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
RAPTORS       1 4 607 639  0.020  2.628   26 -0.167   26 -0.158   23 -0.131   26 0.4482    1  4.109    1  0.506   30 -0.769 P
GRIZZLIES     3 2 602 615 -0.150  2.240   14  0.022   14  0.030   19 -0.068   16 0.4953    2  4.060    6  0.303   26 -0.438 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 3 2 618 593  0.138  2.738   12  0.070   12  0.063   11  0.059   12 0.5202    3  4.060    3  0.426   24 -0.308 P
76ERS         4 0 517 495 -0.124  1.724    2  0.194    2  0.201   13  0.028    2 0.5704    4  4.059    4  0.392   25 -0.336 P
HORNETS       2 3 620 622 -0.192  2.233   22 -0.124   22 -0.111   24 -0.146   22 0.4634    5  4.051    9  0.176   27 -0.469 P
WIZARDS       1 4 592 645 -0.087  2.578   28 -0.190   28 -0.188   30 -0.277   25 0.4536    6  4.050   15  0.037   29 -0.591 P
NETS          0 5 569 639 -0.021  2.720   30 -0.253   30 -0.269   29 -0.270   30 0.4055    7  4.049   14  0.041   28 -0.581 P
JAZZ          2 2 505 483 -0.193  1.649   19 -0.038   19 -0.048   18 -0.022   21 0.4692    8  4.044    7  0.259   23 -0.303 P
HEAT          3 2 627 570  0.126  2.568   10  0.090   11  0.066    3  0.211   10 0.5266    9  4.037    2  0.457   18 -0.035 P
SUNS          1 4 580 630  0.009  2.677   24 -0.152   25 -0.149   25 -0.154   27 0.4388   10  4.015   17 -0.023   22 -0.285 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
NUGGETS       3 1 513 450  0.020  1.727    8  0.122    8  0.103    1  0.253    8 0.5328   11  4.007    5  0.343    7  0.164 P
LAKERS        3 2 588 586  0.004  2.481   13  0.039   13  0.054   15  0.011   13 0.5160   12  4.003   12  0.077   19 -0.055 P
BUCKS         4 1 609 575  0.059  2.462    4  0.172    4  0.170    6  0.149    4 0.5615   13  4.002    8  0.211   10  0.086 P
CAVALIERS     3 2 581 576  0.310  3.021    7  0.132    7  0.122    7  0.142    7 0.5411   14  3.993   10  0.156    9  0.127 P
HAWKS         2 3 569 602 -0.134  2.326   20 -0.062   20 -0.081   26 -0.161   20 0.4781   15  3.991   22 -0.155   21 -0.167 P
ROCKETS       2 2 511 470 -0.016  1.813   17 -0.011   17 -0.014    8  0.134   17 0.4931   16  3.991   11  0.139    8  0.130 P
MAGIC         2 4 693 720 -0.018  3.030   21 -0.097   21 -0.106   21 -0.104   19 0.4818   17  3.989   21 -0.110   20 -0.097 P
BULLS         4 0 479 445 -0.272  1.482    5  0.171    5  0.166   12  0.035    3 0.5658   18  3.988   16  0.022   14  0.048 P
TIMBERWOLVES  2 3 571 595  0.061  2.642   18 -0.021   18 -0.025   17 -0.021   18 0.4838   19  3.984   19 -0.055   17  0.013 P
PISTONS       3 2 575 571  0.181  2.869    9  0.099    9  0.083   16  0.006   11 0.5238   20  3.979   18 -0.053   11  0.066 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
WARRIORS      4 2 714 696  0.232  3.431    6  0.157    6  0.157    5  0.156    5 0.5544   21  3.970   13  0.052    6  0.260 P
KINGS         1 4 555 584  0.038  2.637   25 -0.161   24 -0.149   20 -0.084   23 0.4563   22  3.964   23 -0.218   13  0.050 P
PACERS        0 4 453 490 -0.009  2.044   29 -0.207   29 -0.213   22 -0.114   28 0.4239   23  3.955   25 -0.294   12  0.066 P
MAVERICKS     2 3 539 577 -0.389  1.858   23 -0.129   23 -0.125   27 -0.215   24 0.4555   24  3.942   28 -0.461   15  0.032 P
PELICANS      0 4 416 492  0.213  2.542   27 -0.189   27 -0.183   28 -0.263   29 0.4212   25  3.936   29 -0.542   16  0.016 P
CELTICS       2 3 571 536  0.165  2.631   16 -0.006   16 -0.010    2  0.250   14 0.5091   26  3.928   20 -0.068    4  0.568 P
KNICKS        2 2 442 442  0.470  2.714   11  0.081   10  0.081   10  0.121    9 0.5281   27  3.923   24 -0.223    5  0.465 P
THUNDER       6 0 718 662 -0.196  2.306    1  0.255    1  0.273    4  0.188    1 0.5767   28  3.877   26 -0.383    1  0.760 P
SPURS         5 0 591 519 -0.275  1.760    3  0.191    3  0.193    9  0.125    6 0.5494   29  3.876   27 -0.452    2  0.702 P
CLIPPERS      2 2 430 436  0.044  2.050   15  0.012   15  0.017   14  0.018   15 0.5023   30  3.873   30 -0.574    3  0.609 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
SUNS          1 4 580 630  0.009  2.677   24 -0.152   25 -0.149   25 -0.154   27 0.4388   10  4.015   17 -0.023   22 -0.285 P
LAKERS        3 2 588 586  0.004  2.481   13  0.039   13  0.054   15  0.011   13 0.5160   12  4.003   12  0.077   19 -0.055 P
