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          22 60  9642 10333 -0.038 41.124   26 -0.586   26 -0.586   26 -0.583   26 0.4448    1  4.079   19 -0.050   29 -1.115
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.030 41.090   17  0.063   17  0.061   15  0.109   17 0.5050    2  4.058    3  0.530   20 -0.312
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.034 40.580   22 -0.299   22 -0.302   22 -0.420   22 0.4696    3  4.040   21 -0.093   27 -0.747
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.068 41.074   30 -0.793   30 -0.796   30 -0.830   30 0.4288    4  4.037   27 -0.520   30 -1.140
NUGGETS       55 28 10126  9693  0.031 40.342    5  0.408    5  0.407    7  0.395    5 0.5391    5  4.029    2  0.662   12  0.128
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.033 40.714   25 -0.503   25 -0.504   27 -0.583   25 0.4526    6  4.018   25 -0.374   28 -0.792
CAVALIERS     53 30  9927  9576  0.010 40.010    8  0.335    8  0.337    9  0.275    8 0.5320    7  4.015    5  0.466   15  0.084
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.018 40.789   23 -0.462   24 -0.464   21 -0.236   23 0.4565    8  4.014   18 -0.049   23 -0.423
HAWKS         46 37  9816  9629  0.028 40.985   11  0.154   11  0.149   10  0.255   11 0.5138    9  4.011    6  0.427   16  0.082
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.037 41.146   29 -0.681   29 -0.685   24 -0.500   29 0.4357   10  3.997   26 -0.400   25 -0.601
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.032 40.688   24 -0.465   23 -0.462   23 -0.421   24 0.4556   11  3.993   24 -0.345   24 -0.497
TIMBERWOLVES  49 34  9781  9517  0.012 40.281   10  0.221   10  0.215   13  0.172   10 0.5209   12  3.988   10  0.225   13  0.119
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.045 41.219   27 -0.596   27 -0.590   28 -0.668   27 0.4446   13  3.987   28 -0.622   26 -0.715
SPURS         62 21  9939  9269  0.076 40.978    2  0.663    2  0.667    2  0.659    2 0.5618   14  3.987    1  0.705    6  0.613
LAKERS        54 29  9647  9494  0.013 40.649    7  0.381    7  0.386   12  0.190    7 0.5360   15  3.983   11  0.215   11  0.165
TRAIL BLAZERS 43 40  9583  9603  0.002 40.854   18  0.050   18  0.051   18  0.059   18 0.5042   16  3.981   13  0.072   17  0.046
76ERS         46 37  9611  9614 -0.006 40.592   15  0.136   14  0.136   19 -0.028   14 0.5123   17  3.976   16 -0.039   18 -0.016
MAGIC         46 38  9709  9638  0.026 41.804   14  0.140   15  0.136   17  0.061   15 0.5123   18  3.968   15  0.009   14  0.113
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.019 41.959   20 -0.085   20 -0.092   20 -0.144   20 0.4907   19  3.964   23 -0.214   19 -0.074
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.045 40.586   21 -0.280   21 -0.277   25 -0.547   21 0.4724   20  3.950   29 -0.690   21 -0.403
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.016 40.589   16  0.093   16  0.084    6  0.421   16 0.5075   21  3.943    9  0.242    7  0.599
PISTONS       60 22  9657  8988  0.022 38.891    3  0.555    3  0.561    3  0.592    3 0.5540   22  3.943    7  0.413    3  0.771
KNICKS        55 29  9786  9245  0.040 40.843    6  0.395    6  0.391    5  0.466    6 0.5371   23  3.942    8  0.283    4  0.650
RAPTORS       46 37  9513  9294  0.023 40.799   12  0.148   12  0.142   11  0.225   13 0.5133   24  3.941   14  0.037    9  0.413
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.006 40.277   19  0.011   19  0.004   16  0.104   19 0.5002   25  3.940   20 -0.092   10  0.299
THUNDER       64 18  9760  8846  0.073 39.993    1  0.755    1  0.756    1  0.740    1 0.5698   26  3.931    4  0.502    1  0.978
SUNS          46 38  9453  9322  0.030 41.731   13  0.147   13  0.141   14  0.118   12 0.5134   27  3.916   22 -0.198    8  0.433
ROCKETS       52 31  9547  9128  0.019 39.987    9  0.311    9  0.310    8  0.304    9 0.5298   28  3.910   17 -0.041    5  0.648
CELTICS       56 26  9418  8787  0.039 39.549    4  0.460    4  0.456    4  0.570    4 0.5436   29  3.904   12  0.193    2  0.946
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.059 41.002   28 -0.675   28 -0.670   29 -0.811   28 0.4378   30  3.898   30 -1.214   22 -0.407

