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 -0.062 41.256   26 -0.586   26 -0.612   26 -0.583   26 0.4428    1  4.081   15 -0.016   29 -1.150
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.009 41.269   17  0.055   17  0.040   15  0.081   17 0.5031    2  4.061    4  0.538   20 -0.377
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.056 40.773   22 -0.302   22 -0.325   22 -0.423   22 0.4676    3  4.043   18 -0.060   27 -0.786
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.092 41.184   30 -0.791   30 -0.824   30 -0.822   30 0.4267    4  4.040   27 -0.476   30 -1.169
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.020 43.503    6  0.357    7  0.335    7  0.288    6 0.5326    5  4.024    3  0.545   15  0.030
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.056 40.865   25 -0.500   25 -0.528   27 -0.585   25 0.4506    6  4.021   25 -0.342   28 -0.828
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.041 40.945   23 -0.460   24 -0.487   21 -0.249   23 0.4545    7  4.017   16 -0.028   23 -0.470
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.035 44.838   11  0.159   11  0.140   13  0.109   12 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.291   18 -0.074
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.060 41.322   29 -0.676   29 -0.707   24 -0.500   29 0.4337    9  4.001   26 -0.363   25 -0.637
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.062 51.470    8  0.311    8  0.298   10  0.196    8 0.5271   10  3.996    6  0.308   14  0.085
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 -0.055 40.844   24 -0.462   23 -0.485   23 -0.428   24 0.4536   11  3.996   24 -0.317   24 -0.539
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.069 41.332   27 -0.595   27 -0.615   28 -0.665   27 0.4425   12  3.990   28 -0.585   26 -0.745
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.048 48.025   10  0.262   10  0.242   12  0.123   10 0.5233   13  3.979   10  0.150   13  0.096
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.016 44.811   18  0.034   18  0.022   18  0.001   18 0.5015   14  3.974   14  0.000   16  0.001
SPURS         72 26 11671 10838  0.102 50.124    2  0.703    2  0.663    2  0.765    2 0.5614   15  3.973    1  0.757    4  0.773
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.035 48.624   14  0.140   14  0.127   19 -0.079   14 0.5099   16  3.972   20 -0.089   17 -0.069
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.046 47.245    7  0.356    6  0.342   11  0.148    7 0.5315   17  3.971   11  0.133   11  0.163
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.004 42.108   20 -0.095   20 -0.114   20 -0.161   20 0.4887   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.124
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.044 46.902   13  0.152   12  0.133   17  0.045   13 0.5118   19  3.956   17 -0.050   12  0.141
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.069 40.713   21 -0.283   21 -0.300   25 -0.550   21 0.4702   20  3.953   29 -0.659   22 -0.442
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 -0.004 40.783   16  0.085   16  0.065    6  0.386   16 0.5056   21  3.946    8  0.242    7  0.530
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.029 40.413   19  0.002   19 -0.020   14  0.082   19 0.4981   22  3.942   19 -0.081   10  0.244
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.021 44.596   12  0.153   13  0.130    9  0.205   11 0.5124   23  3.937   13  0.014    8  0.395
KNICKS        66 31 11352 10551  0.041 47.908    4  0.493    4  0.457    3  0.737    4 0.5440   24  3.935    5  0.534    2  0.939
THUNDER       74 20 11172 10129  0.093 47.454    1  0.845    1  0.807    1  0.785    1 0.5738   25  3.933    2  0.573    1  0.997
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.043 45.182   15  0.110   15  0.095   16  0.048   15 0.5088   26  3.923   23 -0.213    9  0.310
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.019 46.783    3  0.512    3  0.481    4  0.481    3 0.5470   27  3.921    9  0.211    5  0.751
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.082 41.167   28 -0.673   28 -0.696   29 -0.803   28 0.4358   28  3.901   30 -1.172   21 -0.434
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.010 43.044    5  0.408    5  0.380    5  0.471    5 0.5378   29  3.899   12  0.092    3  0.850
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.001 42.827    9  0.284    9  0.263    8  0.241    9 0.5263   30  3.899   21 -0.140    6  0.623

