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       84 22 12600 11369  0.103 54.835    1  0.867    1  0.837    1  0.804    1 0.5758   18  3.948    2  0.744    1  0.863
CAVALIERS     69 22 11074 10187  0.007 43.862    2  0.677    2  0.640    2  0.574    2 0.5596    5  4.025    1  0.918   10  0.230
CELTICS       67 26 10697  9889 -0.002 44.702    3  0.558    3  0.523    3  0.495    3 0.5497   25  3.915    8  0.269    2  0.720
PACERS        65 40 12248 12018  0.084 55.332    4  0.384    4  0.364    6  0.362    4 0.5349    8  3.991    5  0.525   11  0.199
ROCKETS       55 34 10100  9730  0.057 45.782    5  0.342    5  0.322    7  0.245    5 0.5309   23  3.925   15  0.073    6  0.417
NUGGETS       57 39 11400 11149  0.101 51.063    6  0.325    6  0.308    9  0.221    7 0.5288    4  4.026    4  0.567   17 -0.125
TIMBERWOLVES  58 39 11008 10558  0.091 50.723    7  0.321    7  0.296    4  0.429    6 0.5293   24  3.917   10  0.214    5  0.644
KNICKS        61 39 11466 11130  0.035 50.760    8  0.316    8  0.294   10  0.220    8 0.5282   20  3.943   12  0.137    8  0.304
CLIPPERS      53 36 10014  9628  0.048 45.348    9  0.286    9  0.258    5  0.381    9 0.5251   27  3.893   16  0.046    3  0.716
WARRIORS      54 41 10688 10449  0.069 49.701   10  0.250   11  0.222    8  0.236   11 0.5204   22  3.929   14  0.084    7  0.389
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        51 36  9800  9735  0.024 44.474   11  0.248   10  0.227   14  0.101   10 0.5212   19  3.945   17  0.026   12  0.176
GRIZZLIES     49 39 10618 10289  0.047 44.876   12  0.195   12  0.163   12  0.162   13 0.5155    1  4.060    3  0.689   22 -0.366
BUCKS         50 38 10120  9939 -0.007 43.620   13  0.175   13  0.148   13  0.122   12 0.5157   15  3.969   11  0.172   14  0.071
PISTONS       46 42 10111  9963  0.002 44.008   14  0.060   14  0.040   11  0.168   14 0.5049   14  3.971    9  0.228   13  0.107
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.009 42.976   15 -0.014   15 -0.037   21 -0.205   15 0.4949   10  3.985   19 -0.073   21 -0.336
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571 -0.016 41.365   16 -0.027   16 -0.056   15 -0.027   17 0.4937    9  3.985   13  0.106   18 -0.159
MAGIC         43 45  9233  9282 -0.035 43.510   17 -0.029   17 -0.057   16 -0.054   16 0.4945   30  3.817   28 -0.754    4  0.647
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.053 41.192   18 -0.072   18 -0.095   20 -0.108   18 0.4903    2  4.054    7  0.390   27 -0.606
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.059 40.623   19 -0.103   19 -0.124   17 -0.074   19 0.4884    3  4.051    6  0.404   26 -0.552
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563 -0.013 41.706   20 -0.133   20 -0.152   23 -0.220   20 0.4848   11  3.982   20 -0.104   20 -0.336
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          39 49  9683  9731 -0.025 43.806   21 -0.144   21 -0.165   19 -0.088   21 0.4844   28  3.886   24 -0.456    9  0.281
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.025 41.364   22 -0.148   22 -0.166   18 -0.077   22 0.4840   21  3.938   21 -0.188   15  0.034
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.021 41.410   23 -0.195   23 -0.217   22 -0.214   23 0.4780    7  3.997   18 -0.020   24 -0.408
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.067 40.499   24 -0.359   24 -0.383   24 -0.299   24 0.4638   16  3.953   22 -0.330   19 -0.268
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.068 41.149   25 -0.469   25 -0.486   26 -0.541   25 0.4532   29  3.876   29 -0.961   16 -0.121
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.076 40.652   26 -0.537   26 -0.564   25 -0.505   26 0.4462   17  3.950   26 -0.555   25 -0.456
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.030 42.610   27 -0.600   27 -0.625   27 -0.603   27 0.4420   13  3.977   25 -0.513   28 -0.694
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.097 40.703   28 -0.709   28 -0.739   29 -0.724   28 0.4310   26  3.896   30 -1.045   23 -0.402
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.030 42.531   29 -0.724   29 -0.756   28 -0.627   29 0.4300    6  4.009   23 -0.369   29 -0.886
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.090 41.401   30 -0.738   30 -0.764   30 -0.810   30 0.4295   12  3.978   27 -0.713   30 -0.908
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING

