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 -0.059 41.231   26 -0.584   26 -0.608   26 -0.584   26 0.4430    1  4.081   15 -0.019   29 -1.149
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.012 41.247   17  0.052   17  0.043   14  0.085   17 0.5034    2  4.061    4  0.541   20 -0.370
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.052 40.753   22 -0.302   22 -0.321   22 -0.423   22 0.4679    3  4.043   18 -0.062   27 -0.784
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.088 41.178   30 -0.788   30 -0.820   30 -0.824   30 0.4270    4  4.040   27 -0.480   30 -1.169
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.023 43.473    6  0.360    7  0.338    7  0.292    6 0.5328    5  4.023    3  0.548   15  0.037
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.053 40.837   25 -0.500   25 -0.525   27 -0.586   25 0.4508    6  4.021   25 -0.344   28 -0.827
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.037 40.916   23 -0.460   24 -0.484   21 -0.248   23 0.4547    7  4.017   16 -0.028   23 -0.467
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.036 44.744   12  0.157   11  0.140   13  0.108   12 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.288   18 -0.073
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.056 41.301   29 -0.674   29 -0.704   24 -0.501   29 0.4339    9  4.000   26 -0.366   25 -0.636
CAVALIERS     60 37 11450 11101  0.053 49.249    8  0.348    8  0.332    8  0.290    8 0.5308   10  3.998    6  0.412   12  0.168
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 -0.052 40.816   24 -0.462   23 -0.482   23 -0.427   24 0.4538   11  3.995   24 -0.318   24 -0.536
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.066 41.305   27 -0.594   27 -0.612   28 -0.666   27 0.4428   12  3.990   28 -0.588   26 -0.745
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.051 47.986   10  0.266   10  0.244   12  0.127   10 0.5236   13  3.979   10  0.151   14  0.102
SPURS         71 24 11347 10511  0.079 47.706    2  0.712    2  0.675    2  0.768    2 0.5627   14  3.974    1  0.768    4  0.768
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.019 44.778   18  0.031   18  0.025   18  0.003   18 0.5018   15  3.974   14  0.001   16  0.006
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.036 48.540   14  0.135   14  0.128   19 -0.080   14 0.5100   16  3.972   20 -0.092   17 -0.068
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.049 47.219    7  0.359    6  0.345   11  0.153    7 0.5317   17  3.971   11  0.135   11  0.170
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.001 42.081   20 -0.096   20 -0.111   20 -0.159   20 0.4889   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.120
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.048 46.884   13  0.149   12  0.136   17  0.050   13 0.5121   19  3.955   17 -0.047   13  0.148
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.065 40.704   21 -0.283   21 -0.297   25 -0.550   21 0.4705   20  3.953   29 -0.661   22 -0.440
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 -0.001 40.761   16  0.082   16  0.068    6  0.391   16 0.5059   21  3.946    8  0.245    7  0.537
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.026 40.387   19 -0.000   19 -0.017   15  0.085   19 0.4984   22  3.942   19 -0.080   10  0.250
KNICKS        63 31 10992 10257  0.033 46.083    4  0.457    4  0.424    3  0.653    4 0.5408   23  3.937    5  0.462    3  0.844
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.026 44.648   11  0.157   13  0.135   10  0.213   11 0.5128   24  3.937   13  0.020    8  0.407
THUNDER       72 19 10845  9805  0.070 45.110    1  0.828    1  0.795    1  0.796    1 0.5730   25  3.935    2  0.592    1  0.999
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.046 45.157   15  0.107   15  0.097   16  0.052   15 0.5089   26  3.923   23 -0.212    9  0.316
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.026 46.878    3  0.516    3  0.487    4  0.493    3 0.5475   27  3.921    9  0.220    5  0.766
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.079 41.129   28 -0.671   28 -0.693   29 -0.806   28 0.4360   28  3.901   30 -1.177   21 -0.435
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.013 42.999    5  0.410    5  0.383    5  0.476    5 0.5380   29  3.899   12  0.095    2  0.857
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.004 42.797    9  0.289    9  0.266    9  0.245    9 0.5266   30  3.899   21 -0.138    6  0.628

