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       68 18 10251  9268  0.066 42.142    1  0.797    1  0.784    1  0.780    1 0.5716   24  3.938    2  0.587    1  0.973
SPURS         66 23 10603  9873  0.060 43.910    2  0.654    2  0.640    2  0.653    2 0.5595   14  3.977    1  0.664    6  0.641
PISTONS       64 25 10374  9672  0.013 42.532    3  0.536    3  0.525    4  0.561    3 0.5510   26  3.929    7  0.325    4  0.797
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.022 42.976    4  0.406    4  0.391    5  0.492    4 0.5389   29  3.899   12  0.105    2  0.880
KNICKS        59 31 10517  9843  0.038 43.963    5  0.406    5  0.389    3  0.618    5 0.5372   23  3.940    5  0.438    3  0.797
LAKERS        57 31 10147  9988  0.023 43.855    6  0.394    6  0.388   12  0.209    6 0.5360   17  3.971   11  0.188   11  0.230
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.034 43.517    7  0.359    7  0.348    7  0.308    7 0.5336    5  4.023    3  0.558   15  0.059
CAVALIERS     56 33 10584 10234  0.011 43.474    8  0.326    8  0.317   10  0.250    8 0.5298    8  4.009    6  0.426   14  0.074
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.012 42.743    9  0.287    9  0.274    8  0.258    9 0.5274   30  3.898   21 -0.130    5  0.647
TIMBERWOLVES  54 35 10452 10148  0.029 44.109   10  0.282   10  0.270    9  0.250   10 0.5264   13  3.979    9  0.271   12  0.229
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
76ERS         50 41 10435 10497  0.030 46.315   11  0.176   11  0.164   19 -0.030   11 0.5138   16  3.972   18 -0.048   17 -0.013
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.031 44.493   14  0.160   14  0.140   11  0.221   12 0.5133   25  3.935   13  0.016    8  0.425
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.057 46.858   13  0.161   13  0.145   16  0.063   13 0.5129   19  3.954   17 -0.045   13  0.171
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.041 44.610   12  0.165   12  0.146   13  0.113   14 0.5125    9  4.008    8  0.285   18 -0.059
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.052 45.049   15  0.117   15  0.103   17  0.058   15 0.5095   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.329
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.005 40.661   16  0.092   16  0.074    6  0.404   16 0.5065   21  3.945   10  0.251    7  0.556
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.019 41.151   17  0.062   17  0.049   14  0.094   17 0.5040    2  4.060    4  0.542   20 -0.355
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.024 44.619   18  0.038   18  0.029   18  0.004   18 0.5023   15  3.973   14 -0.005   16  0.013
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.018 40.336   19  0.010   19 -0.008   15  0.093   19 0.4991   22  3.942   20 -0.077   10  0.263
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.007 42.011   20 -0.088   20 -0.104   20 -0.154   20 0.4896   18  3.966   22 -0.199   19 -0.109
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 -0.057 40.632   21 -0.280   21 -0.289   25 -0.552   21 0.4712   20  3.952   29 -0.670   22 -0.435
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.045 40.664   22 -0.299   22 -0.314   22 -0.423   22 0.4685    3  4.043   19 -0.070   27 -0.777
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.030 40.848   23 -0.461   24 -0.476   21 -0.243   23 0.4555    7  4.016   16 -0.029   23 -0.456
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.044 40.752   24 -0.464   23 -0.474   23 -0.426   24 0.4545   11  3.995   24 -0.323   24 -0.529
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.045 40.764   25 -0.502   25 -0.516   27 -0.587   25 0.4515    6  4.020   25 -0.352   28 -0.823
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.050 41.184   26 -0.586   26 -0.599   26 -0.585   26 0.4437    1  4.081   15 -0.026   29 -1.145
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.057 41.261   27 -0.596   27 -0.602   28 -0.670   27 0.4435   12  3.989   28 -0.597   26 -0.743
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.071 41.056   28 -0.675   28 -0.683   29 -0.811   28 0.4367   28  3.901   30 -1.189   21 -0.433
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.049 41.219   29 -0.680   29 -0.696   24 -0.502   29 0.4346   10  4.000   26 -0.374   25 -0.629
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.080 41.106   30 -0.794   30 -0.811   30 -0.829   30 0.4277    4  4.039   27 -0.492   30 -1.166

