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          15 34 5801 6243  0.025 25.736   25 -0.383   25 -0.369   28 -0.533   25 0.4573    1  4.092   15  0.073   30 -1.139
HEAT          26 23 5868 5794  0.073 25.376   13  0.118   13  0.118   13  0.095   13 0.5133    2  4.045    2  0.449   24 -0.259
BULLS         23 25 5645 5745 -0.070 22.751   20 -0.087   20 -0.093   22 -0.161   20 0.4883    3  4.029   13  0.104   26 -0.427
WIZARDS       12 35 5273 5768 -0.053 23.353   30 -0.561   30 -0.559   30 -0.602   30 0.4386    4  4.020   26 -0.382   29 -0.822
CAVALIERS     29 21 5956 5816  0.011 24.558   11  0.175   11  0.172   10  0.182   11 0.5192    5  4.020    3  0.399   15 -0.036
HAWKS         24 26 5855 5906  0.047 25.667   17 -0.002   18 -0.002   17 -0.027   17 0.5014    6  4.019   10  0.185   23 -0.239
NUGGETS       33 16 5886 5665 -0.054 22.659    4  0.310    4  0.313   12  0.124    4 0.5342    7  4.014    6  0.313   17 -0.065
PELICANS      13 37 5721 6044  0.029 25.962   27 -0.496   27 -0.493   25 -0.300   27 0.4461    8  4.010   22 -0.134   27 -0.466
LAKERS        29 18 5474 5472 -0.020 22.864    8  0.232    8  0.233   18 -0.044    8 0.5274    9  4.001   14  0.076   21 -0.165
TRAIL BLAZERS 23 26 5642 5764  0.068 25.743   18 -0.002   17 -0.001   20 -0.106   18 0.5001   10  3.996   18 -0.013   22 -0.199
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  30 19 5833 5590 -0.006 23.363    9  0.227    9  0.216    7  0.298   10 0.5241   11  3.986    4  0.341   10  0.254
KNICKS        31 18 5774 5504 -0.022 23.180    7  0.249    7  0.250    6  0.307    7 0.5282   12  3.981    5  0.323    8  0.290
GRIZZLIES     18 28 5270 5349 -0.021 22.612   23 -0.242   23 -0.249   21 -0.120   23 0.4724   13  3.980   21 -0.111   19 -0.129
WARRIORS      27 23 5833 5699  0.026 24.803   14  0.102   14  0.099    9  0.201   14 0.5108   14  3.975    9  0.186   11  0.217
MAGIC         25 22 5439 5438  0.024 23.608   15  0.082   15  0.085   19 -0.061   15 0.5085   15  3.974   20 -0.080   16 -0.043
76ERS         26 21 5477 5443 -0.041 22.411   16  0.080   16  0.082   16 -0.012   16 0.5084   16  3.974   19 -0.033   13  0.010
HORNETS       21 28 5701 5623 -0.032 23.408   21 -0.153   21 -0.176   11  0.178   21 0.4807   17  3.972   11  0.147   12  0.210
KINGS         12 38 5507 6023  0.060 27.124   28 -0.501   28 -0.498   29 -0.544   26 0.4481   18  3.970   29 -0.583   28 -0.505
SPURS         32 16 5623 5392  0.067 24.074    3  0.393    3  0.395    4  0.317    3 0.5427   19  3.965    7  0.248    6  0.385
MAVERICKS     19 29 5483 5602 -0.080 22.664   24 -0.272   24 -0.274   23 -0.170   24 0.4688   20  3.962   25 -0.253   18 -0.087
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PACERS        12 36 5293 5679 -0.002 24.769   29 -0.519   29 -0.520   27 -0.426   29 0.4420   21  3.957   28 -0.532   25 -0.320
BUCKS         18 28 5144 5328 -0.024 22.823   22 -0.238   22 -0.241   24 -0.279   22 0.4737   22  3.952   27 -0.413   20 -0.146
PISTONS       35 12 5502 5189 -0.035 21.860    2  0.482    2  0.486    2  0.372    2 0.5542   23  3.947    8  0.213    4  0.532
THUNDER       38 11 5894 5290  0.015 23.025    1  0.584    1  0.594    1  0.683    1 0.5619   24  3.938    1  0.477    1  0.889
CELTICS       30 18 5582 5267 -0.042 22.195   10  0.221   10  0.209    3  0.335    9 0.5269   25  3.937   12  0.126    3  0.545
SUNS          30 19 5597 5452  0.052 24.657    6  0.271    6  0.275    8  0.249    6 0.5301   26  3.934   16  0.026    5  0.471
RAPTORS       29 21 5685 5622 -0.006 24.442   12  0.165   12  0.165   15  0.044   12 0.5171   27  3.934   23 -0.180    9  0.268
CLIPPERS      22 25 5293 5310  0.025 23.674   19 -0.039   19 -0.047   14  0.067   19 0.4950   28  3.926   24 -0.198    7  0.333
ROCKETS       29 17 5339 5060  0.034 22.520    5  0.286    5  0.279    5  0.312    5 0.5335   29  3.918   17  0.009    2  0.616
NETS          13 34 5062 5375 -0.017 23.560   26 -0.482   26 -0.476   26 -0.418   28 0.4454   30  3.899   30 -0.816   14 -0.020

