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       49 15 7607 6896  0.045 30.892    1  0.659    1  0.650    1  0.670    1 0.5643   25  3.929    4  0.434    1  0.907
SPURS         46 18 7559 7140  0.078 32.109    2  0.560    2  0.566    3  0.520    3 0.5564   15  3.977    3  0.531    6  0.508
PISTONS       45 16 7136 6688  0.031 29.578    3  0.553    3  0.558    2  0.524    2 0.5571   23  3.943    8  0.359    3  0.689
KNICKS        42 23 7627 7193  0.046 32.038    4  0.355    4  0.352    4  0.516    4 0.5378   20  3.957    5  0.423    5  0.610
CELTICS       42 21 7216 6742 -0.018 29.421    5  0.348    5  0.345    5  0.473    5 0.5369   30  3.902   12  0.104    2  0.843
CAVALIERS     39 24 7505 7237  0.041 31.217    6  0.296    6  0.299    7  0.343    6 0.5306    7  4.013    2  0.539   12  0.146
ROCKETS       39 23 7100 6776  0.008 29.765    7  0.287    7  0.286    8  0.260    7 0.5290   29  3.903   21 -0.103    4  0.622
TIMBERWOLVES  40 23 7499 7206 -0.028 29.602    8  0.269    8  0.268    9  0.259    8 0.5275   11  3.995    7  0.362   11  0.155
NUGGETS       39 25 7691 7453 -0.000 30.924    9  0.241    9  0.239   11  0.167    9 0.5240    5  4.017    6  0.388   15 -0.055
LAKERS        38 25 7306 7265 -0.024 30.421   10  0.217   10  0.220   16  0.020   10 0.5227   12  3.994   11  0.118   16 -0.077
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          36 27 7062 7005  0.010 31.125   11  0.180   11  0.177   17  0.005   11 0.5178   27  3.913   24 -0.309    9  0.319
RAPTORS       35 27 7040 6946  0.008 30.509   12  0.157   12  0.154   13  0.078   12 0.5154   24  3.932   23 -0.141   10  0.297
HEAT          35 29 7688 7464  0.027 31.637   13  0.124   13  0.117   10  0.237   13 0.5114    2  4.039    1  0.570   18 -0.097
MAGIC         33 28 7001 6975  0.017 30.390   14  0.107   14  0.110   18 -0.020   15 0.5103   19  3.960   20 -0.095   14  0.055
76ERS         34 28 7180 7188 -0.012 30.326   15  0.102   15  0.107   19 -0.068   14 0.5104   16  3.977   17 -0.057   17 -0.078
WARRIORS      32 30 7151 7072  0.022 30.871   16  0.052   16  0.054   14  0.071   16 0.5057   18  3.967   14  0.030   13  0.112
HAWKS         32 31 7409 7390  0.011 31.239   17  0.025   17  0.026   15  0.056   17 0.5031    6  4.017   10  0.275   19 -0.163
CLIPPERS      30 32 6970 6951  0.032 31.226   18 -0.006   18 -0.008   12  0.126   18 0.4988   26  3.925   22 -0.128    8  0.380
HORNETS       32 32 7434 7202 -0.009 30.730   19 -0.009   20 -0.017    6  0.377   20 0.4982   21  3.956    9  0.282    7  0.473
TRAIL BLAZERS 30 34 7366 7558  0.058 33.379   20 -0.010   19 -0.011   20 -0.166   19 0.4982    9  4.003   15 -0.020   22 -0.312
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         26 35 6793 7064 -0.016 30.575   21 -0.165   21 -0.164   25 -0.342   21 0.4827   22  3.947   27 -0.486   20 -0.197
BULLS         26 37 7277 7543 -0.014 31.490   22 -0.196   22 -0.196   23 -0.299   22 0.4783    4  4.022   16 -0.055   26 -0.542
GRIZZLIES     23 38 7051 7182 -0.042 29.539   23 -0.317   23 -0.323   21 -0.189   23 0.4676   10  4.000   18 -0.061   23 -0.317
MAVERICKS     21 42 7138 7412 -0.042 30.970   24 -0.412   24 -0.412   24 -0.329   24 0.4573   17  3.975   25 -0.327   24 -0.331
PELICANS      20 45 7485 7813 -0.018 32.393   25 -0.456   26 -0.458   22 -0.257   25 0.4541    8  4.009   19 -0.078   25 -0.436
JAZZ          19 44 7414 7890 -0.023 31.797   26 -0.459   25 -0.455   26 -0.474   26 0.4521    1  4.072   13  0.040   30 -0.988
NETS          15 47 6625 7176 -0.012 31.717   27 -0.603   27 -0.607   28 -0.637   27 0.4396   28  3.907   30 -0.981   21 -0.294
PACERS        15 48 7019 7551 -0.042 31.617   28 -0.621   29 -0.628   27 -0.567   30 0.4361   13  3.984   28 -0.519   27 -0.614
WIZARDS       16 46 6956 7628 -0.081 30.449   29 -0.627   28 -0.622   30 -0.713   28 0.4383    3  4.024   26 -0.459   29 -0.967
KINGS         14 50 7064 7763  0.003 33.289   30 -0.648   30 -0.646   29 -0.701   29 0.4370   14  3.984   29 -0.656   28 -0.746

