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
HAWKS         1 0 132 125  0.127  0.557    8  0.068    5  0.059   14  0.011    5 0.5347    1  4.026    1  0.387   28 -0.366 P
MAGIC         0 1 125 132 -0.219  0.416   24 -0.073   26 -0.106   20 -0.071   26 0.4569    2  4.026    3  0.306   30 -0.447 P
BUCKS         0 1 116 128 -0.224  0.421   26 -0.080   27 -0.109   23 -0.107   27 0.4535    3  3.998   10  0.125   26 -0.340 P
WIZARDS       1 0 128 116 -0.604  0.272   18 -0.039   16 -0.031   27 -0.209   20 0.4768    4  3.998   17  0.023   29 -0.441 P
PELICANS      0 1 120 123 -0.417  0.338   28 -0.107   29 -0.135   24 -0.131   29 0.4401    5  3.996   11  0.091   27 -0.352 P
PACERS        1 0 123 120 -0.041  0.493    9  0.047    8  0.040   18 -0.054    9 0.5217    6  3.996    7  0.167   25 -0.276 P
ROCKETS       1 0 128 110 -0.452  0.280    5  0.078    6  0.042    7  0.081    6 0.5319    7  3.985    5  0.242   15 -0.079 P
MAVERICKS     0 1 110 128  0.471  0.734   23 -0.065   23 -0.074   22 -0.100   23 0.4697    8  3.985   15  0.060   23 -0.261 P
HEAT          0 1 106 131  0.199  0.618   20 -0.044   21 -0.071   21 -0.089   21 0.4712    9  3.983   14  0.061   22 -0.239 P
TIMBERWOLVES  1 0 131 106  0.146  0.527    3  0.105    3  0.079    2  0.179    3 0.5561   10  3.983    2  0.329   10  0.029 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PISTONS       1 0 121 113  0.114  0.544    4  0.079    4  0.065   13  0.041    4 0.5391   11  3.977    8  0.161   16 -0.080 P
CELTICS       0 1 113 121  0.494  0.698   13  0.023   15 -0.022    3  0.142   13 0.5108   12  3.977    4  0.263   12  0.022 P
SPURS         0 1 104 116  0.408  0.689   22 -0.049   19 -0.060   15 -0.013   18 0.4840   13  3.972   12  0.080   19 -0.106 P
WARRIORS      0 1 105 127  0.518  0.743   17 -0.033   18 -0.054   17 -0.049   19 0.4828   14  3.972   16  0.044   20 -0.142 P
LAKERS        1 0 127 105 -0.331  0.329    7  0.069    7  0.040    6  0.083    7 0.5313   15  3.972    6  0.176   13 -0.009 P
JAZZ          0 1 103 123  0.183  0.635   29 -0.109   28 -0.109   28 -0.214   28 0.4445   16  3.958   25 -0.190   21 -0.238 P
GRIZZLIES     1 0 123 103 -0.768  0.182   12  0.028   12  0.003   16 -0.020   15 0.5053   17  3.958   19  0.004   14 -0.045 P
RAPTORS       1 0 135  92 -0.827  0.144   10  0.042   11  0.009    4  0.116   10 0.5165   18  3.958    9  0.136    7  0.095 P
BULLS         0 1  92 135  0.528  0.784   25 -0.079   24 -0.078   30 -0.248   25 0.4578   19  3.958   26 -0.227   24 -0.269 P
CAVALIERS     0 1 106 114  0.496  0.712   16 -0.022   17 -0.043   10  0.064   16 0.5027   20  3.956   13  0.077    9  0.050 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CLIPPERS      1 0 121  96 -0.640  0.205    6  0.072    9  0.032    5  0.103    8 0.5277   21  3.937   18  0.020    6  0.185 P
KINGS         0 1  96 121  0.498  0.759   27 -0.086   25 -0.084   26 -0.183   24 0.4590   22  3.937   27 -0.265   17 -0.101 P
NETS          0 1 103 110 -0.484  0.327   30 -0.138   30 -0.155   29 -0.221   30 0.4242   23  3.930   28 -0.340   18 -0.102 P
HORNETS       1 0 110 103 -0.267  0.390   11  0.033   10  0.023   19 -0.066   11 0.5132   24  3.930   24 -0.185    8  0.053 P
76ERS         2 0 220 206  0.187  1.145    2  0.135    2  0.138   11  0.053    2 0.5595   25  3.914   21 -0.146    4  0.252 P
KNICKS        0 1 100 106 -0.062  0.465   19 -0.044   22 -0.071   12  0.047   17 0.4863   26  3.914   22 -0.153    5  0.247 P
SUNS          0 1  83 124  0.460  0.747   21 -0.046   20 -0.061   25 -0.176   22 0.4708   27  3.913   29 -0.380   11  0.028 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 1 0 124  83 -0.673  0.196   14  0.021   13  0.001    9  0.074   14 0.5107   28  3.913   20 -0.131    3  0.278 P
THUNDER       2 0 212 188  0.227  1.102    1  0.218    1  0.183    1  0.284    1 0.5899   29  3.865   23 -0.159    1  0.727 P
NUGGETS       0 1  84  96  0.998  0.872   15 -0.002   14 -0.021    8  0.074   12 0.5132   30  3.846   30 -0.459    2  0.608 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
WARRIORS      0 1 105 127  0.518  0.743   17 -0.033   18 -0.054   17 -0.049   19 0.4828   14  3.972   16  0.044   20 -0.142 P
LAKERS        1 0 127 105 -0.331  0.329    7  0.069    7  0.040    6  0.083    7 0.5313   15  3.972    6  0.176   13 -0.009 P