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 31 10147  9988  0.023 43.855    6  0.394    6  0.388   12  0.209    6 0.5360   17  3.971   11  0.188   11  0.230
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.052 45.049   15  0.117   15  0.103   17  0.058   15 0.5095   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.329
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.018 40.336   19  0.010   19 -0.008   15  0.093   19 0.4991   22  3.942   20 -0.077   10  0.263
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.007 42.011   20 -0.088   20 -0.104   20 -0.154   20 0.4896   18  3.966   22 -0.199   19 -0.109
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.057 41.261   27 -0.596   27 -0.602   28 -0.670   27 0.4435   12  3.989   28 -0.597   26 -0.743

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       68 18 10251  9268  0.066 42.142    1  0.797    1  0.784    1  0.780    1 0.5716   24  3.938    2  0.587    1  0.973
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.034 43.517    7  0.359    7  0.348    7  0.308    7 0.5336    5  4.023    3  0.558   15  0.059
TIMBERWOLVES  54 35 10452 10148  0.029 44.109   10  0.282   10  0.270    9  0.250   10 0.5264   13  3.979    9  0.271   12  0.229
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.024 44.619   18  0.038   18  0.029   18  0.004   18 0.5023   15  3.973   14 -0.005   16  0.013
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.050 41.184   26 -0.586   26 -0.599   26 -0.585   26 0.4437    1  4.081   15 -0.026   29 -1.145

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         66 23 10603  9873  0.060 43.910    2  0.654    2  0.640    2  0.653    2 0.5595   14  3.977    1  0.664    6  0.641
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.012 42.743    9  0.287    9  0.274    8  0.258    9 0.5274   30  3.898   21 -0.130    5  0.647
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.030 40.848   23 -0.461   24 -0.476   21 -0.243   23 0.4555    7  4.016   16 -0.029   23 -0.456
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.044 40.752   24 -0.464   23 -0.474   23 -0.426   24 0.4545   11  3.995   24 -0.323   24 -0.529
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.045 40.764   25 -0.502   25 -0.516   27 -0.587   25 0.4515    6  4.020   25 -0.352   28 -0.823

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       64 25 10374  9672  0.013 42.532    3  0.536    3  0.525    4  0.561    3 0.5510   26  3.929    7  0.325    4  0.797
CAVALIERS     56 33 10584 10234  0.011 43.474    8  0.326    8  0.317   10  0.250    8 0.5298    8  4.009    6  0.426   14  0.074
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.057 40.632   21 -0.280   21 -0.289   25 -0.552   21 0.4712   20  3.952   29 -0.670   22 -0.435
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.045 40.664   22 -0.299   22 -0.314   22 -0.423   22 0.4685    3  4.043   19 -0.070   27 -0.777
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.049 41.219   29 -0.680   29 -0.696   24 -0.502   29 0.4346   10  4.000   26 -0.374   25 -0.629

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  0.057 46.858   13  0.161   13  0.145   16  0.063   13 0.5129   19  3.954   17 -0.045   13  0.171
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.041 44.610   12  0.165   12  0.146   13  0.113   14 0.5125    9  4.008    8  0.285   18 -0.059
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.005 40.661   16  0.092   16  0.074    6  0.404   16 0.5065   21  3.945   10  0.251    7  0.556
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.019 41.151   17  0.062   17  0.049   14  0.094   17 0.5040    2  4.060    4  0.542   20 -0.355
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.080 41.106   30 -0.794   30 -0.811   30 -0.829   30 0.4277    4  4.039   27 -0.492   30 -1.166

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  0.022 42.976    4  0.406    4  0.391    5  0.492    4 0.5389   29  3.899   12  0.105    2  0.880
KNICKS        59 31 10517  9843  0.038 43.963    5  0.406    5  0.389    3  0.618    5 0.5372   23  3.940    5  0.438    3  0.797
76ERS         50 41 10435 10497  0.030 46.315   11  0.176   11  0.164   19 -0.030   11 0.5138   16  3.972   18 -0.048   17 -0.013
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.031 44.493   14  0.160   14  0.140   11  0.221   12 0.5133   25  3.935   13  0.016    8  0.425
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.071 41.056   28 -0.675   28 -0.683   29 -0.811   28 0.4367   28  3.901   30 -1.189   21 -0.433

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 244 189 0.564    1  0.166
ATLANTIC DIVISION  237 204 0.537    2  0.110
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.032
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 197 226 0.466    4 -0.061
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 220 0.482    5 -0.094
CENTRAL DIVISION   202 222 0.476    6 -0.140

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.150 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: Tue May  5 05:30:16 2026
games through: Mon May  4 2026

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