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       1 0 116 104  0.083  0.528    1  0.207    1  0.005    1  0.094    1 0.5802   27  3.935    3  0.094    3  0.093 P
76ERS         1 0 106 100  0.207  0.620    3  0.094    2 -0.017   12 -0.038    2 0.5408   30  3.903   30 -0.197    2  0.121 P
PISTONS       1 0 121 113 -0.077  0.486    2  0.104    3 -0.023    9 -0.026    3 0.5394    1  3.966    2  0.136   29 -0.187 P
CAVALIERS     0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    4  0.062    4 -0.050    3  0.001    4 0.5240   23  3.935    4  0.002    4 -0.001 P
NUGGETS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    5  0.062    5 -0.050    4  0.001    5 0.5240    6  3.935    5  0.002    5 -0.001 P
TIMBERWOLVES  0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    6  0.053    6 -0.051    5 -0.007    6 0.5204   12  3.935    6 -0.006    6 -0.009 P
ROCKETS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    7  0.038    7 -0.055    6 -0.023    7 0.5134   25  3.935    7 -0.021    7 -0.025 P
CLIPPERS      0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    8  0.037    8 -0.056    8 -0.025    8 0.5126    8  3.935    8 -0.023    8 -0.027 P
WARRIORS      0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   10  0.026    9 -0.058   10 -0.034   10 0.5085    7  3.935    9 -0.032    9 -0.036 P
HEAT          0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   11  0.023   10 -0.059   11 -0.037   11 0.5069    3  3.935   10 -0.036   10 -0.039 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   12  0.019   11 -0.059   13 -0.040   12 0.5056   14  3.935   11 -0.039   11 -0.042 P
SUNS          0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   13  0.008   12 -0.062   14 -0.051   13 0.5010   11  3.935   12 -0.049   12 -0.052 P
MAGIC         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   14 -0.003   13 -0.064   16 -0.061   14 0.4964   20  3.935   13 -0.059   14 -0.063 P
RAPTORS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   15 -0.003   14 -0.064   17 -0.061   15 0.4962    4  3.935   14 -0.059   15 -0.063 P
HAWKS         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   16 -0.006   15 -0.065   18 -0.064   16 0.4952   10  3.935   16 -0.062   16 -0.065 P
BUCKS         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   17 -0.013   16 -0.066   19 -0.070   17 0.4925   13  3.935   17 -0.068   17 -0.071 P
MAVERICKS     0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   18 -0.023   17 -0.068   20 -0.079   18 0.4882   26  3.935   18 -0.077   18 -0.081 P
CELTICS       0 1 113 121  0.280  0.639    9  0.028   18 -0.069    2  0.033    9 0.5105    2  3.966    1  0.195   26 -0.128 P
GRIZZLIES     0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   19 -0.028   19 -0.069   21 -0.084   19 0.4861    9  3.935   19 -0.082   19 -0.086 P
PACERS        0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   20 -0.032   20 -0.070   22 -0.088   20 0.4843   19  3.935   20 -0.086   20 -0.090 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TRAIL BLAZERS 0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   22 -0.042   21 -0.072   23 -0.096   22 0.4805   22  3.935   21 -0.095   21 -0.098 P
HORNETS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   23 -0.044   22 -0.073   24 -0.098   24 0.4797   17  3.935   22 -0.096   22 -0.100 P
BULLS         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   24 -0.048   23 -0.074   25 -0.102   25 0.4781   21  3.935   23 -0.100   23 -0.104 P
PELICANS      0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   25 -0.049   24 -0.074   26 -0.103   26 0.4775   18  3.935   24 -0.101   24 -0.105 P
KINGS         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   26 -0.058   25 -0.076   27 -0.111   27 0.4740   15  3.935   25 -0.109   25 -0.113 P
JAZZ          0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   28 -0.080   26 -0.081   28 -0.134   28 0.4637    5  3.935   26 -0.132   27 -0.136 P
NETS          0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   29 -0.093   27 -0.084   29 -0.147   29 0.4578   16  3.935   27 -0.145   28 -0.149 P
SPURS         0 1 104 116  0.172  0.618   27 -0.065   28 -0.089   15 -0.061   21 0.4810   28  3.935   15 -0.060   13 -0.061 P
WIZARDS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   30 -0.134   29 -0.095   30 -0.192   30 0.4378   24  3.935   29 -0.190   30 -0.193 P
KNICKS        0 1 100 106 -0.265  0.403   21 -0.040   30 -0.095    7 -0.024   23 0.4802   29  3.903   28 -0.183    1  0.135 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
CLIPPERS      0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    8  0.037    8 -0.056    8 -0.025    8 0.5126    8  3.935    8 -0.023    8 -0.027 P
WARRIORS      0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   10  0.026    9 -0.058   10 -0.034   10 0.5085    7  3.935    9 -0.032    9 -0.036 P
