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 -0.064 41.242   26 -0.585   26 -0.614   26 -0.579   26 0.4425    1  4.081   15 -0.011   29 -1.148
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.007 41.279   17  0.055   17  0.037   15  0.077   17 0.5030    2  4.061    4  0.536   20 -0.382
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.058 40.781   22 -0.301   22 -0.327   22 -0.421   22 0.4675    3  4.044   18 -0.056   27 -0.785
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.094 41.190   30 -0.791   30 -0.826   30 -0.815   30 0.4266    4  4.040   27 -0.468   30 -1.163
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.017 43.494    6  0.356    7  0.333    7  0.281    6 0.5323    5  4.024    2  0.540   15  0.023
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.059 40.861   25 -0.500   25 -0.530   27 -0.580   25 0.4503    6  4.021   25 -0.336   28 -0.825
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.043 40.943   23 -0.459   24 -0.489   21 -0.249   23 0.4543    7  4.017   16 -0.026   23 -0.471
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.033 44.865   11  0.159   11  0.138   13  0.106   12 0.5120    8  4.010    7  0.291   18 -0.079
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.062 41.331   29 -0.676   29 -0.710   24 -0.496   29 0.4336    9  4.001   26 -0.358   25 -0.635
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.061 51.491    8  0.311    8  0.296   10  0.193    8 0.5270   10  3.996    6  0.306   14  0.080
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 -0.057 40.839   24 -0.462   23 -0.487   23 -0.425   24 0.4533   11  3.996   24 -0.313   24 -0.537
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.072 41.324   27 -0.595   27 -0.617   28 -0.659   27 0.4423   12  3.990   28 -0.578   26 -0.741
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.046 48.033   10  0.261   10  0.239   12  0.120   10 0.5231   13  3.980   10  0.149   13  0.091
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.013 44.814   18  0.034   18  0.019   18 -0.001   18 0.5013   14  3.974   14  0.001   16 -0.003
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.033 48.648   14  0.140   14  0.125   19 -0.080   14 0.5099   15  3.972   20 -0.088   17 -0.072
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.042 47.207    7  0.354    6  0.339   11  0.141    7 0.5312   16  3.971   11  0.127   11  0.155
SPURS         74 28 12109 11264  0.129 53.194    2  0.709    2  0.665    1  0.776    2 0.5613   17  3.970    1  0.755    4  0.797
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.007 42.097   20 -0.095   20 -0.117   20 -0.162   20 0.4884   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.126
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.042 46.913   13  0.152   12  0.131   17  0.042   13 0.5117   19  3.956   17 -0.052   12  0.137
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.071 40.720   21 -0.283   21 -0.303   25 -0.546   21 0.4701   20  3.953   29 -0.653   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 -0.006 40.793   16  0.085   16  0.063    6  0.379   16 0.5055   21  3.946    8  0.237    7  0.522
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.032 40.405   19  0.002   19 -0.022   14  0.078   19 0.4979   22  3.942   19 -0.084   10  0.239
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.019 44.611   12  0.153   13  0.127    9  0.200   11 0.5123   23  3.937   13  0.011    8  0.390
KNICKS        67 31 11457 10646  0.049 48.715    4  0.510    4  0.473    2  0.750    4 0.5454   24  3.932    3  0.537    1  0.962
THUNDER       75 22 11493 10472  0.109 49.709    1  0.828    1  0.784    3  0.727    1 0.5718   25  3.932    5  0.514    2  0.940
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.039 45.138   15  0.108   15  0.091   16  0.042   15 0.5084   26  3.923   23 -0.218    9  0.302
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.016 46.791    3  0.513    3  0.478    4  0.474    3 0.5469   27  3.921    9  0.205    5  0.743
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.084 41.177   28 -0.673   28 -0.698   29 -0.796   28 0.4357   28  3.901   30 -1.164   21 -0.428
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.008 43.054    5  0.408    5  0.378    5  0.463    5 0.5376   29  3.899   12  0.085    3  0.842
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.002 42.821    9  0.283    9  0.261    8  0.236    9 0.5261   30  3.899   21 -0.144    6  0.616

