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  8 1014 1164 -0.167  4.519   29 -0.668   29 -0.671   29 -0.755   29 0.4167    1  4.109   18  0.049   30 -1.558 P
LAKERS        10  2 1465 1373  0.175  6.421    1  0.700    1  0.685    6  0.463    2 0.5810    2  4.029    1  0.831   13  0.095 P
HAWKS          7  5 1419 1394 -0.176  5.083   14  0.033   14  0.024   17 -0.037   14 0.5055    3  4.027    8  0.325   24 -0.399 P
HEAT           4  6 1158 1211  0.042  5.332   19 -0.128   18 -0.128   20 -0.169   18 0.4847    4  4.026   12  0.187   26 -0.526 P
PELICANS       4  7 1292 1346 -0.057  5.489   20 -0.252   20 -0.250   21 -0.281   21 0.4562    5  4.024   16  0.062   28 -0.625 P
CAVALIERS      5  6 1282 1265 -0.070  5.079   18 -0.123   19 -0.129   15  0.039   17 0.4951    6  4.023    7  0.378   22 -0.300 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  6  3 1074 1024  0.242  5.092    8  0.361    8  0.365    8  0.308    6 0.5553    7  4.000    4  0.526   14  0.090 P
BUCKS          1  9 1084 1216 -0.164  5.023   30 -0.733   30 -0.735   28 -0.615   30 0.4080    8  3.995   25 -0.426   29 -0.805 P
SUNS           3  6  995 1071  0.380  5.983   15 -0.020   15 -0.013   19 -0.108   15 0.5022    9  3.993   15  0.075   20 -0.290 P
RAPTORS        5  5 1166 1133 -0.069  4.561   17 -0.064   17 -0.071   14  0.056   19 0.4843   10  3.982   13  0.178   16 -0.066 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS          1  9 1091 1224  0.201  6.163   26 -0.537   26 -0.527   25 -0.452   27 0.4318   11  3.981   22 -0.330   27 -0.573 P
WARRIORS       8  3 1324 1223  0.171  5.691    5  0.473    5  0.459    5  0.532    5 0.5590   12  3.969    3  0.587    7  0.477 P
MAVERICKS      7  4 1264 1213  0.146  5.706   10  0.283   10  0.279    9  0.264   11 0.5302   13  3.967    9  0.311   11  0.218 P
GRIZZLIES      7  3 1179 1108 -0.014  4.587   11  0.277   11  0.271   10  0.232   12 0.5272   14  3.965   10  0.267   12  0.197 P
PACERS         3  8 1225 1267 -0.171  4.935   25 -0.478   25 -0.476   22 -0.298   25 0.4368   15  3.957   21 -0.303   21 -0.292 P
SPURS          9  2 1306 1177  0.244  5.860    3  0.651    3  0.656    1  0.665    3 0.5779   16  3.954    2  0.643    4  0.687 P
CLIPPERS       2  7 1012 1048  0.199  5.238   21 -0.306   21 -0.341   16 -0.025   20 0.4588   17  3.945   20 -0.093   15  0.044 P
NETS           2  8 1067 1157 -0.257  4.613   28 -0.632   28 -0.635   27 -0.574   28 0.4210   18  3.942   27 -0.656   25 -0.492 P
PISTONS        7  3 1127 1046 -0.166  4.030   12  0.213   12  0.204   11  0.215    9 0.5444   19  3.933   14  0.087    8  0.344 P
NUGGETS        5  4 1022 1015  0.188  5.009   13  0.195   13  0.194   12  0.186   13 0.5257   20  3.932   17  0.054    9  0.319 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC          2  7  963 1046  0.087  5.074   22 -0.327   22 -0.356   23 -0.323   24 0.4458   21  3.930   26 -0.466   18 -0.179 P
ROCKETS        8  3 1270 1170  0.330  6.427    4  0.571    4  0.556    2  0.610    4 0.5735   22  3.929    5  0.464    2  0.756 P
TIMBERWOLVES   8  3 1299 1177  0.178  5.519    6  0.457    6  0.455    4  0.590    8 0.5450   23  3.928    6  0.440    3  0.741 P
WIZARDS        4  7 1189 1247 -0.353  4.533   23 -0.395   24 -0.443   26 -0.523   23 0.4505   24  3.923   29 -0.698   23 -0.348 P
76ERS          9  2 1221 1187 -0.244  4.398    7  0.425    7  0.419   18 -0.063    7 0.5503   25  3.900   24 -0.354   10  0.228 P
JAZZ           1  9 1062 1179  0.268  6.407   27 -0.540   27 -0.531   24 -0.379   26 0.4361   26  3.896   28 -0.690   17 -0.068 P
CELTICS        8  2 1150 1043 -0.287  3.344    9  0.342    9  0.331    7  0.309   10 0.5353   27  3.886   19 -0.051    5  0.669 P
THUNDER        8  2 1122 1042  0.308  5.622    2  0.673    2  0.665    3  0.605    1 0.5853   28  3.884   11  0.233    1  0.977 P
KNICKS         5  4  989  938 -0.224  3.499   16 -0.042   16 -0.054   13  0.134   16 0.5018   29  3.864   23 -0.336    6  0.605 P
HORNETS        4  7 1087 1214 -0.352  4.454   24 -0.407   23 -0.410   30 -0.792   22 0.4554   30  3.837   30 -1.394   19 -0.191 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
LAKERS        10  2 1465 1373  0.175  6.421    1  0.700    1  0.685    6  0.463    2 0.5810    2  4.029    1  0.831   13  0.095 P
SUNS           3  6  995 1071  0.380  5.983   15 -0.020   15 -0.013   19 -0.108   15 0.5022    9  3.993   15  0.075   20 -0.290 P
