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          2  9 1258 1405 -0.055  5.924   27 -0.544   27 -0.538   28 -0.575   27 0.4313    1  4.093   13  0.140   30 -1.290 P
PELICANS       4  9 1514 1633 -0.189  6.131   24 -0.433   24 -0.418   27 -0.574   25 0.4358    2  4.044   20 -0.125   29 -1.023 P
HEAT           6  6 1406 1441 -0.020  6.014   15  0.003   15 -0.007   19 -0.117   15 0.4987    3  4.036    9  0.289   27 -0.524 P
CAVALIERS      6  7 1518 1505 -0.026  6.280   17 -0.082   16 -0.080   14  0.042   17 0.4879    4  4.030    6  0.418   22 -0.334 P
LAKERS        11  2 1588 1485  0.087  6.523    2  0.674    2  0.674    7  0.420    2 0.5793    5  4.030    1  0.792   14  0.048 P
HAWKS          7  6 1536 1519 -0.214  5.391   16 -0.078   17 -0.084   18 -0.099   16 0.4929    6  4.005   12  0.142   23 -0.339 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  9  3 1435 1342  0.252  6.740    4  0.553    4  0.557    4  0.485    4 0.5740    7  4.001    2  0.705   10  0.264 P
SUNS           5  6 1229 1277  0.175  6.397   14  0.061   14  0.057   17 -0.072   14 0.5140    8  3.992   14  0.102   21 -0.246 P
GRIZZLIES      8  4 1439 1342 -0.090  5.163   13  0.194   13  0.182    9  0.255   13 0.5146    9  3.987    7  0.403   12  0.106 P
BUCKS          1 12 1380 1563 -0.063  7.002   30 -0.787   30 -0.797   29 -0.674   30 0.4056   10  3.971   27 -0.608   28 -0.740 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS        5  7 1371 1354  0.002  5.904   19 -0.147   20 -0.165   15  0.034   19 0.4788   11  3.970   15  0.097   16 -0.029 P
MAVERICKS      7  5 1358 1346  0.177  6.597   12  0.235   12  0.230   13  0.137   12 0.5240   12  3.967   10  0.180   13  0.093 P
NETS           3  8 1212 1268 -0.197  5.080   25 -0.483   25 -0.503   23 -0.377   26 0.4349   13  3.965   23 -0.341   25 -0.413 P
KINGS          1 11 1298 1451  0.101  7.034   28 -0.657   28 -0.653   25 -0.503   28 0.4222   14  3.962   26 -0.483   26 -0.523 P
CLIPPERS       3  8 1235 1293  0.110  6.175   21 -0.315   21 -0.301   20 -0.140   21 0.4647   15  3.962   19 -0.122   18 -0.158 P
WARRIORS       8  5 1517 1461  0.259  7.306    9  0.359    9  0.360    8  0.365    8 0.5491   16  3.952    8  0.335    7  0.395 P
ROCKETS       10  3 1510 1396  0.240  7.134    3  0.612    3  0.612    3  0.558    3 0.5754   17  3.950    5  0.518    6  0.598 P
PACERS         5  8 1445 1472 -0.207  5.590   22 -0.335   22 -0.325   22 -0.243   22 0.4546   18  3.945   22 -0.311   19 -0.175 P
SPURS         11  2 1553 1381  0.189  6.566    1  0.705    1  0.707    1  0.748    1 0.5799   19  3.944    3  0.674    3  0.822 P
NUGGETS        6  4 1145 1133  0.152  5.446   11  0.258   11  0.256   12  0.180   11 0.5338   20  3.941   16  0.095    9  0.265 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PISTONS        8  3 1271 1186 -0.122  4.655   10  0.294   10  0.286   10  0.232    9 0.5472   21  3.940   11  0.142    8  0.323 P
WIZARDS        4  9 1430 1505 -0.274  5.640   26 -0.491   26 -0.509   26 -0.509   24 0.4371   22  3.938   28 -0.610   24 -0.408 P
TIMBERWOLVES   9  3 1432 1271  0.160  5.819    6  0.482    6  0.479    2  0.695    6 0.5510   23  3.928    4  0.544    2  0.847 P
76ERS         10  3 1445 1422 -0.131  5.797    7  0.426    7  0.418   16 -0.039   10 0.5439   24  3.923   21 -0.215   11  0.138 P
MAGIC          5  7 1300 1353 -0.064  5.966   20 -0.180   19 -0.163   21 -0.234   20 0.4663   25  3.922   25 -0.416   17 -0.051 P
JAZZ           1 12 1397 1542  0.106  7.732   29 -0.727   29 -0.732   24 -0.442   29 0.4207   26  3.915   29 -0.660   20 -0.225 P
THUNDER        8  5 1445 1396  0.329  7.661    8  0.416    8  0.415    6  0.444    7 0.5504   27  3.889   17  0.094    4  0.794 P
CELTICS       10  2 1371 1237 -0.103  4.794    5  0.522    5  0.517    5  0.463    5 0.5566   28  3.880   18  0.070    1  0.856 P
KNICKS         6  6 1317 1244 -0.179  4.870   18 -0.113   18 -0.135   11  0.188   18 0.4830   29  3.849   24 -0.357    5  0.733 P
HORNETS        4  8 1183 1315 -0.254  5.272   23 -0.424   23 -0.410   30 -0.713   23 0.4519   30  3.817   30 -1.410   15 -0.016 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  0.087  6.523    2  0.674    2  0.674    7  0.420    2 0.5793    5  4.030    1  0.792   14  0.048 P
SUNS           5  6 1229 1277  0.175  6.397   14  0.061   14  0.057   17 -0.072   14 0.5140    8  3.992   14  0.102   21 -0.246 P
