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 -0.065 41.240   26 -0.587   26 -0.615   26 -0.579   26 0.4424    1  4.081   15 -0.010   29 -1.147
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.007 41.282   17  0.056   17  0.037   15  0.076   17 0.5030    2  4.061    3  0.536   20 -0.383
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.058 40.784   22 -0.301   22 -0.327   22 -0.420   22 0.4675    3  4.044   18 -0.055   27 -0.785
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.094 41.191   30 -0.792   30 -0.826   30 -0.813   30 0.4266    4  4.040   27 -0.465   30 -1.161
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.016 43.491    6  0.358    7  0.332    7  0.280    6 0.5322    5  4.024    2  0.539   15  0.021
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.059 40.859   25 -0.501   25 -0.531   27 -0.579   25 0.4502    6  4.021   25 -0.334   28 -0.824
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.044 40.940   23 -0.460   24 -0.490   21 -0.249   23 0.4542    7  4.017   16 -0.025   23 -0.472
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.033 44.872   11  0.160   11  0.138   13  0.106   12 0.5121    8  4.010    7  0.291   18 -0.080
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.062 41.334   29 -0.677   29 -0.710   24 -0.495   29 0.4336    9  4.001   26 -0.357   25 -0.634
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.060 51.498    8  0.313    8  0.295   10  0.192    8 0.5271   10  3.996    6  0.306   14  0.079
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 -0.058 40.837   24 -0.463   23 -0.488   23 -0.425   24 0.4532   11  3.996   24 -0.312   24 -0.538
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.072 41.322   27 -0.596   27 -0.618   28 -0.658   27 0.4422   12  3.990   28 -0.576   26 -0.740
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.046 48.026   10  0.263   10  0.238   12  0.119   10 0.5229   13  3.980   10  0.149   13  0.089
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.013 44.808   18  0.035   18  0.019   18 -0.002   18 0.5011   14  3.974   14  0.001   16 -0.004
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.033 48.655   14  0.142   14  0.125   19 -0.080   14 0.5099   15  3.973   20 -0.088   17 -0.073
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.041 47.204    7  0.356    6  0.338   11  0.140    7 0.5311   16  3.971   11  0.127   11  0.154
SPURS         74 29 12213 11369  0.132 53.881    2  0.686    2  0.649    1  0.766    2 0.5598   17  3.969    1  0.739    4  0.793
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.007 42.095   20 -0.095   20 -0.117   20 -0.162   20 0.4883   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.127
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.042 46.916   13  0.153   12  0.130   16  0.042   13 0.5117   19  3.956   17 -0.052   12  0.135
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.071 40.723   21 -0.283   21 -0.303   25 -0.545   21 0.4701   20  3.953   29 -0.652   22 -0.439
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 -0.007 40.796   16  0.086   16  0.062    6  0.378   16 0.5055   21  3.946    8  0.236    7  0.520
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.032 40.403   19  0.003   19 -0.023   14  0.077   19 0.4978   22  3.942   19 -0.084   10  0.238
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.019 44.615   12  0.154   13  0.127    9  0.199   11 0.5123   23  3.937   13  0.010    8  0.388
THUNDER       75 22 11493 10472  0.108 49.699    1  0.822    1  0.783    3  0.724    1 0.5716   24  3.932    5  0.512    2  0.936
KNICKS        68 31 11562 10750  0.058 49.516    3  0.525    3  0.489    2  0.752    3 0.5469   25  3.931    4  0.533    1  0.970
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.038 45.135   15  0.109   15  0.090   17  0.042   15 0.5083   26  3.923   23 -0.218    9  0.301
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.016 46.794    4  0.513    4  0.478    4  0.472    4 0.5469   27  3.921    9  0.204    5  0.741
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.084 41.180   28 -0.674   28 -0.699   29 -0.795   28 0.4357   28  3.901   30 -1.162   21 -0.427
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.008 43.057    5  0.410    5  0.378    5  0.462    5 0.5377   29  3.899   12  0.084    3  0.839
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.003 42.818    9  0.285    9  0.260    8  0.235    9 0.5260   30  3.899   21 -0.145    6  0.614

