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       61 13 8835 7898  0.083 36.909    1  0.869    1  0.876    1  0.903    1 0.5797   17  3.955    2  0.868    1  0.939
CAVALIERS     59 15 9048 8302  0.009 34.991    2  0.732    2  0.737    2  0.605    2 0.5684    5  4.035    1  0.985    9  0.225
CELTICS       54 19 8528 7863  0.020 35.147    3  0.576    3  0.574    3  0.598    3 0.5568   23  3.932    5  0.448    2  0.749
ROCKETS       48 26 8415 8077  0.053 37.301    4  0.382    4  0.381    6  0.286    4 0.5375   25  3.919   14  0.067    6  0.504
NUGGETS       47 28 9066 8751  0.022 37.088    5  0.301    5  0.304    9  0.258    5 0.5305    3  4.047    4  0.705   19 -0.189
KNICKS        46 27 8503 8200 -0.022 34.936    6  0.279    6  0.280   12  0.180    6 0.5281   15  3.969   10  0.214   13  0.145
GRIZZLIES     44 29 8916 8531  0.024 35.889    7  0.250    7  0.247    8  0.271    7 0.5246    1  4.067    3  0.826   22 -0.284
LAKERS        44 29 8241 8192 -0.006 36.107    8  0.226    8  0.234   14  0.055    8 0.5230   21  3.943   20 -0.039   12  0.150
CLIPPERS      42 31 8194 7914  0.044 36.763    9  0.210   10  0.204    5  0.357    9 0.5202   27  3.897   16  0.030    3  0.684
WARRIORS      42 31 8245 8084  0.031 36.761   10  0.205    9  0.205   13  0.156   11 0.5194   22  3.937   17  0.030    8  0.282
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  42 32 8413 8089  0.056 37.478   11  0.199   11  0.189    4  0.375   10 0.5197   24  3.919   12  0.159    4  0.590
PACERS        43 30 8559 8406 -0.033 35.107   12  0.178   12  0.174   10  0.193   12 0.5182    6  4.008    6  0.431   16 -0.046
BUCKS         41 33 8443 8281  0.014 36.727   13  0.136   13  0.130   11  0.180   13 0.5140   16  3.958   11  0.162   11  0.199
PISTONS       42 32 8560 8361 -0.024 35.670   14  0.127   14  0.121    7  0.280   14 0.5139   13  3.974    8  0.342   10  0.218
MAVERICKS     36 38 8502 8517  0.039 37.952   15  0.015   15  0.016   20 -0.102   15 0.5000   10  3.988   15  0.030   21 -0.235
KINGS         36 37 8482 8448  0.010 36.551   16 -0.002   16 -0.005   15  0.015   16 0.4984    9  3.989   13  0.154   17 -0.124
HAWKS         35 38 8577 8715 -0.016 36.396   17 -0.048   17 -0.049   19 -0.093   17 0.4951    4  4.043    9  0.331   26 -0.517
SUNS          35 39 8462 8582 -0.012 36.879   18 -0.068   18 -0.070   18 -0.092   18 0.4926   12  3.978   19 -0.012   18 -0.172
MAGIC         35 39 7763 7846 -0.055 35.701   19 -0.105   19 -0.106   23 -0.168   19 0.4896   30  3.821   28 -0.866    5  0.529
BULLS         33 40 8565 8738 -0.020 36.359   20 -0.124   20 -0.123   17 -0.088   20 0.4881    2  4.048    7  0.365   27 -0.542
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TRAIL BLAZERS 32 42 8207 8466  0.012 37.957   21 -0.143   21 -0.141   16 -0.081   21 0.4855   19  3.944   21 -0.171   14  0.009
HEAT          32 41 7985 8053 -0.013 36.225   22 -0.155   22 -0.157   21 -0.108   22 0.4847   28  3.884   25 -0.500    7  0.285
SPURS         31 41 8231 8375 -0.010 36.020   23 -0.167   23 -0.166   22 -0.148   23 0.4824    8  3.992   18  0.008   23 -0.305
RAPTORS       27 47 8172 8514 -0.025 37.273   24 -0.336   24 -0.338   24 -0.298   24 0.4680   20  3.944   22 -0.389   20 -0.207
NETS          23 51 7768 8279 -0.023 37.700   25 -0.458   25 -0.451   26 -0.511   25 0.4556   29  3.868   29 -0.981   15 -0.041
76ERS         23 50 8032 8443 -0.034 36.675   26 -0.459   26 -0.457   25 -0.430   26 0.4552   18  3.948   26 -0.500   25 -0.359
PELICANS      20 54 8166 8813  0.003 38.644   27 -0.543   27 -0.543   27 -0.534   27 0.4479   14  3.972   24 -0.483   28 -0.586
HORNETS       18 55 7714 8313 -0.068 36.224   28 -0.655   28 -0.656   29 -0.666   28 0.4370   26  3.898   30 -0.987   24 -0.346
JAZZ          16 59 8369 9014 -0.008 38.780   29 -0.701   29 -0.703   28 -0.597   30 0.4328    7  3.996   23 -0.421   29 -0.773
WIZARDS       16 57 7938 8834 -0.051 37.247   30 -0.720   30 -0.714   30 -0.803   29 0.4329   11  3.983   27 -0.693   30 -0.913
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
LAKERS        44 29 8241 8192 -0.006 36.107    8  0.226    8  0.234   14  0.055    8 0.5230   21  3.943   20 -0.039   12  0.150
CLIPPERS      42 31 8194 7914  0.044 36.763    9  0.210   10  0.204    5  0.357    9 0.5202   27  3.897   16  0.030    3  0.684
WARRIORS      42 31 8245 8084  0.031 36.761   10  0.205    9  0.205   13  0.156   11 0.5194   22  3.937   17  0.030    8  0.282
KINGS         36 37 8482 8448  0.010 36.551   16 -0.002   16 -0.005   15  0.015   16 0.4984    9  3.989   13  0.154   17 -0.124
SUNS          35 39 8462 8582 -0.012 36.879   18 -0.068   18 -0.070   18 -0.092   18 0.4926   12  3.978   19 -0.012   18 -0.172

