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       37  9 5578 4969  0.021 21.726    1  0.649    1  0.657    1  0.761    1 0.5703   24  3.942    1  0.563    1  0.960
PISTONS       32 11 5027 4728 -0.051 19.831    2  0.466    2  0.462    2  0.383    2 0.5525   25  3.939   11  0.170    2  0.596
SPURS         31 15 5417 5189  0.070 23.162    3  0.420    3  0.415    4  0.333    3 0.5459   17  3.969    6  0.275    6  0.392
NUGGETS       31 15 5550 5344 -0.053 21.371    4  0.315    4  0.309   11  0.115    4 0.5345    8  4.017    5  0.304   18 -0.074
ROCKETS       27 16 5028 4764  0.042 21.187    5  0.291    5  0.273    5  0.309    5 0.5344   28  3.929   15  0.049    3  0.568
SUNS          27 18 5149 5030  0.056 22.812    6  0.254    6  0.249    7  0.228    6 0.5284   26  3.937   18  0.004    5  0.451
LAKERS        27 17 5104 5114 -0.012 21.640    7  0.220    7  0.229   19 -0.058    7 0.5278   11  3.995   17  0.020   21 -0.136
CELTICS       28 17 5262 4963 -0.019 21.288    8  0.220    8  0.219    3  0.366    8 0.5274   23  3.947    8  0.196    4  0.536
KNICKS        28 18 5425 5228 -0.016 22.086    9  0.200    9  0.203    8  0.199    9 0.5223   12  3.991    7  0.257   11  0.141
TIMBERWOLVES  27 18 5399 5180 -0.029 21.161   10  0.168   10  0.169    6  0.260   10 0.5211   10  3.997    3  0.345   10  0.175
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       28 19 5370 5272 -0.036 22.455   11  0.164   11  0.166   14  0.081   11 0.5172   27  3.933   21 -0.159    7  0.321
CAVALIERS     27 20 5600 5493  0.007 23.135   12  0.154   12  0.156   10  0.127   12 0.5161    6  4.022    4  0.342   19 -0.089
WARRIORS      25 21 5375 5251  0.011 22.634   13  0.093   14  0.092    9  0.187   13 0.5106   14  3.977   10  0.171    9  0.204
HEAT          24 22 5517 5446  0.066 23.778   14  0.092   13  0.093   12  0.090   14 0.5102    2  4.046    2  0.435   23 -0.255
76ERS         24 20 5132 5080 -0.022 21.310   15  0.073   15  0.077   15  0.054   16 0.5077   18  3.968   19 -0.011   13  0.119
TRAIL BLAZERS 23 23 5340 5420  0.068 24.154   16  0.059   16  0.063   17 -0.036   15 0.5082    9  4.003   14  0.082   22 -0.153
MAGIC         23 21 5078 5080  0.005 21.892   17  0.052   17  0.051   21 -0.092   17 0.5038   19  3.967   22 -0.160   14 -0.024
HAWKS         22 25 5520 5580  0.042 24.148   18 -0.027   19 -0.032   18 -0.048   18 0.4988    4  4.022    9  0.172   24 -0.268
BULLS         23 22 5304 5387 -0.070 21.383   19 -0.028   18 -0.029   22 -0.134   19 0.4948    3  4.030   13  0.124   26 -0.392
CLIPPERS      20 24 4943 4996  0.039 22.566   20 -0.057   20 -0.060   16  0.016   20 0.4933   29  3.927   24 -0.257    8  0.289
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GRIZZLIES     18 25 4968 5015 -0.024 21.084   21 -0.181   21 -0.194   20 -0.064   21 0.4799   13  3.988   20 -0.026   20 -0.101
BUCKS         18 26 4923 5080 -0.013 22.004   22 -0.187   22 -0.195   24 -0.229   22 0.4776   22  3.948   27 -0.394   17 -0.064
MAVERICKS     19 27 5257 5361 -0.080 21.789   23 -0.227   23 -0.237   23 -0.147   23 0.4742   20  3.957   25 -0.267   15 -0.027
HORNETS       18 28 5336 5312 -0.039 22.064   24 -0.242   24 -0.252   13  0.086   24 0.4716   16  3.973   16  0.048   12  0.124
JAZZ          15 31 5475 5879  0.050 24.623   25 -0.311   25 -0.301   28 -0.480   25 0.4659    1  4.094   12  0.124   30 -1.085
KINGS         12 34 5100 5556  0.040 24.623   26 -0.459   26 -0.455   29 -0.525   26 0.4519   15  3.974   29 -0.558   27 -0.493
NETS          12 31 4659 4937 -0.031 21.374   27 -0.472   27 -0.469   26 -0.412   27 0.4434   30  3.907   30 -0.783   16 -0.041
PACERS        11 35 5064 5437  0.003 23.961   28 -0.536   28 -0.534   27 -0.420   28 0.4392   21  3.954   28 -0.553   25 -0.287
PELICANS      11 36 5408 5739  0.009 24.157   29 -0.562   29 -0.565   25 -0.375   29 0.4391    7  4.021   23 -0.165   28 -0.585
WIZARDS       10 34 4938 5416 -0.036 22.273   30 -0.602   30 -0.600   30 -0.602   30 0.4322    5  4.022   26 -0.385   29 -0.819

