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 -0.066 41.243   26 -0.586   26 -0.615   26 -0.577   26 0.4424    1  4.081   15 -0.008   29 -1.146
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.006 41.279   17  0.055   17  0.036   15  0.075   17 0.5029    2  4.061    3  0.535   20 -0.384
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.059 40.781   22 -0.302   22 -0.328   22 -0.419   22 0.4674    3  4.044   18 -0.054   27 -0.784
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.095 41.190   30 -0.792   30 -0.827   30 -0.811   30 0.4265    4  4.040   27 -0.463   30 -1.159
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.016 43.496    6  0.357    7  0.332    7  0.278    6 0.5322    5  4.024    2  0.538   15  0.019
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.060 40.863   25 -0.500   25 -0.532   27 -0.577   25 0.4502    6  4.021   25 -0.332   28 -0.823
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.044 40.945   23 -0.460   24 -0.490   21 -0.248   23 0.4542    7  4.017   16 -0.025   23 -0.471
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.032 44.863   11  0.159   11  0.137   13  0.104   12 0.5119    8  4.010    7  0.290   18 -0.082
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.063 41.331   29 -0.677   29 -0.711   24 -0.494   29 0.4335    9  4.001   26 -0.355   25 -0.633
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.059 51.491    8  0.313    8  0.295   10  0.191    8 0.5270   10  3.996    6  0.304   14  0.077
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 -0.058 40.841   24 -0.462   23 -0.489   23 -0.424   24 0.4532   11  3.996   24 -0.311   24 -0.536
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.073 41.325   27 -0.596   27 -0.618   28 -0.656   27 0.4422   12  3.990   28 -0.574   26 -0.738
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.045 48.037   10  0.263   10  0.238   12  0.118   10 0.5230   13  3.980   10  0.148   13  0.088
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.012 44.817   18  0.035   18  0.018   18 -0.002   18 0.5012   14  3.974   14  0.000   16 -0.005
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.032 48.648   14  0.141   14  0.124   19 -0.081   14 0.5098   15  3.973   20 -0.089   17 -0.073
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.041 47.209    7  0.356    6  0.337   11  0.139    7 0.5311   16  3.971   11  0.126   11  0.152
SPURS         75 29 12328 11480  0.139 54.661    2  0.704    2  0.662    1  0.770    2 0.5609   17  3.969    1  0.744    4  0.796
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.008 42.099   20 -0.095   20 -0.118   20 -0.162   20 0.4883   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.127
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.041 46.913   13  0.152   12  0.130   17  0.041   13 0.5116   19  3.956   17 -0.053   12  0.134
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.072 40.721   21 -0.283   21 -0.304   25 -0.544   21 0.4700   20  3.953   29 -0.651   22 -0.437
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 -0.008 40.793   16  0.085   16  0.061    6  0.375   16 0.5054   21  3.946    8  0.233    7  0.517
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.033 40.406   19  0.002   19 -0.023   14  0.076   19 0.4978   22  3.942   19 -0.085   10  0.237
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.018 44.611   12  0.154   13  0.126    9  0.198   11 0.5122   23  3.937   13  0.009    8  0.386
THUNDER       75 22 11493 10472  0.108 49.713    1  0.824    1  0.783    3  0.722    1 0.5717   24  3.932    5  0.510    2  0.934
KNICKS        68 32 11673 10865  0.062 50.231    3  0.514    4  0.477    2  0.737    4 0.5457   25  3.931    4  0.520    1  0.954
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.037 45.141   15  0.108   15  0.090   16  0.041   15 0.5083   26  3.923   23 -0.219    9  0.300
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.015 46.791    4  0.512    3  0.477    4  0.470    3 0.5468   27  3.921    9  0.201    5  0.739
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.085 41.177   28 -0.674   28 -0.700   29 -0.792   28 0.4356   28  3.901   30 -1.159   21 -0.425
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.007 43.053    5  0.409    5  0.377    5  0.459    5 0.5376   29  3.899   12  0.081    3  0.837
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.003 42.823    9  0.285    9  0.259    8  0.233    9 0.5260   30  3.899   21 -0.146    6  0.613

