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
LAKERS        11  2 1588 1485  0.082  6.497    2  0.658    2  0.648    7  0.409    1 0.5788    5  4.028    1  0.764   13  0.053 P
SPURS         11  2 1553 1381  0.166  6.502    1  0.679    1  0.672    1  0.724    2 0.5773   19  3.944    3  0.646    2  0.801 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  9  3 1435 1342  0.250  6.718    4  0.552    4  0.538    4  0.471    3 0.5735    7  4.001    2  0.687    9  0.255 P
ROCKETS       10  3 1510 1396  0.216  7.026    3  0.593    3  0.578    3  0.531    4 0.5725   18  3.951    4  0.485    6  0.577 P
CELTICS       10  2 1371 1237 -0.092  4.859    5  0.527    5  0.503    5  0.468    5 0.5598   28  3.880   17  0.068    1  0.869 P
THUNDER        8  5 1445 1396  0.328  7.646    7  0.389    7  0.403    6  0.434    6 0.5507   27  3.887   16  0.071    3  0.797 P
76ERS         10  3 1445 1422 -0.107  5.887    6  0.404    6  0.413   16 -0.019    7 0.5480   24  3.922   21 -0.208   11  0.170 P
WARRIORS       8  5 1517 1461  0.247  7.267    8  0.329    8  0.340    8  0.350    8 0.5474   17  3.952    9  0.313    7  0.386 P
PISTONS        8  4 1388 1323 -0.104  5.248   12  0.209   11  0.203   12  0.143    9 0.5378   16  3.954   13  0.114   10  0.172 P
NUGGETS        7  4 1261 1241  0.095  5.719   10  0.282   10  0.284   11  0.168   10 0.5360   22  3.936   18  0.048    8  0.289 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES   9  4 1538 1388  0.079  6.017    9  0.314    9  0.312    2  0.550   11 0.5332   25  3.920    8  0.348    5  0.751 P
GRIZZLIES      9  4 1568 1452 -0.128  5.348   11  0.210   12  0.202    9  0.274   12 0.5155    8  3.993    6  0.449   12  0.100 P
SUNS           5  6 1229 1277  0.166  6.349   15  0.036   14  0.050   18 -0.076   13 0.5130    9  3.993   15  0.094   21 -0.246 P
MAVERICKS      7  6 1475 1473  0.166  7.167   13  0.157   13  0.152   13  0.093   14 0.5122   11  3.972   11  0.157   14  0.029 P
HEAT           7  6 1543 1558 -0.022  6.400   14  0.042   15  0.049   17 -0.039   15 0.5069    2  4.047    7  0.421   27 -0.499 P
CAVALIERS      7  7 1645 1622 -0.017  6.765   16 -0.017   16 -0.013   14  0.076   16 0.4976    4  4.035    5  0.471   23 -0.318 P
HAWKS          7  6 1536 1519 -0.193  5.469   17 -0.063   17 -0.066   19 -0.083   17 0.4949    6  4.005   12  0.150   22 -0.316 P
KNICKS         6  6 1317 1244 -0.150  4.982   18 -0.106   18 -0.113   10  0.207   18 0.4877   29  3.848   24 -0.349    4  0.762 P
RAPTORS        5  7 1371 1354  0.009  5.922   19 -0.149   19 -0.154   15  0.037   19 0.4799   12  3.972   14  0.100   16 -0.025 P
MAGIC          5  7 1300 1353 -0.069  5.922   20 -0.186   20 -0.160   21 -0.232   20 0.4656   23  3.923   25 -0.418   17 -0.046 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CLIPPERS       3  8 1235 1293  0.106  6.147   21 -0.305   21 -0.290   20 -0.142   21 0.4632   14  3.962   19 -0.128   19 -0.156 P
PACERS         5  8 1445 1472 -0.205  5.581   22 -0.323   22 -0.314   22 -0.236   22 0.4539   20  3.943   22 -0.321   18 -0.152 P
HORNETS        4  8 1183 1315 -0.254  5.226   24 -0.402   24 -0.398   30 -0.699   23 0.4522   30  3.813   30 -1.420   15  0.022 P
BULLS          3  9 1375 1511  0.049  6.811   23 -0.349   23 -0.334   24 -0.412   24 0.4521    1  4.086   10  0.257   30 -1.081 P
WIZARDS        4  9 1430 1505 -0.264  5.643   26 -0.486   26 -0.487   27 -0.496   25 0.4385   21  3.937   28 -0.609   24 -0.382 P
NETS           3  9 1322 1397 -0.159  5.761   27 -0.511   27 -0.516   23 -0.399   26 0.4320   13  3.970   23 -0.345   25 -0.453 P
PELICANS       4 10 1622 1749 -0.188  6.552   25 -0.460   25 -0.458   28 -0.577   27 0.4310    3  4.040   20 -0.158   29 -0.997 P
KINGS          1 11 1298 1451  0.107  7.033   28 -0.618   28 -0.628   26 -0.489   28 0.4209   15  3.960   26 -0.486   26 -0.491 P
JAZZ           1 12 1397 1542  0.102  7.688   29 -0.682   29 -0.705   25 -0.441   29 0.4178   26  3.914   29 -0.670   20 -0.212 P
BUCKS          1 12 1380 1563 -0.036  7.044   30 -0.724   30 -0.754   29 -0.651   30 0.4074   10  3.972   27 -0.586   28 -0.716 P