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 41.324   27 -0.595   27 -0.617   28 -0.659   27 0.4423   12  3.990   28 -0.578   26 -0.741
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.042 47.207    7  0.354    6  0.339   11  0.141    7 0.5312   16  3.971   11  0.127   11  0.155
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.007 42.097   20 -0.095   20 -0.117   20 -0.162   20 0.4884   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.126
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.032 40.405   19  0.002   19 -0.022   14  0.078   19 0.4979   22  3.942   19 -0.084   10  0.239
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.039 45.138   15  0.108   15  0.091   16  0.042   15 0.5084   26  3.923   23 -0.218    9  0.302

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 -0.064 41.242   26 -0.585   26 -0.614   26 -0.579   26 0.4425    1  4.081   15 -0.011   29 -1.148
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.017 43.494    6  0.356    7  0.333    7  0.281    6 0.5323    5  4.024    2  0.540   15  0.023
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.046 48.033   10  0.261   10  0.239   12  0.120   10 0.5231   13  3.980   10  0.149   13  0.091
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.013 44.814   18  0.034   18  0.019   18 -0.001   18 0.5013   14  3.974   14  0.001   16 -0.003
THUNDER       75 22 11493 10472  0.109 49.709    1  0.828    1  0.784    3  0.727    1 0.5718   25  3.932    5  0.514    2  0.940

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 40.861   25 -0.500   25 -0.530   27 -0.580   25 0.4503    6  4.021   25 -0.336   28 -0.825
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.043 40.943   23 -0.459   24 -0.489   21 -0.249   23 0.4543    7  4.017   16 -0.026   23 -0.471
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.057 40.839   24 -0.462   23 -0.487   23 -0.425   24 0.4533   11  3.996   24 -0.313   24 -0.537
SPURS         74 28 12109 11264  0.129 53.194    2  0.709    2  0.665    1  0.776    2 0.5613   17  3.970    1  0.755    4  0.797
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.002 42.821    9  0.283    9  0.261    8  0.236    9 0.5261   30  3.899   21 -0.144    6  0.616

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 40.781   22 -0.301   22 -0.327   22 -0.421   22 0.4675    3  4.044   18 -0.056   27 -0.785
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.062 41.331   29 -0.676   29 -0.710   24 -0.496   29 0.4336    9  4.001   26 -0.358   25 -0.635
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.061 51.491    8  0.311    8  0.296   10  0.193    8 0.5270   10  3.996    6  0.306   14  0.080
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.071 40.720   21 -0.283   21 -0.303   25 -0.546   21 0.4701   20  3.953   29 -0.653   22 -0.439
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.016 46.791    3  0.513    3  0.478    4  0.474    3 0.5469   27  3.921    9  0.205    5  0.743

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 41.279   17  0.055   17  0.037   15  0.077   17 0.5030    2  4.061    4  0.536   20 -0.382
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.094 41.190   30 -0.791   30 -0.826   30 -0.815   30 0.4266    4  4.040   27 -0.468   30 -1.163
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.033 44.865   11  0.159   11  0.138   13  0.106   12 0.5120    8  4.010    7  0.291   18 -0.079
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.042 46.913   13  0.152   12  0.131   17  0.042   13 0.5117   19  3.956   17 -0.052   12  0.137
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.006 40.793   16  0.085   16  0.063    6  0.379   16 0.5055   21  3.946    8  0.237    7  0.522

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 48.648   14  0.140   14  0.125   19 -0.080   14 0.5099   15  3.972   20 -0.088   17 -0.072
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.019 44.611   12  0.153   13  0.127    9  0.200   11 0.5123   23  3.937   13  0.011    8  0.390
KNICKS        67 31 11457 10646  0.049 48.715    4  0.510    4  0.473    2  0.750    4 0.5454   24  3.932    3  0.537    1  0.962
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.084 41.177   28 -0.673   28 -0.698   29 -0.796   28 0.4357   28  3.901   30 -1.164   21 -0.428
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.008 43.054    5  0.408    5  0.378    5  0.463    5 0.5376   29  3.899   12  0.085    3  0.842

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 252 197 0.561    1  0.138
ATLANTIC DIVISION  245 207 0.542    2  0.110
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.044
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 205 231 0.470    4 -0.060
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.111
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: Thu Jun  4 05:30:10 2026
games through: Wed Jun  3 2026

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