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
ROCKETS       6 1 845 758  0.282  3.894    1  0.478    1  0.469    1  0.505    1 0.5982   14  3.980    1  0.595    4  0.416 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 3 840 761  0.270  3.913   11  0.156   11  0.162    2  0.485   13 0.5205   20  3.945    4  0.396    3  0.575 P
GRIZZLIES     6 0 727 636 -0.053  2.440    2  0.450    2  0.433    3  0.314    2 0.5779   19  3.949    7  0.248    6  0.380 P
SPURS         4 2 704 661  0.195  3.200    7  0.227    7  0.219    4  0.268    8 0.5446   17  3.951    8  0.212    9  0.323 P
WARRIORS      3 3 700 692  0.383  3.775   13  0.133   12  0.147    5  0.216   10 0.5297   12  3.987    6  0.341   16  0.091 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 4 1 603 546 -0.017  2.237    8  0.225    8  0.216    6  0.202    7 0.5497   15  3.960   10  0.188   13  0.215 P
PISTONS       5 1 659 611 -0.034  2.698    3  0.356    4  0.295    7  0.195    5 0.5605   28  3.882   22 -0.209    2  0.599 P
LAKERS        4 2 711 680  0.113  3.106    9  0.178    9  0.189    8  0.185    9 0.5308    6  4.014    3  0.451   18 -0.081 P
THUNDER       4 2 639 642  0.239  3.365    6  0.282    5  0.273    9  0.184    3 0.5666   29  3.879   23 -0.234    1  0.602 P
MAVERICKS     4 2 686 671  0.340  3.682    5  0.289    6  0.265   10  0.184    4 0.5619   18  3.950   13  0.118   12  0.249 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       3 2 584 531 -0.094  2.032   15  0.010   16  0.015   11  0.175   16 0.4950   24  3.920   18 -0.038    5  0.389 P
CELTICS       4 1 604 558 -0.369  1.529   10  0.168   10  0.163   12  0.174   11 0.5263   16  3.955   12  0.136   14  0.212 P
CAVALIERS     4 2 726 696 -0.071  2.631   12  0.136   13  0.144   13  0.141   14 0.5189    8  4.007    5  0.371   19 -0.088 P
HAWKS         3 4 814 808  0.134  3.743   16 -0.039   17 -0.041   14  0.071   15 0.4950   11  3.987    9  0.200   17 -0.057 P
NUGGETS       3 2 570 576  0.033  2.498   14  0.067   14  0.108   15  0.043   12 0.5207   22  3.936   20 -0.090   15  0.175 P
KNICKS        2 4 642 646 -0.036  2.833   20 -0.157   20 -0.160   16  0.027   17 0.4864   26  3.894   26 -0.318    7  0.371 P
76ERS         6 1 761 734 -0.159  2.933    4  0.334    3  0.313   17  0.019    6 0.5589   25  3.896   25 -0.317    8  0.356 P
CLIPPERS      1 4 527 559  0.198  2.949   23 -0.200   22 -0.186   18 -0.058   23 0.4588   27  3.891   27 -0.417   11  0.301 P
HEAT          2 4 710 729  0.011  3.023   19 -0.152   19 -0.148   19 -0.062   20 0.4691    2  4.073    2  0.519   27 -0.643 P
MAGIC         2 3 549 592  0.329  3.218   17 -0.040   15  0.028   20 -0.099   19 0.4819   10  3.995   16  0.068   22 -0.266 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PELICANS      2 4 718 707 -0.293  2.276   25 -0.279   25 -0.282   21 -0.116   26 0.4356    9  3.998   15  0.071   23 -0.303 P
SUNS          1 3 448 498  0.198  2.408   18 -0.129   18 -0.115   22 -0.190   18 0.4854    4  4.035   11  0.188   26 -0.568 P
PACERS        2 4 700 719 -0.196  2.542   24 -0.234   24 -0.237   23 -0.204   24 0.4481    7  4.010   17  0.043   24 -0.451 P
WIZARDS       3 3 663 658 -0.444  2.065   21 -0.177   23 -0.190   24 -0.282   22 0.4610   23  3.935   28 -0.424   20 -0.141 P
JAZZ          1 5 652 713  0.103  3.422   26 -0.298   26 -0.296   25 -0.316   25 0.4435   21  3.940   29 -0.429   21 -0.203 P
HORNETS       3 4 688 745 -0.291  2.865   22 -0.196   21 -0.183   26 -0.425   21 0.4672   30  3.812   30 -1.168   10  0.318 P
NETS          0 5 551 606 -0.224  2.344   30 -0.461   30 -0.511   27 -0.427   30 0.3941   13  3.985   24 -0.309   25 -0.545 P
BUCKS         1 5 678 757 -0.295  2.616   28 -0.389   28 -0.411   28 -0.460   27 0.4265    5  4.028   21 -0.115   28 -0.804 P
KINGS         0 6 656 770  0.211  3.772   29 -0.401   29 -0.414   29 -0.475   29 0.4189    3  4.042   19 -0.059   29 -0.892 P
BULLS         1 5 681 776 -0.154  3.022   27 -0.336   27 -0.356   30 -0.496   28 0.4233    1  4.076   14  0.103   30 -1.096 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
WARRIORS      3 3 700 692  0.383  3.775   13  0.133   12  0.147    5  0.216   10 0.5297   12  3.987    6  0.341   16  0.091 P
LAKERS        4 2 711 680  0.113  3.106    9  0.178    9  0.189    8  0.185    9 0.5308    6  4.014    3  0.451   18 -0.081 P