KINGS          1 11 1298 1451  0.101  7.034   28 -0.657   28 -0.653   25 -0.503   28 0.4222   14  3.962   26 -0.483   26 -0.523 P
CLIPPERS       3  8 1235 1293  0.110  6.175   21 -0.315   21 -0.301   20 -0.140   21 0.4647   15  3.962   19 -0.122   18 -0.158 P
WARRIORS       8  5 1517 1461  0.259  7.306    9  0.359    9  0.360    8  0.365    8 0.5491   16  3.952    8  0.335    7  0.395 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  9  3 1435 1342  0.252  6.740    4  0.553    4  0.557    4  0.485    4 0.5740    7  4.001    2  0.705   10  0.264 P
NUGGETS        6  4 1145 1133  0.152  5.446   11  0.258   11  0.256   12  0.180   11 0.5338   20  3.941   16  0.095    9  0.265 P
TIMBERWOLVES   9  3 1432 1271  0.160  5.819    6  0.482    6  0.479    2  0.695    6 0.5510   23  3.928    4  0.544    2  0.847 P
JAZZ           1 12 1397 1542  0.106  7.732   29 -0.727   29 -0.732   24 -0.442   29 0.4207   26  3.915   29 -0.660   20 -0.225 P
THUNDER        8  5 1445 1396  0.329  7.661    8  0.416    8  0.415    6  0.444    7 0.5504   27  3.889   17  0.094    4  0.794 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  9 1514 1633 -0.189  6.131   24 -0.433   24 -0.418   27 -0.574   25 0.4358    2  4.044   20 -0.125   29 -1.023 P
GRIZZLIES      8  4 1439 1342 -0.090  5.163   13  0.194   13  0.182    9  0.255   13 0.5146    9  3.987    7  0.403   12  0.106 P
MAVERICKS      7  5 1358 1346  0.177  6.597   12  0.235   12  0.230   13  0.137   12 0.5240   12  3.967   10  0.180   13  0.093 P
ROCKETS       10  3 1510 1396  0.240  7.134    3  0.612    3  0.612    3  0.558    3 0.5754   17  3.950    5  0.518    6  0.598 P
SPURS         11  2 1553 1381  0.189  6.566    1  0.705    1  0.707    1  0.748    1 0.5799   19  3.944    3  0.674    3  0.822 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          2  9 1258 1405 -0.055  5.924   27 -0.544   27 -0.538   28 -0.575   27 0.4313    1  4.093   13  0.140   30 -1.290 P
CAVALIERS      6  7 1518 1505 -0.026  6.280   17 -0.082   16 -0.080   14  0.042   17 0.4879    4  4.030    6  0.418   22 -0.334 P
BUCKS          1 12 1380 1563 -0.063  7.002   30 -0.787   30 -0.797   29 -0.674   30 0.4056   10  3.971   27 -0.608   28 -0.740 P
PACERS         5  8 1445 1472 -0.207  5.590   22 -0.335   22 -0.325   22 -0.243   22 0.4546   18  3.945   22 -0.311   19 -0.175 P
PISTONS        8  3 1271 1186 -0.122  4.655   10  0.294   10  0.286   10  0.232    9 0.5472   21  3.940   11  0.142    8  0.323 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           6  6 1406 1441 -0.020  6.014   15  0.003   15 -0.007   19 -0.117   15 0.4987    3  4.036    9  0.289   27 -0.524 P
HAWKS          7  6 1536 1519 -0.214  5.391   16 -0.078   17 -0.084   18 -0.099   16 0.4929    6  4.005   12  0.142   23 -0.339 P
WIZARDS        4  9 1430 1505 -0.274  5.640   26 -0.491   26 -0.509   26 -0.509   24 0.4371   22  3.938   28 -0.610   24 -0.408 P
MAGIC          5  7 1300 1353 -0.064  5.966   20 -0.180   19 -0.163   21 -0.234   20 0.4663   25  3.922   25 -0.416   17 -0.051 P
HORNETS        4  8 1183 1315 -0.254  5.272   23 -0.424   23 -0.410   30 -0.713   23 0.4519   30  3.817   30 -1.410   15 -0.016 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  7 1371 1354  0.002  5.904   19 -0.147   20 -0.165   15  0.034   19 0.4788   11  3.970   15  0.097   16 -0.029 P
NETS           3  8 1212 1268 -0.197  5.080   25 -0.483   25 -0.503   23 -0.377   26 0.4349   13  3.965   23 -0.341   25 -0.413 P
76ERS         10  3 1445 1422 -0.131  5.797    7  0.426    7  0.418   16 -0.039   10 0.5439   24  3.923   21 -0.215   11  0.138 P
CELTICS       10  2 1371 1237 -0.103  4.794    5  0.522    5  0.517    5  0.463    5 0.5566   28  3.880   18  0.070    1  0.856 P
KNICKS         6  6 1317 1244 -0.179  4.870   18 -0.113   18 -0.135   11  0.188   18 0.4830   29  3.849   24 -0.357    5  0.733 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 33 27 0.550    1  0.393
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 40 23 0.635    2  0.340
ATLANTIC DIVISION  34 26 0.567    3  0.073
PACIFIC DIVISION   28 32 0.467    4  0.018
CENTRAL DIVISION   22 39 0.361    5 -0.334
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 26 36 0.419    6 -0.446

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.201 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: Sat Nov 14 05:30:15 2026
games through: Fri Nov 13 2026

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