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 -0.066 41.305   27 -0.594   27 -0.612   28 -0.666   27 0.4428   12  3.990   28 -0.588   26 -0.745
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.049 47.219    7  0.359    6  0.345   11  0.153    7 0.5317   17  3.971   11  0.135   11  0.170
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.001 42.081   20 -0.096   20 -0.111   20 -0.159   20 0.4889   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.120
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.026 40.387   19 -0.000   19 -0.017   15  0.085   19 0.4984   22  3.942   19 -0.080   10  0.250
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.046 45.157   15  0.107   15  0.097   16  0.052   15 0.5089   26  3.923   23 -0.212    9  0.316

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 -0.059 41.231   26 -0.584   26 -0.608   26 -0.584   26 0.4430    1  4.081   15 -0.019   29 -1.149
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.023 43.473    6  0.360    7  0.338    7  0.292    6 0.5328    5  4.023    3  0.548   15  0.037
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.051 47.986   10  0.266   10  0.244   12  0.127   10 0.5236   13  3.979   10  0.151   14  0.102
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.019 44.778   18  0.031   18  0.025   18  0.003   18 0.5018   15  3.974   14  0.001   16  0.006
THUNDER       72 19 10845  9805  0.070 45.110    1  0.828    1  0.795    1  0.796    1 0.5730   25  3.935    2  0.592    1  0.999

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 -0.053 40.837   25 -0.500   25 -0.525   27 -0.586   25 0.4508    6  4.021   25 -0.344   28 -0.827
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.037 40.916   23 -0.460   24 -0.484   21 -0.248   23 0.4547    7  4.017   16 -0.028   23 -0.467
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.052 40.816   24 -0.462   23 -0.482   23 -0.427   24 0.4538   11  3.995   24 -0.318   24 -0.536
SPURS         71 24 11347 10511  0.079 47.706    2  0.712    2  0.675    2  0.768    2 0.5627   14  3.974    1  0.768    4  0.768
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.004 42.797    9  0.289    9  0.266    9  0.245    9 0.5266   30  3.899   21 -0.138    6  0.628

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 -0.052 40.753   22 -0.302   22 -0.321   22 -0.423   22 0.4679    3  4.043   18 -0.062   27 -0.784
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.056 41.301   29 -0.674   29 -0.704   24 -0.501   29 0.4339    9  4.000   26 -0.366   25 -0.636
CAVALIERS     60 37 11450 11101  0.053 49.249    8  0.348    8  0.332    8  0.290    8 0.5308   10  3.998    6  0.412   12  0.168
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.065 40.704   21 -0.283   21 -0.297   25 -0.550   21 0.4705   20  3.953   29 -0.661   22 -0.440
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.026 46.878    3  0.516    3  0.487    4  0.493    3 0.5475   27  3.921    9  0.220    5  0.766

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  0.012 41.247   17  0.052   17  0.043   14  0.085   17 0.5034    2  4.061    4  0.541   20 -0.370
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.088 41.178   30 -0.788   30 -0.820   30 -0.824   30 0.4270    4  4.040   27 -0.480   30 -1.169
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.036 44.744   12  0.157   11  0.140   13  0.108   12 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.288   18 -0.073
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.048 46.884   13  0.149   12  0.136   17  0.050   13 0.5121   19  3.955   17 -0.047   13  0.148
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.001 40.761   16  0.082   16  0.068    6  0.391   16 0.5059   21  3.946    8  0.245    7  0.537

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  0.036 48.540   14  0.135   14  0.128   19 -0.080   14 0.5100   16  3.972   20 -0.092   17 -0.068
KNICKS        63 31 10992 10257  0.033 46.083    4  0.457    4  0.424    3  0.653    4 0.5408   23  3.937    5  0.462    3  0.844
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.026 44.648   11  0.157   13  0.135   10  0.213   11 0.5128   24  3.937   13  0.020    8  0.407
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.079 41.129   28 -0.671   28 -0.693   29 -0.806   28 0.4360   28  3.901   30 -1.177   21 -0.435
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.013 42.999    5  0.410    5  0.383    5  0.476    5 0.5380   29  3.899   12  0.095    2  0.857

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 249 194 0.562    1  0.148
ATLANTIC DIVISION  241 207 0.538    2  0.104
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.039
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 202 227 0.471    4 -0.057
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.105
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 230 0.476    6 -0.147

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.148 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: Wed May 20 05:30:08 2026
games through: Tue May 19 2026

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