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       68 18 10251  9268  0.066 42.127    1  0.797    1  0.784    1  0.781    1 0.5716   24  3.937    2  0.587    1  0.974
SPURS         66 22 10501  9769  0.060 43.338    2  0.677    2  0.663    2  0.670    2 0.5615   14  3.980    1  0.693    6  0.646
PISTONS       64 25 10374  9672  0.014 42.525    3  0.535    3  0.526    4  0.562    3 0.5511   26  3.929    7  0.326    3  0.798
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.024 43.025    4  0.409    4  0.394    5  0.496    4 0.5390   29  3.899   12  0.109    2  0.883
LAKERS        57 31 10147  9988  0.023 43.840    6  0.395    5  0.388   12  0.209    6 0.5361   16  3.971   11  0.187   11  0.232
KNICKS        58 31 10380  9745  0.039 43.556    5  0.397    6  0.381    3  0.570    5 0.5363   23  3.939    6  0.385    4  0.755
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.034 43.482    7  0.359    7  0.348    7  0.308    7 0.5335    5  4.023    3  0.557   15  0.060
CAVALIERS     56 33 10584 10234  0.011 43.467    8  0.327    8  0.318    9  0.251    8 0.5298    8  4.009    5  0.426   14  0.075
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.012 42.728    9  0.288    9  0.274    8  0.259    9 0.5275   30  3.898   21 -0.130    5  0.648
TIMBERWOLVES  53 35 10348 10046  0.020 43.320   10  0.265   10  0.251   10  0.236   10 0.5245   13  3.982    9  0.268   12  0.203
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
76ERS         50 40 10337 10360  0.026 45.511   11  0.187   11  0.173   18  0.018   11 0.5148   17  3.971   15 -0.005   16  0.040
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.057 46.844   14  0.159   12  0.146   16  0.064   13 0.5130   19  3.954   18 -0.044   13  0.172
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.040 44.555   13  0.162   13  0.145   13  0.111   14 0.5125    9  4.008    8  0.283   18 -0.061
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.032 44.469   12  0.163   14  0.141   11  0.221   12 0.5134   25  3.935   13  0.016    8  0.425
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.053 45.035   15  0.114   15  0.104   17  0.059   15 0.5096   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.330
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.005 40.637   16  0.089   16  0.074    6  0.404   16 0.5065   21  3.945   10  0.251    7  0.557
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.019 41.127   17  0.059   17  0.050   14  0.095   17 0.5040    2  4.060    4  0.543   20 -0.354
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.024 44.609   18  0.036   18  0.030   19  0.006   18 0.5024   15  3.973   14 -0.005   17  0.016
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.017 40.316   19  0.007   19 -0.008   15  0.093   19 0.4991   22  3.942   20 -0.077   10  0.264
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.007 41.993   20 -0.090   20 -0.104   20 -0.153   20 0.4896   18  3.966   22 -0.199   19 -0.107
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.056 40.627   21 -0.281   21 -0.288   25 -0.551   21 0.4713   20  3.952   29 -0.669   22 -0.433
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.044 40.641   22 -0.300   22 -0.313   22 -0.423   22 0.4686    3  4.043   19 -0.070   27 -0.776
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.043 40.735   24 -0.464   23 -0.473   23 -0.426   24 0.4546   11  3.995   24 -0.324   24 -0.528
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.029 40.831   23 -0.461   24 -0.475   21 -0.243   23 0.4555    7  4.016   17 -0.030   23 -0.455
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.045 40.746   25 -0.501   25 -0.516   27 -0.587   25 0.4515    6  4.020   25 -0.353   28 -0.822
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.049 41.164   26 -0.586   26 -0.598   26 -0.585   26 0.4437    1  4.081   16 -0.027   29 -1.144
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.057 41.242   27 -0.595   27 -0.602   28 -0.670   27 0.4435   12  3.989   28 -0.598   26 -0.742
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.070 41.042   28 -0.674   28 -0.682   29 -0.811   28 0.4368   28  3.901   30 -1.189   21 -0.433
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.048 41.207   29 -0.679   29 -0.695   24 -0.501   29 0.4347   10  4.000   26 -0.374   25 -0.628
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.079 41.100   30 -0.792   30 -0.809   30 -0.829   30 0.4278    4  4.039   27 -0.492   30 -1.166

