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  9 1133 1288 -0.073  5.378   28 -0.662   28 -0.671   28 -0.660   27 0.4183    1  4.114   13  0.171   30 -1.492 P
PELICANS       4  8 1403 1491 -0.207  5.457   23 -0.423   22 -0.387   24 -0.492   25 0.4388    2  4.036   19 -0.087   29 -0.897 P
LAKERS        11  2 1588 1485  0.109  6.505    1  0.696    1  0.693    8  0.430    2 0.5767    3  4.029    1  0.799   13  0.061 P
HEAT           5  6 1273 1320 -0.026  5.511   18 -0.058   18 -0.081   20 -0.176   18 0.4882    4  4.026   12  0.180   26 -0.532 P
HAWKS          7  5 1419 1394 -0.154  5.139   15  0.047   15  0.033   17 -0.020   15 0.5088    5  4.026    8  0.335   24 -0.375 P
CAVALIERS      6  6 1397 1372 -0.023  5.696   16 -0.014   16 -0.021   14  0.095   16 0.5026    6  4.023    6  0.431   22 -0.241 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  8  3 1315 1235  0.291  6.332    5  0.524    4  0.522    6  0.469    3 0.5736    7  4.003    2  0.701   10  0.236 P
SUNS           4  6 1128 1181  0.344  6.382   14  0.062   14  0.063   16 -0.004   13 0.5106    8  4.002   11  0.225   20 -0.233 P
BUCKS          1 11 1281 1456 -0.064  6.485   30 -0.746   30 -0.761   29 -0.675   30 0.4112    9  3.985   27 -0.536   28 -0.813 P
GRIZZLIES      7  4 1297 1231 -0.073  4.838   13  0.161   13  0.151   13  0.160   14 0.5088   10  3.979   10  0.270   14  0.049 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAVERICKS      7  4 1264 1213  0.116  5.592   11  0.260   11  0.255    9  0.246   12 0.5298   11  3.967    9  0.295   11  0.197 P
KINGS          1 10 1191 1331  0.051  6.166   27 -0.638   27 -0.640   26 -0.530   28 0.4174   12  3.965   26 -0.493   27 -0.566 P
WARRIORS       8  4 1432 1338  0.225  6.421    8  0.398    8  0.399    4  0.513    7 0.5517   13  3.963    4  0.540    7  0.486 P
NETS           3  8 1212 1268 -0.176  5.124   26 -0.494   26 -0.498   23 -0.366   26 0.4384   14  3.963   24 -0.341   25 -0.391 P
RAPTORS        5  6 1259 1231 -0.037  5.161   19 -0.100   19 -0.125   15  0.052   19 0.4789   15  3.960   17  0.061   15  0.043 P
CLIPPERS       2  8 1122 1181  0.096  5.552   24 -0.437   24 -0.437   19 -0.168   22 0.4464   16  3.957   20 -0.172   18 -0.164 P
SPURS         10  2 1430 1296  0.152  5.897    2  0.654    2  0.654    2  0.579    4 0.5723   17  3.955    3  0.561    6  0.596 P
PACERS         4  8 1339 1368 -0.211  5.103   22 -0.418   23 -0.413   22 -0.261   23 0.4463   18  3.947   21 -0.315   19 -0.207 P
NUGGETS        6  4 1145 1133  0.194  5.551   10  0.279   10  0.279   12  0.207   11 0.5348   19  3.944   14  0.136    9  0.277 P
MAGIC          4  7 1193 1254  0.021  5.775   20 -0.206   20 -0.197   21 -0.223   20 0.4630   20  3.934   25 -0.343   16 -0.103 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PISTONS        7  3 1127 1046 -0.113  4.194   12  0.240   12  0.231   10  0.245    8 0.5462   21  3.931   16  0.110    8  0.380 P
ROCKETS        9  3 1385 1278  0.341  7.093    3  0.647    3  0.621    1  0.635    1 0.5827   22  3.929    5  0.489    3  0.782 P
TIMBERWOLVES   8  3 1299 1177  0.136  5.303    7  0.415    7  0.429    3  0.548   10 0.5426   23  3.929    7  0.400    5  0.696 P
WIZARDS        4  8 1290 1361 -0.310  5.058   25 -0.471   25 -0.474   27 -0.537   24 0.4431   24  3.922   28 -0.718   23 -0.357 P
76ERS          9  3 1322 1310 -0.146  5.292    9  0.375    9  0.372   18 -0.092    9 0.5426   25  3.912   22 -0.322   12  0.137 P
JAZZ           1 11 1279 1417  0.031  6.723   29 -0.722   29 -0.734   25 -0.527   29 0.4148   26  3.901   29 -0.816   21 -0.237 P
THUNDER        8  4 1333 1283  0.359  7.150    6  0.496    6  0.515    5  0.481    5 0.5663   27  3.886   15  0.121    2  0.842 P
CELTICS       10  2 1371 1237 -0.111  4.688    4  0.528    5  0.516    7  0.455    6 0.5571   28  3.876   18  0.045    1  0.864 P
KNICKS         6  5 1213 1138 -0.183  4.351   17 -0.032   17 -0.060   11  0.217   17 0.4963   29  3.848   23 -0.328    4  0.762 P
HORNETS        4  7 1087 1214 -0.277  4.727   21 -0.363   21 -0.359   30 -0.734   21 0.4600   30  3.834   30 -1.349   17 -0.119 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        11  2 1588 1485  0.109  6.505    1  0.696    1  0.693    8  0.430    2 0.5767    3  4.029    1  0.799   13  0.061 P
SUNS           4  6 1128 1181  0.344  6.382   14  0.062   14  0.063   16 -0.004   13 0.5106    8  4.002   11  0.225   20 -0.233 P