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
SUNS          27 18 5149 5030  0.056 22.812    6  0.254    6  0.249    7  0.228    6 0.5284   26  3.937   18  0.004    5  0.451
LAKERS        27 17 5104 5114 -0.012 21.640    7  0.220    7  0.229   19 -0.058    7 0.5278   11  3.995   17  0.020   21 -0.136
WARRIORS      25 21 5375 5251  0.011 22.634   13  0.093   14  0.092    9  0.187   13 0.5106   14  3.977   10  0.171    9  0.204
CLIPPERS      20 24 4943 4996  0.039 22.566   20 -0.057   20 -0.060   16  0.016   20 0.4933   29  3.927   24 -0.257    8  0.289
KINGS         12 34 5100 5556  0.040 24.623   26 -0.459   26 -0.455   29 -0.525   26 0.4519   15  3.974   29 -0.558   27 -0.493

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       37  9 5578 4969  0.021 21.726    1  0.649    1  0.657    1  0.761    1 0.5703   24  3.942    1  0.563    1  0.960
NUGGETS       31 15 5550 5344 -0.053 21.371    4  0.315    4  0.309   11  0.115    4 0.5345    8  4.017    5  0.304   18 -0.074
TIMBERWOLVES  27 18 5399 5180 -0.029 21.161   10  0.168   10  0.169    6  0.260   10 0.5211   10  3.997    3  0.345   10  0.175
TRAIL BLAZERS 23 23 5340 5420  0.068 24.154   16  0.059   16  0.063   17 -0.036   15 0.5082    9  4.003   14  0.082   22 -0.153
JAZZ          15 31 5475 5879  0.050 24.623   25 -0.311   25 -0.301   28 -0.480   25 0.4659    1  4.094   12  0.124   30 -1.085

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         31 15 5417 5189  0.070 23.162    3  0.420    3  0.415    4  0.333    3 0.5459   17  3.969    6  0.275    6  0.392
ROCKETS       27 16 5028 4764  0.042 21.187    5  0.291    5  0.273    5  0.309    5 0.5344   28  3.929   15  0.049    3  0.568
GRIZZLIES     18 25 4968 5015 -0.024 21.084   21 -0.181   21 -0.194   20 -0.064   21 0.4799   13  3.988   20 -0.026   20 -0.101
MAVERICKS     19 27 5257 5361 -0.080 21.789   23 -0.227   23 -0.237   23 -0.147   23 0.4742   20  3.957   25 -0.267   15 -0.027
PELICANS      11 36 5408 5739  0.009 24.157   29 -0.562   29 -0.565   25 -0.375   29 0.4391    7  4.021   23 -0.165   28 -0.585

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       32 11 5027 4728 -0.051 19.831    2  0.466    2  0.462    2  0.383    2 0.5525   25  3.939   11  0.170    2  0.596
CAVALIERS     27 20 5600 5493  0.007 23.135   12  0.154   12  0.156   10  0.127   12 0.5161    6  4.022    4  0.342   19 -0.089
BULLS         23 22 5304 5387 -0.070 21.383   19 -0.028   18 -0.029   22 -0.134   19 0.4948    3  4.030   13  0.124   26 -0.392
BUCKS         18 26 4923 5080 -0.013 22.004   22 -0.187   22 -0.195   24 -0.229   22 0.4776   22  3.948   27 -0.394   17 -0.064
PACERS        11 35 5064 5437  0.003 23.961   28 -0.536   28 -0.534   27 -0.420   28 0.4392   21  3.954   28 -0.553   25 -0.287

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          24 22 5517 5446  0.066 23.778   14  0.092   13  0.093   12  0.090   14 0.5102    2  4.046    2  0.435   23 -0.255
MAGIC         23 21 5078 5080  0.005 21.892   17  0.052   17  0.051   21 -0.092   17 0.5038   19  3.967   22 -0.160   14 -0.024
HAWKS         22 25 5520 5580  0.042 24.148   18 -0.027   19 -0.032   18 -0.048   18 0.4988    4  4.022    9  0.172   24 -0.268
HORNETS       18 28 5336 5312 -0.039 22.064   24 -0.242   24 -0.252   13  0.086   24 0.4716   16  3.973   16  0.048   12  0.124
WIZARDS       10 34 4938 5416 -0.036 22.273   30 -0.602   30 -0.600   30 -0.602   30 0.4322    5  4.022   26 -0.385   29 -0.819

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       28 17 5262 4963 -0.019 21.288    8  0.220    8  0.219    3  0.366    8 0.5274   23  3.947    8  0.196    4  0.536
KNICKS        28 18 5425 5228 -0.016 22.086    9  0.200    9  0.203    8  0.199    9 0.5223   12  3.991    7  0.257   11  0.141
RAPTORS       28 19 5370 5272 -0.036 22.455   11  0.164   11  0.166   14  0.081   11 0.5172   27  3.933   21 -0.159    7  0.321
76ERS         24 20 5132 5080 -0.022 21.310   15  0.073   15  0.077   15  0.054   16 0.5077   18  3.968   19 -0.011   13  0.119
NETS          12 31 4659 4937 -0.031 21.374   27 -0.472   27 -0.469   26 -0.412   27 0.4434   30  3.907   30 -0.783   16 -0.041

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 133  96 0.581    1  0.181
ATLANTIC DIVISION  120 105 0.533    2  0.085
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 106 119 0.471    3  0.010
PACIFIC DIVISION   111 114 0.493    4 -0.050
CENTRAL DIVISION   111 114 0.493    5 -0.089
SOUTHEAST DIVISION  97 130 0.427    6 -0.128

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Jan 25 05:30:12 2026
games through: Sat Jan 24 2026

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