LAKERS        0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   12  0.019   11 -0.059   13 -0.040   12 0.5056   14  3.935   11 -0.039   11 -0.042 P
SUNS          0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   13  0.008   12 -0.062   14 -0.051   13 0.5010   11  3.935   12 -0.049   12 -0.052 P
KINGS         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   26 -0.058   25 -0.076   27 -0.111   27 0.4740   15  3.935   25 -0.109   25 -0.113 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
THUNDER       1 0 116 104  0.083  0.528    1  0.207    1  0.005    1  0.094    1 0.5802   27  3.935    3  0.094    3  0.093 P
NUGGETS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    5  0.062    5 -0.050    4  0.001    5 0.5240    6  3.935    5  0.002    5 -0.001 P
TIMBERWOLVES  0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    6  0.053    6 -0.051    5 -0.007    6 0.5204   12  3.935    6 -0.006    6 -0.009 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   22 -0.042   21 -0.072   23 -0.096   22 0.4805   22  3.935   21 -0.095   21 -0.098 P
JAZZ          0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   28 -0.080   26 -0.081   28 -0.134   28 0.4637    5  3.935   26 -0.132   27 -0.136 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
ROCKETS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    7  0.038    7 -0.055    6 -0.023    7 0.5134   25  3.935    7 -0.021    7 -0.025 P
MAVERICKS     0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   18 -0.023   17 -0.068   20 -0.079   18 0.4882   26  3.935   18 -0.077   18 -0.081 P
GRIZZLIES     0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   19 -0.028   19 -0.069   21 -0.084   19 0.4861    9  3.935   19 -0.082   19 -0.086 P
PELICANS      0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   25 -0.049   24 -0.074   26 -0.103   26 0.4775   18  3.935   24 -0.101   24 -0.105 P
SPURS         0 1 104 116  0.172  0.618   27 -0.065   28 -0.089   15 -0.061   21 0.4810   28  3.935   15 -0.060   13 -0.061 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
PISTONS       1 0 121 113 -0.077  0.486    2  0.104    3 -0.023    9 -0.026    3 0.5394    1  3.966    2  0.136   29 -0.187 P
CAVALIERS     0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000    4  0.062    4 -0.050    3  0.001    4 0.5240   23  3.935    4  0.002    4 -0.001 P
BUCKS         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   17 -0.013   16 -0.066   19 -0.070   17 0.4925   13  3.935   17 -0.068   17 -0.071 P
PACERS        0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   20 -0.032   20 -0.070   22 -0.088   20 0.4843   19  3.935   20 -0.086   20 -0.090 P
BULLS         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   24 -0.048   23 -0.074   25 -0.102   25 0.4781   21  3.935   23 -0.100   23 -0.104 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          0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   11  0.023   10 -0.059   11 -0.037   11 0.5069    3  3.935   10 -0.036   10 -0.039 P
MAGIC         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   14 -0.003   13 -0.064   16 -0.061   14 0.4964   20  3.935   13 -0.059   14 -0.063 P
HAWKS         0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   16 -0.006   15 -0.065   18 -0.064   16 0.4952   10  3.935   16 -0.062   16 -0.065 P
HORNETS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   23 -0.044   22 -0.073   24 -0.098   24 0.4797   17  3.935   22 -0.096   22 -0.100 P
WIZARDS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   30 -0.134   29 -0.095   30 -0.192   30 0.4378   24  3.935   29 -0.190   30 -0.193 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
76ERS         1 0 106 100  0.207  0.620    3  0.094    2 -0.017   12 -0.038    2 0.5408   30  3.903   30 -0.197    2  0.121 P
RAPTORS       0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   15 -0.003   14 -0.064   17 -0.061   15 0.4962    4  3.935   14 -0.059   15 -0.063 P
CELTICS       0 1 113 121  0.280  0.639    9  0.028   18 -0.069    2  0.033    9 0.5105    2  3.966    1  0.195   26 -0.128 P
NETS          0 0   0   0  0.000  0.000   29 -0.093   27 -0.084   29 -0.147   29 0.4578   16  3.935   27 -0.145   28 -0.149 P
KNICKS        0 1 100 106 -0.265  0.403   21 -0.040   30 -0.095    7 -0.024   23 0.4802   29  3.903   28 -0.183    1  0.135 P

DIVISION           W L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 1 0 1.000    1  0.077
PACIFIC DIVISION   0 0   nan    2  0.005
CENTRAL DIVISION   1 0 1.000    3 -0.045
ATLANTIC DIVISION  1 2 0.333    4 -0.086
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 0 1 0.000    5 -0.135
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 0 0   nan    6 -0.197

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Wed Oct 21 05:30:12 2026
games through: Tue Oct 20 2026

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