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
LAKERS        10  2 1465 1373  0.187  6.405    1  0.697    1  0.710    6  0.474    1 0.5809    3  4.028    1  0.841   13  0.106 P
SPURS          9  2 1306 1177  0.254  5.855    2  0.663    2  0.676    1  0.678    2 0.5748   17  3.954    3  0.664    6  0.692 P
THUNDER        8  3 1225 1165  0.334  6.365    3  0.604    3  0.603    5  0.524    4 0.5732   28  3.885   14  0.162    1  0.886 P
ROCKETS        8  3 1270 1170  0.334  6.421    4  0.598    4  0.573    2  0.620    3 0.5735   22  3.928    5  0.472    2  0.768 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  7  3 1197 1127  0.323  5.881    5  0.518    5  0.491    7  0.458    5 0.5668    8  4.002    2  0.692   10  0.223 P
WARRIORS       8  3 1324 1223  0.192  5.748    6  0.517    6  0.483    4  0.551    6 0.5605   13  3.967    4  0.602    7  0.500 P
TIMBERWOLVES   8  3 1299 1177  0.169  5.432    7  0.484    7  0.460    3  0.586    8 0.5444   21  3.930    6  0.448    4  0.725 P
CELTICS        9  2 1273 1144 -0.215  3.857    8  0.459    8  0.424    8  0.403    7 0.5483   26  3.899   15  0.110    5  0.695 P
76ERS          9  3 1322 1310 -0.206  5.047    9  0.338    9  0.350   19 -0.137   10 0.5393   25  3.911   23 -0.369   14  0.095 P
GRIZZLIES      7  3 1179 1108 -0.018  4.534   10  0.271   10  0.279   10  0.231   13 0.5235   14  3.966   10  0.280   12  0.183 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAVERICKS      7  4 1264 1213  0.130  5.621   11  0.264   11  0.273    9  0.257   11 0.5273   12  3.968    9  0.312   11  0.203 P
PISTONS        7  3 1127 1046 -0.155  4.034   12  0.215   12  0.215   12  0.223    9 0.5443   19  3.931   16  0.090    8  0.355 P
NUGGETS        5  4 1022 1015  0.214  5.071   13  0.208   13  0.215   13  0.203   12 0.5259   20  3.930   17  0.067    9  0.338 P
SUNS           4  6 1128 1181  0.361  6.440   14  0.048   14  0.075   16  0.008   14 0.5100    7  4.004   11  0.253   20 -0.236 P
HAWKS          7  5 1419 1394 -0.171  5.068   15  0.020   15  0.028   17 -0.034   15 0.5062    2  4.028    8  0.337   24 -0.406 P
KNICKS         6  4 1106 1023 -0.267  3.592   16 -0.025   16 -0.024   11  0.227   16 0.5032   29  3.849   22 -0.309    3  0.762 P
HEAT           5  6 1273 1320 -0.005  5.595   18 -0.077   17 -0.072   20 -0.164   18 0.4895    4  4.025   13  0.191   26 -0.518 P
RAPTORS        5  5 1166 1133 -0.078  4.505   17 -0.075   18 -0.076   14  0.053   19 0.4853    9  3.984   12  0.191   16 -0.085 P
CAVALIERS      5  6 1282 1265 -0.106  4.920   19 -0.145   19 -0.149   15  0.018   17 0.4914    6  4.023    7  0.360   22 -0.325 P
MAGIC          3  7 1070 1146  0.070  5.501   21 -0.261   20 -0.264   21 -0.278   20 0.4580   24  3.916   25 -0.488   15 -0.068 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PELICANS       4  7 1292 1346 -0.076  5.390   20 -0.256   21 -0.264   22 -0.294   22 0.4530    5  4.024   18  0.053   28 -0.642 P
HORNETS        4  7 1087 1214 -0.353  4.428   24 -0.427   22 -0.416   30 -0.798   21 0.4558   30  3.835   30 -1.404   19 -0.191 P
CLIPPERS       2  8 1122 1181  0.153  5.731   22 -0.395   23 -0.420   18 -0.136   23 0.4511   16  3.956   20 -0.144   18 -0.128 P
WIZARDS        4  7 1189 1247 -0.359  4.488   23 -0.419   24 -0.451   26 -0.534   24 0.4503   23  3.926   28 -0.694   23 -0.375 P
PACERS         3  8 1225 1267 -0.185  4.855   25 -0.502   25 -0.492   23 -0.308   25 0.4352   15  3.957   21 -0.309   21 -0.307 P
JAZZ           1 10 1171 1294  0.202  6.763   26 -0.624   26 -0.623   24 -0.405   26 0.4278   27  3.894   29 -0.722   17 -0.089 P
KINGS          1 10 1191 1331  0.113  6.422   27 -0.630   27 -0.628   25 -0.498   28 0.4211   11  3.969   24 -0.435   27 -0.562 P
NETS           2  8 1067 1157 -0.243  4.659   28 -0.631   28 -0.640   27 -0.567   27 0.4216   18  3.942   27 -0.644   25 -0.490 P
BULLS          1  8 1014 1164 -0.170  4.557   29 -0.670   29 -0.684   29 -0.751   29 0.4173    1  4.108   19  0.050   30 -1.552 P
BUCKS          1 10 1169 1333 -0.149  5.680   30 -0.767   30 -0.783   28 -0.722   30 0.4069   10  3.980   26 -0.604   29 -0.840 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        10  2 1465 1373  0.187  6.405    1  0.697    1  0.710    6  0.474    1 0.5809    3  4.028    1  0.841   13  0.106 P
WARRIORS       8  3 1324 1223  0.192  5.748    6  0.517    6  0.483    4  0.551    6 0.5605   13  3.967    4  0.602    7  0.500 P