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         22 60  9102  9922 -0.045 41.219   27 -0.596   27 -0.590   28 -0.668   27 0.4446   13  3.987   28 -0.622   26 -0.715
LAKERS        54 29  9647  9494  0.013 40.649    7  0.381    7  0.386   12  0.190    7 0.5360   15  3.983   11  0.215   11  0.165
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.019 41.959   20 -0.085   20 -0.092   20 -0.144   20 0.4907   19  3.964   23 -0.214   19 -0.074
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.006 40.277   19  0.011   19  0.004   16  0.104   19 0.5002   25  3.940   20 -0.092   10  0.299
SUNS          46 38  9453  9322  0.030 41.731   13  0.147   13  0.141   14  0.118   12 0.5134   27  3.916   22 -0.198    8  0.433

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          22 60  9642 10333 -0.038 41.124   26 -0.586   26 -0.586   26 -0.583   26 0.4448    1  4.079   19 -0.050   29 -1.115
NUGGETS       55 28 10126  9693  0.031 40.342    5  0.408    5  0.407    7  0.395    5 0.5391    5  4.029    2  0.662   12  0.128
TIMBERWOLVES  49 34  9781  9517  0.012 40.281   10  0.221   10  0.215   13  0.172   10 0.5209   12  3.988   10  0.225   13  0.119
TRAIL BLAZERS 43 40  9583  9603  0.002 40.854   18  0.050   18  0.051   18  0.059   18 0.5042   16  3.981   13  0.072   17  0.046
THUNDER       64 18  9760  8846  0.073 39.993    1  0.755    1  0.756    1  0.740    1 0.5698   26  3.931    4  0.502    1  0.978

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     25 57  9403  9896 -0.033 40.714   25 -0.503   25 -0.504   27 -0.583   25 0.4526    6  4.018   25 -0.374   28 -0.792
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.018 40.789   23 -0.462   24 -0.464   21 -0.236   23 0.4565    8  4.014   18 -0.049   23 -0.423
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.032 40.688   24 -0.465   23 -0.462   23 -0.421   24 0.4556   11  3.993   24 -0.345   24 -0.497
SPURS         62 21  9939  9269  0.076 40.978    2  0.663    2  0.667    2  0.659    2 0.5618   14  3.987    1  0.705    6  0.613
ROCKETS       52 31  9547  9128  0.019 39.987    9  0.311    9  0.310    8  0.304    9 0.5298   28  3.910   17 -0.041    5  0.648

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         31 51  9537  9964 -0.034 40.580   22 -0.299   22 -0.302   22 -0.420   22 0.4696    3  4.040   21 -0.093   27 -0.747
CAVALIERS     53 30  9927  9576  0.010 40.010    8  0.335    8  0.337    9  0.275    8 0.5320    7  4.015    5  0.466   15  0.084
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.037 41.146   29 -0.681   29 -0.685   24 -0.500   29 0.4357   10  3.997   26 -0.400   25 -0.601
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.045 40.586   21 -0.280   21 -0.277   25 -0.547   21 0.4724   20  3.950   29 -0.690   21 -0.403
PISTONS       60 22  9657  8988  0.022 38.891    3  0.555    3  0.561    3  0.592    3 0.5540   22  3.943    7  0.413    3  0.771

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          43 40 10037  9847  0.030 41.090   17  0.063   17  0.061   15  0.109   17 0.5050    2  4.058    3  0.530   20 -0.312
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.068 41.074   30 -0.793   30 -0.796   30 -0.830   30 0.4288    4  4.037   27 -0.520   30 -1.140
HAWKS         46 37  9816  9629  0.028 40.985   11  0.154   11  0.149   10  0.255   11 0.5138    9  4.011    6  0.427   16  0.082
MAGIC         46 38  9709  9638  0.026 41.804   14  0.140   15  0.136   17  0.061   15 0.5123   18  3.968   15  0.009   14  0.113
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.016 40.589   16  0.093   16  0.084    6  0.421   16 0.5075   21  3.943    9  0.242    7  0.599

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         46 37  9611  9614 -0.006 40.592   15  0.136   14  0.136   19 -0.028   14 0.5123   17  3.976   16 -0.039   18 -0.016
KNICKS        55 29  9786  9245  0.040 40.843    6  0.395    6  0.391    5  0.466    6 0.5371   23  3.942    8  0.283    4  0.650
RAPTORS       46 37  9513  9294  0.023 40.799   12  0.148   12  0.142   11  0.225   13 0.5133   24  3.941   14  0.037    9  0.413
CELTICS       56 26  9418  8787  0.039 39.549    4  0.460    4  0.456    4  0.570    4 0.5436   29  3.904   12  0.193    2  0.946
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.059 41.002   28 -0.675   28 -0.670   29 -0.811   28 0.4378   30  3.898   30 -1.214   22 -0.407

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 233 180 0.564    1  0.174
ATLANTIC DIVISION  223 191 0.539    2  0.107
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 197 219 0.474    3 -0.010
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 191 221 0.464    4 -0.048
PACIFIC DIVISION   202 214 0.486    5 -0.081
CENTRAL DIVISION   195 216 0.474    6 -0.125

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Apr 19 05:30:13 2026
games through: Sat Apr 18 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.