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 -0.069 41.332   27 -0.595   27 -0.615   28 -0.665   27 0.4425   12  3.990   28 -0.585   26 -0.745
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.046 47.245    7  0.356    6  0.342   11  0.148    7 0.5315   17  3.971   11  0.133   11  0.163
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.004 42.108   20 -0.095   20 -0.114   20 -0.161   20 0.4887   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.124
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.029 40.413   19  0.002   19 -0.020   14  0.082   19 0.4981   22  3.942   19 -0.081   10  0.244
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.043 45.182   15  0.110   15  0.095   16  0.048   15 0.5088   26  3.923   23 -0.213    9  0.310

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 -0.062 41.256   26 -0.586   26 -0.612   26 -0.583   26 0.4428    1  4.081   15 -0.016   29 -1.150
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.020 43.503    6  0.357    7  0.335    7  0.288    6 0.5326    5  4.024    3  0.545   15  0.030
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.048 48.025   10  0.262   10  0.242   12  0.123   10 0.5233   13  3.979   10  0.150   13  0.096
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.016 44.811   18  0.034   18  0.022   18  0.001   18 0.5015   14  3.974   14  0.000   16  0.001
THUNDER       74 20 11172 10129  0.093 47.454    1  0.845    1  0.807    1  0.785    1 0.5738   25  3.933    2  0.573    1  0.997

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 -0.056 40.865   25 -0.500   25 -0.528   27 -0.585   25 0.4506    6  4.021   25 -0.342   28 -0.828
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.041 40.945   23 -0.460   24 -0.487   21 -0.249   23 0.4545    7  4.017   16 -0.028   23 -0.470
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.055 40.844   24 -0.462   23 -0.485   23 -0.428   24 0.4536   11  3.996   24 -0.317   24 -0.539
SPURS         72 26 11671 10838  0.102 50.124    2  0.703    2  0.663    2  0.765    2 0.5614   15  3.973    1  0.757    4  0.773
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.001 42.827    9  0.284    9  0.263    8  0.241    9 0.5263   30  3.899   21 -0.140    6  0.623

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 -0.056 40.773   22 -0.302   22 -0.325   22 -0.423   22 0.4676    3  4.043   18 -0.060   27 -0.786
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.060 41.322   29 -0.676   29 -0.707   24 -0.500   29 0.4337    9  4.001   26 -0.363   25 -0.637
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.062 51.470    8  0.311    8  0.298   10  0.196    8 0.5271   10  3.996    6  0.308   14  0.085
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.069 40.713   21 -0.283   21 -0.300   25 -0.550   21 0.4702   20  3.953   29 -0.659   22 -0.442
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.019 46.783    3  0.512    3  0.481    4  0.481    3 0.5470   27  3.921    9  0.211    5  0.751

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  0.009 41.269   17  0.055   17  0.040   15  0.081   17 0.5031    2  4.061    4  0.538   20 -0.377
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.092 41.184   30 -0.791   30 -0.824   30 -0.822   30 0.4267    4  4.040   27 -0.476   30 -1.169
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.035 44.838   11  0.159   11  0.140   13  0.109   12 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.291   18 -0.074
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.044 46.902   13  0.152   12  0.133   17  0.045   13 0.5118   19  3.956   17 -0.050   12  0.141
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.004 40.783   16  0.085   16  0.065    6  0.386   16 0.5056   21  3.946    8  0.242    7  0.530

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  0.035 48.624   14  0.140   14  0.127   19 -0.079   14 0.5099   16  3.972   20 -0.089   17 -0.069
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.021 44.596   12  0.153   13  0.130    9  0.205   11 0.5124   23  3.937   13  0.014    8  0.395
KNICKS        66 31 11352 10551  0.041 47.908    4  0.493    4  0.457    3  0.737    4 0.5440   24  3.935    5  0.534    2  0.939
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.082 41.167   28 -0.673   28 -0.696   29 -0.803   28 0.4358   28  3.901   30 -1.172   21 -0.434
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.010 43.044    5  0.408    5  0.380    5  0.471    5 0.5378   29  3.899   12  0.092    3  0.850

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 251 195 0.563    1  0.145
ATLANTIC DIVISION  244 207 0.541    2  0.110
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.042
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 203 229 0.470    4 -0.059
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.108
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 233 0.473    6 -0.159

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.147 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: Tue May 26 05:30:12 2026
games through: Mon May 25 2026

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