SUNS           4  6 1128 1181  0.361  6.440   14  0.048   14  0.075   16  0.008   14 0.5100    7  4.004   11  0.253   20 -0.236 P
CLIPPERS       2  8 1122 1181  0.153  5.731   22 -0.395   23 -0.420   18 -0.136   23 0.4511   16  3.956   20 -0.144   18 -0.128 P
KINGS          1 10 1191 1331  0.113  6.422   27 -0.630   27 -0.628   25 -0.498   28 0.4211   11  3.969   24 -0.435   27 -0.562 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        8  3 1225 1165  0.334  6.365    3  0.604    3  0.603    5  0.524    4 0.5732   28  3.885   14  0.162    1  0.886 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  7  3 1197 1127  0.323  5.881    5  0.518    5  0.491    7  0.458    5 0.5668    8  4.002    2  0.692   10  0.223 P
TIMBERWOLVES   8  3 1299 1177  0.169  5.432    7  0.484    7  0.460    3  0.586    8 0.5444   21  3.930    6  0.448    4  0.725 P
NUGGETS        5  4 1022 1015  0.214  5.071   13  0.208   13  0.215   13  0.203   12 0.5259   20  3.930   17  0.067    9  0.338 P
JAZZ           1 10 1171 1294  0.202  6.763   26 -0.624   26 -0.623   24 -0.405   26 0.4278   27  3.894   29 -0.722   17 -0.089 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
SPURS          9  2 1306 1177  0.254  5.855    2  0.663    2  0.676    1  0.678    2 0.5748   17  3.954    3  0.664    6  0.692 P
ROCKETS        8  3 1270 1170  0.334  6.421    4  0.598    4  0.573    2  0.620    3 0.5735   22  3.928    5  0.472    2  0.768 P
GRIZZLIES      7  3 1179 1108 -0.018  4.534   10  0.271   10  0.279   10  0.231   13 0.5235   14  3.966   10  0.280   12  0.183 P
MAVERICKS      7  4 1264 1213  0.130  5.621   11  0.264   11  0.273    9  0.257   11 0.5273   12  3.968    9  0.312   11  0.203 P
PELICANS       4  7 1292 1346 -0.076  5.390   20 -0.256   21 -0.264   22 -0.294   22 0.4530    5  4.024   18  0.053   28 -0.642 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        7  3 1127 1046 -0.155  4.034   12  0.215   12  0.215   12  0.223    9 0.5443   19  3.931   16  0.090    8  0.355 P
CAVALIERS      5  6 1282 1265 -0.106  4.920   19 -0.145   19 -0.149   15  0.018   17 0.4914    6  4.023    7  0.360   22 -0.325 P
PACERS         3  8 1225 1267 -0.185  4.855   25 -0.502   25 -0.492   23 -0.308   25 0.4352   15  3.957   21 -0.309   21 -0.307 P
BULLS          1  8 1014 1164 -0.170  4.557   29 -0.670   29 -0.684   29 -0.751   29 0.4173    1  4.108   19  0.050   30 -1.552 P
BUCKS          1 10 1169 1333 -0.149  5.680   30 -0.767   30 -0.783   28 -0.722   30 0.4069   10  3.980   26 -0.604   29 -0.840 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
HAWKS          7  5 1419 1394 -0.171  5.068   15  0.020   15  0.028   17 -0.034   15 0.5062    2  4.028    8  0.337   24 -0.406 P
HEAT           5  6 1273 1320 -0.005  5.595   18 -0.077   17 -0.072   20 -0.164   18 0.4895    4  4.025   13  0.191   26 -0.518 P
MAGIC          3  7 1070 1146  0.070  5.501   21 -0.261   20 -0.264   21 -0.278   20 0.4580   24  3.916   25 -0.488   15 -0.068 P
HORNETS        4  7 1087 1214 -0.353  4.428   24 -0.427   22 -0.416   30 -0.798   21 0.4558   30  3.835   30 -1.404   19 -0.191 P
WIZARDS        4  7 1189 1247 -0.359  4.488   23 -0.419   24 -0.451   26 -0.534   24 0.4503   23  3.926   28 -0.694   23 -0.375 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
CELTICS        9  2 1273 1144 -0.215  3.857    8  0.459    8  0.424    8  0.403    7 0.5483   26  3.899   15  0.110    5  0.695 P
76ERS          9  3 1322 1310 -0.206  5.047    9  0.338    9  0.350   19 -0.137   10 0.5393   25  3.911   23 -0.369   14  0.095 P
KNICKS         6  4 1106 1023 -0.267  3.592   16 -0.025   16 -0.024   11  0.227   16 0.5032   29  3.849   22 -0.309    3  0.762 P
RAPTORS        5  5 1166 1133 -0.078  4.505   17 -0.075   18 -0.076   14  0.053   19 0.4853    9  3.984   12  0.191   16 -0.085 P
NETS           2  8 1067 1157 -0.243  4.659   28 -0.631   28 -0.640   27 -0.567   27 0.4216   18  3.942   27 -0.644   25 -0.490 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 35 19 0.648    1  0.422
NORTHWEST DIVISION 29 23 0.558    2  0.397
PACIFIC DIVISION   25 29 0.463    3  0.104
ATLANTIC DIVISION  31 22 0.585    4  0.004
CENTRAL DIVISION   17 35 0.327    5 -0.421
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 23 32 0.418    6 -0.477

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Wed Nov 11 05:30:14 2026
games through: Tue Nov 10 2026

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