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       61 13 8835 7898  0.083 36.909    1  0.869    1  0.876    1  0.903    1 0.5797   17  3.955    2  0.868    1  0.939
NUGGETS       47 28 9066 8751  0.022 37.088    5  0.301    5  0.304    9  0.258    5 0.5305    3  4.047    4  0.705   19 -0.189
TIMBERWOLVES  42 32 8413 8089  0.056 37.478   11  0.199   11  0.189    4  0.375   10 0.5197   24  3.919   12  0.159    4  0.590
TRAIL BLAZERS 32 42 8207 8466  0.012 37.957   21 -0.143   21 -0.141   16 -0.081   21 0.4855   19  3.944   21 -0.171   14  0.009
JAZZ          16 59 8369 9014 -0.008 38.780   29 -0.701   29 -0.703   28 -0.597   30 0.4328    7  3.996   23 -0.421   29 -0.773

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       48 26 8415 8077  0.053 37.301    4  0.382    4  0.381    6  0.286    4 0.5375   25  3.919   14  0.067    6  0.504
GRIZZLIES     44 29 8916 8531  0.024 35.889    7  0.250    7  0.247    8  0.271    7 0.5246    1  4.067    3  0.826   22 -0.284
MAVERICKS     36 38 8502 8517  0.039 37.952   15  0.015   15  0.016   20 -0.102   15 0.5000   10  3.988   15  0.030   21 -0.235
SPURS         31 41 8231 8375 -0.010 36.020   23 -0.167   23 -0.166   22 -0.148   23 0.4824    8  3.992   18  0.008   23 -0.305
PELICANS      20 54 8166 8813  0.003 38.644   27 -0.543   27 -0.543   27 -0.534   27 0.4479   14  3.972   24 -0.483   28 -0.586

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     59 15 9048 8302  0.009 34.991    2  0.732    2  0.737    2  0.605    2 0.5684    5  4.035    1  0.985    9  0.225
PACERS        43 30 8559 8406 -0.033 35.107   12  0.178   12  0.174   10  0.193   12 0.5182    6  4.008    6  0.431   16 -0.046
BUCKS         41 33 8443 8281  0.014 36.727   13  0.136   13  0.130   11  0.180   13 0.5140   16  3.958   11  0.162   11  0.199
PISTONS       42 32 8560 8361 -0.024 35.670   14  0.127   14  0.121    7  0.280   14 0.5139   13  3.974    8  0.342   10  0.218
BULLS         33 40 8565 8738 -0.020 36.359   20 -0.124   20 -0.123   17 -0.088   20 0.4881    2  4.048    7  0.365   27 -0.542

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         35 38 8577 8715 -0.016 36.396   17 -0.048   17 -0.049   19 -0.093   17 0.4951    4  4.043    9  0.331   26 -0.517
MAGIC         35 39 7763 7846 -0.055 35.701   19 -0.105   19 -0.106   23 -0.168   19 0.4896   30  3.821   28 -0.866    5  0.529
HEAT          32 41 7985 8053 -0.013 36.225   22 -0.155   22 -0.157   21 -0.108   22 0.4847   28  3.884   25 -0.500    7  0.285
HORNETS       18 55 7714 8313 -0.068 36.224   28 -0.655   28 -0.656   29 -0.666   28 0.4370   26  3.898   30 -0.987   24 -0.346
WIZARDS       16 57 7938 8834 -0.051 37.247   30 -0.720   30 -0.714   30 -0.803   29 0.4329   11  3.983   27 -0.693   30 -0.913

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       54 19 8528 7863  0.020 35.147    3  0.576    3  0.574    3  0.598    3 0.5568   23  3.932    5  0.448    2  0.749
KNICKS        46 27 8503 8200 -0.022 34.936    6  0.279    6  0.280   12  0.180    6 0.5281   15  3.969   10  0.214   13  0.145
RAPTORS       27 47 8172 8514 -0.025 37.273   24 -0.336   24 -0.338   24 -0.298   24 0.4680   20  3.944   22 -0.389   20 -0.207
NETS          23 51 7768 8279 -0.023 37.700   25 -0.458   25 -0.451   26 -0.511   25 0.4556   29  3.868   29 -0.981   15 -0.041
76ERS         23 50 8032 8443 -0.034 36.675   26 -0.459   26 -0.457   25 -0.430   26 0.4552   18  3.948   26 -0.500   25 -0.359

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION   218 150 0.592    1  0.193
NORTHWEST DIVISION 198 174 0.532    2  0.165
PACIFIC DIVISION   199 167 0.544    3  0.092
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 179 188 0.488    4  0.008
ATLANTIC DIVISION  173 194 0.471    5 -0.078
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 136 230 0.372    6 -0.387

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.149 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.014 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 29 05:30:11 2025
games through: Fri Mar 28 2025

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.