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       42 14 6703 6050  0.033 26.908    1  0.563    1  0.574    1  0.674    1 0.5586   24  3.937    2  0.472    1  0.876
PISTONS       41 13 6340 5903 -0.020 25.247    2  0.536    2  0.544    2  0.533    2 0.5584   22  3.945    6  0.367    3  0.698
SPURS         39 17 6613 6275  0.073 28.172    3  0.482    3  0.486    3  0.458    3 0.5494   14  3.974    3  0.443    5  0.472
CELTICS       36 19 6345 5961 -0.016 25.904    4  0.310    4  0.306    4  0.411    4 0.5351   28  3.919   11  0.115    2  0.707
ROCKETS       34 20 6181 5911  0.032 26.563    5  0.296    5  0.295    8  0.245    5 0.5312   29  3.907   20 -0.109    4  0.599
KNICKS        36 21 6726 6391  0.001 27.387    6  0.275    6  0.273    5  0.365    6 0.5307   16  3.972    8  0.338    6  0.391
CAVALIERS     35 21 6711 6458 -0.001 26.989    7  0.265    7  0.266    6  0.317    7 0.5292    6  4.020    1  0.541   13  0.094
NUGGETS       35 21 6734 6514 -0.028 26.577    8  0.239    8  0.241   11  0.135    9 0.5249    7  4.018    7  0.348   17 -0.078
LAKERS        33 21 6265 6266 -0.010 26.518    9  0.234    9  0.240   17 -0.030    8 0.5259   11  3.997   14  0.074   18 -0.134
TIMBERWOLVES  34 22 6702 6426 -0.026 26.396   10  0.203   11  0.196    7  0.277   10 0.5203   10  4.001    5  0.400   12  0.153
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          32 24 6343 6272  0.043 28.357   11  0.198   10  0.196   13  0.086   12 0.5195   25  3.936   21 -0.124   10  0.296
RAPTORS       33 23 6368 6275 -0.020 27.068   12  0.184   12  0.180   15  0.062   11 0.5196   26  3.931   23 -0.174    8  0.297
MAGIC         29 25 6229 6202  0.007 26.784   13  0.093   13  0.087   16 -0.018   14 0.5088   17  3.970   17 -0.054   14  0.018
76ERS         30 25 6380 6376 -0.023 26.742   14  0.090   14  0.086   19 -0.055   13 0.5100   13  3.976   19 -0.057   15 -0.052
WARRIORS      29 27 6464 6374  0.029 28.056   15  0.069   15  0.061   12  0.108   16 0.5060   20  3.965   15  0.049   11  0.168
HEAT          29 27 6697 6562  0.036 28.123   16  0.068   16  0.058   10  0.136   15 0.5061    2  4.032    4  0.424   19 -0.152
CLIPPERS      27 28 6158 6180  0.036 27.976   17  0.020   17  0.014   14  0.071   17 0.5014   27  3.920   24 -0.219    7  0.360
TRAIL BLAZERS 27 29 6514 6624  0.049 29.002   18  0.011   18  0.009   20 -0.080   18 0.5001    8  4.012   13  0.105   23 -0.265
HAWKS         27 30 6686 6750  0.046 29.304   19 -0.014   19 -0.018   18 -0.036   19 0.4990    4  4.023    9  0.204   24 -0.277
HORNETS       26 30 6464 6364 -0.005 27.319   20 -0.066   20 -0.084    9  0.208   20 0.4916   21  3.959   10  0.119    9  0.297
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         23 30 5925 6105 -0.021 26.377   21 -0.149   21 -0.151   23 -0.220   21 0.4846   23  3.944   26 -0.385   16 -0.054
BULLS         24 32 6524 6744 -0.038 27.500   22 -0.176   22 -0.174   25 -0.302   22 0.4801    3  4.031   16 -0.017   27 -0.587
GRIZZLIES     20 33 6109 6226 -0.010 26.368   23 -0.276   23 -0.280   21 -0.153   23 0.4700   12  3.996   18 -0.056   22 -0.251
MAVERICKS     19 35 6153 6340 -0.037 26.517   24 -0.344   24 -0.349   22 -0.217   24 0.4624   15  3.972   25 -0.241   21 -0.194
JAZZ          18 38 6623 7052  0.002 28.848   25 -0.378   25 -0.370   27 -0.439   25 0.4589    1  4.081   12  0.111   30 -0.989
PELICANS      15 41 6417 6743  0.013 28.742   26 -0.506   26 -0.507   24 -0.270   26 0.4458    9  4.003   22 -0.136   26 -0.404
PACERS        15 41 6218 6635 -0.018 28.544   27 -0.519   27 -0.517   26 -0.417   28 0.4455   19  3.966   28 -0.472   25 -0.362
NETS          15 39 5790 6203 -0.046 26.764   28 -0.524   28 -0.520   28 -0.558   27 0.4457   30  3.901   30 -0.943   20 -0.173
WIZARDS       15 39 6055 6631 -0.069 26.748   29 -0.547   29 -0.535   29 -0.650   29 0.4443    5  4.021   27 -0.420   29 -0.880
KINGS         12 45 6262 6886  0.009 29.905   30 -0.637   30 -0.636   30 -0.685   30 0.4352   18  3.970   29 -0.722   28 -0.648

