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 5 681 776 -0.109  3.105   26 -0.304   27 -0.326   30 -0.468   27 0.4262    1  4.076   10  0.130   30 -1.066 P
HEAT          2 4 710 729  0.061  3.148   20 -0.131   20 -0.122   18 -0.040   21 0.4756    2  4.074    1  0.542   27 -0.622 P
KINGS         0 5 551 634  0.023  2.746   29 -0.407   29 -0.395   29 -0.427   29 0.4029    3  4.033   20 -0.064   29 -0.789 P
SUNS          1 3 448 498  0.160  2.355   19 -0.124   19 -0.117   21 -0.192   19 0.4830    4  4.027    9  0.141   25 -0.525 P
BUCKS         1 4 567 621 -0.298  2.131   27 -0.313   26 -0.325   26 -0.343   26 0.4345    5  4.020   19 -0.047   28 -0.638 P
PELICANS      1 4 597 608 -0.375  1.809   28 -0.342   28 -0.363   23 -0.236   28 0.4056    6  4.012   17  0.019   24 -0.491 P
PACERS        2 4 700 719 -0.207  2.516   24 -0.217   24 -0.229   22 -0.201   24 0.4448    7  4.010   15  0.041   23 -0.443 P
HAWKS         3 3 715 687  0.172  3.219   16  0.050   16  0.031   11  0.172   13 0.5188    8  4.004    3  0.383   17 -0.040 P
LAKERS        4 2 711 680  0.093  3.069    8  0.174    8  0.172   10  0.172   10 0.5293    9  4.001    4  0.369   16 -0.024 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 3 1 491 456 -0.037  1.819   10  0.140   10  0.135   13  0.087    7 0.5383   10  4.000    7  0.278   19 -0.104 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAVALIERS     3 2 590 585  0.044  2.480   12  0.120   12  0.111   14  0.083   14 0.5165   11  3.997    8  0.256   18 -0.089 P
WARRIORS      3 3 700 692  0.352  3.707   11  0.134   11  0.131    5  0.198    9 0.5298   12  3.995    5  0.364   15  0.032 P
MAGIC         2 3 549 592  0.398  3.351   17  0.001   15  0.045   20 -0.074   17 0.4892   13  3.993   13  0.082   21 -0.230 P
NETS          0 5 551 606 -0.220  2.339   30 -0.477   30 -0.481   28 -0.413   30 0.3960   14  3.989   25 -0.281   26 -0.546 P
ROCKETS       5 1 726 660  0.335  3.516    1  0.402    1  0.399    2  0.424    1 0.5918   15  3.982    2  0.518    9  0.329 P
JAZZ          1 4 562 601  0.017  2.674   25 -0.240   25 -0.250   24 -0.253   25 0.4438   16  3.977   23 -0.184   22 -0.322 P
CELTICS       4 1 604 558 -0.348  1.567    9  0.169    9  0.157    9  0.175   12 0.5280   17  3.954   11  0.127   13  0.223 P
MAVERICKS     4 2 686 671  0.322  3.658    6  0.228    6  0.244   12  0.170    5 0.5594   18  3.951   12  0.106   12  0.234 P
WIZARDS       3 3 663 658 -0.412  2.113   22 -0.165   23 -0.172   25 -0.262   22 0.4665   19  3.941   28 -0.376   20 -0.149 P
SPURS         3 2 583 550  0.103  2.523   13  0.113   13  0.102    7  0.186   11 0.5290   20  3.935   14  0.043   10  0.329 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  4 2 729 640  0.199  3.184    7  0.197    7  0.203    1  0.503    8 0.5337   21  3.934    6  0.356    1  0.650 P
NUGGETS       3 2 570 576 -0.048  2.342   14  0.093   14  0.078   17  0.012   15 0.5121   22  3.931   21 -0.149   14  0.174 P
GRIZZLIES     5 0 591 531  0.009  2.272    2  0.380    2  0.376    3  0.223    2 0.5805   23  3.927   16  0.037    6  0.409 P
RAPTORS       3 2 584 531 -0.050  2.111   15  0.056   17  0.026    8  0.186   16 0.5006   24  3.921   18 -0.026    7  0.398 P
CLIPPERS      1 4 527 559  0.225  2.997   23 -0.171   22 -0.169   19 -0.046   23 0.4589   25  3.897   29 -0.382   11  0.289 P
KNICKS        2 4 642 646 -0.011  2.898   21 -0.142   21 -0.143   15  0.035   18 0.4863   26  3.896   26 -0.303    8  0.372 P
76ERS         5 1 652 630 -0.097  2.666    5  0.250    5  0.260   16  0.032    6 0.5514   27  3.886   27 -0.357    5  0.421 P
THUNDER       4 1 541 523  0.080  2.456    3  0.311    3  0.287    4  0.223    3 0.5732   28  3.885   22 -0.169    2  0.614 P
PISTONS       5 1 659 611 -0.020  2.736    4  0.310    4  0.283    6  0.193    4 0.5625   29  3.884   24 -0.202    3  0.589 P
HORNETS       3 3 584 636 -0.258  2.562   18 -0.092   18 -0.080   27 -0.380   20 0.4808   30  3.795   30 -1.208    4  0.448 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
KINGS         0 5 551 634  0.023  2.746   29 -0.407   29 -0.395   29 -0.427   29 0.4029    3  4.033   20 -0.064   29 -0.789 P
SUNS          1 3 448 498  0.160  2.355   19 -0.124   19 -0.117   21 -0.192   19 0.4830    4  4.027    9  0.141   25 -0.525 P