KINGS          1 10 1191 1331  0.051  6.166   27 -0.638   27 -0.640   26 -0.530   28 0.4174   12  3.965   26 -0.493   27 -0.566 P
WARRIORS       8  4 1432 1338  0.225  6.421    8  0.398    8  0.399    4  0.513    7 0.5517   13  3.963    4  0.540    7  0.486 P
CLIPPERS       2  8 1122 1181  0.096  5.552   24 -0.437   24 -0.437   19 -0.168   22 0.4464   16  3.957   20 -0.172   18 -0.164 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  8  3 1315 1235  0.291  6.332    5  0.524    4  0.522    6  0.469    3 0.5736    7  4.003    2  0.701   10  0.236 P
NUGGETS        6  4 1145 1133  0.194  5.551   10  0.279   10  0.279   12  0.207   11 0.5348   19  3.944   14  0.136    9  0.277 P
TIMBERWOLVES   8  3 1299 1177  0.136  5.303    7  0.415    7  0.429    3  0.548   10 0.5426   23  3.929    7  0.400    5  0.696 P
JAZZ           1 11 1279 1417  0.031  6.723   29 -0.722   29 -0.734   25 -0.527   29 0.4148   26  3.901   29 -0.816   21 -0.237 P
THUNDER        8  4 1333 1283  0.359  7.150    6  0.496    6  0.515    5  0.481    5 0.5663   27  3.886   15  0.121    2  0.842 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  8 1403 1491 -0.207  5.457   23 -0.423   22 -0.387   24 -0.492   25 0.4388    2  4.036   19 -0.087   29 -0.897 P
GRIZZLIES      7  4 1297 1231 -0.073  4.838   13  0.161   13  0.151   13  0.160   14 0.5088   10  3.979   10  0.270   14  0.049 P
MAVERICKS      7  4 1264 1213  0.116  5.592   11  0.260   11  0.255    9  0.246   12 0.5298   11  3.967    9  0.295   11  0.197 P
SPURS         10  2 1430 1296  0.152  5.897    2  0.654    2  0.654    2  0.579    4 0.5723   17  3.955    3  0.561    6  0.596 P
ROCKETS        9  3 1385 1278  0.341  7.093    3  0.647    3  0.621    1  0.635    1 0.5827   22  3.929    5  0.489    3  0.782 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  9 1133 1288 -0.073  5.378   28 -0.662   28 -0.671   28 -0.660   27 0.4183    1  4.114   13  0.171   30 -1.492 P
CAVALIERS      6  6 1397 1372 -0.023  5.696   16 -0.014   16 -0.021   14  0.095   16 0.5026    6  4.023    6  0.431   22 -0.241 P
BUCKS          1 11 1281 1456 -0.064  6.485   30 -0.746   30 -0.761   29 -0.675   30 0.4112    9  3.985   27 -0.536   28 -0.813 P
PACERS         4  8 1339 1368 -0.211  5.103   22 -0.418   23 -0.413   22 -0.261   23 0.4463   18  3.947   21 -0.315   19 -0.207 P
PISTONS        7  3 1127 1046 -0.113  4.194   12  0.240   12  0.231   10  0.245    8 0.5462   21  3.931   16  0.110    8  0.380 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           5  6 1273 1320 -0.026  5.511   18 -0.058   18 -0.081   20 -0.176   18 0.4882    4  4.026   12  0.180   26 -0.532 P
HAWKS          7  5 1419 1394 -0.154  5.139   15  0.047   15  0.033   17 -0.020   15 0.5088    5  4.026    8  0.335   24 -0.375 P
MAGIC          4  7 1193 1254  0.021  5.775   20 -0.206   20 -0.197   21 -0.223   20 0.4630   20  3.934   25 -0.343   16 -0.103 P
WIZARDS        4  8 1290 1361 -0.310  5.058   25 -0.471   25 -0.474   27 -0.537   24 0.4431   24  3.922   28 -0.718   23 -0.357 P
HORNETS        4  7 1087 1214 -0.277  4.727   21 -0.363   21 -0.359   30 -0.734   21 0.4600   30  3.834   30 -1.349   17 -0.119 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           3  8 1212 1268 -0.176  5.124   26 -0.494   26 -0.498   23 -0.366   26 0.4384   14  3.963   24 -0.341   25 -0.391 P
RAPTORS        5  6 1259 1231 -0.037  5.161   19 -0.100   19 -0.125   15  0.052   19 0.4789   15  3.960   17  0.061   15  0.043 P
76ERS          9  3 1322 1310 -0.146  5.292    9  0.375    9  0.372   18 -0.092    9 0.5426   25  3.912   22 -0.322   12  0.137 P
CELTICS       10  2 1371 1237 -0.111  4.688    4  0.528    5  0.516    7  0.455    6 0.5571   28  3.876   18  0.045    1  0.864 P
KNICKS         6  5 1213 1138 -0.183  4.351   17 -0.032   17 -0.060   11  0.217   17 0.4963   29  3.848   23 -0.328    4  0.762 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 31 25 0.554    1  0.359
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 37 21 0.638    2  0.340
ATLANTIC DIVISION  33 24 0.579    3  0.072
PACIFIC DIVISION   26 30 0.464    4  0.059
CENTRAL DIVISION   19 37 0.339    5 -0.346
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 24 33 0.421    6 -0.452

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.172 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: Thu Nov 12 05:30:16 2026
games through: Wed Nov 11 2026

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