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
THUNDER       26  4 3658 3211 -0.017 13.588    1  0.745    1  0.757    1  0.814    1 0.5801   26  3.935    2  0.558    1  1.069
PISTONS       24  6 3575 3369 -0.082 13.535    2  0.555    2  0.554    7  0.326    2 0.5620   18  3.971    7  0.258    5  0.394
SPURS         22  8 3605 3418  0.086 15.283    3  0.537    3  0.537    4  0.422    3 0.5612   12  3.997    3  0.485    6  0.358
NUGGETS       21  8 3632 3379 -0.006 13.676    4  0.414    4  0.409    2  0.441    5 0.5454    2  4.058    1  0.832   14  0.050
KNICKS        21  9 3606 3388 -0.015 14.296    5  0.386    5  0.381    5  0.394    6 0.5420   11  4.000    4  0.475    8  0.313
LAKERS        19  9 3295 3287  0.007 14.081    6  0.369    6  0.365   16 -0.019    4 0.5459   10  4.012   12  0.127   20 -0.165
TIMBERWOLVES  20 10 3555 3404 -0.036 14.056    7  0.322    7  0.302    8  0.253    8 0.5344   17  3.973    9  0.194    9  0.313
ROCKETS       17 10 3254 3044  0.112 13.811    8  0.316    8  0.297    3  0.439    7 0.5347   21  3.957    6  0.299    2  0.579
CELTICS       18 11 3364 3189  0.030 14.321    9  0.249    9  0.235    6  0.352    9 0.5302   24  3.944   11  0.144    3  0.561
MAGIC         17 13 3515 3445  0.138 16.341   10  0.228   10  0.229    9  0.230   10 0.5266   19  3.968   10  0.147    7  0.313
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          16 13 3331 3302  0.084 15.260   11  0.160   11  0.160   11  0.135   11 0.5196   22  3.956   17 -0.012   11  0.281
RAPTORS       18 13 3516 3461 -0.065 14.649   12  0.111   12  0.109   13  0.015   12 0.5095   28  3.931   23 -0.261   10  0.291
76ERS         16 12 3264 3231 -0.097 12.931   13  0.071   13  0.072   17 -0.025   14 0.5074   16  3.974   20 -0.081   15  0.030
WARRIORS      15 15 3425 3368  0.102 15.906   14  0.068   14  0.066   10  0.217   13 0.5076   27  3.932   19 -0.052    4  0.487
HEAT          15 15 3577 3529  0.071 15.689   15  0.043   15  0.041   12  0.080   15 0.5045    5  4.028    5  0.308   18 -0.148
CAVALIERS     17 14 3721 3642 -0.134 13.792   16 -0.008   16 -0.007   14 -0.006   16 0.4969    8  4.024    8  0.199   21 -0.211
GRIZZLIES     14 16 3451 3487  0.017 15.347   17 -0.069   17 -0.064   15 -0.013   18 0.4931   15  3.978   18 -0.047   16  0.021
HAWKS         15 16 3683 3708 -0.052 15.008   18 -0.080   18 -0.075   19 -0.126   17 0.4967    7  4.025   15  0.088   25 -0.341
BULLS         14 15 3472 3568 -0.084 13.968   19 -0.096   19 -0.083   24 -0.269   20 0.4900    3  4.051   16  0.083   28 -0.621
TRAIL BLAZERS 12 18 3513 3615  0.124 16.675   20 -0.107   20 -0.094   18 -0.117   19 0.4906    6  4.026   14  0.102   24 -0.337
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAVERICKS     12 19 3522 3638 -0.038 15.585   21 -0.257   21 -0.243   21 -0.191   21 0.4704   23  3.948   24 -0.378   17 -0.005
BUCKS         12 18 3391 3485 -0.098 14.272   22 -0.274   22 -0.263   25 -0.271   22 0.4698   20  3.962   26 -0.388   19 -0.154
JAZZ          10 19 3477 3696  0.005 15.323   23 -0.290   23 -0.277   27 -0.400   23 0.4691    1  4.083   13  0.125   29 -0.926
CLIPPERS       8 21 3226 3356  0.106 16.032   24 -0.376   24 -0.371   20 -0.127   24 0.4567   25  3.935   25 -0.381   12  0.127
NETS           9 19 3060 3190 -0.065 13.732   25 -0.391   25 -0.389   22 -0.217   27 0.4535   30  3.920   29 -0.546   13  0.113
HORNETS       10 20 3463 3565 -0.092 14.362   26 -0.400   26 -0.402   23 -0.251   26 0.4544   13  3.983   22 -0.260   22 -0.243
KINGS          7 23 3360 3674  0.140 17.549   27 -0.410   27 -0.408   28 -0.448   25 0.4557   14  3.980   28 -0.469   26 -0.427
PELICANS       8 23 3581 3807  0.024 16.486   28 -0.469   28 -0.470   26 -0.343   28 0.4473    9  4.017   21 -0.176   27 -0.511
WIZARDS        5 23 3152 3532 -0.066 14.512   29 -0.667   29 -0.679   30 -0.740   29 0.4239    4  4.036   27 -0.468   30 -1.012
PACERS         6 24 3275 3531 -0.127 14.648   30 -0.679   30 -0.708   29 -0.554   30 0.4226   29  3.930   30 -0.831   23 -0.278

