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 -0.057 41.230   26 -0.586   26 -0.606   26 -0.586   26 0.4432    1  4.081   15 -0.023   29 -1.149
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.014 41.233   17  0.057   17  0.045   14  0.088   17 0.5035    2  4.061    4  0.541   20 -0.365
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.050 40.740   22 -0.301   22 -0.319   22 -0.424   22 0.4680    3  4.043   18 -0.066   27 -0.782
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.086 41.166   30 -0.792   30 -0.818   30 -0.828   30 0.4272    4  4.040   27 -0.486   30 -1.169
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.026 43.504    6  0.359    7  0.342    7  0.298    6 0.5330    5  4.023    3  0.552   15  0.043
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.051 40.826   25 -0.501   25 -0.523   27 -0.588   25 0.4510    6  4.021   25 -0.348   28 -0.827
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.036 40.901   23 -0.461   24 -0.482   21 -0.247   23 0.4549    7  4.016   16 -0.029   23 -0.464
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.037 44.721   11  0.159   11  0.142   13  0.110   13 0.5122    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.067
CAVALIERS     59 35 11127 10777  0.037 47.098    8  0.352    8  0.339    8  0.277    8 0.5316    9  4.003    6  0.422   14  0.132
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.054 41.287   29 -0.678   29 -0.702   24 -0.503   29 0.4341   10  4.000   26 -0.371   25 -0.635
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 -0.050 40.804   24 -0.463   23 -0.480   23 -0.428   24 0.4539   11  3.995   24 -0.321   24 -0.535
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.064 41.301   27 -0.596   27 -0.610   28 -0.670   27 0.4429   12  3.989   28 -0.593   26 -0.746
TIMBERWOLVES  55 38 10866 10631  0.049 47.209   10  0.271   10  0.255   11  0.167   10 0.5247   13  3.977   10  0.181   13  0.154
SPURS         69 24 11086 10287  0.066 46.277    2  0.677    2  0.648    2  0.719    2 0.5603   14  3.975    1  0.722    5  0.715
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.020 44.738   18  0.035   18  0.026   18  0.003   18 0.5019   15  3.974   14 -0.002   16  0.008
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.038 48.517   14  0.141   14  0.130   19 -0.078   14 0.5102   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.063
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.051 47.208    7  0.357    6  0.348   12  0.156    7 0.5319   17  3.971   11  0.136   11  0.177
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.001 42.074   20 -0.092   20 -0.109   20 -0.158   20 0.4891   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.117
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.051 46.897   13  0.156   12  0.139   17  0.055   12 0.5123   19  3.955   17 -0.046   12  0.155
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.063 40.693   21 -0.282   21 -0.294   25 -0.552   21 0.4707   20  3.953   29 -0.665   22 -0.440
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  0.001 40.744   16  0.087   16  0.070    6  0.396   16 0.5060   21  3.946    9  0.247    7  0.544
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.024 40.381   19  0.004   19 -0.014   15  0.087   19 0.4985   22  3.942   19 -0.079   10  0.253
KNICKS        62 31 10877 10153  0.034 45.507    4  0.444    4  0.415    3  0.651    4 0.5399   23  3.940    5  0.472    3  0.829
THUNDER       72 18 10730  9683  0.066 44.374    1  0.841    1  0.817    1  0.821    1 0.5747   24  3.937    2  0.630    1  1.013
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.028 44.614   12  0.158   13  0.137   10  0.216   11 0.5130   25  3.936   13  0.018    8  0.414
PISTONS       66 28 10917 10215  0.022 45.609    3  0.518    3  0.493    4  0.522    3 0.5481   26  3.923    8  0.256    4  0.788
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.048 45.145   15  0.112   15  0.099   16  0.055   15 0.5092   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.322
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.077 41.118   28 -0.674   28 -0.691   29 -0.809   28 0.4362   28  3.901   30 -1.183   21 -0.435
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.015 42.988    5  0.409    5  0.385    5  0.481    5 0.5381   29  3.899   12  0.098    2  0.864
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.006 42.777    9  0.286    9  0.268    9  0.248    9 0.5267   30  3.899   21 -0.137    6  0.634