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 -0.072 41.322   27 -0.596   27 -0.618   28 -0.658   27 0.4422   12  3.990   28 -0.576   26 -0.740
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.041 47.204    7  0.356    6  0.338   11  0.140    7 0.5311   16  3.971   11  0.127   11  0.154
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.007 42.095   20 -0.095   20 -0.117   20 -0.162   20 0.4883   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.127
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.032 40.403   19  0.003   19 -0.023   14  0.077   19 0.4978   22  3.942   19 -0.084   10  0.238
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.038 45.135   15  0.109   15  0.090   17  0.042   15 0.5083   26  3.923   23 -0.218    9  0.301

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 -0.065 41.240   26 -0.587   26 -0.615   26 -0.579   26 0.4424    1  4.081   15 -0.010   29 -1.147
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.016 43.491    6  0.358    7  0.332    7  0.280    6 0.5322    5  4.024    2  0.539   15  0.021
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.046 48.026   10  0.263   10  0.238   12  0.119   10 0.5229   13  3.980   10  0.149   13  0.089
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.013 44.808   18  0.035   18  0.019   18 -0.002   18 0.5011   14  3.974   14  0.001   16 -0.004
THUNDER       75 22 11493 10472  0.108 49.699    1  0.822    1  0.783    3  0.724    1 0.5716   24  3.932    5  0.512    2  0.936

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 -0.059 40.859   25 -0.501   25 -0.531   27 -0.579   25 0.4502    6  4.021   25 -0.334   28 -0.824
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.044 40.940   23 -0.460   24 -0.490   21 -0.249   23 0.4542    7  4.017   16 -0.025   23 -0.472
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.058 40.837   24 -0.463   23 -0.488   23 -0.425   24 0.4532   11  3.996   24 -0.312   24 -0.538
SPURS         74 29 12213 11369  0.132 53.881    2  0.686    2  0.649    1  0.766    2 0.5598   17  3.969    1  0.739    4  0.793
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.003 42.818    9  0.285    9  0.260    8  0.235    9 0.5260   30  3.899   21 -0.145    6  0.614

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 -0.058 40.784   22 -0.301   22 -0.327   22 -0.420   22 0.4675    3  4.044   18 -0.055   27 -0.785
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.062 41.334   29 -0.677   29 -0.710   24 -0.495   29 0.4336    9  4.001   26 -0.357   25 -0.634
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.060 51.498    8  0.313    8  0.295   10  0.192    8 0.5271   10  3.996    6  0.306   14  0.079
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.071 40.723   21 -0.283   21 -0.303   25 -0.545   21 0.4701   20  3.953   29 -0.652   22 -0.439
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.016 46.794    4  0.513    4  0.478    4  0.472    4 0.5469   27  3.921    9  0.204    5  0.741

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  0.007 41.282   17  0.056   17  0.037   15  0.076   17 0.5030    2  4.061    3  0.536   20 -0.383
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.094 41.191   30 -0.792   30 -0.826   30 -0.813   30 0.4266    4  4.040   27 -0.465   30 -1.161
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.033 44.872   11  0.160   11  0.138   13  0.106   12 0.5121    8  4.010    7  0.291   18 -0.080
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.042 46.916   13  0.153   12  0.130   16  0.042   13 0.5117   19  3.956   17 -0.052   12  0.135
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.007 40.796   16  0.086   16  0.062    6  0.378   16 0.5055   21  3.946    8  0.236    7  0.520

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 48.655   14  0.142   14  0.125   19 -0.080   14 0.5099   15  3.973   20 -0.088   17 -0.073
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.019 44.615   12  0.154   13  0.127    9  0.199   11 0.5123   23  3.937   13  0.010    8  0.388
KNICKS        68 31 11562 10750  0.058 49.516    3  0.525    3  0.489    2  0.752    3 0.5469   25  3.931    4  0.533    1  0.970
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.084 41.180   28 -0.674   28 -0.699   29 -0.795   28 0.4357   28  3.901   30 -1.162   21 -0.427
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.008 43.057    5  0.410    5  0.378    5  0.462    5 0.5377   29  3.899   12  0.084    3  0.839

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 252 197 0.561    1  0.137
ATLANTIC DIVISION  246 207 0.543    2  0.110
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.044
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 205 232 0.469    4 -0.061
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.112
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 233 0.473    6 -0.161

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: Sat Jun  6 05:30:13 2026
games through: Fri Jun  5 2026

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