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        19  9 3295 3287  0.007 14.081    6  0.369    6  0.365   16 -0.019    4 0.5459   10  4.012   12  0.127   20 -0.165
SUNS          16 13 3331 3302  0.084 15.260   11  0.160   11  0.160   11  0.135   11 0.5196   22  3.956   17 -0.012   11  0.281
WARRIORS      15 15 3425 3368  0.102 15.906   14  0.068   14  0.066   10  0.217   13 0.5076   27  3.932   19 -0.052    4  0.487
CLIPPERS       8 21 3226 3356  0.106 16.032   24 -0.376   24 -0.371   20 -0.127   24 0.4567   25  3.935   25 -0.381   12  0.127
KINGS          7 23 3360 3674  0.140 17.549   27 -0.410   27 -0.408   28 -0.448   25 0.4557   14  3.980   28 -0.469   26 -0.427

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
THUNDER       26  4 3658 3211 -0.017 13.588    1  0.745    1  0.757    1  0.814    1 0.5801   26  3.935    2  0.558    1  1.069
NUGGETS       21  8 3632 3379 -0.006 13.676    4  0.414    4  0.409    2  0.441    5 0.5454    2  4.058    1  0.832   14  0.050
TIMBERWOLVES  20 10 3555 3404 -0.036 14.056    7  0.322    7  0.302    8  0.253    8 0.5344   17  3.973    9  0.194    9  0.313
TRAIL BLAZERS 12 18 3513 3615  0.124 16.675   20 -0.107   20 -0.094   18 -0.117   19 0.4906    6  4.026   14  0.102   24 -0.337
JAZZ          10 19 3477 3696  0.005 15.323   23 -0.290   23 -0.277   27 -0.400   23 0.4691    1  4.083   13  0.125   29 -0.926

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
SPURS         22  8 3605 3418  0.086 15.283    3  0.537    3  0.537    4  0.422    3 0.5612   12  3.997    3  0.485    6  0.358
ROCKETS       17 10 3254 3044  0.112 13.811    8  0.316    8  0.297    3  0.439    7 0.5347   21  3.957    6  0.299    2  0.579
GRIZZLIES     14 16 3451 3487  0.017 15.347   17 -0.069   17 -0.064   15 -0.013   18 0.4931   15  3.978   18 -0.047   16  0.021
MAVERICKS     12 19 3522 3638 -0.038 15.585   21 -0.257   21 -0.243   21 -0.191   21 0.4704   23  3.948   24 -0.378   17 -0.005
PELICANS       8 23 3581 3807  0.024 16.486   28 -0.469   28 -0.470   26 -0.343   28 0.4473    9  4.017   21 -0.176   27 -0.511

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
PISTONS       24  6 3575 3369 -0.082 13.535    2  0.555    2  0.554    7  0.326    2 0.5620   18  3.971    7  0.258    5  0.394
CAVALIERS     17 14 3721 3642 -0.134 13.792   16 -0.008   16 -0.007   14 -0.006   16 0.4969    8  4.024    8  0.199   21 -0.211
BULLS         14 15 3472 3568 -0.084 13.968   19 -0.096   19 -0.083   24 -0.269   20 0.4900    3  4.051   16  0.083   28 -0.621
BUCKS         12 18 3391 3485 -0.098 14.272   22 -0.274   22 -0.263   25 -0.271   22 0.4698   20  3.962   26 -0.388   19 -0.154
PACERS         6 24 3275 3531 -0.127 14.648   30 -0.679   30 -0.708   29 -0.554   30 0.4226   29  3.930   30 -0.831   23 -0.278

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
MAGIC         17 13 3515 3445  0.138 16.341   10  0.228   10  0.229    9  0.230   10 0.5266   19  3.968   10  0.147    7  0.313
HEAT          15 15 3577 3529  0.071 15.689   15  0.043   15  0.041   12  0.080   15 0.5045    5  4.028    5  0.308   18 -0.148
HAWKS         15 16 3683 3708 -0.052 15.008   18 -0.080   18 -0.075   19 -0.126   17 0.4967    7  4.025   15  0.088   25 -0.341
HORNETS       10 20 3463 3565 -0.092 14.362   26 -0.400   26 -0.402   23 -0.251   26 0.4544   13  3.983   22 -0.260   22 -0.243
WIZARDS        5 23 3152 3532 -0.066 14.512   29 -0.667   29 -0.679   30 -0.740   29 0.4239    4  4.036   27 -0.468   30 -1.012

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
KNICKS        21  9 3606 3388 -0.015 14.296    5  0.386    5  0.381    5  0.394    6 0.5420   11  4.000    4  0.475    8  0.313
CELTICS       18 11 3364 3189  0.030 14.321    9  0.249    9  0.235    6  0.352    9 0.5302   24  3.944   11  0.144    3  0.561
RAPTORS       18 13 3516 3461 -0.065 14.649   12  0.111   12  0.109   13  0.015   12 0.5095   28  3.931   23 -0.261   10  0.291
76ERS         16 12 3264 3231 -0.097 12.931   13  0.071   13  0.072   17 -0.025   14 0.5074   16  3.974   20 -0.081   15  0.030
NETS           9 19 3060 3190 -0.065 13.732   25 -0.391   25 -0.389   22 -0.217   27 0.4535   30  3.920   29 -0.546   13  0.113

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 89 59 0.601    1  0.262
ATLANTIC DIVISION  82 64 0.562    2  0.119
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 73 76 0.490    3  0.060
PACIFIC DIVISION   65 81 0.445    4 -0.067
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 62 87 0.416    5 -0.177
CENTRAL DIVISION   73 77 0.487    6 -0.186

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Wed Dec 24 05:30:14 2025
games through: Tue Dec 23 2025

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