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
BULLS          1  9 1133 1288 -0.045  5.488   27 -0.660   28 -0.654   28 -0.643   27 0.4189    1  4.112   11  0.177   30 -1.463 P
PELICANS       4  8 1403 1491 -0.209  5.507   21 -0.382   21 -0.386   24 -0.486   25 0.4393    2  4.036   19 -0.079   29 -0.892 P
LAKERS        11  2 1588 1485  0.101  6.511    1  0.686    1  0.685    8  0.423    2 0.5773    3  4.027    1  0.784   12  0.063 P
HEAT           5  6 1273 1320 -0.028  5.534   18 -0.058   18 -0.081   20 -0.174   18 0.4884    4  4.027   10  0.185   26 -0.533 P
HAWKS          7  5 1419 1394 -0.143  5.217   15  0.052   15  0.039   16 -0.012   15 0.5080    5  4.026    8  0.343   23 -0.367 P
CAVALIERS      6  6 1397 1372  0.013  5.880   16  0.012   16  0.006   13  0.118   16 0.5034    6  4.022    7  0.453   20 -0.217 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  8  3 1315 1235  0.267  6.266    5  0.514    5  0.506    7  0.452    3 0.5746    7  4.005    2  0.697   10  0.206 P
SUNS           5  6 1229 1277  0.198  6.473   14  0.075   14  0.075   18 -0.059   13 0.5159    8  3.989   16  0.105   21 -0.223 P
BUCKS          1 11 1281 1456 -0.048  6.597   30 -0.746   30 -0.749   29 -0.656   30 0.4118    9  3.983   27 -0.523   28 -0.789 P
GRIZZLIES      7  4 1297 1231 -0.090  4.806   13  0.149   13  0.141   12  0.148   14 0.5087   10  3.979    9  0.257   14  0.039 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAVERICKS      7  5 1358 1346  0.135  6.423   12  0.209   12  0.207   14  0.108   12 0.5226   11  3.969   12  0.168   13  0.047 P
RAPTORS        5  7 1371 1354 -0.013  5.822   19 -0.148   19 -0.176   15  0.023   19 0.4762   12  3.968   17  0.076   16 -0.031 P
WARRIORS       8  4 1432 1338  0.225  6.413    9  0.391    9  0.398    4  0.507    7 0.5533   13  3.965    5  0.545    7  0.469 P
NETS           3  8 1212 1268 -0.176  5.141   25 -0.484   25 -0.495   23 -0.366   26 0.4374   14  3.965   23 -0.330   25 -0.403 P
KINGS          1 10 1191 1331  0.029  6.097   28 -0.662   27 -0.654   27 -0.542   28 0.4171   15  3.965   26 -0.507   27 -0.577 P
CLIPPERS       2  8 1122 1181  0.090  5.561   24 -0.434   24 -0.439   19 -0.167   22 0.4476   16  3.958   20 -0.168   18 -0.166 P
SPURS         10  2 1430 1296  0.120  5.793    2  0.635    2  0.634    3  0.558    4 0.5722   17  3.955    4  0.545    6  0.570 P
PACERS         4  8 1339 1368 -0.226  5.052   23 -0.414   23 -0.419   22 -0.271   23 0.4453   18  3.945   24 -0.333   19 -0.209 P
NUGGETS        6  4 1145 1133  0.176  5.513   11  0.264   11  0.268   11  0.195   11 0.5353   19  3.944   14  0.126    9  0.264 P
PISTONS        8  3 1271 1186 -0.118  4.648   10  0.291   10  0.289    9  0.237    9 0.5491   20  3.943   13  0.162    8  0.312 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC          4  7 1193 1254  0.029  5.840   20 -0.196   20 -0.191   21 -0.216   20 0.4637   21  3.933   25 -0.339   17 -0.093 P
WIZARDS        4  9 1430 1505 -0.258  5.703   26 -0.494   26 -0.503   25 -0.499   24 0.4403   22  3.933   28 -0.625   24 -0.373 P
ROCKETS        9  3 1385 1278  0.317  7.008    3  0.627    3  0.601    2  0.616    1 0.5826   23  3.930    6  0.474    5  0.759 P
TIMBERWOLVES   9  3 1432 1271  0.161  5.819    7  0.478    7  0.486    1  0.697    8 0.5502   24  3.929    3  0.554    2  0.841 P
76ERS         10  3 1445 1422 -0.120  5.831    8  0.426    8  0.429   17 -0.035   10 0.5468   25  3.921   21 -0.221   11  0.150 P
JAZZ           1 11 1279 1417  0.016  6.690   29 -0.737   29 -0.738   26 -0.530   29 0.4150   26  3.900   29 -0.820   22 -0.240 P
THUNDER        8  4 1333 1283  0.339  7.103    6  0.487    6  0.499    5  0.468    5 0.5664   27  3.886   15  0.107    3  0.829 P
CELTICS       10  2 1371 1237 -0.098  4.781    4  0.535    4  0.521    6  0.464    6 0.5574   28  3.876   18  0.054    1  0.874 P
KNICKS         6  5 1213 1138 -0.161  4.465   17 -0.019   17 -0.047   10  0.228   17 0.4973   29  3.846   22 -0.325    4  0.782 P
HORNETS        4  8 1183 1315 -0.232  5.350   22 -0.396   22 -0.399   30 -0.703   21 0.4555   30  3.818   30 -1.395   15 -0.012 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  0.101  6.511    1  0.686    1  0.685    8  0.423    2 0.5773    3  4.027    1  0.784   12  0.063 P
SUNS           5  6 1229 1277  0.198  6.473   14  0.075   14  0.075   18 -0.059   13 0.5159    8  3.989   16  0.105   21 -0.223 P