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        57 31 10147  9988  0.023 43.840    6  0.395    5  0.388   12  0.209    6 0.5361   16  3.971   11  0.187   11  0.232
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.053 45.035   15  0.114   15  0.104   17  0.059   15 0.5096   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.330
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.017 40.316   19  0.007   19 -0.008   15  0.093   19 0.4991   22  3.942   20 -0.077   10  0.264
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.007 41.993   20 -0.090   20 -0.104   20 -0.153   20 0.4896   18  3.966   22 -0.199   19 -0.107
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.057 41.242   27 -0.595   27 -0.602   28 -0.670   27 0.4435   12  3.989   28 -0.598   26 -0.742

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       68 18 10251  9268  0.066 42.127    1  0.797    1  0.784    1  0.781    1 0.5716   24  3.937    2  0.587    1  0.974
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.034 43.482    7  0.359    7  0.348    7  0.308    7 0.5335    5  4.023    3  0.557   15  0.060
TIMBERWOLVES  53 35 10348 10046  0.020 43.320   10  0.265   10  0.251   10  0.236   10 0.5245   13  3.982    9  0.268   12  0.203
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.024 44.609   18  0.036   18  0.030   19  0.006   18 0.5024   15  3.973   14 -0.005   17  0.016
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.049 41.164   26 -0.586   26 -0.598   26 -0.585   26 0.4437    1  4.081   16 -0.027   29 -1.144

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         66 22 10501  9769  0.060 43.338    2  0.677    2  0.663    2  0.670    2 0.5615   14  3.980    1  0.693    6  0.646
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.012 42.728    9  0.288    9  0.274    8  0.259    9 0.5275   30  3.898   21 -0.130    5  0.648
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.043 40.735   24 -0.464   23 -0.473   23 -0.426   24 0.4546   11  3.995   24 -0.324   24 -0.528
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.029 40.831   23 -0.461   24 -0.475   21 -0.243   23 0.4555    7  4.016   17 -0.030   23 -0.455
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.045 40.746   25 -0.501   25 -0.516   27 -0.587   25 0.4515    6  4.020   25 -0.353   28 -0.822

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       64 25 10374  9672  0.014 42.525    3  0.535    3  0.526    4  0.562    3 0.5511   26  3.929    7  0.326    3  0.798
CAVALIERS     56 33 10584 10234  0.011 43.467    8  0.327    8  0.318    9  0.251    8 0.5298    8  4.009    5  0.426   14  0.075
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.056 40.627   21 -0.281   21 -0.288   25 -0.551   21 0.4713   20  3.952   29 -0.669   22 -0.433
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.044 40.641   22 -0.300   22 -0.313   22 -0.423   22 0.4686    3  4.043   19 -0.070   27 -0.776
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.048 41.207   29 -0.679   29 -0.695   24 -0.501   29 0.4347   10  4.000   26 -0.374   25 -0.628

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         49 42 10393 10355  0.057 46.844   14  0.159   12  0.146   16  0.064   13 0.5130   19  3.954   18 -0.044   13  0.172
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.040 44.555   13  0.162   13  0.145   13  0.111   14 0.5125    9  4.008    8  0.283   18 -0.061
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.005 40.637   16  0.089   16  0.074    6  0.404   16 0.5065   21  3.945   10  0.251    7  0.557
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.019 41.127   17  0.059   17  0.050   14  0.095   17 0.5040    2  4.060    4  0.543   20 -0.354
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.079 41.100   30 -0.792   30 -0.809   30 -0.829   30 0.4278    4  4.039   27 -0.492   30 -1.166

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       59 30 10164  9513  0.024 43.025    4  0.409    4  0.394    5  0.496    4 0.5390   29  3.899   12  0.109    2  0.883
KNICKS        58 31 10380  9745  0.039 43.556    5  0.397    6  0.381    3  0.570    5 0.5363   23  3.939    6  0.385    4  0.755
76ERS         50 40 10337 10360  0.026 45.511   11  0.187   11  0.173   18  0.018   11 0.5148   17  3.971   15 -0.005   16  0.040
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.032 44.469   12  0.163   14  0.141   11  0.221   12 0.5134   25  3.935   13  0.016    8  0.425
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.070 41.042   28 -0.674   28 -0.682   29 -0.811   28 0.4368   28  3.901   30 -1.189   21 -0.433

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 243 189 0.562    1  0.165
ATLANTIC DIVISION  236 203 0.538    2  0.111
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.032
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 197 225 0.467    4 -0.059
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 220 0.482    5 -0.093
CENTRAL DIVISION   202 222 0.476    6 -0.139

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Mon May  4 05:30:12 2026
games through: Sun May  3 2026

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