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 -0.061 41.240   26 -0.585   26 -0.611   26 -0.583   26 0.4428    1  4.081   15 -0.016   29 -1.150
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.010 41.257   17  0.056   17  0.040   14  0.082   17 0.5031    2  4.061    4  0.539   20 -0.376
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.055 40.761   22 -0.301   22 -0.324   22 -0.423   22 0.4677    3  4.043   18 -0.060   27 -0.786
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.091 41.180   30 -0.791   30 -0.823   30 -0.822   30 0.4268    4  4.040   27 -0.476   30 -1.168
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.020 43.486    6  0.357    7  0.336    7  0.288    6 0.5326    5  4.024    3  0.545   15  0.031
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.056 40.849   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 -0.040 40.928   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  0.034 44.782   11  0.157   11  0.139   13  0.106   12 0.5120    8  4.009    7  0.289   18 -0.076
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.059 41.310   29 -0.677   29 -0.707   24 -0.501   29 0.4337    9  4.001   26 -0.364   25 -0.637
CAVALIERS     60 39 11651 11331  0.060 50.724    8  0.322    8  0.309    8  0.251    8 0.5284   10  3.996    6  0.364   13  0.138
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 -0.054 40.828   24 -0.462   23 -0.485   23 -0.427   24 0.4536   11  3.996   24 -0.317   24 -0.538
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.069 41.316   27 -0.595   27 -0.614   28 -0.665   27 0.4425   12  3.990   28 -0.585   26 -0.745
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.049 48.006   10  0.262   10  0.242   12  0.124   10 0.5233   13  3.979   10  0.151   14  0.097
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.016 44.795   18  0.035   18  0.022   18  0.001   18 0.5016   14  3.974   14  0.001   16  0.001
SPURS         72 26 11671 10838  0.102 50.099    2  0.702    2  0.664    2  0.766    2 0.5615   15  3.973    1  0.758    4  0.774
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.034 48.574   14  0.140   14  0.126   19 -0.081   14 0.5099   16  3.972   20 -0.091   17 -0.071
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.046 47.227    7  0.356    6  0.343   11  0.149    7 0.5316   17  3.971   11  0.133   11  0.164
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.003 42.093   20 -0.094   20 -0.114   20 -0.161   20 0.4887   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.123
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.045 46.892   13  0.153   12  0.133   17  0.047   13 0.5118   19  3.956   17 -0.049   12  0.143
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.068 40.709   21 -0.282   21 -0.299   25 -0.550   21 0.4703   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 40.770   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 -0.028 40.397   19  0.003   19 -0.019   15  0.082   19 0.4982   22  3.942   19 -0.081   10  0.245
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.023 44.629   12  0.155   13  0.132   10  0.208   11 0.5125   23  3.937   13  0.017    8  0.399
KNICKS        65 31 11222 10458  0.037 47.288    4  0.480    4  0.445    3  0.682    4 0.5428   24  3.935    5  0.481    2  0.882
THUNDER       74 20 11172 10129  0.094 47.434    1  0.844    1  0.807    1  0.786    1 0.5739   25  3.933    2  0.574    1  0.998
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.043 45.163   15  0.110   15  0.095   16  0.049   15 0.5088   26  3.923   23 -0.213    9  0.310
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.021 46.841    3  0.514    3  0.483    4  0.485    3 0.5471   27  3.921    9  0.215    5  0.756
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.081 41.145   28 -0.673   28 -0.696   29 -0.804   28 0.4359   28  3.901   30 -1.173   21 -0.434
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.010 43.017    5  0.408    5  0.380    5  0.471    5 0.5378   29  3.899   12  0.092    3  0.851
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.001 42.810    9  0.285    9  0.264    9  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 41.316   27 -0.595   27 -0.614   28 -0.665   27 0.4425   12  3.990   28 -0.585   26 -0.745
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.046 47.227    7  0.356    6  0.343   11  0.149    7 0.5316   17  3.971   11  0.133   11  0.164
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.003 42.093   20 -0.094   20 -0.114   20 -0.161   20 0.4887   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.123
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.028 40.397   19  0.003   19 -0.019   15  0.082   19 0.4982   22  3.942   19 -0.081   10  0.245
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.043 45.163   15  0.110   15  0.095   16  0.049   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 -0.061 41.240   26 -0.585   26 -0.611   26 -0.583   26 0.4428    1  4.081   15 -0.016   29 -1.150
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.020 43.486    6  0.357    7  0.336    7  0.288    6 0.5326    5  4.024    3  0.545   15  0.031
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.049 48.006   10  0.262   10  0.242   12  0.124   10 0.5233   13  3.979   10  0.151   14  0.097
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.016 44.795   18  0.035   18  0.022   18  0.001   18 0.5016   14  3.974   14  0.001   16  0.001
THUNDER       74 20 11172 10129  0.094 47.434    1  0.844    1  0.807    1  0.786    1 0.5739   25  3.933    2  0.574    1  0.998

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 40.849   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 -0.040 40.928   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 -0.054 40.828   24 -0.462   23 -0.485   23 -0.427   24 0.4536   11  3.996   24 -0.317   24 -0.538
SPURS         72 26 11671 10838  0.102 50.099    2  0.702    2  0.664    2  0.766    2 0.5615   15  3.973    1  0.758    4  0.774
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.001 42.810    9  0.285    9  0.264    9  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 -0.055 40.761   22 -0.301   22 -0.324   22 -0.423   22 0.4677    3  4.043   18 -0.060   27 -0.786
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.059 41.310   29 -0.677   29 -0.707   24 -0.501   29 0.4337    9  4.001   26 -0.364   25 -0.637
CAVALIERS     60 39 11651 11331  0.060 50.724    8  0.322    8  0.309    8  0.251    8 0.5284   10  3.996    6  0.364   13  0.138
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.068 40.709   21 -0.282   21 -0.299   25 -0.550   21 0.4703   20  3.953   29 -0.659   22 -0.442
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.021 46.841    3  0.514    3  0.483    4  0.485    3 0.5471   27  3.921    9  0.215    5  0.756

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  0.010 41.257   17  0.056   17  0.040   14  0.082   17 0.5031    2  4.061    4  0.539   20 -0.376
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.091 41.180   30 -0.791   30 -0.823   30 -0.822   30 0.4268    4  4.040   27 -0.476   30 -1.168
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.034 44.782   11  0.157   11  0.139   13  0.106   12 0.5120    8  4.009    7  0.289   18 -0.076
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.045 46.892   13  0.153   12  0.133   17  0.047   13 0.5118   19  3.956   17 -0.049   12  0.143
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.004 40.770   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  0.034 48.574   14  0.140   14  0.126   19 -0.081   14 0.5099   16  3.972   20 -0.091   17 -0.071
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.023 44.629   12  0.155   13  0.132   10  0.208   11 0.5125   23  3.937   13  0.017    8  0.399
KNICKS        65 31 11222 10458  0.037 47.288    4  0.480    4  0.445    3  0.682    4 0.5428   24  3.935    5  0.481    2  0.882
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.081 41.145   28 -0.673   28 -0.696   29 -0.804   28 0.4359   28  3.901   30 -1.173   21 -0.434
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.010 43.017    5  0.408    5  0.380    5  0.471    5 0.5378   29  3.899   12  0.092    3  0.851

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 251 195 0.563    1  0.145
ATLANTIC DIVISION  243 207 0.540    2  0.105
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.041
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 203 229 0.470    4 -0.059
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.108
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 232 0.474    6 -0.153

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.149 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: Mon May 25 05:30:13 2026
games through: Sun May 24 2026

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