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       24  2 3200 2765 -0.067 11.137    1  0.841    1  0.876    1  0.913    1 0.5898   28  3.932    2  0.636    1  1.190
PISTONS       20  5 2991 2833 -0.064 11.409    2  0.563    2  0.572    8  0.292    2 0.5638   14  3.987    8  0.294    7  0.289
SPURS         18  7 2993 2879  0.070 12.717    3  0.495    3  0.503    7  0.298    4 0.5575    9  4.006    6  0.399   10  0.198
ROCKETS       16  6 2654 2429  0.096 10.860    4  0.480    4  0.476    2  0.572    3 0.5575   22  3.959    5  0.429    2  0.714
KNICKS        18  7 3025 2806  0.003 11.822    5  0.438    5  0.431    3  0.511    7 0.5424   12  3.994    3  0.549    5  0.474
NUGGETS       18  6 3012 2781 -0.046 10.804    6  0.432    6  0.423    4  0.467    6 0.5498    2  4.058    1  0.848   12  0.087
LAKERS        17  7 2840 2803 -0.018 11.715    7  0.417    7  0.409   14  0.051    5 0.5499    8  4.010   11  0.175   18 -0.073
MAGIC         15 11 3065 2966  0.154 14.094    8  0.263    8  0.255    5  0.350    8 0.5270   16  3.977    7  0.302    6  0.399
TIMBERWOLVES  16  9 2998 2874 -0.069 11.379    9  0.232    9  0.219   10  0.216    9 0.5269   13  3.989    9  0.231    9  0.202
CELTICS       15 10 2915 2770  0.052 12.438   10  0.218   10  0.204    6  0.348   10 0.5254   25  3.950   13  0.159    3  0.537
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          14 11 2870 2861  0.074 13.065   11  0.188   11  0.175   13  0.089   11 0.5218   23  3.957   16 -0.064    8  0.241
HEAT          14 11 3043 2955  0.087 13.014   12  0.179   12  0.165    9  0.217   12 0.5166    4  4.046    4  0.528   20 -0.094
CAVALIERS     15 11 3094 3010 -0.054 12.205   13  0.121   13  0.111   12  0.106   14 0.5105   10  4.004   10  0.197   17  0.016
76ERS         14 10 2804 2776 -0.103 11.011   14  0.098   14  0.095   17 -0.035   15 0.5086   20  3.965   18 -0.144   14  0.074
RAPTORS       15 11 3010 2961 -0.083 12.060   15  0.097   15  0.088   15 -0.010   17 0.5068   19  3.967   17 -0.108   11  0.088
WARRIORS      13 13 2957 2920  0.097 13.691   16  0.067   16  0.061   11  0.178   16 0.5077   30  3.923   19 -0.144    4  0.500
HAWKS         14 12 3066 3054 -0.031 12.656   17  0.054   17  0.046   16 -0.021   13 0.5109   11  3.997   14  0.036   19 -0.078
GRIZZLIES     11 14 2852 2897  0.005 12.701   18 -0.110   18 -0.119   18 -0.059   18 0.4866   21  3.965   21 -0.168   15  0.051
TRAIL BLAZERS  9 16 2937 3038  0.173 14.370   19 -0.131   19 -0.135   19 -0.114   19 0.4861    5  4.039   12  0.164   25 -0.392
BULLS         10 14 2827 2945 -0.091 11.690   20 -0.197   20 -0.200   24 -0.394   22 0.4746    6  4.032   20 -0.155   28 -0.633
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAZZ           9 15 2835 3020  0.009 12.779   21 -0.203   21 -0.204   25 -0.400   20 0.4785    1  4.067   15  0.024   29 -0.823
BUCKS         11 15 2993 3050 -0.087 12.430   22 -0.211   22 -0.215   22 -0.203   21 0.4761   18  3.977   22 -0.253   21 -0.153
MAVERICKS     10 16 2915 3014 -0.059 12.973   23 -0.267   23 -0.265   21 -0.199   23 0.4672   29  3.932   26 -0.476   13  0.079
KINGS          6 19 2779 3065  0.136 14.717   24 -0.392   24 -0.389   29 -0.508   24 0.4615   15  3.986   27 -0.511   26 -0.506
CLIPPERS       6 19 2791 2917  0.093 13.733   25 -0.464   25 -0.467   20 -0.191   25 0.4470   27  3.946   25 -0.400   16  0.018
HORNETS        7 18 2867 2968 -0.098 11.965   26 -0.522   26 -0.524   23 -0.288   26 0.4392   17  3.977   24 -0.337   22 -0.238
NETS           6 18 2628 2815 -0.082 11.934   27 -0.557   27 -0.546   26 -0.450   27 0.4362   26  3.946   30 -0.657   23 -0.244
PACERS         6 19 2775 2967 -0.101 12.313   28 -0.613   28 -0.601   27 -0.458   28 0.4360   24  3.952   29 -0.635   24 -0.282
PELICANS       4 22 2969 3212  0.028 13.965   29 -0.723   29 -0.718   28 -0.476   29 0.4244    7  4.014   23 -0.332   27 -0.621
WIZARDS        3 20 2598 2952 -0.080 12.012   30 -0.789   30 -0.792   30 -0.866   30 0.4126    3  4.053   28 -0.514   30 -1.217