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        29 18 5474 5472 -0.020 22.864    8  0.232    8  0.233   18 -0.044    8 0.5274    9  4.001   14  0.076   21 -0.165
WARRIORS      27 23 5833 5699  0.026 24.803   14  0.102   14  0.099    9  0.201   14 0.5108   14  3.975    9  0.186   11  0.217
KINGS         12 38 5507 6023  0.060 27.124   28 -0.501   28 -0.498   29 -0.544   26 0.4481   18  3.970   29 -0.583   28 -0.505
SUNS          30 19 5597 5452  0.052 24.657    6  0.271    6  0.275    8  0.249    6 0.5301   26  3.934   16  0.026    5  0.471
CLIPPERS      22 25 5293 5310  0.025 23.674   19 -0.039   19 -0.047   14  0.067   19 0.4950   28  3.926   24 -0.198    7  0.333

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          15 34 5801 6243  0.025 25.736   25 -0.383   25 -0.369   28 -0.533   25 0.4573    1  4.092   15  0.073   30 -1.139
NUGGETS       33 16 5886 5665 -0.054 22.659    4  0.310    4  0.313   12  0.124    4 0.5342    7  4.014    6  0.313   17 -0.065
TRAIL BLAZERS 23 26 5642 5764  0.068 25.743   18 -0.002   17 -0.001   20 -0.106   18 0.5001   10  3.996   18 -0.013   22 -0.199
TIMBERWOLVES  30 19 5833 5590 -0.006 23.363    9  0.227    9  0.216    7  0.298   10 0.5241   11  3.986    4  0.341   10  0.254
THUNDER       38 11 5894 5290  0.015 23.025    1  0.584    1  0.594    1  0.683    1 0.5619   24  3.938    1  0.477    1  0.889

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      13 37 5721 6044  0.029 25.962   27 -0.496   27 -0.493   25 -0.300   27 0.4461    8  4.010   22 -0.134   27 -0.466
GRIZZLIES     18 28 5270 5349 -0.021 22.612   23 -0.242   23 -0.249   21 -0.120   23 0.4724   13  3.980   21 -0.111   19 -0.129
SPURS         32 16 5623 5392  0.067 24.074    3  0.393    3  0.395    4  0.317    3 0.5427   19  3.965    7  0.248    6  0.385
MAVERICKS     19 29 5483 5602 -0.080 22.664   24 -0.272   24 -0.274   23 -0.170   24 0.4688   20  3.962   25 -0.253   18 -0.087
ROCKETS       29 17 5339 5060  0.034 22.520    5  0.286    5  0.279    5  0.312    5 0.5335   29  3.918   17  0.009    2  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         23 25 5645 5745 -0.070 22.751   20 -0.087   20 -0.093   22 -0.161   20 0.4883    3  4.029   13  0.104   26 -0.427
CAVALIERS     29 21 5956 5816  0.011 24.558   11  0.175   11  0.172   10  0.182   11 0.5192    5  4.020    3  0.399   15 -0.036
PACERS        12 36 5293 5679 -0.002 24.769   29 -0.519   29 -0.520   27 -0.426   29 0.4420   21  3.957   28 -0.532   25 -0.320
BUCKS         18 28 5144 5328 -0.024 22.823   22 -0.238   22 -0.241   24 -0.279   22 0.4737   22  3.952   27 -0.413   20 -0.146
PISTONS       35 12 5502 5189 -0.035 21.860    2  0.482    2  0.486    2  0.372    2 0.5542   23  3.947    8  0.213    4  0.532

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          26 23 5868 5794  0.073 25.376   13  0.118   13  0.118   13  0.095   13 0.5133    2  4.045    2  0.449   24 -0.259
WIZARDS       12 35 5273 5768 -0.053 23.353   30 -0.561   30 -0.559   30 -0.602   30 0.4386    4  4.020   26 -0.382   29 -0.822
HAWKS         24 26 5855 5906  0.047 25.667   17 -0.002   18 -0.002   17 -0.027   17 0.5014    6  4.019   10  0.185   23 -0.239
MAGIC         25 22 5439 5438  0.024 23.608   15  0.082   15  0.085   19 -0.061   15 0.5085   15  3.974   20 -0.080   16 -0.043
HORNETS       21 28 5701 5623 -0.032 23.408   21 -0.153   21 -0.176   11  0.178   21 0.4807   17  3.972   11  0.147   12  0.210

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
KNICKS        31 18 5774 5504 -0.022 23.180    7  0.249    7  0.250    6  0.307    7 0.5282   12  3.981    5  0.323    8  0.290
76ERS         26 21 5477 5443 -0.041 22.411   16  0.080   16  0.082   16 -0.012   16 0.5084   16  3.974   19 -0.033   13  0.010
CELTICS       30 18 5582 5267 -0.042 22.195   10  0.221   10  0.209    3  0.335    9 0.5269   25  3.937   12  0.126    3  0.545
RAPTORS       29 21 5685 5622 -0.006 24.442   12  0.165   12  0.165   15  0.044   12 0.5171   27  3.934   23 -0.180    9  0.268
NETS          13 34 5062 5375 -0.017 23.560   26 -0.482   26 -0.476   26 -0.418   28 0.4454   30  3.899   30 -0.816   14 -0.020

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 139 106 0.567    1  0.156
ATLANTIC DIVISION  129 112 0.535    2  0.079
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 111 127 0.466    3  0.005
PACIFIC DIVISION   120 123 0.494    4 -0.035
CENTRAL DIVISION   117 122 0.490    5 -0.095
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 108 134 0.446    6 -0.100

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sat Jan 31 05:30:12 2026
games through: Fri Jan 30 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.