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        33 21 6265 6266 -0.010 26.518    9  0.234    9  0.240   17 -0.030    8 0.5259   11  3.997   14  0.074   18 -0.134
SUNS          32 24 6343 6272  0.043 28.357   11  0.198   10  0.196   13  0.086   12 0.5195   25  3.936   21 -0.124   10  0.296
WARRIORS      29 27 6464 6374  0.029 28.056   15  0.069   15  0.061   12  0.108   16 0.5060   20  3.965   15  0.049   11  0.168
CLIPPERS      27 28 6158 6180  0.036 27.976   17  0.020   17  0.014   14  0.071   17 0.5014   27  3.920   24 -0.219    7  0.360
KINGS         12 45 6262 6886  0.009 29.905   30 -0.637   30 -0.636   30 -0.685   30 0.4352   18  3.970   29 -0.722   28 -0.648

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       42 14 6703 6050  0.033 26.908    1  0.563    1  0.574    1  0.674    1 0.5586   24  3.937    2  0.472    1  0.876
NUGGETS       35 21 6734 6514 -0.028 26.577    8  0.239    8  0.241   11  0.135    9 0.5249    7  4.018    7  0.348   17 -0.078
TIMBERWOLVES  34 22 6702 6426 -0.026 26.396   10  0.203   11  0.196    7  0.277   10 0.5203   10  4.001    5  0.400   12  0.153
TRAIL BLAZERS 27 29 6514 6624  0.049 29.002   18  0.011   18  0.009   20 -0.080   18 0.5001    8  4.012   13  0.105   23 -0.265
JAZZ          18 38 6623 7052  0.002 28.848   25 -0.378   25 -0.370   27 -0.439   25 0.4589    1  4.081   12  0.111   30 -0.989

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         39 17 6613 6275  0.073 28.172    3  0.482    3  0.486    3  0.458    3 0.5494   14  3.974    3  0.443    5  0.472
ROCKETS       34 20 6181 5911  0.032 26.563    5  0.296    5  0.295    8  0.245    5 0.5312   29  3.907   20 -0.109    4  0.599
GRIZZLIES     20 33 6109 6226 -0.010 26.368   23 -0.276   23 -0.280   21 -0.153   23 0.4700   12  3.996   18 -0.056   22 -0.251
MAVERICKS     19 35 6153 6340 -0.037 26.517   24 -0.344   24 -0.349   22 -0.217   24 0.4624   15  3.972   25 -0.241   21 -0.194
PELICANS      15 41 6417 6743  0.013 28.742   26 -0.506   26 -0.507   24 -0.270   26 0.4458    9  4.003   22 -0.136   26 -0.404

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       41 13 6340 5903 -0.020 25.247    2  0.536    2  0.544    2  0.533    2 0.5584   22  3.945    6  0.367    3  0.698
CAVALIERS     35 21 6711 6458 -0.001 26.989    7  0.265    7  0.266    6  0.317    7 0.5292    6  4.020    1  0.541   13  0.094
BUCKS         23 30 5925 6105 -0.021 26.377   21 -0.149   21 -0.151   23 -0.220   21 0.4846   23  3.944   26 -0.385   16 -0.054
BULLS         24 32 6524 6744 -0.038 27.500   22 -0.176   22 -0.174   25 -0.302   22 0.4801    3  4.031   16 -0.017   27 -0.587
PACERS        15 41 6218 6635 -0.018 28.544   27 -0.519   27 -0.517   26 -0.417   28 0.4455   19  3.966   28 -0.472   25 -0.362

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         29 25 6229 6202  0.007 26.784   13  0.093   13  0.087   16 -0.018   14 0.5088   17  3.970   17 -0.054   14  0.018
HEAT          29 27 6697 6562  0.036 28.123   16  0.068   16  0.058   10  0.136   15 0.5061    2  4.032    4  0.424   19 -0.152
HAWKS         27 30 6686 6750  0.046 29.304   19 -0.014   19 -0.018   18 -0.036   19 0.4990    4  4.023    9  0.204   24 -0.277
HORNETS       26 30 6464 6364 -0.005 27.319   20 -0.066   20 -0.084    9  0.208   20 0.4916   21  3.959   10  0.119    9  0.297
WIZARDS       15 39 6055 6631 -0.069 26.748   29 -0.547   29 -0.535   29 -0.650   29 0.4443    5  4.021   27 -0.420   29 -0.880

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       36 19 6345 5961 -0.016 25.904    4  0.310    4  0.306    4  0.411    4 0.5351   28  3.919   11  0.115    2  0.707
KNICKS        36 21 6726 6391  0.001 27.387    6  0.275    6  0.273    5  0.365    6 0.5307   16  3.972    8  0.338    6  0.391
RAPTORS       33 23 6368 6275 -0.020 27.068   12  0.184   12  0.180   15  0.062   11 0.5196   26  3.931   23 -0.174    8  0.297
76ERS         30 25 6380 6376 -0.023 26.742   14  0.090   14  0.086   19 -0.055   13 0.5100   13  3.976   19 -0.057   15 -0.052
NETS          15 39 5790 6203 -0.046 26.764   28 -0.524   28 -0.520   28 -0.558   27 0.4457   30  3.901   30 -0.943   20 -0.173

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 156 124 0.557    1  0.160
ATLANTIC DIVISION  150 127 0.542    2  0.079
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 127 146 0.465    3  0.003
CENTRAL DIVISION   138 137 0.502    4 -0.056
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 126 151 0.455    5 -0.086
PACIFIC DIVISION   133 145 0.478    6 -0.090

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.137 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: Fri Feb 20 05:30:07 2026
games through: Thu Feb 19 2026

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