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          18 39 6737 7175 -0.002 29.302   25 -0.397   25 -0.388   27 -0.447   25 0.4571    1  4.079   12  0.095   30 -0.989
HEAT          31 27 6961 6779  0.034 29.008   13  0.103   13  0.091   10  0.209   13 0.5096    2  4.032    2  0.497   17 -0.080
BULLS         24 33 6634 6870 -0.029 28.262   22 -0.186   22 -0.183   25 -0.309   22 0.4792    3  4.032   16 -0.024   27 -0.594
WIZARDS       16 39 6186 6749 -0.079 27.040   28 -0.532   27 -0.516   29 -0.624   27 0.4464    4  4.023   27 -0.385   29 -0.863
NUGGETS       36 21 6891 6617 -0.021 27.078    8  0.259    8  0.259    9  0.228    9 0.5270    5  4.020    4  0.453   15  0.003
HAWKS         27 31 6783 6878  0.045 29.895   19 -0.031   19 -0.034   19 -0.091   19 0.4968    6  4.020    9  0.134   23 -0.315
CAVALIERS     36 21 6829 6571  0.004 27.613    6  0.284    6  0.287    6  0.326    6 0.5308    7  4.019    1  0.545   13  0.107
TRAIL BLAZERS 27 30 6617 6781  0.048 29.643   18 -0.006   18 -0.007   21 -0.169   18 0.4984    8  4.015   15  0.030   24 -0.368
PELICANS      16 42 6661 6993  0.002 29.541   26 -0.503   26 -0.501   24 -0.279   26 0.4472    9  4.007   21 -0.123   26 -0.434
TIMBERWOLVES  35 22 6824 6537 -0.029 26.800   10  0.218   11  0.210    7  0.282   10 0.5215   10  4.000    6  0.400   12  0.163
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        34 21 6390 6388 -0.014 26.915    9  0.249    9  0.253   17 -0.029    8 0.5274   11  3.999   13  0.087   19 -0.144
GRIZZLIES     21 34 6352 6476 -0.016 27.267   23 -0.275   23 -0.278   20 -0.167   23 0.4707   12  3.997   17 -0.065   22 -0.268
SPURS         40 17 6752 6397  0.058 28.338    3  0.483    3  0.490    3  0.453    3 0.5496   13  3.979    3  0.463    5  0.444
76ERS         30 26 6491 6502 -0.027 27.182   16  0.064   15  0.061   18 -0.088   15 0.5071   14  3.977   19 -0.088   18 -0.088
KINGS         12 46 6384 7025  0.020 30.725   30 -0.638   30 -0.640   30 -0.681   30 0.4356   15  3.974   29 -0.697   28 -0.665
MAVERICKS     19 36 6264 6462 -0.026 27.270   24 -0.352   24 -0.356   23 -0.220   24 0.4616   16  3.972   25 -0.247   21 -0.192
KNICKS        37 21 6834 6497  0.007 28.032    5  0.294    5  0.293    5  0.366    5 0.5326   17  3.971    8  0.332    6  0.399
PACERS        15 42 6336 6766 -0.029 28.892   29 -0.540   29 -0.539   26 -0.444   29 0.4438   18  3.969   28 -0.488   25 -0.400
WARRIORS      29 27 6464 6374  0.027 28.042   15  0.066   16  0.059   12  0.107   16 0.5060   19  3.965   14  0.044   11  0.169
MAGIC         29 26 6339 6315  0.014 27.444   14  0.075   14  0.072   16 -0.014   14 0.5071   20  3.963   18 -0.084   14  0.057
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HORNETS       26 31 6577 6482  0.000 27.962   20 -0.079   20 -0.098   11  0.199   20 0.4899   21  3.959   11  0.107   10  0.292
BUCKS         24 30 6064 6223 -0.023 26.790   21 -0.131   21 -0.132   22 -0.180   21 0.4865   22  3.949   26 -0.326   16 -0.034
PISTONS       42 13 6466 6013 -0.022 25.688    2  0.547    2  0.558    2  0.547    1 0.5594   23  3.945    7  0.382    2  0.712
THUNDER       43 14 6808 6136  0.020 27.082    1  0.566    1  0.578    1  0.678    2 0.5586   24  3.933    5  0.450    1  0.906
RAPTORS       33 23 6368 6275 -0.022 27.040   12  0.185   12  0.179   15  0.060   12 0.5193   25  3.930   23 -0.178    9  0.298
SUNS          33 24 6456 6382  0.041 28.830   11  0.215   10  0.212   13  0.087   11 0.5213   26  3.929   22 -0.157    8  0.332
CLIPPERS      27 29 6280 6305  0.038 28.553   17  0.003   17 -0.003   14  0.068   17 0.5000   27  3.924   24 -0.204    7  0.341
CELTICS       36 19 6345 5961 -0.016 25.925    4  0.308    4  0.307    4  0.411    4 0.5350   28  3.918   10  0.112    3  0.710
ROCKETS       34 21 6287 6019  0.041 27.261    7  0.279    7  0.278    8  0.247    7 0.5292   29  3.905   20 -0.117    4  0.611
NETS          15 40 5876 6308 -0.031 27.677   27 -0.529   28 -0.523   28 -0.556   28 0.4458   30  3.897   30 -0.964   20 -0.148

