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 7  893 1037 -0.094  4.151   29 -0.462   29 -0.460   30 -0.649   30 0.4218    1  4.092   14  0.063   30 -1.361 P
HEAT          3 5  944  983  0.044  4.174   19 -0.117   19 -0.119   20 -0.116   19 0.4742    2  4.066    5  0.450   29 -0.683 P
CAVALIERS     4 4  954  937  0.063  4.000   15  0.025   15  0.035   12  0.128   14 0.5118    3  4.038    3  0.549   24 -0.293 P
SUNS          1 5  680  746  0.324  3.859   21 -0.195   21 -0.202   21 -0.168   20 0.4740    4  4.033   12  0.222   26 -0.559 P
LAKERS        7 2 1096 1025  0.016  4.220    5  0.343    5  0.345    5  0.284    7 0.5447    5  4.019    1  0.603   18 -0.036 P
PELICANS      4 4  973  954 -0.154  3.414   17 -0.075   17 -0.079   18 -0.033   18 0.4776    6  4.011   11  0.241   25 -0.307 P
BUCKS         1 7  880  978 -0.108  4.106   30 -0.475   30 -0.478   28 -0.420   29 0.4245    7  4.004   22 -0.179   28 -0.660 P
RAPTORS       4 4  943  908 -0.022  3.687   16 -0.039   16 -0.040   15  0.097   17 0.4842    8  3.999    8  0.311   20 -0.118 P
KINGS         1 7  874  986  0.236  4.937   26 -0.361   25 -0.339   26 -0.385   26 0.4346    9  3.999   20 -0.174   27 -0.597 P
WARRIORS      5 3  940  917  0.229  4.483    8  0.251    8  0.248    9  0.222    9 0.5351   10  3.989    6  0.383   14  0.060 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TRAIL BLAZERS 6 1  853  775  0.068  3.350    4  0.395    4  0.382    4  0.313    4 0.5674   11  3.985    4  0.455   11  0.170 P
HAWKS         5 4 1042 1017  0.023  4.357   14  0.062   14  0.061   14  0.101   15 0.5101   12  3.978   13  0.205   16 -0.003 P
ROCKETS       7 2 1061  968  0.280  5.063    1  0.466    1  0.459    1  0.519    1 0.5799   13  3.967    2  0.565    4  0.472 P
GRIZZLIES     6 2  964  878 -0.116  3.230   11  0.194   11  0.206    7  0.242   12 0.5275   14  3.961   10  0.260    9  0.225 P
SPURS         6 2  935  869  0.096  3.910    6  0.317    6  0.320    3  0.313    6 0.5533   15  3.957    9  0.309    8  0.317 P
PACERS        3 6 1001 1028 -0.148  3.994   23 -0.254   23 -0.271   22 -0.209   24 0.4492   16  3.951   23 -0.245   22 -0.174 P
MAVERICKS     4 4  897  898  0.235  4.618   13  0.077   13  0.083   17  0.085   13 0.5200   17  3.943   16  0.011   12  0.159 P
NUGGETS       4 3  808  803  0.139  3.762   12  0.130   12  0.140   11  0.133   11 0.5279   18  3.943   15  0.056   10  0.211 P
MAGIC         2 5  740  803  0.078  3.842   20 -0.178   20 -0.183   23 -0.252   23 0.4533   19  3.937   25 -0.357   21 -0.148 P
NETS          2 6  853  903 -0.265  3.468   28 -0.420   28 -0.417   27 -0.388   28 0.4299   20  3.930   27 -0.530   23 -0.246 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  6 3 1069  968  0.221  4.672    7  0.292    7  0.286    2  0.517    8 0.5358   21  3.923    7  0.341    1  0.694 P
JAZZ          1 7  862  952  0.211  4.848   27 -0.382   26 -0.365   25 -0.344   25 0.4356   22  3.909   28 -0.590   19 -0.098 P
CLIPPERS      1 7  873  925  0.165  4.595   25 -0.352   27 -0.376   19 -0.116   27 0.4339   23  3.909   26 -0.363   13  0.132 P
PISTONS       6 2  889  814 -0.087  3.377    9  0.247    9  0.238    6  0.259    5 0.5562   24  3.906   17 -0.002    3  0.519 P
76ERS         8 1  999  947 -0.119  3.822    2  0.454    2  0.442   13  0.109    3 0.5713   25  3.901   21 -0.179    7  0.397 P
CELTICS       6 2  914  866 -0.213  3.002   10  0.210   10  0.221   10  0.137   10 0.5340   26  3.900   19 -0.154    6  0.427 P
WIZARDS       4 4  871  872 -0.442  2.725   22 -0.199   22 -0.217   24 -0.316   21 0.4609   27  3.897   29 -0.621   17 -0.012 P
THUNDER       6 2  880  870  0.234  4.490    3  0.425    3  0.416    8  0.234    2 0.5734   28  3.895   18 -0.082    2  0.551 P
KNICKS        4 4  880  841 -0.217  3.095   18 -0.090   18 -0.101   16  0.088   16 0.4963   29  3.884   24 -0.283    5  0.460 P
HORNETS       3 6  883  983 -0.258  3.866   24 -0.290   24 -0.310   29 -0.575   22 0.4543   30  3.840   30 -1.160   15  0.010 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
SUNS          1 5  680  746  0.324  3.859   21 -0.195   21 -0.202   21 -0.168   20 0.4740    4  4.033   12  0.222   26 -0.559 P
LAKERS        7 2 1096 1025  0.016  4.220    5  0.343    5  0.345    5  0.284    7 0.5447    5  4.019    1  0.603   18 -0.036 P