CLIPPERS      1 4 527 559  0.198  2.949   23 -0.200   22 -0.186   18 -0.058   23 0.4588   27  3.891   27 -0.417   11  0.301 P
SUNS          1 3 448 498  0.198  2.408   18 -0.129   18 -0.115   22 -0.190   18 0.4854    4  4.035   11  0.188   26 -0.568 P
KINGS         0 6 656 770  0.211  3.772   29 -0.401   29 -0.414   29 -0.475   29 0.4189    3  4.042   19 -0.059   29 -0.892 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
TIMBERWOLVES  4 3 840 761  0.270  3.913   11  0.156   11  0.162    2  0.485   13 0.5205   20  3.945    4  0.396    3  0.575 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 4 1 603 546 -0.017  2.237    8  0.225    8  0.216    6  0.202    7 0.5497   15  3.960   10  0.188   13  0.215 P
THUNDER       4 2 639 642  0.239  3.365    6  0.282    5  0.273    9  0.184    3 0.5666   29  3.879   23 -0.234    1  0.602 P
NUGGETS       3 2 570 576  0.033  2.498   14  0.067   14  0.108   15  0.043   12 0.5207   22  3.936   20 -0.090   15  0.175 P
JAZZ          1 5 652 713  0.103  3.422   26 -0.298   26 -0.296   25 -0.316   25 0.4435   21  3.940   29 -0.429   21 -0.203 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
ROCKETS       6 1 845 758  0.282  3.894    1  0.478    1  0.469    1  0.505    1 0.5982   14  3.980    1  0.595    4  0.416 P
GRIZZLIES     6 0 727 636 -0.053  2.440    2  0.450    2  0.433    3  0.314    2 0.5779   19  3.949    7  0.248    6  0.380 P
SPURS         4 2 704 661  0.195  3.200    7  0.227    7  0.219    4  0.268    8 0.5446   17  3.951    8  0.212    9  0.323 P
MAVERICKS     4 2 686 671  0.340  3.682    5  0.289    6  0.265   10  0.184    4 0.5619   18  3.950   13  0.118   12  0.249 P
PELICANS      2 4 718 707 -0.293  2.276   25 -0.279   25 -0.282   21 -0.116   26 0.4356    9  3.998   15  0.071   23 -0.303 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       5 1 659 611 -0.034  2.698    3  0.356    4  0.295    7  0.195    5 0.5605   28  3.882   22 -0.209    2  0.599 P
CAVALIERS     4 2 726 696 -0.071  2.631   12  0.136   13  0.144   13  0.141   14 0.5189    8  4.007    5  0.371   19 -0.088 P
PACERS        2 4 700 719 -0.196  2.542   24 -0.234   24 -0.237   23 -0.204   24 0.4481    7  4.010   17  0.043   24 -0.451 P
BUCKS         1 5 678 757 -0.295  2.616   28 -0.389   28 -0.411   28 -0.460   27 0.4265    5  4.028   21 -0.115   28 -0.804 P
BULLS         1 5 681 776 -0.154  3.022   27 -0.336   27 -0.356   30 -0.496   28 0.4233    1  4.076   14  0.103   30 -1.096 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
HAWKS         3 4 814 808  0.134  3.743   16 -0.039   17 -0.041   14  0.071   15 0.4950   11  3.987    9  0.200   17 -0.057 P
HEAT          2 4 710 729  0.011  3.023   19 -0.152   19 -0.148   19 -0.062   20 0.4691    2  4.073    2  0.519   27 -0.643 P
MAGIC         2 3 549 592  0.329  3.218   17 -0.040   15  0.028   20 -0.099   19 0.4819   10  3.995   16  0.068   22 -0.266 P
WIZARDS       3 3 663 658 -0.444  2.065   21 -0.177   23 -0.190   24 -0.282   22 0.4610   23  3.935   28 -0.424   20 -0.141 P
HORNETS       3 4 688 745 -0.291  2.865   22 -0.196   21 -0.183   26 -0.425   21 0.4672   30  3.812   30 -1.168   10  0.318 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
RAPTORS       3 2 584 531 -0.094  2.032   15  0.010   16  0.015   11  0.175   16 0.4950   24  3.920   18 -0.038    5  0.389 P
CELTICS       4 1 604 558 -0.369  1.529   10  0.168   10  0.163   12  0.174   11 0.5263   16  3.955   12  0.136   14  0.212 P
KNICKS        2 4 642 646 -0.036  2.833   20 -0.157   20 -0.160   16  0.027   17 0.4864   26  3.894   26 -0.318    7  0.371 P
76ERS         6 1 761 734 -0.159  2.933    4  0.334    3  0.313   17  0.019    6 0.5589   25  3.896   25 -0.317    8  0.356 P
NETS          0 5 551 606 -0.224  2.344   30 -0.461   30 -0.511   27 -0.427   30 0.3941   13  3.985   24 -0.309   25 -0.545 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 22  9 0.710    1  0.418
NORTHWEST DIVISION 16 13 0.552    2  0.235
ATLANTIC DIVISION  15 13 0.536    3  0.010
PACIFIC DIVISION    9 18 0.333    4 -0.111
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 13 18 0.419    5 -0.267
CENTRAL DIVISION   13 17 0.433    6 -0.292

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.233 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.021 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  1 05:30:18 2026
games through: Sat Oct 31 2026

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