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
NUGGETS       4 2 750 683  0.082  2.811    8  0.130    8  0.118    1  0.267    7 0.5306   16  3.991    7  0.278    7  0.256 P
THUNDER       7 0 855 768 -0.179  2.565    1  0.305    1  0.319    2  0.260    1 0.5742   30  3.894   23 -0.221    1  0.742 P
ROCKETS       4 2 749 673  0.089  2.781    9  0.121    9  0.108    3  0.259   13 0.5245   17  3.989    8  0.255    5  0.263 P
HEAT          4 3 867 819  0.159  3.688   11  0.101   11  0.088    4  0.195   11 0.5266    1  4.057    1  0.555   20 -0.165 P
LAKERS        6 2 958 933  0.153  4.287    2  0.234    2  0.240    5  0.139    3 0.5651   13  4.003    9  0.210   13  0.068 P
WARRIORS      4 3 823 810  0.140  3.687   10  0.107   10  0.095    6  0.115   12 0.5250   22  3.966   15 -0.003    8  0.233 P
CELTICS       3 5 884 877  0.084  4.039   20 -0.087   21 -0.061    7  0.114   20 0.4853   29  3.899   28 -0.344    2  0.572 P
KNICKS        4 3 814 795  0.115  3.606   12  0.083   13  0.082    8  0.110    8 0.5289   24  3.960   17 -0.043    6  0.262 P
BUCKS         5 2 859 825 -0.067  3.085    7  0.147    7  0.136    9  0.101    5 0.5328    4  4.043    2  0.385   22 -0.183 P
BULLS         5 1 730 698  0.037  2.915    3  0.208    3  0.212   10  0.093    2 0.5675    8  4.032    4  0.318   18 -0.133 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         5 1 709 649 -0.236  2.208    6  0.151    6  0.142   11  0.083    9 0.5275   28  3.903   29 -0.358    3  0.524 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 3 818 809  0.045  3.442   13  0.075   14  0.072   12  0.082   14 0.5178   19  3.973   13 -0.001   10  0.164 P
76ERS         5 1 754 709 -0.194  2.328    4  0.169    5  0.162   13  0.072    6 0.5308    3  4.044    3  0.361   24 -0.216 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 4 3 842 823  0.166  3.827   14  0.068   12  0.087   14  0.065   10 0.5274    7  4.036    5  0.309   21 -0.179 P
PISTONS       5 2 811 787  0.063  3.506    5  0.166    4  0.164   15  0.057    4 0.5405   18  3.978   14 -0.003   12  0.117 P
CAVALIERS     4 3 799 797  0.018  3.390   15  0.054   15  0.066   16  0.050   15 0.5164   25  3.956   20 -0.124    9  0.223 P
MAGIC         3 4 818 814 -0.005  3.366   19 -0.081   19 -0.055   17  0.007   16 0.4906   21  3.968   19 -0.102   11  0.117 P
KINGS         2 5 814 847  0.273  4.219   23 -0.094   23 -0.075   18 -0.008   17 0.4892   10  4.018   10  0.144   19 -0.159 P
CLIPPERS      3 3 675 680 -0.106  2.664   16 -0.013   16 -0.013   19 -0.025   18 0.4887   27  3.931   27 -0.323    4  0.272 P
RAPTORS       3 4 836 844  0.043  3.541   17 -0.039   17 -0.041   20 -0.029   21 0.4847    2  4.050    6  0.293   26 -0.351 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          3 4 828 844 -0.063  3.260   21 -0.092   22 -0.068   21 -0.058   22 0.4749    9  4.023   12  0.117   25 -0.233 P
HAWKS         3 4 806 827  0.014  3.502   18 -0.064   18 -0.046   22 -0.074   19 0.4860   15  3.998   16 -0.027   17 -0.121 P
JAZZ          3 4 809 830 -0.032  3.370   22 -0.093   20 -0.060   23 -0.126   23 0.4714   20  3.972   22 -0.216   16 -0.036 P
HORNETS       3 4 851 847 -0.217  2.909   25 -0.128   25 -0.121   24 -0.134   25 0.4573    5  4.040   11  0.133   27 -0.400 P
GRIZZLIES     3 5 924 963 -0.112  3.674   24 -0.127   24 -0.118   25 -0.149   24 0.4635   14  4.000   18 -0.095   23 -0.204 P
PACERS        1 6 790 844 -0.043  3.390   27 -0.248   27 -0.254   26 -0.170   27 0.4286   23  3.963   26 -0.306   15 -0.033 P
MAVERICKS     2 5 751 809 -0.175  3.204   26 -0.184   26 -0.188   27 -0.220   26 0.4453   26  3.939   30 -0.479   14  0.040 P
PELICANS      0 6 646 755  0.125  3.532   29 -0.270   29 -0.278   28 -0.349   29 0.4111   12  4.008   24 -0.253   28 -0.445 P
NETS          0 7 783 893 -0.043  3.615   30 -0.339   30 -0.360   29 -0.387   30 0.3950    6  4.036   21 -0.143   30 -0.631 P
WIZARDS       1 6 788 889 -0.059  3.630   28 -0.262   28 -0.269   30 -0.405   28 0.4265   11  4.014   25 -0.274   29 -0.536 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        6 2 958 933  0.153  4.287    2  0.234    2  0.240    5  0.139    3 0.5651   13  4.003    9  0.210   13  0.068 P
WARRIORS      4 3 823 810  0.140  3.687   10  0.107   10  0.095    6  0.115   12 0.5250   22  3.966   15 -0.003    8  0.233 P
