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 7  893 1037 -0.090  4.181   29 -0.511   29 -0.513   29 -0.688   29 0.4189    1  4.091   17  0.014   30 -1.390 P
HEAT          3 6 1044 1103  0.053  4.811   20 -0.205   20 -0.194   21 -0.195   19 0.4720    2  4.047   10  0.270   27 -0.660 P
LAKERS        8 2 1220 1143  0.076  4.898    3  0.483    3  0.475    5  0.345    3 0.5586    3  4.028    1  0.711   15 -0.020 P
SUNS          2 5  797  850  0.252  4.270   19 -0.145   18 -0.135   20 -0.113   18 0.4862    4  4.026   11  0.239   26 -0.465 P
CAVALIERS     5 4 1073 1032  0.105  4.526   14  0.136   14  0.129    9  0.263   12 0.5281    5  4.020    3  0.582   17 -0.057 P
HAWKS         6 4 1181 1149 -0.052  4.536   15  0.114   15  0.101   15  0.083   15 0.5143    6  4.015    8  0.377   21 -0.210 P
PELICANS      4 5 1082 1069 -0.098  4.055   18 -0.144   19 -0.143   18 -0.033   20 0.4686    7  4.004   12  0.207   24 -0.273 P
KINGS         1 8  983 1110  0.214  5.459   26 -0.442   26 -0.436   27 -0.453   26 0.4320    8  3.999   20 -0.243   28 -0.664 P
BUCKS         1 8  987 1099 -0.087  4.676   30 -0.582   30 -0.584   28 -0.478   30 0.4170    9  3.998   21 -0.270   29 -0.686 P
RAPTORS       5 4 1064 1015 -0.058  3.974   16  0.021   16  0.012   12  0.137   16 0.4925   10  3.991    9  0.308   16 -0.035 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TRAIL BLAZERS 6 2  971  899  0.146  4.091    7  0.358    7  0.365    6  0.340    4 0.5581   11  3.991    4  0.510   12  0.171 P
WARRIORS      6 3 1060 1017  0.197  4.860    8  0.325    8  0.329    7  0.309    8 0.5461   12  3.972    7  0.381   10  0.237 P
GRIZZLIES     6 3 1061 1006 -0.095  3.860   12  0.176   12  0.162   14  0.119   14 0.5175   13  3.969   14  0.173   14  0.064 P
ROCKETS       7 2 1061  968  0.333  5.232    2  0.546    2  0.539    1  0.584    2 0.5840   14  3.960    2  0.597    4  0.572 P
SPURS         7 2 1059  978  0.092  4.320    4  0.426    4  0.422    4  0.378    5 0.5578   15  3.960    6  0.390    7  0.366 P
PACERS        3 6 1001 1028 -0.205  3.778   23 -0.319   23 -0.331   22 -0.257   23 0.4452   16  3.950   23 -0.299   22 -0.215 P
NUGGETS       4 3  808  803  0.208  3.939   11  0.196   11  0.189   11  0.178   11 0.5302   17  3.946   15  0.116    9  0.240 P
MAVERICKS     5 4 1009  998  0.176  4.917   13  0.151   13  0.147   13  0.119   13 0.5247   18  3.940   16  0.028   11  0.210 P
WIZARDS       4 5 1003 1011 -0.408  3.260   22 -0.296   22 -0.312   24 -0.345   21 0.4547   19  3.939   26 -0.442   23 -0.249 P
NETS          2 6  853  903 -0.318  3.417   28 -0.485   28 -0.493   26 -0.436   28 0.4275   20  3.935   28 -0.554   25 -0.318 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  7 3 1184 1077  0.244  5.282    6  0.401    6  0.401    2  0.574    9 0.5458   21  3.928    5  0.422    1  0.726 P
MAGIC         2 6  844  920  0.077  4.388   21 -0.283   21 -0.266   23 -0.312   22 0.4465   22  3.922   27 -0.494   20 -0.131 P
PISTONS       6 2  889  814 -0.163  3.145   10  0.250   10  0.233   10  0.229    7 0.5498   23  3.912   18 -0.002    5  0.460 P
CLIPPERS      1 7  873  925  0.207  4.716   24 -0.405   24 -0.410   19 -0.100   25 0.4412   24  3.910   25 -0.343   13  0.143 P
THUNDER       7 2 1008  967  0.353  5.364    1  0.560    1  0.580    3  0.452    1 0.5886   25  3.904   13  0.179    2  0.725 P
JAZZ          1 8  962 1064  0.192  5.360   27 -0.472   27 -0.467   25 -0.399   27 0.4307   26  3.902   29 -0.682   18 -0.116 P
CELTICS       7 2 1033  946 -0.242  3.102    9  0.277    9  0.274    8  0.273   10 0.5356   27  3.896   19 -0.042    3  0.588 P
76ERS         8 2 1094 1066 -0.107  4.416    5  0.408    5  0.405   17  0.008    6 0.5550   28  3.894   24 -0.314    8  0.331 P
KNICKS        4 4  880  841 -0.253  2.985   17 -0.125   17 -0.130   16  0.080   17 0.4904   29  3.886   22 -0.281    6  0.440 P
HORNETS       3 7  963 1102 -0.292  4.245   25 -0.414   25 -0.420   30 -0.794   24 0.4447   30  3.823   30 -1.461   19 -0.127 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        8 2 1220 1143  0.076  4.898    3  0.483    3  0.475    5  0.345    3 0.5586    3  4.028    1  0.711   15 -0.020 P
SUNS          2 5  797  850  0.252  4.270   19 -0.145   18 -0.135   20 -0.113   18 0.4862    4  4.026   11  0.239   26 -0.465 P
KINGS         1 8  983 1110  0.214  5.459   26 -0.442   26 -0.436   27 -0.453   26 0.4320    8  3.999   20 -0.243   28 -0.664 P