WARRIORS       8  4 1432 1338  0.225  6.413    9  0.391    9  0.398    4  0.507    7 0.5533   13  3.965    5  0.545    7  0.469 P
KINGS          1 10 1191 1331  0.029  6.097   28 -0.662   27 -0.654   27 -0.542   28 0.4171   15  3.965   26 -0.507   27 -0.577 P
CLIPPERS       2  8 1122 1181  0.090  5.561   24 -0.434   24 -0.439   19 -0.167   22 0.4476   16  3.958   20 -0.168   18 -0.166 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  8  3 1315 1235  0.267  6.266    5  0.514    5  0.506    7  0.452    3 0.5746    7  4.005    2  0.697   10  0.206 P
NUGGETS        6  4 1145 1133  0.176  5.513   11  0.264   11  0.268   11  0.195   11 0.5353   19  3.944   14  0.126    9  0.264 P
TIMBERWOLVES   9  3 1432 1271  0.161  5.819    7  0.478    7  0.486    1  0.697    8 0.5502   24  3.929    3  0.554    2  0.841 P
JAZZ           1 11 1279 1417  0.016  6.690   29 -0.737   29 -0.738   26 -0.530   29 0.4150   26  3.900   29 -0.820   22 -0.240 P
THUNDER        8  4 1333 1283  0.339  7.103    6  0.487    6  0.499    5  0.468    5 0.5664   27  3.886   15  0.107    3  0.829 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
PELICANS       4  8 1403 1491 -0.209  5.507   21 -0.382   21 -0.386   24 -0.486   25 0.4393    2  4.036   19 -0.079   29 -0.892 P
GRIZZLIES      7  4 1297 1231 -0.090  4.806   13  0.149   13  0.141   12  0.148   14 0.5087   10  3.979    9  0.257   14  0.039 P
MAVERICKS      7  5 1358 1346  0.135  6.423   12  0.209   12  0.207   14  0.108   12 0.5226   11  3.969   12  0.168   13  0.047 P
SPURS         10  2 1430 1296  0.120  5.793    2  0.635    2  0.634    3  0.558    4 0.5722   17  3.955    4  0.545    6  0.570 P
ROCKETS        9  3 1385 1278  0.317  7.008    3  0.627    3  0.601    2  0.616    1 0.5826   23  3.930    6  0.474    5  0.759 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
BULLS          1  9 1133 1288 -0.045  5.488   27 -0.660   28 -0.654   28 -0.643   27 0.4189    1  4.112   11  0.177   30 -1.463 P
CAVALIERS      6  6 1397 1372  0.013  5.880   16  0.012   16  0.006   13  0.118   16 0.5034    6  4.022    7  0.453   20 -0.217 P
BUCKS          1 11 1281 1456 -0.048  6.597   30 -0.746   30 -0.749   29 -0.656   30 0.4118    9  3.983   27 -0.523   28 -0.789 P
PACERS         4  8 1339 1368 -0.226  5.052   23 -0.414   23 -0.419   22 -0.271   23 0.4453   18  3.945   24 -0.333   19 -0.209 P
PISTONS        8  3 1271 1186 -0.118  4.648   10  0.291   10  0.289    9  0.237    9 0.5491   20  3.943   13  0.162    8  0.312 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           5  6 1273 1320 -0.028  5.534   18 -0.058   18 -0.081   20 -0.174   18 0.4884    4  4.027   10  0.185   26 -0.533 P
HAWKS          7  5 1419 1394 -0.143  5.217   15  0.052   15  0.039   16 -0.012   15 0.5080    5  4.026    8  0.343   23 -0.367 P
MAGIC          4  7 1193 1254  0.029  5.840   20 -0.196   20 -0.191   21 -0.216   20 0.4637   21  3.933   25 -0.339   17 -0.093 P
WIZARDS        4  9 1430 1505 -0.258  5.703   26 -0.494   26 -0.503   25 -0.499   24 0.4403   22  3.933   28 -0.625   24 -0.373 P
HORNETS        4  8 1183 1315 -0.232  5.350   22 -0.396   22 -0.399   30 -0.703   21 0.4555   30  3.818   30 -1.395   15 -0.012 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        5  7 1371 1354 -0.013  5.822   19 -0.148   19 -0.176   15  0.023   19 0.4762   12  3.968   17  0.076   16 -0.031 P
NETS           3  8 1212 1268 -0.176  5.141   25 -0.484   25 -0.495   23 -0.366   26 0.4374   14  3.965   23 -0.330   25 -0.403 P
76ERS         10  3 1445 1422 -0.120  5.831    8  0.426    8  0.429   17 -0.035   10 0.5468   25  3.921   21 -0.221   11  0.150 P
CELTICS       10  2 1371 1237 -0.098  4.781    4  0.535    4  0.521    6  0.464    6 0.5574   28  3.876   18  0.054    1  0.874 P
KNICKS         6  5 1213 1138 -0.161  4.465   17 -0.019   17 -0.047   10  0.228   17 0.4973   29  3.846   22 -0.325    4  0.782 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 32 25 0.561    1  0.381
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 37 22 0.627    2  0.288
ATLANTIC DIVISION  34 25 0.576    3  0.085
PACIFIC DIVISION   27 30 0.474    4  0.038
CENTRAL DIVISION   20 37 0.351    5 -0.338
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 24 35 0.407    6 -0.428

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Nov 13 05:30:14 2026
games through: Thu Nov 12 2026

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