WARRIORS      4 2 714 696  0.232  3.431    6  0.157    6  0.157    5  0.156    5 0.5544   21  3.970   13  0.052    6  0.260 P
KINGS         1 4 555 584  0.038  2.637   25 -0.161   24 -0.149   20 -0.084   23 0.4563   22  3.964   23 -0.218   13  0.050 P
CLIPPERS      2 2 430 436  0.044  2.050   15  0.012   15  0.017   14  0.018   15 0.5023   30  3.873   30 -0.574    3  0.609 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 2 618 593  0.138  2.738   12  0.070   12  0.063   11  0.059   12 0.5202    3  4.060    3  0.426   24 -0.308 P
JAZZ          2 2 505 483 -0.193  1.649   19 -0.038   19 -0.048   18 -0.022   21 0.4692    8  4.044    7  0.259   23 -0.303 P
NUGGETS       3 1 513 450  0.020  1.727    8  0.122    8  0.103    1  0.253    8 0.5328   11  4.007    5  0.343    7  0.164 P
TIMBERWOLVES  2 3 571 595  0.061  2.642   18 -0.021   18 -0.025   17 -0.021   18 0.4838   19  3.984   19 -0.055   17  0.013 P
THUNDER       6 0 718 662 -0.196  2.306    1  0.255    1  0.273    4  0.188    1 0.5767   28  3.877   26 -0.383    1  0.760 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
GRIZZLIES     3 2 602 615 -0.150  2.240   14  0.022   14  0.030   19 -0.068   16 0.4953    2  4.060    6  0.303   26 -0.438 P
ROCKETS       2 2 511 470 -0.016  1.813   17 -0.011   17 -0.014    8  0.134   17 0.4931   16  3.991   11  0.139    8  0.130 P
MAVERICKS     2 3 539 577 -0.389  1.858   23 -0.129   23 -0.125   27 -0.215   24 0.4555   24  3.942   28 -0.461   15  0.032 P
PELICANS      0 4 416 492  0.213  2.542   27 -0.189   27 -0.183   28 -0.263   29 0.4212   25  3.936   29 -0.542   16  0.016 P
SPURS         5 0 591 519 -0.275  1.760    3  0.191    3  0.193    9  0.125    6 0.5494   29  3.876   27 -0.452    2  0.702 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
BUCKS         4 1 609 575  0.059  2.462    4  0.172    4  0.170    6  0.149    4 0.5615   13  4.002    8  0.211   10  0.086 P
CAVALIERS     3 2 581 576  0.310  3.021    7  0.132    7  0.122    7  0.142    7 0.5411   14  3.993   10  0.156    9  0.127 P
BULLS         4 0 479 445 -0.272  1.482    5  0.171    5  0.166   12  0.035    3 0.5658   18  3.988   16  0.022   14  0.048 P
PISTONS       3 2 575 571  0.181  2.869    9  0.099    9  0.083   16  0.006   11 0.5238   20  3.979   18 -0.053   11  0.066 P
PACERS        0 4 453 490 -0.009  2.044   29 -0.207   29 -0.213   22 -0.114   28 0.4239   23  3.955   25 -0.294   12  0.066 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
HORNETS       2 3 620 622 -0.192  2.233   22 -0.124   22 -0.111   24 -0.146   22 0.4634    5  4.051    9  0.176   27 -0.469 P
WIZARDS       1 4 592 645 -0.087  2.578   28 -0.190   28 -0.188   30 -0.277   25 0.4536    6  4.050   15  0.037   29 -0.591 P
HEAT          3 2 627 570  0.126  2.568   10  0.090   11  0.066    3  0.211   10 0.5266    9  4.037    2  0.457   18 -0.035 P
HAWKS         2 3 569 602 -0.134  2.326   20 -0.062   20 -0.081   26 -0.161   20 0.4781   15  3.991   22 -0.155   21 -0.167 P
MAGIC         2 4 693 720 -0.018  3.030   21 -0.097   21 -0.106   21 -0.104   19 0.4818   17  3.989   21 -0.110   20 -0.097 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       1 4 607 639  0.020  2.628   26 -0.167   26 -0.158   23 -0.131   26 0.4482    1  4.109    1  0.506   30 -0.769 P
76ERS         4 0 517 495 -0.124  1.724    2  0.194    2  0.201   13  0.028    2 0.5704    4  4.059    4  0.392   25 -0.336 P
NETS          0 5 569 639 -0.021  2.720   30 -0.253   30 -0.269   29 -0.270   30 0.4055    7  4.049   14  0.041   28 -0.581 P
CELTICS       2 3 571 536  0.165  2.631   16 -0.006   16 -0.010    2  0.250   14 0.5091   26  3.928   20 -0.068    4  0.568 P
KNICKS        2 2 442 442  0.470  2.714   11  0.081   10  0.081   10  0.121    9 0.5281   27  3.923   24 -0.223    5  0.465 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 16  8 0.667    1  0.253
CENTRAL DIVISION   14  9 0.609    2  0.121
ATLANTIC DIVISION   9 14 0.391    3  0.018
PACIFIC DIVISION   11 14 0.440    4 -0.029
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 12 11 0.522    5 -0.145
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 10 16 0.385    6 -0.232

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Oct 31 05:30:12 2025
games through: Thu Oct 30 2025

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