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       18  1 2320 2007 -0.130  7.375    1  0.757    1  0.809    1  0.778    1 0.5809   29  3.905    6  0.370    1  1.186 P
PISTONS       15  3 2148 2032 -0.074  7.926    2  0.566    2  0.593    9  0.248    3 0.5644   19  3.979   10  0.213    7  0.283 P
ROCKETS       12  4 1938 1767  0.247  8.576    3  0.559    3  0.571    2  0.652    2 0.5660   23  3.962    3  0.530    2  0.774 P
LAKERS        13  4 2011 1952 -0.017  8.057    4  0.473    4  0.473   13  0.163    4 0.5558   15  3.989   12  0.181   14  0.146 P
NUGGETS       13  4 2105 1935 -0.023  7.506    5  0.433    5  0.428    3  0.449    5 0.5488    6  4.015    2  0.604    6  0.295 P
HEAT          13  6 2336 2226  0.105  9.700    6  0.406    6  0.411    5  0.359    6 0.5431    5  4.036    1  0.624   15  0.093 P
RAPTORS       14  5 2264 2137 -0.079  8.283    7  0.378    7  0.377    7  0.278    8 0.5385   13  3.991    7  0.306   10  0.250 P
SPURS         12  5 2007 1897 -0.031  7.791    8  0.348    8  0.341    8  0.274    7 0.5391   24  3.961   13  0.147    4  0.402 P
CAVALIERS     12  7 2257 2180  0.041  9.312    9  0.288    9  0.276   11  0.224    9 0.5303   16  3.984    9  0.217   12  0.230 P
KNICKS        11  6 2054 1943  0.010  8.006   10  0.278   10  0.254    6  0.331   10 0.5226    9  4.002    5  0.417   11  0.246 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC         11  8 2273 2172  0.110  9.741   11  0.245   11  0.202    4  0.397   11 0.5187   12  3.993    4  0.433    5  0.360 P
HAWKS         11  8 2225 2191  0.004  9.251   12  0.179   12  0.144   16  0.089   12 0.5177   14  3.989   15  0.107   16  0.071 P
SUNS          12  7 2219 2140 -0.143  8.078   13  0.167   13  0.137   14  0.138   14 0.5089   26  3.959   16 -0.001    8  0.276 P
BULLS          9  8 2062 2112  0.036  8.789   14  0.125   14  0.097   19 -0.157   13 0.5134    2  4.053   11  0.197   26 -0.512 P
76ERS          9  8 1996 2013  0.035  8.644   16  0.081   15  0.086   18 -0.063   15 0.5052   10  3.997   17 -0.002   18 -0.124 P
CELTICS       10  8 2066 1984  0.014  8.584   15  0.111   16  0.079   10  0.234   16 0.5050   28  3.928   19 -0.060    3  0.529 P
WARRIORS      10 10 2301 2289  0.092 10.398   17  0.053   17  0.057   15  0.108   17 0.5035   27  3.955   18 -0.049    9  0.266
TIMBERWOLVES  10  8 2139 2055 -0.085  7.927   18  0.024   18  0.022   12  0.172   18 0.5002   20  3.977   14  0.128   13  0.216 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  8 11 2250 2300  0.163 10.638   19 -0.038   19 -0.023   17 -0.030   19 0.4957    4  4.045    8  0.281   22 -0.342 P
BUCKS          8 11 2200 2254 -0.075  9.091   20 -0.205   20 -0.186   21 -0.233   20 0.4750   18  3.980   22 -0.264   21 -0.201 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GRIZZLIES      7 12 2154 2233  0.027  9.935   21 -0.239   21 -0.220   20 -0.173   21 0.4692   17  3.983   21 -0.189   20 -0.156 P
KINGS          5 14 2121 2338  0.177 11.328   22 -0.320   22 -0.288   26 -0.452   22 0.4649    7  4.007   25 -0.342   27 -0.562 P
CLIPPERS       5 13 2019 2128  0.061  9.641   23 -0.389   23 -0.366   22 -0.271   24 0.4499   25  3.960   26 -0.402   19 -0.139 P
JAZZ           5 12 2007 2134 -0.040  8.575   24 -0.399   24 -0.376   24 -0.418   23 0.4511    3  4.047   20 -0.094   29 -0.743 P
NETS           3 14 1857 2035  0.067  9.415   25 -0.544   25 -0.535   25 -0.444   25 0.4280   22  3.966   28 -0.545   23 -0.342 P
MAVERICKS      5 14 2081 2194 -0.231  8.477   26 -0.596   26 -0.598   27 -0.453   27 0.4212   30  3.900   30 -0.886   17 -0.020 P
HORNETS        4 14 2076 2176 -0.114  8.566   27 -0.606   27 -0.607   23 -0.385   26 0.4221    8  4.003   23 -0.294   24 -0.476 P
PELICANS       3 16 2118 2327 -0.031  9.883   28 -0.674   28 -0.674   28 -0.580   28 0.4163   11  3.997   27 -0.519   28 -0.641 P
WIZARDS        2 15 1938 2179 -0.051  9.131   29 -0.719   29 -0.727   30 -0.678   29 0.4106    1  4.053   24 -0.323   30 -1.034 P
PACERS         2 16 1973 2185 -0.024  9.492   30 -0.741   30 -0.752   29 -0.597   30 0.4099   21  3.968   29 -0.690   25 -0.504 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        13  4 2011 1952 -0.017  8.057    4  0.473    4  0.473   13  0.163    4 0.5558   15  3.989   12  0.181   14  0.146 P
SUNS          12  7 2219 2140 -0.143  8.078   13  0.167   13  0.137   14  0.138   14 0.5089   26  3.959   16 -0.001    8  0.276 P