KINGS         2 5 814 847  0.273  4.219   23 -0.094   23 -0.075   18 -0.008   17 0.4892   10  4.018   10  0.144   19 -0.159 P
CLIPPERS      3 3 675 680 -0.106  2.664   16 -0.013   16 -0.013   19 -0.025   18 0.4887   27  3.931   27 -0.323    4  0.272 P
SUNS          3 4 828 844 -0.063  3.260   21 -0.092   22 -0.068   21 -0.058   22 0.4749    9  4.023   12  0.117   25 -0.233 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
NUGGETS       4 2 750 683  0.082  2.811    8  0.130    8  0.118    1  0.267    7 0.5306   16  3.991    7  0.278    7  0.256 P
THUNDER       7 0 855 768 -0.179  2.565    1  0.305    1  0.319    2  0.260    1 0.5742   30  3.894   23 -0.221    1  0.742 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 3 818 809  0.045  3.442   13  0.075   14  0.072   12  0.082   14 0.5178   19  3.973   13 -0.001   10  0.164 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 4 3 842 823  0.166  3.827   14  0.068   12  0.087   14  0.065   10 0.5274    7  4.036    5  0.309   21 -0.179 P
JAZZ          3 4 809 830 -0.032  3.370   22 -0.093   20 -0.060   23 -0.126   23 0.4714   20  3.972   22 -0.216   16 -0.036 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       4 2 749 673  0.089  2.781    9  0.121    9  0.108    3  0.259   13 0.5245   17  3.989    8  0.255    5  0.263 P
SPURS         5 1 709 649 -0.236  2.208    6  0.151    6  0.142   11  0.083    9 0.5275   28  3.903   29 -0.358    3  0.524 P
GRIZZLIES     3 5 924 963 -0.112  3.674   24 -0.127   24 -0.118   25 -0.149   24 0.4635   14  4.000   18 -0.095   23 -0.204 P
MAVERICKS     2 5 751 809 -0.175  3.204   26 -0.184   26 -0.188   27 -0.220   26 0.4453   26  3.939   30 -0.479   14  0.040 P
PELICANS      0 6 646 755  0.125  3.532   29 -0.270   29 -0.278   28 -0.349   29 0.4111   12  4.008   24 -0.253   28 -0.445 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
BUCKS         5 2 859 825 -0.067  3.085    7  0.147    7  0.136    9  0.101    5 0.5328    4  4.043    2  0.385   22 -0.183 P
BULLS         5 1 730 698  0.037  2.915    3  0.208    3  0.212   10  0.093    2 0.5675    8  4.032    4  0.318   18 -0.133 P
PISTONS       5 2 811 787  0.063  3.506    5  0.166    4  0.164   15  0.057    4 0.5405   18  3.978   14 -0.003   12  0.117 P
CAVALIERS     4 3 799 797  0.018  3.390   15  0.054   15  0.066   16  0.050   15 0.5164   25  3.956   20 -0.124    9  0.223 P
PACERS        1 6 790 844 -0.043  3.390   27 -0.248   27 -0.254   26 -0.170   27 0.4286   23  3.963   26 -0.306   15 -0.033 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          4 3 867 819  0.159  3.688   11  0.101   11  0.088    4  0.195   11 0.5266    1  4.057    1  0.555   20 -0.165 P
MAGIC         3 4 818 814 -0.005  3.366   19 -0.081   19 -0.055   17  0.007   16 0.4906   21  3.968   19 -0.102   11  0.117 P
HAWKS         3 4 806 827  0.014  3.502   18 -0.064   18 -0.046   22 -0.074   19 0.4860   15  3.998   16 -0.027   17 -0.121 P
HORNETS       3 4 851 847 -0.217  2.909   25 -0.128   25 -0.121   24 -0.134   25 0.4573    5  4.040   11  0.133   27 -0.400 P
WIZARDS       1 6 788 889 -0.059  3.630   28 -0.262   28 -0.269   30 -0.405   28 0.4265   11  4.014   25 -0.274   29 -0.536 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       3 5 884 877  0.084  4.039   20 -0.087   21 -0.061    7  0.114   20 0.4853   29  3.899   28 -0.344    2  0.572 P
KNICKS        4 3 814 795  0.115  3.606   12  0.083   13  0.082    8  0.110    8 0.5289   24  3.960   17 -0.043    6  0.262 P
76ERS         5 1 754 709 -0.194  2.328    4  0.169    5  0.162   13  0.072    6 0.5308    3  4.044    3  0.361   24 -0.216 P
RAPTORS       3 4 836 844  0.043  3.541   17 -0.039   17 -0.041   20 -0.029   21 0.4847    2  4.050    6  0.293   26 -0.351 P
NETS          0 7 783 893 -0.043  3.615   30 -0.339   30 -0.360   29 -0.387   30 0.3950    6  4.036   21 -0.143   30 -0.631 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 22 12 0.647    1  0.268
CENTRAL DIVISION   20 14 0.588    2  0.072
PACIFIC DIVISION   18 17 0.514    3  0.068
ATLANTIC DIVISION  15 20 0.429    4 -0.034
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 14 21 0.400    5 -0.168
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 14 19 0.424    6 -0.172

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue Nov  4 05:30:12 2025
games through: Mon Nov  3 2025

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