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        11  2 1588 1485  0.082  6.497    2  0.658    2  0.648    7  0.409    1 0.5788    5  4.028    1  0.764   13  0.053 P
WARRIORS       8  5 1517 1461  0.247  7.267    8  0.329    8  0.340    8  0.350    8 0.5474   17  3.952    9  0.313    7  0.386 P
SUNS           5  6 1229 1277  0.166  6.349   15  0.036   14  0.050   18 -0.076   13 0.5130    9  3.993   15  0.094   21 -0.246 P
CLIPPERS       3  8 1235 1293  0.106  6.147   21 -0.305   21 -0.290   20 -0.142   21 0.4632   14  3.962   19 -0.128   19 -0.156 P
KINGS          1 11 1298 1451  0.107  7.033   28 -0.618   28 -0.628   26 -0.489   28 0.4209   15  3.960   26 -0.486   26 -0.491 P

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
TRAIL BLAZERS  9  3 1435 1342  0.250  6.718    4  0.552    4  0.538    4  0.471    3 0.5735    7  4.001    2  0.687    9  0.255 P
THUNDER        8  5 1445 1396  0.328  7.646    7  0.389    7  0.403    6  0.434    6 0.5507   27  3.887   16  0.071    3  0.797 P
NUGGETS        7  4 1261 1241  0.095  5.719   10  0.282   10  0.284   11  0.168   10 0.5360   22  3.936   18  0.048    8  0.289 P
TIMBERWOLVES   9  4 1538 1388  0.079  6.017    9  0.314    9  0.312    2  0.550   11 0.5332   25  3.920    8  0.348    5  0.751 P
JAZZ           1 12 1397 1542  0.102  7.688   29 -0.682   29 -0.705   25 -0.441   29 0.4178   26  3.914   29 -0.670   20 -0.212 P

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         11  2 1553 1381  0.166  6.502    1  0.679    1  0.672    1  0.724    2 0.5773   19  3.944    3  0.646    2  0.801 P
ROCKETS       10  3 1510 1396  0.216  7.026    3  0.593    3  0.578    3  0.531    4 0.5725   18  3.951    4  0.485    6  0.577 P
GRIZZLIES      9  4 1568 1452 -0.128  5.348   11  0.210   12  0.202    9  0.274   12 0.5155    8  3.993    6  0.449   12  0.100 P
MAVERICKS      7  6 1475 1473  0.166  7.167   13  0.157   13  0.152   13  0.093   14 0.5122   11  3.972   11  0.157   14  0.029 P
PELICANS       4 10 1622 1749 -0.188  6.552   25 -0.460   25 -0.458   28 -0.577   27 0.4310    3  4.040   20 -0.158   29 -0.997 P

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        8  4 1388 1323 -0.104  5.248   12  0.209   11  0.203   12  0.143    9 0.5378   16  3.954   13  0.114   10  0.172 P
CAVALIERS      7  7 1645 1622 -0.017  6.765   16 -0.017   16 -0.013   14  0.076   16 0.4976    4  4.035    5  0.471   23 -0.318 P
PACERS         5  8 1445 1472 -0.205  5.581   22 -0.323   22 -0.314   22 -0.236   22 0.4539   20  3.943   22 -0.321   18 -0.152 P
BULLS          3  9 1375 1511  0.049  6.811   23 -0.349   23 -0.334   24 -0.412   24 0.4521    1  4.086   10  0.257   30 -1.081 P
BUCKS          1 12 1380 1563 -0.036  7.044   30 -0.724   30 -0.754   29 -0.651   30 0.4074   10  3.972   27 -0.586   28 -0.716 P

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
HEAT           7  6 1543 1558 -0.022  6.400   14  0.042   15  0.049   17 -0.039   15 0.5069    2  4.047    7  0.421   27 -0.499 P
HAWKS          7  6 1536 1519 -0.193  5.469   17 -0.063   17 -0.066   19 -0.083   17 0.4949    6  4.005   12  0.150   22 -0.316 P
MAGIC          5  7 1300 1353 -0.069  5.922   20 -0.186   20 -0.160   21 -0.232   20 0.4656   23  3.923   25 -0.418   17 -0.046 P
HORNETS        4  8 1183 1315 -0.254  5.226   24 -0.402   24 -0.398   30 -0.699   23 0.4522   30  3.813   30 -1.420   15  0.022 P
WIZARDS        4  9 1430 1505 -0.264  5.643   26 -0.486   26 -0.487   27 -0.496   25 0.4385   21  3.937   28 -0.609   24 -0.382 P

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       10  2 1371 1237 -0.092  4.859    5  0.527    5  0.503    5  0.468    5 0.5598   28  3.880   17  0.068    1  0.869 P
76ERS         10  3 1445 1422 -0.107  5.887    6  0.404    6  0.413   16 -0.019    7 0.5480   24  3.922   21 -0.208   11  0.170 P
KNICKS         6  6 1317 1244 -0.150  4.982   18 -0.106   18 -0.113   10  0.207   18 0.4877   29  3.848   24 -0.349    4  0.762 P
RAPTORS        5  7 1371 1354  0.009  5.922   19 -0.149   19 -0.154   15  0.037   19 0.4799   12  3.972   14  0.100   16 -0.025 P
NETS           3  9 1322 1397 -0.159  5.761   27 -0.511   27 -0.516   23 -0.399   26 0.4320   13  3.970   23 -0.345   25 -0.453 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 34 28 0.548    1  0.353
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 41 25 0.621    2  0.326
ATLANTIC DIVISION  34 27 0.557    3  0.085
PACIFIC DIVISION   28 32 0.467    4  0.012
CENTRAL DIVISION   24 40 0.375    5 -0.302
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 27 36 0.429    6 -0.425

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.203 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: Sun Nov 15 05:30:16 2026
games through: Sat Nov 14 2026

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