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        17  7 2840 2803 -0.018 11.715    7  0.417    7  0.409   14  0.051    5 0.5499    8  4.010   11  0.175   18 -0.073
SUNS          14 11 2870 2861  0.074 13.065   11  0.188   11  0.175   13  0.089   11 0.5218   23  3.957   16 -0.064    8  0.241
WARRIORS      13 13 2957 2920  0.097 13.691   16  0.067   16  0.061   11  0.178   16 0.5077   30  3.923   19 -0.144    4  0.500
KINGS          6 19 2779 3065  0.136 14.717   24 -0.392   24 -0.389   29 -0.508   24 0.4615   15  3.986   27 -0.511   26 -0.506
CLIPPERS       6 19 2791 2917  0.093 13.733   25 -0.464   25 -0.467   20 -0.191   25 0.4470   27  3.946   25 -0.400   16  0.018

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       24  2 3200 2765 -0.067 11.137    1  0.841    1  0.876    1  0.913    1 0.5898   28  3.932    2  0.636    1  1.190
NUGGETS       18  6 3012 2781 -0.046 10.804    6  0.432    6  0.423    4  0.467    6 0.5498    2  4.058    1  0.848   12  0.087
TIMBERWOLVES  16  9 2998 2874 -0.069 11.379    9  0.232    9  0.219   10  0.216    9 0.5269   13  3.989    9  0.231    9  0.202
TRAIL BLAZERS  9 16 2937 3038  0.173 14.370   19 -0.131   19 -0.135   19 -0.114   19 0.4861    5  4.039   12  0.164   25 -0.392
JAZZ           9 15 2835 3020  0.009 12.779   21 -0.203   21 -0.204   25 -0.400   20 0.4785    1  4.067   15  0.024   29 -0.823

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         18  7 2993 2879  0.070 12.717    3  0.495    3  0.503    7  0.298    4 0.5575    9  4.006    6  0.399   10  0.198
ROCKETS       16  6 2654 2429  0.096 10.860    4  0.480    4  0.476    2  0.572    3 0.5575   22  3.959    5  0.429    2  0.714
GRIZZLIES     11 14 2852 2897  0.005 12.701   18 -0.110   18 -0.119   18 -0.059   18 0.4866   21  3.965   21 -0.168   15  0.051
MAVERICKS     10 16 2915 3014 -0.059 12.973   23 -0.267   23 -0.265   21 -0.199   23 0.4672   29  3.932   26 -0.476   13  0.079
PELICANS       4 22 2969 3212  0.028 13.965   29 -0.723   29 -0.718   28 -0.476   29 0.4244    7  4.014   23 -0.332   27 -0.621

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       20  5 2991 2833 -0.064 11.409    2  0.563    2  0.572    8  0.292    2 0.5638   14  3.987    8  0.294    7  0.289
CAVALIERS     15 11 3094 3010 -0.054 12.205   13  0.121   13  0.111   12  0.106   14 0.5105   10  4.004   10  0.197   17  0.016
BULLS         10 14 2827 2945 -0.091 11.690   20 -0.197   20 -0.200   24 -0.394   22 0.4746    6  4.032   20 -0.155   28 -0.633
BUCKS         11 15 2993 3050 -0.087 12.430   22 -0.211   22 -0.215   22 -0.203   21 0.4761   18  3.977   22 -0.253   21 -0.153
PACERS         6 19 2775 2967 -0.101 12.313   28 -0.613   28 -0.601   27 -0.458   28 0.4360   24  3.952   29 -0.635   24 -0.282

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         15 11 3065 2966  0.154 14.094    8  0.263    8  0.255    5  0.350    8 0.5270   16  3.977    7  0.302    6  0.399
HEAT          14 11 3043 2955  0.087 13.014   12  0.179   12  0.165    9  0.217   12 0.5166    4  4.046    4  0.528   20 -0.094
HAWKS         14 12 3066 3054 -0.031 12.656   17  0.054   17  0.046   16 -0.021   13 0.5109   11  3.997   14  0.036   19 -0.078
HORNETS        7 18 2867 2968 -0.098 11.965   26 -0.522   26 -0.524   23 -0.288   26 0.4392   17  3.977   24 -0.337   22 -0.238
WIZARDS        3 20 2598 2952 -0.080 12.012   30 -0.789   30 -0.792   30 -0.866   30 0.4126    3  4.053   28 -0.514   30 -1.217

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        18  7 3025 2806  0.003 11.822    5  0.438    5  0.431    3  0.511    7 0.5424   12  3.994    3  0.549    5  0.474
CELTICS       15 10 2915 2770  0.052 12.438   10  0.218   10  0.204    6  0.348   10 0.5254   25  3.950   13  0.159    3  0.537
76ERS         14 10 2804 2776 -0.103 11.011   14  0.098   14  0.095   17 -0.035   15 0.5086   20  3.965   18 -0.144   14  0.074
RAPTORS       15 11 3010 2961 -0.083 12.060   15  0.097   15  0.088   15 -0.010   17 0.5068   19  3.967   17 -0.108   11  0.088
NETS           6 18 2628 2815 -0.082 11.934   27 -0.557   27 -0.546   26 -0.450   27 0.4362   26  3.946   30 -0.657   23 -0.244

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 76 48 0.613    1  0.273
ATLANTIC DIVISION  68 56 0.548    2  0.091
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 59 65 0.476    3  0.018
PACIFIC DIVISION   56 69 0.448    4 -0.092
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 53 72 0.424    5 -0.128
CENTRAL DIVISION   62 64 0.492    6 -0.155

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Dec 14 05:30:18 2025
games through: Sat Dec 13 2025

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