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        34 21 6390 6388 -0.014 26.915    9  0.249    9  0.253   17 -0.029    8 0.5274   11  3.999   13  0.087   19 -0.144
KINGS         12 46 6384 7025  0.020 30.725   30 -0.638   30 -0.640   30 -0.681   30 0.4356   15  3.974   29 -0.697   28 -0.665
WARRIORS      29 27 6464 6374  0.027 28.042   15  0.066   16  0.059   12  0.107   16 0.5060   19  3.965   14  0.044   11  0.169
SUNS          33 24 6456 6382  0.041 28.830   11  0.215   10  0.212   13  0.087   11 0.5213   26  3.929   22 -0.157    8  0.332
CLIPPERS      27 29 6280 6305  0.038 28.553   17  0.003   17 -0.003   14  0.068   17 0.5000   27  3.924   24 -0.204    7  0.341

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          18 39 6737 7175 -0.002 29.302   25 -0.397   25 -0.388   27 -0.447   25 0.4571    1  4.079   12  0.095   30 -0.989
NUGGETS       36 21 6891 6617 -0.021 27.078    8  0.259    8  0.259    9  0.228    9 0.5270    5  4.020    4  0.453   15  0.003
TRAIL BLAZERS 27 30 6617 6781  0.048 29.643   18 -0.006   18 -0.007   21 -0.169   18 0.4984    8  4.015   15  0.030   24 -0.368
TIMBERWOLVES  35 22 6824 6537 -0.029 26.800   10  0.218   11  0.210    7  0.282   10 0.5215   10  4.000    6  0.400   12  0.163
THUNDER       43 14 6808 6136  0.020 27.082    1  0.566    1  0.578    1  0.678    2 0.5586   24  3.933    5  0.450    1  0.906

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      16 42 6661 6993  0.002 29.541   26 -0.503   26 -0.501   24 -0.279   26 0.4472    9  4.007   21 -0.123   26 -0.434
GRIZZLIES     21 34 6352 6476 -0.016 27.267   23 -0.275   23 -0.278   20 -0.167   23 0.4707   12  3.997   17 -0.065   22 -0.268
SPURS         40 17 6752 6397  0.058 28.338    3  0.483    3  0.490    3  0.453    3 0.5496   13  3.979    3  0.463    5  0.444
MAVERICKS     19 36 6264 6462 -0.026 27.270   24 -0.352   24 -0.356   23 -0.220   24 0.4616   16  3.972   25 -0.247   21 -0.192
ROCKETS       34 21 6287 6019  0.041 27.261    7  0.279    7  0.278    8  0.247    7 0.5292   29  3.905   20 -0.117    4  0.611

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         24 33 6634 6870 -0.029 28.262   22 -0.186   22 -0.183   25 -0.309   22 0.4792    3  4.032   16 -0.024   27 -0.594
CAVALIERS     36 21 6829 6571  0.004 27.613    6  0.284    6  0.287    6  0.326    6 0.5308    7  4.019    1  0.545   13  0.107
PACERS        15 42 6336 6766 -0.029 28.892   29 -0.540   29 -0.539   26 -0.444   29 0.4438   18  3.969   28 -0.488   25 -0.400
BUCKS         24 30 6064 6223 -0.023 26.790   21 -0.131   21 -0.132   22 -0.180   21 0.4865   22  3.949   26 -0.326   16 -0.034
PISTONS       42 13 6466 6013 -0.022 25.688    2  0.547    2  0.558    2  0.547    1 0.5594   23  3.945    7  0.382    2  0.712

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          31 27 6961 6779  0.034 29.008   13  0.103   13  0.091   10  0.209   13 0.5096    2  4.032    2  0.497   17 -0.080
WIZARDS       16 39 6186 6749 -0.079 27.040   28 -0.532   27 -0.516   29 -0.624   27 0.4464    4  4.023   27 -0.385   29 -0.863
HAWKS         27 31 6783 6878  0.045 29.895   19 -0.031   19 -0.034   19 -0.091   19 0.4968    6  4.020    9  0.134   23 -0.315
MAGIC         29 26 6339 6315  0.014 27.444   14  0.075   14  0.072   16 -0.014   14 0.5071   20  3.963   18 -0.084   14  0.057
HORNETS       26 31 6577 6482  0.000 27.962   20 -0.079   20 -0.098   11  0.199   20 0.4899   21  3.959   11  0.107   10  0.292

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         30 26 6491 6502 -0.027 27.182   16  0.064   15  0.061   18 -0.088   15 0.5071   14  3.977   19 -0.088   18 -0.088
KNICKS        37 21 6834 6497  0.007 28.032    5  0.294    5  0.293    5  0.366    5 0.5326   17  3.971    8  0.332    6  0.399
RAPTORS       33 23 6368 6275 -0.022 27.040   12  0.185   12  0.179   15  0.060   12 0.5193   25  3.930   23 -0.178    9  0.298
CELTICS       36 19 6345 5961 -0.016 25.925    4  0.308    4  0.307    4  0.411    4 0.5350   28  3.918   10  0.112    3  0.710
NETS          15 40 5876 6308 -0.031 27.677   27 -0.529   28 -0.523   28 -0.556   28 0.4458   30  3.897   30 -0.964   20 -0.148

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 159 126 0.558    1  0.160
ATLANTIC DIVISION  151 129 0.539    2  0.074
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 130 150 0.464    3  0.000
CENTRAL DIVISION   141 139 0.504    4 -0.051
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 129 154 0.456    5 -0.081
PACIFIC DIVISION   135 147 0.479    6 -0.090

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Feb 22 05:35:22 2026
games through: Sat Feb 21 2026

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