WARRIORS      10 10 2301 2289  0.092 10.398   17  0.053   17  0.057   15  0.108   17 0.5035   27  3.955   18 -0.049    9  0.266
KINGS          5 14 2121 2338  0.177 11.328   22 -0.320   22 -0.288   26 -0.452   22 0.4649    7  4.007   25 -0.342   27 -0.562 P
CLIPPERS       5 13 2019 2128  0.061  9.641   23 -0.389   23 -0.366   22 -0.271   24 0.4499   25  3.960   26 -0.402   19 -0.139 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       18  1 2320 2007 -0.130  7.375    1  0.757    1  0.809    1  0.778    1 0.5809   29  3.905    6  0.370    1  1.186 P
NUGGETS       13  4 2105 1935 -0.023  7.506    5  0.433    5  0.428    3  0.449    5 0.5488    6  4.015    2  0.604    6  0.295 P
TIMBERWOLVES  10  8 2139 2055 -0.085  7.927   18  0.024   18  0.022   12  0.172   18 0.5002   20  3.977   14  0.128   13  0.216 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  8 11 2250 2300  0.163 10.638   19 -0.038   19 -0.023   17 -0.030   19 0.4957    4  4.045    8  0.281   22 -0.342 P
JAZZ           5 12 2007 2134 -0.040  8.575   24 -0.399   24 -0.376   24 -0.418   23 0.4511    3  4.047   20 -0.094   29 -0.743 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       12  4 1938 1767  0.247  8.576    3  0.559    3  0.571    2  0.652    2 0.5660   23  3.962    3  0.530    2  0.774 P
SPURS         12  5 2007 1897 -0.031  7.791    8  0.348    8  0.341    8  0.274    7 0.5391   24  3.961   13  0.147    4  0.402 P
GRIZZLIES      7 12 2154 2233  0.027  9.935   21 -0.239   21 -0.220   20 -0.173   21 0.4692   17  3.983   21 -0.189   20 -0.156 P
MAVERICKS      5 14 2081 2194 -0.231  8.477   26 -0.596   26 -0.598   27 -0.453   27 0.4212   30  3.900   30 -0.886   17 -0.020 P
PELICANS       3 16 2118 2327 -0.031  9.883   28 -0.674   28 -0.674   28 -0.580   28 0.4163   11  3.997   27 -0.519   28 -0.641 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       15  3 2148 2032 -0.074  7.926    2  0.566    2  0.593    9  0.248    3 0.5644   19  3.979   10  0.213    7  0.283 P
CAVALIERS     12  7 2257 2180  0.041  9.312    9  0.288    9  0.276   11  0.224    9 0.5303   16  3.984    9  0.217   12  0.230 P
BULLS          9  8 2062 2112  0.036  8.789   14  0.125   14  0.097   19 -0.157   13 0.5134    2  4.053   11  0.197   26 -0.512 P
BUCKS          8 11 2200 2254 -0.075  9.091   20 -0.205   20 -0.186   21 -0.233   20 0.4750   18  3.980   22 -0.264   21 -0.201 P
PACERS         2 16 1973 2185 -0.024  9.492   30 -0.741   30 -0.752   29 -0.597   30 0.4099   21  3.968   29 -0.690   25 -0.504 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          13  6 2336 2226  0.105  9.700    6  0.406    6  0.411    5  0.359    6 0.5431    5  4.036    1  0.624   15  0.093 P
MAGIC         11  8 2273 2172  0.110  9.741   11  0.245   11  0.202    4  0.397   11 0.5187   12  3.993    4  0.433    5  0.360 P
HAWKS         11  8 2225 2191  0.004  9.251   12  0.179   12  0.144   16  0.089   12 0.5177   14  3.989   15  0.107   16  0.071 P
HORNETS        4 14 2076 2176 -0.114  8.566   27 -0.606   27 -0.607   23 -0.385   26 0.4221    8  4.003   23 -0.294   24 -0.476 P
WIZARDS        2 15 1938 2179 -0.051  9.131   29 -0.719   29 -0.727   30 -0.678   29 0.4106    1  4.053   24 -0.323   30 -1.034 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       14  5 2264 2137 -0.079  8.283    7  0.378    7  0.377    7  0.278    8 0.5385   13  3.991    7  0.306   10  0.250 P
KNICKS        11  6 2054 1943  0.010  8.006   10  0.278   10  0.254    6  0.331   10 0.5226    9  4.002    5  0.417   11  0.246 P
76ERS          9  8 1996 2013  0.035  8.644   16  0.081   15  0.086   18 -0.063   15 0.5052   10  3.997   17 -0.002   18 -0.124 P
CELTICS       10  8 2066 1984  0.014  8.584   15  0.111   16  0.079   10  0.234   16 0.5050   28  3.928   19 -0.060    3  0.529 P
NETS           3 14 1857 2035  0.067  9.415   25 -0.544   25 -0.535   25 -0.444   25 0.4280   22  3.966   28 -0.545   23 -0.342 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 54 36 0.600    1  0.260
ATLANTIC DIVISION  47 41 0.534    2  0.096
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 41 51 0.446    3 -0.053
PACIFIC DIVISION   45 48 0.484    4 -0.084
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 39 51 0.433    5 -0.085
CENTRAL DIVISION   46 45 0.505    6 -0.114

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu Nov 27 05:30:10 2025
games through: Wed Nov 26 2025

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