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
HEAT          2 4 710 729 -0.008  2.997   19 -0.154   19 -0.155   18 -0.070   20 0.4662    1  4.075    3  0.531   27 -0.671 P
BULLS         1 5 681 776 -0.141  3.069   27 -0.332   27 -0.353   30 -0.490   27 0.4252    2  4.075   14  0.109   30 -1.090 P
KINGS         0 6 656 770  0.200  3.762   30 -0.411   30 -0.417   29 -0.478   30 0.4180    3  4.040   17 -0.068   29 -0.888 P
SUNS          1 3 448 498  0.204  2.426   18 -0.121   18 -0.114   22 -0.187   17 0.4863    4  4.034   10  0.191   26 -0.566 P
BUCKS         1 5 678 757 -0.314  2.595   28 -0.398   29 -0.416   28 -0.463   28 0.4239    5  4.033   18 -0.088   28 -0.838 P
LAKERS        5 2 842 805  0.119  3.656    5  0.274    6  0.261    7  0.209   10 0.5388    6  4.032    1  0.580   21 -0.161 P
CAVALIERS     4 2 726 696 -0.065  2.654   13  0.129   13  0.144   13  0.144   12 0.5206    7  4.012    5  0.406   19 -0.118 P
PELICANS      2 4 718 707 -0.314  2.243   24 -0.279   24 -0.291   20 -0.125   25 0.4328    8  4.004   16  0.095   25 -0.345 P
WARRIORS      4 3 824 804  0.300  4.151   11  0.184   11  0.196    5  0.238   11 0.5351    9  3.996    4  0.416   16  0.061 P
HAWKS         3 4 814 808  0.118  3.719   16 -0.027   16 -0.048   14  0.064   15 0.4922   10  3.989    9  0.209   17 -0.080 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ROCKETS       6 1 845 758  0.269  3.874    1  0.476    1  0.462    1  0.495    1 0.5957   11  3.978    2  0.579    4  0.412 P
PACERS        2 5 790 817 -0.293  2.756   26 -0.325   26 -0.348   24 -0.285   26 0.4276   12  3.973   22 -0.226   24 -0.343 P
RAPTORS       3 3 709 662 -0.005  2.711   15 -0.020   15 -0.045   12  0.167   18 0.4821   13  3.960   12  0.159   15  0.175 P
MAGIC         2 4 646 700  0.273  3.746   17 -0.082   17 -0.051   21 -0.150   21 0.4659   14  3.960   20 -0.158   20 -0.141 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 4 1 603 546 -0.014  2.249   10  0.200    9  0.216    9  0.200    7 0.5511   15  3.957   11  0.180   11  0.220 P
MAVERICKS     4 2 686 671  0.314  3.633    9  0.226    7  0.255   11  0.172    5 0.5578   16  3.954   13  0.135   13  0.209 P
SPURS         4 2 704 661  0.189  3.199    8  0.232   10  0.215    4  0.263    8 0.5434   17  3.952    8  0.216    9  0.310 P
GRIZZLIES     6 0 727 636 -0.053  2.449    2  0.449    2  0.431    3  0.311    2 0.5787   18  3.950    7  0.250    5  0.371 P
NETS          1 5 649 696 -0.212  2.757   29 -0.402   28 -0.413   26 -0.367   29 0.4182   19  3.944   29 -0.457   23 -0.276 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 3 840 761  0.252  3.880   12  0.147   12  0.155    2  0.477   14 0.5169   20  3.941    6  0.372    2  0.581 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAZZ          1 5 652 713  0.112  3.455   25 -0.290   25 -0.294   25 -0.313   24 0.4451   21  3.937   27 -0.437   22 -0.188 P
CELTICS       5 1 712 655 -0.266  2.065    7  0.265    8  0.242    6  0.225    9 0.5424   22  3.936   15  0.097    6  0.353 P
NUGGETS       3 2 570 576  0.030  2.505   14  0.093   14  0.105   15  0.040   13 0.5204   23  3.934   19 -0.102   14  0.182 P
WIZARDS       3 3 663 658 -0.442  2.076   21 -0.179   22 -0.190   23 -0.282   22 0.4600   24  3.927   28 -0.456   18 -0.108 P
CLIPPERS      1 5 639 683  0.252  3.694   23 -0.241   23 -0.230   19 -0.077   23 0.4554   25  3.903   26 -0.374   12  0.220 P
KNICKS        2 4 642 646 -0.034  2.850   20 -0.159   20 -0.162   16  0.026   16 0.4870   26  3.900   24 -0.285    8  0.338 P
76ERS         6 1 761 734 -0.171  2.915    4  0.315    3  0.308   17  0.013    6 0.5575   27  3.896   25 -0.316    7  0.342 P
PISTONS       5 1 659 611 -0.009  2.775    3  0.350    4  0.302    8  0.205    3 0.5655   28  3.888   21 -0.167    3  0.576 P
THUNDER       4 2 639 642  0.229  3.358    6  0.273    5  0.268   10  0.179    4 0.5652   29  3.877   23 -0.242    1  0.600 P
HORNETS       3 4 688 745 -0.272  2.921   22 -0.193   21 -0.177   27 -0.416   19 0.4697   30  3.816   30 -1.132   10  0.300 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 6 656 770  0.200  3.762   30 -0.411   30 -0.417   29 -0.478   30 0.4180    3  4.040   17 -0.068   29 -0.888 P
SUNS          1 3 448 498  0.204  2.426   18 -0.121   18 -0.114   22 -0.187   17 0.4863    4  4.034   10  0.191   26 -0.566 P