KINGS          1  9 1091 1224  0.201  6.163   26 -0.537   26 -0.527   25 -0.452   27 0.4318   11  3.981   22 -0.330   27 -0.573 P
WARRIORS       8  3 1324 1223  0.171  5.691    5  0.473    5  0.459    5  0.532    5 0.5590   12  3.969    3  0.587    7  0.477 P
CLIPPERS       2  7 1012 1048  0.199  5.238   21 -0.306   21 -0.341   16 -0.025   20 0.4588   17  3.945   20 -0.093   15  0.044 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  3 1074 1024  0.242  5.092    8  0.361    8  0.365    8  0.308    6 0.5553    7  4.000    4  0.526   14  0.090 P
NUGGETS        5  4 1022 1015  0.188  5.009   13  0.195   13  0.194   12  0.186   13 0.5257   20  3.932   17  0.054    9  0.319 P
TIMBERWOLVES   8  3 1299 1177  0.178  5.519    6  0.457    6  0.455    4  0.590    8 0.5450   23  3.928    6  0.440    3  0.741 P
JAZZ           1  9 1062 1179  0.268  6.407   27 -0.540   27 -0.531   24 -0.379   26 0.4361   26  3.896   28 -0.690   17 -0.068 P
THUNDER        8  2 1122 1042  0.308  5.622    2  0.673    2  0.665    3  0.605    1 0.5853   28  3.884   11  0.233    1  0.977 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  7 1292 1346 -0.057  5.489   20 -0.252   20 -0.250   21 -0.281   21 0.4562    5  4.024   16  0.062   28 -0.625 P
MAVERICKS      7  4 1264 1213  0.146  5.706   10  0.283   10  0.279    9  0.264   11 0.5302   13  3.967    9  0.311   11  0.218 P
GRIZZLIES      7  3 1179 1108 -0.014  4.587   11  0.277   11  0.271   10  0.232   12 0.5272   14  3.965   10  0.267   12  0.197 P
SPURS          9  2 1306 1177  0.244  5.860    3  0.651    3  0.656    1  0.665    3 0.5779   16  3.954    2  0.643    4  0.687 P
ROCKETS        8  3 1270 1170  0.330  6.427    4  0.571    4  0.556    2  0.610    4 0.5735   22  3.929    5  0.464    2  0.756 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  8 1014 1164 -0.167  4.519   29 -0.668   29 -0.671   29 -0.755   29 0.4167    1  4.109   18  0.049   30 -1.558 P
CAVALIERS      5  6 1282 1265 -0.070  5.079   18 -0.123   19 -0.129   15  0.039   17 0.4951    6  4.023    7  0.378   22 -0.300 P
BUCKS          1  9 1084 1216 -0.164  5.023   30 -0.733   30 -0.735   28 -0.615   30 0.4080    8  3.995   25 -0.426   29 -0.805 P
PACERS         3  8 1225 1267 -0.171  4.935   25 -0.478   25 -0.476   22 -0.298   25 0.4368   15  3.957   21 -0.303   21 -0.292 P
PISTONS        7  3 1127 1046 -0.166  4.030   12  0.213   12  0.204   11  0.215    9 0.5444   19  3.933   14  0.087    8  0.344 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          7  5 1419 1394 -0.176  5.083   14  0.033   14  0.024   17 -0.037   14 0.5055    3  4.027    8  0.325   24 -0.399 P
HEAT           4  6 1158 1211  0.042  5.332   19 -0.128   18 -0.128   20 -0.169   18 0.4847    4  4.026   12  0.187   26 -0.526 P
MAGIC          2  7  963 1046  0.087  5.074   22 -0.327   22 -0.356   23 -0.323   24 0.4458   21  3.930   26 -0.466   18 -0.179 P
WIZARDS        4  7 1189 1247 -0.353  4.533   23 -0.395   24 -0.443   26 -0.523   23 0.4505   24  3.923   29 -0.698   23 -0.348 P
HORNETS        4  7 1087 1214 -0.352  4.454   24 -0.407   23 -0.410   30 -0.792   22 0.4554   30  3.837   30 -1.394   19 -0.191 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        5  5 1166 1133 -0.069  4.561   17 -0.064   17 -0.071   14  0.056   19 0.4843   10  3.982   13  0.178   16 -0.066 P
NETS           2  8 1067 1157 -0.257  4.613   28 -0.632   28 -0.635   27 -0.574   28 0.4210   18  3.942   27 -0.656   25 -0.492 P
76ERS          9  2 1221 1187 -0.244  4.398    7  0.425    7  0.419   18 -0.063    7 0.5503   25  3.900   24 -0.354   10  0.228 P
CELTICS        8  2 1150 1043 -0.287  3.344    9  0.342    9  0.331    7  0.309   10 0.5353   27  3.886   19 -0.051    5  0.669 P
KNICKS         5  4  989  938 -0.224  3.499   16 -0.042   16 -0.054   13  0.134   16 0.5018   29  3.864   23 -0.336    6  0.605 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 35 19 0.648    1  0.426
NORTHWEST DIVISION 28 21 0.571    2  0.385
PACIFIC DIVISION   24 27 0.471    3  0.102
ATLANTIC DIVISION  29 21 0.580    4 -0.024
CENTRAL DIVISION   17 34 0.333    5 -0.395
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 21 32 0.396    6 -0.495

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue Nov 10 05:30:12 2026
games through: Mon Nov  9 2026

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