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
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.063 41.252   26 -0.586   26 -0.613   26 -0.582   26 0.4427    1  4.081   15 -0.015   29 -1.150
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.008 41.270   17  0.055   17  0.038   15  0.079   17 0.5030    2  4.061    4  0.537   20 -0.379
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.057 40.772   22 -0.302   22 -0.326   22 -0.423   22 0.4675    3  4.043   18 -0.060   27 -0.786
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.093 41.184   30 -0.791   30 -0.825   30 -0.820   30 0.4266    4  4.040   27 -0.474   30 -1.167
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.019 43.506    6  0.357    7  0.334    7  0.285    6 0.5325    5  4.024    2  0.543   15  0.028
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.057 40.870   25 -0.500   25 -0.529   27 -0.583   25 0.4505    6  4.021   25 -0.340   28 -0.826
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.042 40.949   23 -0.460   24 -0.488   21 -0.249   23 0.4544    7  4.017   16 -0.028   23 -0.471
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.033 44.837   11  0.158   11  0.138   13  0.107   12 0.5120    8  4.009    7  0.290   18 -0.076
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.061 41.321   29 -0.676   29 -0.709   24 -0.499   29 0.4336    9  4.001   26 -0.362   25 -0.636
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.061 51.468    8  0.311    8  0.296   10  0.195    8 0.5270   10  3.996    6  0.306   14  0.083
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.056 40.847   24 -0.462   23 -0.486   23 -0.427   24 0.4534   11  3.996   24 -0.316   24 -0.538
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.070 41.331   27 -0.595   27 -0.616   28 -0.663   27 0.4424   12  3.990   28 -0.583   26 -0.743
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.048 48.047   10  0.262   10  0.241   12  0.123   10 0.5232   13  3.979   10  0.150   13  0.096
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.015 44.828   18  0.035   18  0.021   18  0.001   18 0.5014   14  3.974   14  0.001   16  0.001
SPURS         73 27 11903 11056  0.118 51.695    2  0.707    2  0.665    1  0.790    2 0.5616   15  3.973    1  0.783    4  0.798
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.033 48.623   14  0.140   14  0.125   19 -0.080   14 0.5098   16  3.972   20 -0.090   17 -0.070
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.044 47.230    7  0.356    6  0.341   11  0.145    7 0.5314   17  3.971   11  0.130   11  0.160
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.005 42.109   20 -0.095   20 -0.115   20 -0.162   20 0.4886   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.124
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.043 46.901   13  0.152   12  0.132   17  0.044   13 0.5117   19  3.956   17 -0.052   12  0.139
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.070 40.713   21 -0.283   21 -0.302   25 -0.549   21 0.4701   20  3.953   29 -0.658   22 -0.441
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.006 40.783   16  0.085   16  0.064    6  0.383   16 0.5055   21  3.946    8  0.240    7  0.527
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.030 40.413   19  0.002   19 -0.021   14  0.080   19 0.4980   22  3.942   19 -0.083   10  0.243
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.020 44.597   12  0.153   13  0.128    9  0.203   11 0.5123   23  3.937   13  0.012    8  0.393
KNICKS        66 31 11352 10551  0.040 47.912    4  0.493    4  0.456    3  0.733    4 0.5439   24  3.935    5  0.531    2  0.936
THUNDER       75 21 11390 10361  0.106 49.005    1  0.844    1  0.804    2  0.752    1 0.5735   25  3.933    3  0.541    1  0.963
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.041 45.161   15  0.109   15  0.093   16  0.045   15 0.5086   26  3.923   23 -0.216    9  0.307
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.017 46.781    3  0.512    3  0.479    4  0.478    3 0.5469   27  3.921    9  0.208    5  0.748
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.083 41.166   28 -0.673   28 -0.697   29 -0.801   28 0.4357   28  3.901   30 -1.171   21 -0.432
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.009 43.043    5  0.408    5  0.379    5  0.468    5 0.5377   29  3.899   12  0.089    3  0.847
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.000 42.830    9  0.284    9  0.262    8  0.239    9 0.5262   30  3.899   21 -0.142    6  0.621