LAKERS        5 2 842 805  0.119  3.656    5  0.274    6  0.261    7  0.209   10 0.5388    6  4.032    1  0.580   21 -0.161 P
WARRIORS      4 3 824 804  0.300  4.151   11  0.184   11  0.196    5  0.238   11 0.5351    9  3.996    4  0.416   16  0.061 P
CLIPPERS      1 5 639 683  0.252  3.694   23 -0.241   23 -0.230   19 -0.077   23 0.4554   25  3.903   26 -0.374   12  0.220 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 4 1 603 546 -0.014  2.249   10  0.200    9  0.216    9  0.200    7 0.5511   15  3.957   11  0.180   11  0.220 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 3 840 761  0.252  3.880   12  0.147   12  0.155    2  0.477   14 0.5169   20  3.941    6  0.372    2  0.581 P
JAZZ          1 5 652 713  0.112  3.455   25 -0.290   25 -0.294   25 -0.313   24 0.4451   21  3.937   27 -0.437   22 -0.188 P
NUGGETS       3 2 570 576  0.030  2.505   14  0.093   14  0.105   15  0.040   13 0.5204   23  3.934   19 -0.102   14  0.182 P
THUNDER       4 2 639 642  0.229  3.358    6  0.273    5  0.268   10  0.179    4 0.5652   29  3.877   23 -0.242    1  0.600 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      2 4 718 707 -0.314  2.243   24 -0.279   24 -0.291   20 -0.125   25 0.4328    8  4.004   16  0.095   25 -0.345 P
ROCKETS       6 1 845 758  0.269  3.874    1  0.476    1  0.462    1  0.495    1 0.5957   11  3.978    2  0.579    4  0.412 P
MAVERICKS     4 2 686 671  0.314  3.633    9  0.226    7  0.255   11  0.172    5 0.5578   16  3.954   13  0.135   13  0.209 P
SPURS         4 2 704 661  0.189  3.199    8  0.232   10  0.215    4  0.263    8 0.5434   17  3.952    8  0.216    9  0.310 P
GRIZZLIES     6 0 727 636 -0.053  2.449    2  0.449    2  0.431    3  0.311    2 0.5787   18  3.950    7  0.250    5  0.371 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 -0.141  3.069   27 -0.332   27 -0.353   30 -0.490   27 0.4252    2  4.075   14  0.109   30 -1.090 P
BUCKS         1 5 678 757 -0.314  2.595   28 -0.398   29 -0.416   28 -0.463   28 0.4239    5  4.033   18 -0.088   28 -0.838 P
CAVALIERS     4 2 726 696 -0.065  2.654   13  0.129   13  0.144   13  0.144   12 0.5206    7  4.012    5  0.406   19 -0.118 P
PACERS        2 5 790 817 -0.293  2.756   26 -0.325   26 -0.348   24 -0.285   26 0.4276   12  3.973   22 -0.226   24 -0.343 P
PISTONS       5 1 659 611 -0.009  2.775    3  0.350    4  0.302    8  0.205    3 0.5655   28  3.888   21 -0.167    3  0.576 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 -0.008  2.997   19 -0.154   19 -0.155   18 -0.070   20 0.4662    1  4.075    3  0.531   27 -0.671 P
HAWKS         3 4 814 808  0.118  3.719   16 -0.027   16 -0.048   14  0.064   15 0.4922   10  3.989    9  0.209   17 -0.080 P
MAGIC         2 4 646 700  0.273  3.746   17 -0.082   17 -0.051   21 -0.150   21 0.4659   14  3.960   20 -0.158   20 -0.141 P
WIZARDS       3 3 663 658 -0.442  2.076   21 -0.179   22 -0.190   23 -0.282   22 0.4600   24  3.927   28 -0.456   18 -0.108 P
HORNETS       3 4 688 745 -0.272  2.921   22 -0.193   21 -0.177   27 -0.416   19 0.4697   30  3.816   30 -1.132   10  0.300 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       3 3 709 662 -0.005  2.711   15 -0.020   15 -0.045   12  0.167   18 0.4821   13  3.960   12  0.159   15  0.175 P
NETS          1 5 649 696 -0.212  2.757   29 -0.402   28 -0.413   26 -0.367   29 0.4182   19  3.944   29 -0.457   23 -0.276 P
CELTICS       5 1 712 655 -0.266  2.065    7  0.265    8  0.242    6  0.225    9 0.5424   22  3.936   15  0.097    6  0.353 P
KNICKS        2 4 642 646 -0.034  2.850   20 -0.159   20 -0.162   16  0.026   16 0.4870   26  3.900   24 -0.285    8  0.338 P
76ERS         6 1 761 734 -0.171  2.915    4  0.315    3  0.308   17  0.013    6 0.5575   27  3.896   25 -0.316    7  0.342 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 22  9 0.710    1  0.410
NORTHWEST DIVISION 16 13 0.552    2  0.231
ATLANTIC DIVISION  17 14 0.548    3  0.039
PACIFIC DIVISION   11 19 0.367    4 -0.109
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 13 19 0.406    5 -0.286
CENTRAL DIVISION   13 18 0.419    6 -0.315

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.223 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: Mon Nov  2 05:30:12 2026
games through: Sun Nov  1 2026

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