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 -0.073 41.325   27 -0.596   27 -0.618   28 -0.656   27 0.4422   12  3.990   28 -0.574   26 -0.738
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.041 47.209    7  0.356    6  0.337   11  0.139    7 0.5311   16  3.971   11  0.126   11  0.152
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.008 42.099   20 -0.095   20 -0.118   20 -0.162   20 0.4883   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.127
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.033 40.406   19  0.002   19 -0.023   14  0.076   19 0.4978   22  3.942   19 -0.085   10  0.237
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.037 45.141   15  0.108   15  0.090   16  0.041   15 0.5083   26  3.923   23 -0.219    9  0.300

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 -0.066 41.243   26 -0.586   26 -0.615   26 -0.577   26 0.4424    1  4.081   15 -0.008   29 -1.146
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.016 43.496    6  0.357    7  0.332    7  0.278    6 0.5322    5  4.024    2  0.538   15  0.019
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.045 48.037   10  0.263   10  0.238   12  0.118   10 0.5230   13  3.980   10  0.148   13  0.088
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.012 44.817   18  0.035   18  0.018   18 -0.002   18 0.5012   14  3.974   14  0.000   16 -0.005
THUNDER       75 22 11493 10472  0.108 49.713    1  0.824    1  0.783    3  0.722    1 0.5717   24  3.932    5  0.510    2  0.934

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 -0.060 40.863   25 -0.500   25 -0.532   27 -0.577   25 0.4502    6  4.021   25 -0.332   28 -0.823
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.044 40.945   23 -0.460   24 -0.490   21 -0.248   23 0.4542    7  4.017   16 -0.025   23 -0.471
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.058 40.841   24 -0.462   23 -0.489   23 -0.424   24 0.4532   11  3.996   24 -0.311   24 -0.536
SPURS         75 29 12328 11480  0.139 54.661    2  0.704    2  0.662    1  0.770    2 0.5609   17  3.969    1  0.744    4  0.796
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.003 42.823    9  0.285    9  0.259    8  0.233    9 0.5260   30  3.899   21 -0.146    6  0.613

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 -0.059 40.781   22 -0.302   22 -0.328   22 -0.419   22 0.4674    3  4.044   18 -0.054   27 -0.784
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.063 41.331   29 -0.677   29 -0.711   24 -0.494   29 0.4335    9  4.001   26 -0.355   25 -0.633
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.059 51.491    8  0.313    8  0.295   10  0.191    8 0.5270   10  3.996    6  0.304   14  0.077
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.072 40.721   21 -0.283   21 -0.304   25 -0.544   21 0.4700   20  3.953   29 -0.651   22 -0.437
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.015 46.791    4  0.512    3  0.477    4  0.470    3 0.5468   27  3.921    9  0.201    5  0.739

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  0.006 41.279   17  0.055   17  0.036   15  0.075   17 0.5029    2  4.061    3  0.535   20 -0.384
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.095 41.190   30 -0.792   30 -0.827   30 -0.811   30 0.4265    4  4.040   27 -0.463   30 -1.159
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.032 44.863   11  0.159   11  0.137   13  0.104   12 0.5119    8  4.010    7  0.290   18 -0.082
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.041 46.913   13  0.152   12  0.130   17  0.041   13 0.5116   19  3.956   17 -0.053   12  0.134
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.008 40.793   16  0.085   16  0.061    6  0.375   16 0.5054   21  3.946    8  0.233    7  0.517

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  0.032 48.648   14  0.141   14  0.124   19 -0.081   14 0.5098   15  3.973   20 -0.089   17 -0.073
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.018 44.611   12  0.154   13  0.126    9  0.198   11 0.5122   23  3.937   13  0.009    8  0.386
KNICKS        68 32 11673 10865  0.062 50.231    3  0.514    4  0.477    2  0.737    4 0.5457   25  3.931    4  0.520    1  0.954
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.085 41.177   28 -0.674   28 -0.700   29 -0.792   28 0.4356   28  3.901   30 -1.159   21 -0.425
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.007 43.053    5  0.409    5  0.377    5  0.459    5 0.5376   29  3.899   12  0.081    3  0.837

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 252 197 0.561    1  0.137
ATLANTIC DIVISION  246 208 0.542    2  0.108
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.045
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 206 232 0.470    4 -0.061
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.113
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 233 0.473    6 -0.162

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: Tue Jun  9 05:30:11 2026
games through: Mon Jun  8 2026

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