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        38 25 7306 7265 -0.024 30.421   10  0.217   10  0.220   16  0.020   10 0.5227   12  3.994   11  0.118   16 -0.077
SUNS          36 27 7062 7005  0.010 31.125   11  0.180   11  0.177   17  0.005   11 0.5178   27  3.913   24 -0.309    9  0.319
WARRIORS      32 30 7151 7072  0.022 30.871   16  0.052   16  0.054   14  0.071   16 0.5057   18  3.967   14  0.030   13  0.112
CLIPPERS      30 32 6970 6951  0.032 31.226   18 -0.006   18 -0.008   12  0.126   18 0.4988   26  3.925   22 -0.128    8  0.380
KINGS         14 50 7064 7763  0.003 33.289   30 -0.648   30 -0.646   29 -0.701   29 0.4370   14  3.984   29 -0.656   28 -0.746

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       49 15 7607 6896  0.045 30.892    1  0.659    1  0.650    1  0.670    1 0.5643   25  3.929    4  0.434    1  0.907
TIMBERWOLVES  40 23 7499 7206 -0.028 29.602    8  0.269    8  0.268    9  0.259    8 0.5275   11  3.995    7  0.362   11  0.155
NUGGETS       39 25 7691 7453 -0.000 30.924    9  0.241    9  0.239   11  0.167    9 0.5240    5  4.017    6  0.388   15 -0.055
TRAIL BLAZERS 30 34 7366 7558  0.058 33.379   20 -0.010   19 -0.011   20 -0.166   19 0.4982    9  4.003   15 -0.020   22 -0.312
JAZZ          19 44 7414 7890 -0.023 31.797   26 -0.459   25 -0.455   26 -0.474   26 0.4521    1  4.072   13  0.040   30 -0.988

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         46 18 7559 7140  0.078 32.109    2  0.560    2  0.566    3  0.520    3 0.5564   15  3.977    3  0.531    6  0.508
ROCKETS       39 23 7100 6776  0.008 29.765    7  0.287    7  0.286    8  0.260    7 0.5290   29  3.903   21 -0.103    4  0.622
GRIZZLIES     23 38 7051 7182 -0.042 29.539   23 -0.317   23 -0.323   21 -0.189   23 0.4676   10  4.000   18 -0.061   23 -0.317
MAVERICKS     21 42 7138 7412 -0.042 30.970   24 -0.412   24 -0.412   24 -0.329   24 0.4573   17  3.975   25 -0.327   24 -0.331
PELICANS      20 45 7485 7813 -0.018 32.393   25 -0.456   26 -0.458   22 -0.257   25 0.4541    8  4.009   19 -0.078   25 -0.436

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       45 16 7136 6688  0.031 29.578    3  0.553    3  0.558    2  0.524    2 0.5571   23  3.943    8  0.359    3  0.689
CAVALIERS     39 24 7505 7237  0.041 31.217    6  0.296    6  0.299    7  0.343    6 0.5306    7  4.013    2  0.539   12  0.146
BUCKS         26 35 6793 7064 -0.016 30.575   21 -0.165   21 -0.164   25 -0.342   21 0.4827   22  3.947   27 -0.486   20 -0.197
BULLS         26 37 7277 7543 -0.014 31.490   22 -0.196   22 -0.196   23 -0.299   22 0.4783    4  4.022   16 -0.055   26 -0.542
PACERS        15 48 7019 7551 -0.042 31.617   28 -0.621   29 -0.628   27 -0.567   30 0.4361   13  3.984   28 -0.519   27 -0.614

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          35 29 7688 7464  0.027 31.637   13  0.124   13  0.117   10  0.237   13 0.5114    2  4.039    1  0.570   18 -0.097
MAGIC         33 28 7001 6975  0.017 30.390   14  0.107   14  0.110   18 -0.020   15 0.5103   19  3.960   20 -0.095   14  0.055
HAWKS         32 31 7409 7390  0.011 31.239   17  0.025   17  0.026   15  0.056   17 0.5031    6  4.017   10  0.275   19 -0.163
HORNETS       32 32 7434 7202 -0.009 30.730   19 -0.009   20 -0.017    6  0.377   20 0.4982   21  3.956    9  0.282    7  0.473
WIZARDS       16 46 6956 7628 -0.081 30.449   29 -0.627   28 -0.622   30 -0.713   28 0.4383    3  4.024   26 -0.459   29 -0.967

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
KNICKS        42 23 7627 7193  0.046 32.038    4  0.355    4  0.352    4  0.516    4 0.5378   20  3.957    5  0.423    5  0.610
CELTICS       42 21 7216 6742 -0.018 29.421    5  0.348    5  0.345    5  0.473    5 0.5369   30  3.902   12  0.104    2  0.843
RAPTORS       35 27 7040 6946  0.008 30.509   12  0.157   12  0.154   13  0.078   12 0.5154   24  3.932   23 -0.141   10  0.297
76ERS         34 28 7180 7188 -0.012 30.326   15  0.102   15  0.107   19 -0.068   14 0.5104   16  3.977   17 -0.057   17 -0.078
NETS          15 47 6625 7176 -0.012 31.717   27 -0.603   27 -0.607   28 -0.637   27 0.4396   28  3.907   30 -0.981   21 -0.294

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 177 141 0.557    1  0.137
ATLANTIC DIVISION  168 146 0.535    2  0.100
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 149 166 0.473    3 -0.007
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 148 166 0.471    4 -0.036
CENTRAL DIVISION   151 160 0.486    5 -0.085
PACIFIC DIVISION   150 164 0.478    6 -0.096

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sat Mar  7 05:30:20 2026
games through: Fri Mar  6 2026

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