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
ROCKETS       4 0 483 444  0.427  2.518    1  0.380    1  0.442    3  0.336    1 0.6135   14  3.981    3  0.389    9  0.282 P
THUNDER       4 0 445 403  0.094  1.902    2  0.349    2  0.384    2  0.368    2 0.5961   28  3.879   19 -0.095    1  0.831 P
GRIZZLIES     4 0 467 428 -0.259  1.475    3  0.269    3  0.259   14  0.071    4 0.5563   24  3.926   24 -0.160    8  0.301 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 3 0 388 332 -0.009  1.324    4  0.247    4  0.236    5  0.213    3 0.5719   12  3.996    4  0.345   13  0.080 P
TIMBERWOLVES  3 1 488 420  0.213  2.134    5  0.236    5  0.217    1  0.442    5 0.5495   25  3.924    8  0.204    2  0.681 P
PISTONS       3 1 452 428  0.182  2.217    6  0.232    6  0.210    8  0.170    6 0.5442   22  3.944   12  0.032    7  0.308 P
LAKERS        3 1 513 481  0.014  1.912    7  0.208    7  0.168    9  0.167    8 0.5371    1  4.078    1  0.730   24 -0.397 P
CELTICS       3 1 479 447 -0.177  1.502    8  0.202    9  0.149    6  0.209   11 0.5262   20  3.957   10  0.138   10  0.280 P
76ERS         3 1 440 428 -0.033  1.905    9  0.195    8  0.155   15  0.019    9 0.5311   26  3.910   28 -0.292    6  0.330 P
CAVALIERS     2 1 358 360  0.083  1.551   10  0.164   10  0.136   13  0.079   10 0.5269   10  4.002    6  0.238   19 -0.081 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       2 1 341 311  0.012  1.358   11  0.125   11  0.073   11  0.123   12 0.5216   27  3.903   26 -0.223    4  0.469 P
HAWKS         2 2 484 447  0.353  2.407   12  0.113   12  0.067    4  0.264    7 0.5435    9  4.007    2  0.452   14  0.076 P
HORNETS       3 1 416 444 -0.446  1.407   13  0.048   13  0.065   27 -0.314   16 0.5016   30  3.869   30 -0.823   12  0.196 P
SPURS         2 2 466 439  0.145  2.104   14  0.022   15  0.033    7  0.183   13 0.5210   17  3.967    9  0.160   11  0.205 P
MAVERICKS     2 2 450 464  0.164  2.290   15 -0.030   14  0.038   18 -0.044   15 0.5063   18  3.966   17 -0.069   16 -0.019 P
MAGIC         1 2 329 349  0.412  2.033   16 -0.059   16 -0.001   17 -0.019   18 0.4813   15  3.981   13  0.032   18 -0.069 P
SUNS          1 2 328 371  0.327  1.996   17 -0.061   17 -0.009   21 -0.131   14 0.5092   11  3.998   14  0.007   21 -0.269 P
CLIPPERS      1 2 339 329  0.273  1.721   18 -0.075   18 -0.037   10  0.144   17 0.4956   23  3.929   16 -0.068    5  0.356 P
NUGGETS       1 2 339 365 -0.013  1.509   19 -0.089   19 -0.063   19 -0.057   21 0.4698   21  3.951   23 -0.158   15  0.043 P
PACERS        2 2 466 460 -0.262  1.552   20 -0.099   20 -0.078   20 -0.093   23 0.4547   19  3.961   21 -0.145   17 -0.042 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KNICKS        1 3 416 421  0.099  2.110   21 -0.123   21 -0.119   12  0.088   20 0.4709   29  3.872   29 -0.407    3  0.582 P
WARRIORS      1 3 469 483  0.111  2.182   22 -0.136   22 -0.127   16 -0.007   19 0.4781    5  4.016    7  0.227   20 -0.241 P
WIZARDS       2 2 457 458 -0.452  1.346   23 -0.145   23 -0.152   26 -0.308   22 0.4654   16  3.980   27 -0.259   23 -0.357 P
BULLS         1 3 443 518 -0.178  2.032   24 -0.222   24 -0.197   30 -0.439   24 0.4472    3  4.038   18 -0.089   30 -0.790 P
JAZZ          1 3 451 484 -0.103  1.956   25 -0.233   25 -0.205   25 -0.279   25 0.4444   13  3.986   25 -0.204   22 -0.354 P
BUCKS         1 3 467 489 -0.409  1.435   26 -0.266   26 -0.276   24 -0.228   26 0.4351    4  4.032   11  0.092   28 -0.548 P
KINGS         0 4 431 502  0.200  2.512   27 -0.289   27 -0.289   29 -0.348   27 0.4291    8  4.008   22 -0.155   27 -0.542 P
PELICANS      0 3 374 384 -0.232  1.238   28 -0.300   28 -0.324   22 -0.167   30 0.3886    2  4.055    5  0.275   29 -0.609 P
HEAT          0 4 436 487 -0.058  2.025   29 -0.307   29 -0.328   23 -0.225   28 0.4235    6  4.014   15  0.000   25 -0.450 P
NETS          0 4 457 496 -0.196  1.907   30 -0.356   30 -0.401   28 -0.335   29 0.4003    7  4.010   20 -0.130   26 -0.541 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        3 1 513 481  0.014  1.912    7  0.208    7  0.168    9  0.167    8 0.5371    1  4.078    1  0.730   24 -0.397 P
SUNS          1 2 328 371  0.327  1.996   17 -0.061   17 -0.009   21 -0.131   14 0.5092   11  3.998   14  0.007   21 -0.269 P