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 -0.064 41.301   27 -0.596   27 -0.610   28 -0.670   27 0.4429   12  3.989   28 -0.593   26 -0.746
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.051 47.208    7  0.357    6  0.348   12  0.156    7 0.5319   17  3.971   11  0.136   11  0.177
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.001 42.074   20 -0.092   20 -0.109   20 -0.158   20 0.4891   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.117
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.024 40.381   19  0.004   19 -0.014   15  0.087   19 0.4985   22  3.942   19 -0.079   10  0.253
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.048 45.145   15  0.112   15  0.099   16  0.055   15 0.5092   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.322

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 -0.057 41.230   26 -0.586   26 -0.606   26 -0.586   26 0.4432    1  4.081   15 -0.023   29 -1.149
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.026 43.504    6  0.359    7  0.342    7  0.298    6 0.5330    5  4.023    3  0.552   15  0.043
TIMBERWOLVES  55 38 10866 10631  0.049 47.209   10  0.271   10  0.255   11  0.167   10 0.5247   13  3.977   10  0.181   13  0.154
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.020 44.738   18  0.035   18  0.026   18  0.003   18 0.5019   15  3.974   14 -0.002   16  0.008
THUNDER       72 18 10730  9683  0.066 44.374    1  0.841    1  0.817    1  0.821    1 0.5747   24  3.937    2  0.630    1  1.013

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 -0.051 40.826   25 -0.501   25 -0.523   27 -0.588   25 0.4510    6  4.021   25 -0.348   28 -0.827
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.036 40.901   23 -0.461   24 -0.482   21 -0.247   23 0.4549    7  4.016   16 -0.029   23 -0.464
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.050 40.804   24 -0.463   23 -0.480   23 -0.428   24 0.4539   11  3.995   24 -0.321   24 -0.535
SPURS         69 24 11086 10287  0.066 46.277    2  0.677    2  0.648    2  0.719    2 0.5603   14  3.975    1  0.722    5  0.715
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.006 42.777    9  0.286    9  0.268    9  0.248    9 0.5267   30  3.899   21 -0.137    6  0.634

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 -0.050 40.740   22 -0.301   22 -0.319   22 -0.424   22 0.4680    3  4.043   18 -0.066   27 -0.782
CAVALIERS     59 35 11127 10777  0.037 47.098    8  0.352    8  0.339    8  0.277    8 0.5316    9  4.003    6  0.422   14  0.132
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.054 41.287   29 -0.678   29 -0.702   24 -0.503   29 0.4341   10  4.000   26 -0.371   25 -0.635
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.063 40.693   21 -0.282   21 -0.294   25 -0.552   21 0.4707   20  3.953   29 -0.665   22 -0.440
PISTONS       66 28 10917 10215  0.022 45.609    3  0.518    3  0.493    4  0.522    3 0.5481   26  3.923    8  0.256    4  0.788

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  0.014 41.233   17  0.057   17  0.045   14  0.088   17 0.5035    2  4.061    4  0.541   20 -0.365
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.086 41.166   30 -0.792   30 -0.818   30 -0.828   30 0.4272    4  4.040   27 -0.486   30 -1.169
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.037 44.721   11  0.159   11  0.142   13  0.110   13 0.5122    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.067
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.051 46.897   13  0.156   12  0.139   17  0.055   12 0.5123   19  3.955   17 -0.046   12  0.155
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.001 40.744   16  0.087   16  0.070    6  0.396   16 0.5060   21  3.946    9  0.247    7  0.544

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  0.038 48.517   14  0.141   14  0.130   19 -0.078   14 0.5102   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.063
KNICKS        62 31 10877 10153  0.034 45.507    4  0.444    4  0.415    3  0.651    4 0.5399   23  3.940    5  0.472    3  0.829
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.028 44.614   12  0.158   13  0.137   10  0.216   11 0.5130   25  3.936   13  0.018    8  0.414
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.077 41.118   28 -0.674   28 -0.691   29 -0.809   28 0.4362   28  3.901   30 -1.183   21 -0.435
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.015 42.988    5  0.409    5  0.385    5  0.481    5 0.5381   29  3.899   12  0.098    2  0.864

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 249 192 0.565    1  0.156
ATLANTIC DIVISION  240 207 0.537    2  0.105
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.037
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 200 227 0.468    4 -0.060
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.103
CENTRAL DIVISION   207 227 0.477    6 -0.144

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu May 14 05:30:13 2026
games through: Wed May 13 2026

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