LAKERS        4 2 711 680  0.093  3.069    8  0.174    8  0.172   10  0.172   10 0.5293    9  4.001    4  0.369   16 -0.024 P
WARRIORS      3 3 700 692  0.352  3.707   11  0.134   11  0.131    5  0.198    9 0.5298   12  3.995    5  0.364   15  0.032 P
CLIPPERS      1 4 527 559  0.225  2.997   23 -0.171   22 -0.169   19 -0.046   23 0.4589   25  3.897   29 -0.382   11  0.289 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 3 1 491 456 -0.037  1.819   10  0.140   10  0.135   13  0.087    7 0.5383   10  4.000    7  0.278   19 -0.104 P
JAZZ          1 4 562 601  0.017  2.674   25 -0.240   25 -0.250   24 -0.253   25 0.4438   16  3.977   23 -0.184   22 -0.322 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 2 729 640  0.199  3.184    7  0.197    7  0.203    1  0.503    8 0.5337   21  3.934    6  0.356    1  0.650 P
NUGGETS       3 2 570 576 -0.048  2.342   14  0.093   14  0.078   17  0.012   15 0.5121   22  3.931   21 -0.149   14  0.174 P
THUNDER       4 1 541 523  0.080  2.456    3  0.311    3  0.287    4  0.223    3 0.5732   28  3.885   22 -0.169    2  0.614 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      1 4 597 608 -0.375  1.809   28 -0.342   28 -0.363   23 -0.236   28 0.4056    6  4.012   17  0.019   24 -0.491 P
ROCKETS       5 1 726 660  0.335  3.516    1  0.402    1  0.399    2  0.424    1 0.5918   15  3.982    2  0.518    9  0.329 P
MAVERICKS     4 2 686 671  0.322  3.658    6  0.228    6  0.244   12  0.170    5 0.5594   18  3.951   12  0.106   12  0.234 P
SPURS         3 2 583 550  0.103  2.523   13  0.113   13  0.102    7  0.186   11 0.5290   20  3.935   14  0.043   10  0.329 P
GRIZZLIES     5 0 591 531  0.009  2.272    2  0.380    2  0.376    3  0.223    2 0.5805   23  3.927   16  0.037    6  0.409 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 5 681 776 -0.109  3.105   26 -0.304   27 -0.326   30 -0.468   27 0.4262    1  4.076   10  0.130   30 -1.066 P
BUCKS         1 4 567 621 -0.298  2.131   27 -0.313   26 -0.325   26 -0.343   26 0.4345    5  4.020   19 -0.047   28 -0.638 P
PACERS        2 4 700 719 -0.207  2.516   24 -0.217   24 -0.229   22 -0.201   24 0.4448    7  4.010   15  0.041   23 -0.443 P
CAVALIERS     3 2 590 585  0.044  2.480   12  0.120   12  0.111   14  0.083   14 0.5165   11  3.997    8  0.256   18 -0.089 P
PISTONS       5 1 659 611 -0.020  2.736    4  0.310    4  0.283    6  0.193    4 0.5625   29  3.884   24 -0.202    3  0.589 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
HEAT          2 4 710 729  0.061  3.148   20 -0.131   20 -0.122   18 -0.040   21 0.4756    2  4.074    1  0.542   27 -0.622 P
HAWKS         3 3 715 687  0.172  3.219   16  0.050   16  0.031   11  0.172   13 0.5188    8  4.004    3  0.383   17 -0.040 P
MAGIC         2 3 549 592  0.398  3.351   17  0.001   15  0.045   20 -0.074   17 0.4892   13  3.993   13  0.082   21 -0.230 P
WIZARDS       3 3 663 658 -0.412  2.113   22 -0.165   23 -0.172   25 -0.262   22 0.4665   19  3.941   28 -0.376   20 -0.149 P
HORNETS       3 3 584 636 -0.258  2.562   18 -0.092   18 -0.080   27 -0.380   20 0.4808   30  3.795   30 -1.208    4  0.448 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
NETS          0 5 551 606 -0.220  2.339   30 -0.477   30 -0.481   28 -0.413   30 0.3960   14  3.989   25 -0.281   26 -0.546 P
CELTICS       4 1 604 558 -0.348  1.567    9  0.169    9  0.157    9  0.175   12 0.5280   17  3.954   11  0.127   13  0.223 P
RAPTORS       3 2 584 531 -0.050  2.111   15  0.056   17  0.026    8  0.186   16 0.5006   24  3.921   18 -0.026    7  0.398 P
KNICKS        2 4 642 646 -0.011  2.898   21 -0.142   21 -0.143   15  0.035   18 0.4863   26  3.896   26 -0.303    8  0.372 P
76ERS         5 1 652 630 -0.097  2.666    5  0.250    5  0.260   16  0.032    6 0.5514   27  3.886   27 -0.357    5  0.421 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 18  9 0.667    1  0.313
NORTHWEST DIVISION 15 10 0.600    2  0.232
ATLANTIC DIVISION  14 13 0.519    3  0.029
PACIFIC DIVISION    9 17 0.346    4 -0.114
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 13 16 0.448    5 -0.203
CENTRAL DIVISION   12 16 0.429    6 -0.273

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sat Oct 31 05:30:15 2026
games through: Fri Oct 30 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.