CLIPPERS      1 2 339 329  0.273  1.721   18 -0.075   18 -0.037   10  0.144   17 0.4956   23  3.929   16 -0.068    5  0.356 P
WARRIORS      1 3 469 483  0.111  2.182   22 -0.136   22 -0.127   16 -0.007   19 0.4781    5  4.016    7  0.227   20 -0.241 P
KINGS         0 4 431 502  0.200  2.512   27 -0.289   27 -0.289   29 -0.348   27 0.4291    8  4.008   22 -0.155   27 -0.542 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       4 0 445 403  0.094  1.902    2  0.349    2  0.384    2  0.368    2 0.5961   28  3.879   19 -0.095    1  0.831 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 3 0 388 332 -0.009  1.324    4  0.247    4  0.236    5  0.213    3 0.5719   12  3.996    4  0.345   13  0.080 P
TIMBERWOLVES  3 1 488 420  0.213  2.134    5  0.236    5  0.217    1  0.442    5 0.5495   25  3.924    8  0.204    2  0.681 P
NUGGETS       1 2 339 365 -0.013  1.509   19 -0.089   19 -0.063   19 -0.057   21 0.4698   21  3.951   23 -0.158   15  0.043 P
JAZZ          1 3 451 484 -0.103  1.956   25 -0.233   25 -0.205   25 -0.279   25 0.4444   13  3.986   25 -0.204   22 -0.354 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       4 0 483 444  0.427  2.518    1  0.380    1  0.442    3  0.336    1 0.6135   14  3.981    3  0.389    9  0.282 P
GRIZZLIES     4 0 467 428 -0.259  1.475    3  0.269    3  0.259   14  0.071    4 0.5563   24  3.926   24 -0.160    8  0.301 P
SPURS         2 2 466 439  0.145  2.104   14  0.022   15  0.033    7  0.183   13 0.5210   17  3.967    9  0.160   11  0.205 P
MAVERICKS     2 2 450 464  0.164  2.290   15 -0.030   14  0.038   18 -0.044   15 0.5063   18  3.966   17 -0.069   16 -0.019 P
PELICANS      0 3 374 384 -0.232  1.238   28 -0.300   28 -0.324   22 -0.167   30 0.3886    2  4.055    5  0.275   29 -0.609 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       3 1 452 428  0.182  2.217    6  0.232    6  0.210    8  0.170    6 0.5442   22  3.944   12  0.032    7  0.308 P
CAVALIERS     2 1 358 360  0.083  1.551   10  0.164   10  0.136   13  0.079   10 0.5269   10  4.002    6  0.238   19 -0.081 P
PACERS        2 2 466 460 -0.262  1.552   20 -0.099   20 -0.078   20 -0.093   23 0.4547   19  3.961   21 -0.145   17 -0.042 P
BULLS         1 3 443 518 -0.178  2.032   24 -0.222   24 -0.197   30 -0.439   24 0.4472    3  4.038   18 -0.089   30 -0.790 P
BUCKS         1 3 467 489 -0.409  1.435   26 -0.266   26 -0.276   24 -0.228   26 0.4351    4  4.032   11  0.092   28 -0.548 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
HAWKS         2 2 484 447  0.353  2.407   12  0.113   12  0.067    4  0.264    7 0.5435    9  4.007    2  0.452   14  0.076 P
HORNETS       3 1 416 444 -0.446  1.407   13  0.048   13  0.065   27 -0.314   16 0.5016   30  3.869   30 -0.823   12  0.196 P
MAGIC         1 2 329 349  0.412  2.033   16 -0.059   16 -0.001   17 -0.019   18 0.4813   15  3.981   13  0.032   18 -0.069 P
WIZARDS       2 2 457 458 -0.452  1.346   23 -0.145   23 -0.152   26 -0.308   22 0.4654   16  3.980   27 -0.259   23 -0.357 P
HEAT          0 4 436 487 -0.058  2.025   29 -0.307   29 -0.328   23 -0.225   28 0.4235    6  4.014   15  0.000   25 -0.450 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
CELTICS       3 1 479 447 -0.177  1.502    8  0.202    9  0.149    6  0.209   11 0.5262   20  3.957   10  0.138   10  0.280 P
76ERS         3 1 440 428 -0.033  1.905    9  0.195    8  0.155   15  0.019    9 0.5311   26  3.910   28 -0.292    6  0.330 P
RAPTORS       2 1 341 311  0.012  1.358   11  0.125   11  0.073   11  0.123   12 0.5216   27  3.903   26 -0.223    4  0.469 P
KNICKS        1 3 416 421  0.099  2.110   21 -0.123   21 -0.119   12  0.088   20 0.4709   29  3.872   29 -0.407    3  0.582 P
NETS          0 4 457 496 -0.196  1.907   30 -0.356   30 -0.401   28 -0.335   29 0.4003    7  4.010   20 -0.130   26 -0.541 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 12  6 0.667    1  0.312
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 12  7 0.632    2  0.168
ATLANTIC DIVISION   9 10 0.474    3  0.064
PACIFIC DIVISION    6 12 0.333    4 -0.064
CENTRAL DIVISION    9 10 0.474    5 -0.199
SOUTHEAST DIVISION  8 11 0.421    6 -0.242

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.224 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: Wed Oct 28 05:30:22 2026
games through: Tue Oct 27 2026

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