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 8 1014 1164 -0.141  4.533   29 -0.646   29 -0.645   29 -0.732   29 0.4188    1  4.108   17  0.067   30 -1.531 P
PELICANS      4 6 1205 1208 -0.085  4.597   20 -0.229   20 -0.217   20 -0.092   21 0.4567    2  4.032   10  0.297   25 -0.481 P
HAWKS         7 4 1305 1270 -0.197  4.433   14  0.111   14  0.100   16 -0.006   15 0.5103    3  4.032    8  0.383   24 -0.395 P
LAKERS        9 2 1341 1259  0.127  5.619    2  0.574    3  0.596    5  0.404    2 0.5734    4  4.031    1  0.791   15  0.016 P
HEAT          4 6 1158 1211  0.009  5.133   19 -0.155   19 -0.145   21 -0.192   19 0.4814    5  4.031   14  0.193   28 -0.577 P
CAVALIERS     5 5 1170 1141  0.055  4.897   15  0.031   15  0.031   12  0.179   14 0.5106    6  4.009    5  0.446   18 -0.089 P
SUNS          3 5  899  949  0.318  5.017   17  0.003   16  0.013   18 -0.042   16 0.5088    7  4.001   15  0.187   22 -0.271 P
BUCKS         1 9 1084 1216 -0.129  5.071   30 -0.710   30 -0.704   28 -0.588   30 0.4104    8  3.996   24 -0.385   29 -0.791 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 6 3 1074 1024  0.222  4.961    8  0.354    8  0.349    8  0.296    6 0.5527    9  3.996    3  0.498   12  0.093 P
RAPTORS       5 4 1064 1015 -0.065  3.942   16  0.016   17  0.011   14  0.138   18 0.4954   10  3.989    9  0.301   16 -0.025 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS         1 9 1091 1224  0.185  5.989   27 -0.532   27 -0.524   25 -0.464   27 0.4259   11  3.979   23 -0.352   27 -0.575 P
WARRIORS      7 3 1186 1136  0.175  5.296    7  0.429    7  0.414    6  0.330    5 0.5572   12  3.974    7  0.414   10  0.246 P
GRIZZLIES     6 3 1061 1006 -0.079  3.903   12  0.189   12  0.178   15  0.135   13 0.5149   13  3.973   13  0.218   14  0.052 P
SPURS         8 2 1184 1081  0.253  5.305    3  0.573    2  0.600    4  0.567    3 0.5676   14  3.966    2  0.611    6  0.523 P
NETS          2 8 1067 1157 -0.271  4.570   28 -0.631   28 -0.633   27 -0.571   28 0.4195   15  3.950   27 -0.605   26 -0.536 P
MAVERICKS     6 4 1139 1091  0.191  5.272   11  0.233   11  0.226    9  0.284   12 0.5239   16  3.949   12  0.242    8  0.326 P
CLIPPERS      2 7 1012 1048  0.202  5.173   21 -0.324   21 -0.327   17 -0.023   20 0.4575   17  3.942   20 -0.100   13  0.053 P
NUGGETS       5 3  922  905  0.148  4.254   10  0.268   10  0.260   10  0.213   10 0.5345   18  3.939   16  0.119    9  0.307 P
PACERS        3 7 1103 1142 -0.206  4.250   24 -0.417   24 -0.425   23 -0.318   25 0.4383   19  3.938   25 -0.416   21 -0.220 P
ROCKETS       7 3 1160 1070  0.365  5.899    4  0.505    4  0.505    3  0.596    4 0.5668   20  3.937    4  0.491    3  0.700 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC         2 7  963 1046  0.111  5.066   22 -0.337   22 -0.334   22 -0.311   23 0.4493   21  3.927   26 -0.462   19 -0.160 P
TIMBERWOLVES  8 3 1299 1177  0.191  5.519    5  0.478    5  0.460    2  0.600    8 0.5454   22  3.926    6  0.445    2  0.756 P
PISTONS       6 3 1005  935 -0.124  3.701   13  0.173   13  0.162   11  0.210    9 0.5386   23  3.920   18  0.023    7  0.396 P
WIZARDS       4 6 1078 1125 -0.404  3.891   23 -0.375   23 -0.391   26 -0.519   22 0.4535   24  3.915   29 -0.735   23 -0.304 P
76ERS         9 2 1221 1187 -0.209  4.445    6  0.459    6  0.438   19 -0.042    7 0.5517   25  3.907   21 -0.297   11  0.213 P
JAZZ          1 9 1062 1179  0.285  6.340   26 -0.515   26 -0.508   24 -0.373   26 0.4307   26  3.893   28 -0.695   17 -0.051 P
CELTICS       8 2 1150 1043 -0.282  3.285    9  0.350    9  0.330    7  0.309   11 0.5340   27  3.887   19 -0.044    4  0.662 P
THUNDER       8 2 1122 1042  0.334  5.669    1  0.646    1  0.670    1  0.620    1 0.5865   28  3.885   11  0.257    1  0.982 P
KNICKS        5 4  989  938 -0.187  3.536   18 -0.026   18 -0.030   13  0.154   17 0.5035   29  3.865   22 -0.308    5  0.617 P
HORNETS       3 7  963 1102 -0.388  3.929   25 -0.496   25 -0.502   30 -0.880   24 0.4412   30  3.823   30 -1.544   20 -0.215 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
LAKERS        9 2 1341 1259  0.127  5.619    2  0.574    3  0.596    5  0.404    2 0.5734    4  4.031    1  0.791   15  0.016 P
SUNS          3 5  899  949  0.318  5.017   17  0.003   16  0.013   18 -0.042   16 0.5088    7  4.001   15  0.187   22 -0.271 P