WARRIORS      6 3 1060 1017  0.197  4.860    8  0.325    8  0.329    7  0.309    8 0.5461   12  3.972    7  0.381   10  0.237 P
CLIPPERS      1 7  873  925  0.207  4.716   24 -0.405   24 -0.410   19 -0.100   25 0.4412   24  3.910   25 -0.343   13  0.143 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 6 2  971  899  0.146  4.091    7  0.358    7  0.365    6  0.340    4 0.5581   11  3.991    4  0.510   12  0.171 P
NUGGETS       4 3  808  803  0.208  3.939   11  0.196   11  0.189   11  0.178   11 0.5302   17  3.946   15  0.116    9  0.240 P
TIMBERWOLVES  7 3 1184 1077  0.244  5.282    6  0.401    6  0.401    2  0.574    9 0.5458   21  3.928    5  0.422    1  0.726 P
THUNDER       7 2 1008  967  0.353  5.364    1  0.560    1  0.580    3  0.452    1 0.5886   25  3.904   13  0.179    2  0.725 P
JAZZ          1 8  962 1064  0.192  5.360   27 -0.472   27 -0.467   25 -0.399   27 0.4307   26  3.902   29 -0.682   18 -0.116 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 5 1082 1069 -0.098  4.055   18 -0.144   19 -0.143   18 -0.033   20 0.4686    7  4.004   12  0.207   24 -0.273 P
GRIZZLIES     6 3 1061 1006 -0.095  3.860   12  0.176   12  0.162   14  0.119   14 0.5175   13  3.969   14  0.173   14  0.064 P
ROCKETS       7 2 1061  968  0.333  5.232    2  0.546    2  0.539    1  0.584    2 0.5840   14  3.960    2  0.597    4  0.572 P
SPURS         7 2 1059  978  0.092  4.320    4  0.426    4  0.422    4  0.378    5 0.5578   15  3.960    6  0.390    7  0.366 P
MAVERICKS     5 4 1009  998  0.176  4.917   13  0.151   13  0.147   13  0.119   13 0.5247   18  3.940   16  0.028   11  0.210 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 7  893 1037 -0.090  4.181   29 -0.511   29 -0.513   29 -0.688   29 0.4189    1  4.091   17  0.014   30 -1.390 P
CAVALIERS     5 4 1073 1032  0.105  4.526   14  0.136   14  0.129    9  0.263   12 0.5281    5  4.020    3  0.582   17 -0.057 P
BUCKS         1 8  987 1099 -0.087  4.676   30 -0.582   30 -0.584   28 -0.478   30 0.4170    9  3.998   21 -0.270   29 -0.686 P
PACERS        3 6 1001 1028 -0.205  3.778   23 -0.319   23 -0.331   22 -0.257   23 0.4452   16  3.950   23 -0.299   22 -0.215 P
PISTONS       6 2  889  814 -0.163  3.145   10  0.250   10  0.233   10  0.229    7 0.5498   23  3.912   18 -0.002    5  0.460 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          3 6 1044 1103  0.053  4.811   20 -0.205   20 -0.194   21 -0.195   19 0.4720    2  4.047   10  0.270   27 -0.660 P
HAWKS         6 4 1181 1149 -0.052  4.536   15  0.114   15  0.101   15  0.083   15 0.5143    6  4.015    8  0.377   21 -0.210 P
WIZARDS       4 5 1003 1011 -0.408  3.260   22 -0.296   22 -0.312   24 -0.345   21 0.4547   19  3.939   26 -0.442   23 -0.249 P
MAGIC         2 6  844  920  0.077  4.388   21 -0.283   21 -0.266   23 -0.312   22 0.4465   22  3.922   27 -0.494   20 -0.131 P
HORNETS       3 7  963 1102 -0.292  4.245   25 -0.414   25 -0.420   30 -0.794   24 0.4447   30  3.823   30 -1.461   19 -0.127 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 4 1064 1015 -0.058  3.974   16  0.021   16  0.012   12  0.137   16 0.4925   10  3.991    9  0.308   16 -0.035 P
NETS          2 6  853  903 -0.318  3.417   28 -0.485   28 -0.493   26 -0.436   28 0.4275   20  3.935   28 -0.554   25 -0.318 P
CELTICS       7 2 1033  946 -0.242  3.102    9  0.277    9  0.274    8  0.273   10 0.5356   27  3.896   19 -0.042    3  0.588 P
76ERS         8 2 1094 1066 -0.107  4.416    5  0.408    5  0.405   17  0.008    6 0.5550   28  3.894   24 -0.314    8  0.331 P
KNICKS        4 4  880  841 -0.253  2.985   17 -0.125   17 -0.130   16  0.080   17 0.4904   29  3.886   22 -0.281    6  0.440 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 25 18 0.581    1  0.371
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 29 16 0.644    2  0.358
ATLANTIC DIVISION  26 18 0.591    3  0.026
PACIFIC DIVISION   18 25 0.419    4 -0.007
CENTRAL DIVISION   16 27 0.372    5 -0.284
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 18 28 0.391    6 -0.449

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.168 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.015 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  7 05:30:16 2026
games through: Fri Nov  6 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.