          22 59  9535 10202 -0.040 40.630   26 -0.578   26 -0.579   27 -0.566   27 0.4450    1  4.079   16 -0.028   29 -1.104
NETS          20 61  8585  9369 -0.060 40.506   28 -0.667   28 -0.662   29 -0.782   28 0.4384   30  3.897   30 -1.194   21 -0.371
PACERS        19 62  9098  9741 -0.040 40.625   29 -0.674   29 -0.677   24 -0.504   29 0.4361   10  3.995   26 -0.416   25 -0.592
WIZARDS       17 64  9140 10110 -0.070 40.550   30 -0.787   30 -0.789   30 -0.841   30 0.4290    3  4.037   27 -0.532   30 -1.150

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        52 29  9409  9289  0.016 39.969    7  0.358    7  0.367   13  0.156    7 0.5347   15  3.986   12  0.197   13  0.115
SUNS          44 37  9097  9009  0.021 40.213   14  0.122   14  0.123   17  0.041   14 0.5120   27  3.915   23 -0.277    9  0.358
CLIPPERS      41 40  9214  9126 -0.002 39.518   19  0.013   19  0.008   14  0.118   19 0.5008   25  3.938   21 -0.088   10  0.324
WARRIORS      37 44  9288  9329  0.011 40.300   20 -0.082   20 -0.089   20 -0.141   20 0.4912   19  3.964   22 -0.215   19 -0.068
KINGS         22 59  8992  9800 -0.046 40.773   27 -0.587   27 -0.581   28 -0.670   26 0.4453   13  3.987   28 -0.622   27 -0.719

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 17  9657  8711  0.076 39.575    1  0.787    1  0.787    1  0.816    1 0.5722   26  3.929    3  0.567    1  1.064
NUGGETS       53 28  9882  9470  0.020 39.196    6  0.377    6  0.376    7  0.365    6 0.5362    5  4.030    2  0.638   14  0.091
TIMBERWOLVES  48 33  9544  9275  0.012 39.386   10  0.223   10  0.220   12  0.190   10 0.5215   12  3.988   10  0.242   11  0.138
TRAIL BLAZERS 41 40  9347  9383  0.009 40.211   18  0.027   18  0.028   16  0.050   18 0.5020   16  3.981   13  0.065   17  0.035
JAZZ          22 59  9535 10202 -0.040 40.630   26 -0.578   26 -0.579   27 -0.566   27 0.4450    1  4.079   16 -0.028   29 -1.104

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 20  9821  9141  0.075 40.485    2  0.689    2  0.691    2  0.690    2 0.5639   14  3.986    1  0.734    5  0.646
ROCKETS       51 30  9317  8920  0.021 39.212    9  0.316    9  0.319    9  0.293    9 0.5306   28  3.912   17 -0.042    6  0.628
PELICANS      26 55  9347  9710 -0.022 40.253   23 -0.455   23 -0.456   21 -0.242   23 0.4571    8  4.012   18 -0.065   23 -0.419
MAVERICKS     25 56  9209  9682 -0.026 40.533   24 -0.478   24 -0.476   23 -0.453   24 0.4542   11  3.989   25 -0.396   24 -0.510
GRIZZLIES     25 56  9302  9764 -0.037 40.117   25 -0.497   25 -0.498   26 -0.559   25 0.4530    6  4.018   24 -0.350   28 -0.768

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       59 22  9524  8867  0.028 38.708    3  0.553    3  0.557    3  0.602    3 0.5539   23  3.941    7  0.411    3  0.793
CAVALIERS     51 30  9671  9346  0.020 39.496    8  0.318    8  0.323   10  0.268    8 0.5310    7  4.013    6  0.453   15  0.083
BUCKS         32 49  8966  9455 -0.044 40.179   21 -0.268   21 -0.264   25 -0.530   21 0.4733   20  3.950   29 -0.674   22 -0.387
BULLS         31 50  9409  9815 -0.028 40.319   22 -0.284   22 -0.285   22 -0.393   22 0.4712    4  4.036   20 -0.086   26 -0.701
PACERS        19 62  9098  9741 -0.040 40.625   29 -0.674   29 -0.677   24 -0.504   29 0.4361   10  3.995   26 -0.416   25 -0.592

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 35  9597  9373  0.020 39.732   11  0.176   11  0.173    8  0.310   11 0.5164    9  4.011    4  0.484   12  0.137
MAGIC         45 36  9383  9326  0.014 40.115   13  0.146   13  0.147   18  0.020   13 0.5134   18  3.972   15 -0.010   16  0.049
HORNETS       43 38  9403  9021  0.007 38.895   16  0.071   16  0.063    6  0.464   16 0.5057   21  3.947    9  0.308    7  0.621
HEAT          42 39  9768  9603  0.024 40.066   17  0.058   17  0.058   15  0.065   17 0.5051    2  4.057    5  0.482   20 -0.351
WIZARDS       17 64  9140 10110 -0.070 40.550   30 -0.787   30 -0.789   30 -0.841   30 0.4290    3  4.037   27 -0.532   30 -1.150

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       55 26  9305  8679  0.042 39.219    4  0.454    4  0.448    4  0.583    4 0.5429   29  3.904   11  0.209    2  0.958
KNICKS        54 28  9577  9033  0.040 39.885    5  0.403    5  0.398    5  0.493    5 0.5382   22  3.946    8  0.329    4  0.657
RAPTORS       45 36  9264  9067  0.028 40.119   12  0.154   12  0.150   11  0.213   12 0.5141   24  3.938   14  0.011    8  0.415
76ERS         44 37  9376  9411  0.002 40.049   15  0.113   15  0.118   19 -0.066   15 0.5103   17  3.978   19 -0.065   18 -0.067
NETS          20 61  8585  9369 -0.060 40.506   28 -0.667   28 -0.662   29 -0.782   28 0.4384   30  3.897   30 -1.194   21 -0.371

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 228 177 0.563    1  0.181
ATLANTIC DIVISION  218 188 0.537    2  0.108
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 193 212 0.477    3 -0.010
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 189 217 0.466    4 -0.046
PACIFIC DIVISION   196 209 0.484    5 -0.091
CENTRAL DIVISION   192 213 0.474    6 -0.118

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.144 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: Sat Apr 11 05:30:10 2026
games through: Fri Apr 10 2026

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