KINGS         1 9 1091 1224  0.185  5.989   27 -0.532   27 -0.524   25 -0.464   27 0.4259   11  3.979   23 -0.352   27 -0.575 P
WARRIORS      7 3 1186 1136  0.175  5.296    7  0.429    7  0.414    6  0.330    5 0.5572   12  3.974    7  0.414   10  0.246 P
CLIPPERS      2 7 1012 1048  0.202  5.173   21 -0.324   21 -0.327   17 -0.023   20 0.4575   17  3.942   20 -0.100   13  0.053 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 6 3 1074 1024  0.222  4.961    8  0.354    8  0.349    8  0.296    6 0.5527    9  3.996    3  0.498   12  0.093 P
NUGGETS       5 3  922  905  0.148  4.254   10  0.268   10  0.260   10  0.213   10 0.5345   18  3.939   16  0.119    9  0.307 P
TIMBERWOLVES  8 3 1299 1177  0.191  5.519    5  0.478    5  0.460    2  0.600    8 0.5454   22  3.926    6  0.445    2  0.756 P
JAZZ          1 9 1062 1179  0.285  6.340   26 -0.515   26 -0.508   24 -0.373   26 0.4307   26  3.893   28 -0.695   17 -0.051 P
THUNDER       8 2 1122 1042  0.334  5.669    1  0.646    1  0.670    1  0.620    1 0.5865   28  3.885   11  0.257    1  0.982 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      4 6 1205 1208 -0.085  4.597   20 -0.229   20 -0.217   20 -0.092   21 0.4567    2  4.032   10  0.297   25 -0.481 P
GRIZZLIES     6 3 1061 1006 -0.079  3.903   12  0.189   12  0.178   15  0.135   13 0.5149   13  3.973   13  0.218   14  0.052 P
SPURS         8 2 1184 1081  0.253  5.305    3  0.573    2  0.600    4  0.567    3 0.5676   14  3.966    2  0.611    6  0.523 P
MAVERICKS     6 4 1139 1091  0.191  5.272   11  0.233   11  0.226    9  0.284   12 0.5239   16  3.949   12  0.242    8  0.326 P
ROCKETS       7 3 1160 1070  0.365  5.899    4  0.505    4  0.505    3  0.596    4 0.5668   20  3.937    4  0.491    3  0.700 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 8 1014 1164 -0.141  4.533   29 -0.646   29 -0.645   29 -0.732   29 0.4188    1  4.108   17  0.067   30 -1.531 P
CAVALIERS     5 5 1170 1141  0.055  4.897   15  0.031   15  0.031   12  0.179   14 0.5106    6  4.009    5  0.446   18 -0.089 P
BUCKS         1 9 1084 1216 -0.129  5.071   30 -0.710   30 -0.704   28 -0.588   30 0.4104    8  3.996   24 -0.385   29 -0.791 P
PACERS        3 7 1103 1142 -0.206  4.250   24 -0.417   24 -0.425   23 -0.318   25 0.4383   19  3.938   25 -0.416   21 -0.220 P
PISTONS       6 3 1005  935 -0.124  3.701   13  0.173   13  0.162   11  0.210    9 0.5386   23  3.920   18  0.023    7  0.396 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
HAWKS         7 4 1305 1270 -0.197  4.433   14  0.111   14  0.100   16 -0.006   15 0.5103    3  4.032    8  0.383   24 -0.395 P
HEAT          4 6 1158 1211  0.009  5.133   19 -0.155   19 -0.145   21 -0.192   19 0.4814    5  4.031   14  0.193   28 -0.577 P
MAGIC         2 7  963 1046  0.111  5.066   22 -0.337   22 -0.334   22 -0.311   23 0.4493   21  3.927   26 -0.462   19 -0.160 P
WIZARDS       4 6 1078 1125 -0.404  3.891   23 -0.375   23 -0.391   26 -0.519   22 0.4535   24  3.915   29 -0.735   23 -0.304 P
HORNETS       3 7  963 1102 -0.388  3.929   25 -0.496   25 -0.502   30 -0.880   24 0.4412   30  3.823   30 -1.544   20 -0.215 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
RAPTORS       5 4 1064 1015 -0.065  3.942   16  0.016   17  0.011   14  0.138   18 0.4954   10  3.989    9  0.301   16 -0.025 P
NETS          2 8 1067 1157 -0.271  4.570   28 -0.631   28 -0.633   27 -0.571   28 0.4195   15  3.950   27 -0.605   26 -0.536 P
76ERS         9 2 1221 1187 -0.209  4.445    6  0.459    6  0.438   19 -0.042    7 0.5517   25  3.907   21 -0.297   11  0.213 P
CELTICS       8 2 1150 1043 -0.282  3.285    9  0.350    9  0.330    7  0.309   11 0.5340   27  3.887   19 -0.044    4  0.662 P
KNICKS        5 4  989  938 -0.187  3.536   18 -0.026   18 -0.030   13  0.154   17 0.5035   29  3.865   22 -0.308    5  0.617 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 31 18 0.633    1  0.429
NORTHWEST DIVISION 28 20 0.583    2  0.402
PACIFIC DIVISION   22 26 0.458    3  0.056
ATLANTIC DIVISION  29 20 0.592    4  0.013
CENTRAL DIVISION   16 32 0.333    5 -0.354
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 20 30 0.400    6 -0.516

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Mon Nov  9 05:30:15 2026
games through: Sun Nov  8 2026

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