KINGS         1 7  874  986  0.236  4.937   26 -0.361   25 -0.339   26 -0.385   26 0.4346    9  3.999   20 -0.174   27 -0.597 P
WARRIORS      5 3  940  917  0.229  4.483    8  0.251    8  0.248    9  0.222    9 0.5351   10  3.989    6  0.383   14  0.060 P
CLIPPERS      1 7  873  925  0.165  4.595   25 -0.352   27 -0.376   19 -0.116   27 0.4339   23  3.909   26 -0.363   13  0.132 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 6 1  853  775  0.068  3.350    4  0.395    4  0.382    4  0.313    4 0.5674   11  3.985    4  0.455   11  0.170 P
NUGGETS       4 3  808  803  0.139  3.762   12  0.130   12  0.140   11  0.133   11 0.5279   18  3.943   15  0.056   10  0.211 P
TIMBERWOLVES  6 3 1069  968  0.221  4.672    7  0.292    7  0.286    2  0.517    8 0.5358   21  3.923    7  0.341    1  0.694 P
JAZZ          1 7  862  952  0.211  4.848   27 -0.382   26 -0.365   25 -0.344   25 0.4356   22  3.909   28 -0.590   19 -0.098 P
THUNDER       6 2  880  870  0.234  4.490    3  0.425    3  0.416    8  0.234    2 0.5734   28  3.895   18 -0.082    2  0.551 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 4  973  954 -0.154  3.414   17 -0.075   17 -0.079   18 -0.033   18 0.4776    6  4.011   11  0.241   25 -0.307 P
ROCKETS       7 2 1061  968  0.280  5.063    1  0.466    1  0.459    1  0.519    1 0.5799   13  3.967    2  0.565    4  0.472 P
GRIZZLIES     6 2  964  878 -0.116  3.230   11  0.194   11  0.206    7  0.242   12 0.5275   14  3.961   10  0.260    9  0.225 P
SPURS         6 2  935  869  0.096  3.910    6  0.317    6  0.320    3  0.313    6 0.5533   15  3.957    9  0.309    8  0.317 P
MAVERICKS     4 4  897  898  0.235  4.618   13  0.077   13  0.083   17  0.085   13 0.5200   17  3.943   16  0.011   12  0.159 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 7  893 1037 -0.094  4.151   29 -0.462   29 -0.460   30 -0.649   30 0.4218    1  4.092   14  0.063   30 -1.361 P
CAVALIERS     4 4  954  937  0.063  4.000   15  0.025   15  0.035   12  0.128   14 0.5118    3  4.038    3  0.549   24 -0.293 P
BUCKS         1 7  880  978 -0.108  4.106   30 -0.475   30 -0.478   28 -0.420   29 0.4245    7  4.004   22 -0.179   28 -0.660 P
PACERS        3 6 1001 1028 -0.148  3.994   23 -0.254   23 -0.271   22 -0.209   24 0.4492   16  3.951   23 -0.245   22 -0.174 P
PISTONS       6 2  889  814 -0.087  3.377    9  0.247    9  0.238    6  0.259    5 0.5562   24  3.906   17 -0.002    3  0.519 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          3 5  944  983  0.044  4.174   19 -0.117   19 -0.119   20 -0.116   19 0.4742    2  4.066    5  0.450   29 -0.683 P
HAWKS         5 4 1042 1017  0.023  4.357   14  0.062   14  0.061   14  0.101   15 0.5101   12  3.978   13  0.205   16 -0.003 P
MAGIC         2 5  740  803  0.078  3.842   20 -0.178   20 -0.183   23 -0.252   23 0.4533   19  3.937   25 -0.357   21 -0.148 P
WIZARDS       4 4  871  872 -0.442  2.725   22 -0.199   22 -0.217   24 -0.316   21 0.4609   27  3.897   29 -0.621   17 -0.012 P
HORNETS       3 6  883  983 -0.258  3.866   24 -0.290   24 -0.310   29 -0.575   22 0.4543   30  3.840   30 -1.160   15  0.010 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       4 4  943  908 -0.022  3.687   16 -0.039   16 -0.040   15  0.097   17 0.4842    8  3.999    8  0.311   20 -0.118 P
NETS          2 6  853  903 -0.265  3.468   28 -0.420   28 -0.417   27 -0.388   28 0.4299   20  3.930   27 -0.530   23 -0.246 P
76ERS         8 1  999  947 -0.119  3.822    2  0.454    2  0.442   13  0.109    3 0.5713   25  3.901   21 -0.179    7  0.397 P
CELTICS       6 2  914  866 -0.213  3.002   10  0.210   10  0.221   10  0.137   10 0.5340   26  3.900   19 -0.154    6  0.427 P
KNICKS        4 4  880  841 -0.217  3.095   18 -0.090   18 -0.101   16  0.088   16 0.4963   29  3.884   24 -0.283    5  0.460 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 27 14 0.659    1  0.378
NORTHWEST DIVISION 23 16 0.590    2  0.305
ATLANTIC DIVISION  24 17 0.585    3  0.026
PACIFIC DIVISION   15 24 0.385    4 -0.060
CENTRAL DIVISION   15 26 0.366    5 -0.288
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 17 24 0.415    6 -0.369

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu Nov  5 05:30:13 2026
games through: Wed Nov  4 2026

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