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
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.070 41.331   27 -0.595   27 -0.616   28 -0.663   27 0.4424   12  3.990   28 -0.583   26 -0.743
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.044 47.230    7  0.356    6  0.341   11  0.145    7 0.5314   17  3.971   11  0.130   11  0.160
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.005 42.109   20 -0.095   20 -0.115   20 -0.162   20 0.4886   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.124
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.030 40.413   19  0.002   19 -0.021   14  0.080   19 0.4980   22  3.942   19 -0.083   10  0.243
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.041 45.161   15  0.109   15  0.093   16  0.045   15 0.5086   26  3.923   23 -0.216    9  0.307

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
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.063 41.252   26 -0.586   26 -0.613   26 -0.582   26 0.4427    1  4.081   15 -0.015   29 -1.150
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.019 43.506    6  0.357    7  0.334    7  0.285    6 0.5325    5  4.024    2  0.543   15  0.028
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.048 48.047   10  0.262   10  0.241   12  0.123   10 0.5232   13  3.979   10  0.150   13  0.096
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.015 44.828   18  0.035   18  0.021   18  0.001   18 0.5014   14  3.974   14  0.001   16  0.001
THUNDER       75 21 11390 10361  0.106 49.005    1  0.844    1  0.804    2  0.752    1 0.5735   25  3.933    3  0.541    1  0.963

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
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.057 40.870   25 -0.500   25 -0.529   27 -0.583   25 0.4505    6  4.021   25 -0.340   28 -0.826
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.042 40.949   23 -0.460   24 -0.488   21 -0.249   23 0.4544    7  4.017   16 -0.028   23 -0.471
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.056 40.847   24 -0.462   23 -0.486   23 -0.427   24 0.4534   11  3.996   24 -0.316   24 -0.538
SPURS         73 27 11903 11056  0.118 51.695    2  0.707    2  0.665    1  0.790    2 0.5616   15  3.973    1  0.783    4  0.798
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.000 42.830    9  0.284    9  0.262    8  0.239    9 0.5262   30  3.899   21 -0.142    6  0.621

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
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.057 40.772   22 -0.302   22 -0.326   22 -0.423   22 0.4675    3  4.043   18 -0.060   27 -0.786
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.061 41.321   29 -0.676   29 -0.709   24 -0.499   29 0.4336    9  4.001   26 -0.362   25 -0.636
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.061 51.468    8  0.311    8  0.296   10  0.195    8 0.5270   10  3.996    6  0.306   14  0.083
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.070 40.713   21 -0.283   21 -0.302   25 -0.549   21 0.4701   20  3.953   29 -0.658   22 -0.441
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.017 46.781    3  0.512    3  0.479    4  0.478    3 0.5469   27  3.921    9  0.208    5  0.748

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          43 40 10037  9847  0.008 41.270   17  0.055   17  0.038   15  0.079   17 0.5030    2  4.061    4  0.537   20 -0.379
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.093 41.184   30 -0.791   30 -0.825   30 -0.820   30 0.4266    4  4.040   27 -0.474   30 -1.167
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.033 44.837   11  0.158   11  0.138   13  0.107   12 0.5120    8  4.009    7  0.290   18 -0.076
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.043 46.901   13  0.152   12  0.132   17  0.044   13 0.5117   19  3.956   17 -0.052   12  0.139
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.006 40.783   16  0.085   16  0.064    6  0.383   16 0.5055   21  3.946    8  0.240    7  0.527

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
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.033 48.623   14  0.140   14  0.125   19 -0.080   14 0.5098   16  3.972   20 -0.090   17 -0.070
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.020 44.597   12  0.153   13  0.128    9  0.203   11 0.5123   23  3.937   13  0.012    8  0.393
KNICKS        66 31 11352 10551  0.040 47.912    4  0.493    4  0.456    3  0.733    4 0.5439   24  3.935    5  0.531    2  0.936
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.083 41.166   28 -0.673   28 -0.697   29 -0.801   28 0.4357   28  3.901   30 -1.171   21 -0.432
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.009 43.043    5  0.408    5  0.379    5  0.468    5 0.5377   29  3.899   12  0.089    3  0.847

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 252 196 0.562    1  0.141
ATLANTIC DIVISION  244 207 0.541    2  0.109
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.043
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 204 230 0.470    4 -0.058
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.110
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 233 0.473    6 -0.160

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.149 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: Fri May 29 05:30:11 2026
games through: Thu May 28 2026

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