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
CLIPPERS      53 36 10014  9628  0.048 45.348    9  0.286    9  0.258    5  0.381    9 0.5251   27  3.893   16  0.046    3  0.716
WARRIORS      54 41 10688 10449  0.069 49.701   10  0.250   11  0.222    8  0.236   11 0.5204   22  3.929   14  0.084    7  0.389
LAKERS        51 36  9800  9735  0.024 44.474   11  0.248   10  0.227   14  0.101   10 0.5212   19  3.945   17  0.026   12  0.176
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571 -0.016 41.365   16 -0.027   16 -0.056   15 -0.027   17 0.4937    9  3.985   13  0.106   18 -0.159
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563 -0.013 41.706   20 -0.133   20 -0.152   23 -0.220   20 0.4848   11  3.982   20 -0.104   20 -0.336

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       84 22 12600 11369  0.103 54.835    1  0.867    1  0.837    1  0.804    1 0.5758   18  3.948    2  0.744    1  0.863
NUGGETS       57 39 11400 11149  0.101 51.063    6  0.325    6  0.308    9  0.221    7 0.5288    4  4.026    4  0.567   17 -0.125
TIMBERWOLVES  58 39 11008 10558  0.091 50.723    7  0.321    7  0.296    4  0.429    6 0.5293   24  3.917   10  0.214    5  0.644
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.025 41.364   22 -0.148   22 -0.166   18 -0.077   22 0.4840   21  3.938   21 -0.188   15  0.034
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.030 42.531   29 -0.724   29 -0.756   28 -0.627   29 0.4300    6  4.009   23 -0.369   29 -0.886

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       55 34 10100  9730  0.057 45.782    5  0.342    5  0.322    7  0.245    5 0.5309   23  3.925   15  0.073    6  0.417
GRIZZLIES     49 39 10618 10289  0.047 44.876   12  0.195   12  0.163   12  0.162   13 0.5155    1  4.060    3  0.689   22 -0.366
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.009 42.976   15 -0.014   15 -0.037   21 -0.205   15 0.4949   10  3.985   19 -0.073   21 -0.336
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.021 41.410   23 -0.195   23 -0.217   22 -0.214   23 0.4780    7  3.997   18 -0.020   24 -0.408
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.030 42.610   27 -0.600   27 -0.625   27 -0.603   27 0.4420   13  3.977   25 -0.513   28 -0.694

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
CAVALIERS     69 22 11074 10187  0.007 43.862    2  0.677    2  0.640    2  0.574    2 0.5596    5  4.025    1  0.918   10  0.230
PACERS        65 40 12248 12018  0.084 55.332    4  0.384    4  0.364    6  0.362    4 0.5349    8  3.991    5  0.525   11  0.199
BUCKS         50 38 10120  9939 -0.007 43.620   13  0.175   13  0.148   13  0.122   12 0.5157   15  3.969   11  0.172   14  0.071
PISTONS       46 42 10111  9963  0.002 44.008   14  0.060   14  0.040   11  0.168   14 0.5049   14  3.971    9  0.228   13  0.107
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.059 40.623   19 -0.103   19 -0.124   17 -0.074   19 0.4884    3  4.051    6  0.404   26 -0.552

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         43 45  9233  9282 -0.035 43.510   17 -0.029   17 -0.057   16 -0.054   16 0.4945   30  3.817   28 -0.754    4  0.647
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.053 41.192   18 -0.072   18 -0.095   20 -0.108   18 0.4903    2  4.054    7  0.390   27 -0.606
HEAT          39 49  9683  9731 -0.025 43.806   21 -0.144   21 -0.165   19 -0.088   21 0.4844   28  3.886   24 -0.456    9  0.281
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.097 40.703   28 -0.709   28 -0.739   29 -0.724   28 0.4310   26  3.896   30 -1.045   23 -0.402
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.090 41.401   30 -0.738   30 -0.764   30 -0.810   30 0.4295   12  3.978   27 -0.713   30 -0.908

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       67 26 10697  9889 -0.002 44.702    3  0.558    3  0.523    3  0.495    3 0.5497   25  3.915    8  0.269    2  0.720
KNICKS        61 39 11466 11130  0.035 50.760    8  0.316    8  0.294   10  0.220    8 0.5282   20  3.943   12  0.137    8  0.304
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.067 40.499   24 -0.359   24 -0.383   24 -0.299   24 0.4638   16  3.953   22 -0.330   19 -0.268
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.068 41.149   25 -0.469   25 -0.486   26 -0.541   25 0.4532   29  3.876   29 -0.961   16 -0.121
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.076 40.652   26 -0.537   26 -0.564   25 -0.505   26 0.4462   17  3.950   26 -0.555   25 -0.456

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION   269 186 0.591    1  0.197
NORTHWEST DIVISION 252 211 0.544    2  0.147
PACIFIC DIVISION   234 202 0.537    3  0.092
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 199 226 0.468    4 -0.066
ATLANTIC DIVISION  208 231 0.474    5 -0.121
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 159 265 0.375    6 -0.402

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Mon Jun 23 05:30:14 2025
games through: Sun Jun 22 2025

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