CLIPPERS      1 0 121  96 -0.640  0.205    6  0.072    9  0.032    5  0.103    8 0.5277   21  3.937   18  0.020    6  0.185 P
KINGS         0 1  96 121  0.498  0.759   27 -0.086   25 -0.084   26 -0.183   24 0.4590   22  3.937   27 -0.265   17 -0.101 P
SUNS          0 1  83 124  0.460  0.747   21 -0.046   20 -0.061   25 -0.176   22 0.4708   27  3.913   29 -0.380   11  0.028 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
TIMBERWOLVES  1 0 131 106  0.146  0.527    3  0.105    3  0.079    2  0.179    3 0.5561   10  3.983    2  0.329   10  0.029 P
JAZZ          0 1 103 123  0.183  0.635   29 -0.109   28 -0.109   28 -0.214   28 0.4445   16  3.958   25 -0.190   21 -0.238 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 1 0 124  83 -0.673  0.196   14  0.021   13  0.001    9  0.074   14 0.5107   28  3.913   20 -0.131    3  0.278 P
THUNDER       2 0 212 188  0.227  1.102    1  0.218    1  0.183    1  0.284    1 0.5899   29  3.865   23 -0.159    1  0.727 P
NUGGETS       0 1  84  96  0.998  0.872   15 -0.002   14 -0.021    8  0.074   12 0.5132   30  3.846   30 -0.459    2  0.608 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      0 1 120 123 -0.417  0.338   28 -0.107   29 -0.135   24 -0.131   29 0.4401    5  3.996   11  0.091   27 -0.352 P
ROCKETS       1 0 128 110 -0.452  0.280    5  0.078    6  0.042    7  0.081    6 0.5319    7  3.985    5  0.242   15 -0.079 P
MAVERICKS     0 1 110 128  0.471  0.734   23 -0.065   23 -0.074   22 -0.100   23 0.4697    8  3.985   15  0.060   23 -0.261 P
SPURS         0 1 104 116  0.408  0.689   22 -0.049   19 -0.060   15 -0.013   18 0.4840   13  3.972   12  0.080   19 -0.106 P
GRIZZLIES     1 0 123 103 -0.768  0.182   12  0.028   12  0.003   16 -0.020   15 0.5053   17  3.958   19  0.004   14 -0.045 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         0 1 116 128 -0.224  0.421   26 -0.080   27 -0.109   23 -0.107   27 0.4535    3  3.998   10  0.125   26 -0.340 P
PACERS        1 0 123 120 -0.041  0.493    9  0.047    8  0.040   18 -0.054    9 0.5217    6  3.996    7  0.167   25 -0.276 P
PISTONS       1 0 121 113  0.114  0.544    4  0.079    4  0.065   13  0.041    4 0.5391   11  3.977    8  0.161   16 -0.080 P
BULLS         0 1  92 135  0.528  0.784   25 -0.079   24 -0.078   30 -0.248   25 0.4578   19  3.958   26 -0.227   24 -0.269 P
CAVALIERS     0 1 106 114  0.496  0.712   16 -0.022   17 -0.043   10  0.064   16 0.5027   20  3.956   13  0.077    9  0.050 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
HAWKS         1 0 132 125  0.127  0.557    8  0.068    5  0.059   14  0.011    5 0.5347    1  4.026    1  0.387   28 -0.366 P
MAGIC         0 1 125 132 -0.219  0.416   24 -0.073   26 -0.106   20 -0.071   26 0.4569    2  4.026    3  0.306   30 -0.447 P
WIZARDS       1 0 128 116 -0.604  0.272   18 -0.039   16 -0.031   27 -0.209   20 0.4768    4  3.998   17  0.023   29 -0.441 P
HEAT          0 1 106 131  0.199  0.618   20 -0.044   21 -0.071   21 -0.089   21 0.4712    9  3.983   14  0.061   22 -0.239 P
HORNETS       1 0 110 103 -0.267  0.390   11  0.033   10  0.023   19 -0.066   11 0.5132   24  3.930   24 -0.185    8  0.053 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       0 1 113 121  0.494  0.698   13  0.023   15 -0.022    3  0.142   13 0.5108   12  3.977    4  0.263   12  0.022 P
RAPTORS       1 0 135  92 -0.827  0.144   10  0.042   11  0.009    4  0.116   10 0.5165   18  3.958    9  0.136    7  0.095 P
NETS          0 1 103 110 -0.484  0.327   30 -0.138   30 -0.155   29 -0.221   30 0.4242   23  3.930   28 -0.340   18 -0.102 P
76ERS         2 0 220 206  0.187  1.145    2  0.135    2  0.138   11  0.053    2 0.5595   25  3.914   21 -0.146    4  0.252 P
KNICKS        0 1 100 106 -0.062  0.465   19 -0.044   22 -0.071   12  0.047   17 0.4863   26  3.914   22 -0.153    5  0.247 P

DIVISION           W L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 4 2 0.667    1  0.297
ATLANTIC DIVISION  3 3 0.500    2  0.138
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 2 3 0.400    3 -0.068
PACIFIC DIVISION   2 3 0.400    4 -0.101
CENTRAL DIVISION   2 3 0.400    5 -0.148
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 3 2 0.600    6 -0.205

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Oct 23 05:30:11 2026
games through: Thu Oct 22 2026

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