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       2 0 212 188  0.340  1.166    2  0.248    2  0.286    1  0.378    2 0.5966   30  3.857   27 -0.217    1  0.973 P
TIMBERWOLVES  2 0 246 199  0.031  0.905    4  0.184    4  0.211    2  0.335    4 0.5569   25  3.928    9  0.092    2  0.578 P
RAPTORS       2 0 247 194 -0.326  0.616    7  0.135    7  0.144    5  0.224    5 0.5497   27  3.916   18 -0.080    3  0.528 P
KNICKS        0 2 203 213  0.325  1.243   22 -0.138   22 -0.085   12  0.109   20 0.4684   28  3.894   29 -0.303    4  0.521 P
NUGGETS       1 1 225 231  0.261  1.153   12  0.075   12  0.076   13  0.099   12 0.5116   26  3.918   26 -0.196    5  0.393 P
CELTICS       1 1 220 224  0.337  1.219   10  0.101   10  0.109    6  0.209   11 0.5296   22  3.957    8  0.113    6  0.306 P
76ERS         3 0 347 322 -0.046  1.351    3  0.207    3  0.252   14  0.097    6 0.5494   24  3.935   20 -0.109    7  0.303 P
GRIZZLIES     2 0 234 211 -0.310  0.693    8  0.128    8  0.142   16  0.035   10 0.5356   23  3.937   23 -0.165    8  0.235 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 2 0 252 203 -0.317  0.643    9  0.113    9  0.130    9  0.156    8 0.5373   21  3.961   11  0.080    9  0.231 P
ROCKETS       3 0 363 334  0.389  1.826    1  0.298    1  0.350    3  0.274    1 0.5969   13  3.985    2  0.321   10  0.227 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CLIPPERS      1 1 238 221  0.075  0.965   14  0.042   14  0.035   10  0.152   15 0.4990   20  3.963   10  0.088   11  0.217 P
HORNETS       2 1 306 341 -0.286  1.254   13  0.046   13  0.050   30 -0.287   17 0.4913   29  3.881   30 -0.763   12  0.189 P
SPURS         1 2 336 336  0.358  1.906   18  0.014   17  0.011   11  0.120   13 0.5108   19  3.968   12  0.078   13  0.161 P
HAWKS         2 1 374 327  0.089  1.465   11  0.089   11  0.102    4  0.254    9 0.5366    5  4.009    1  0.429   14  0.079 P
PISTONS       2 0 249 224  0.071  0.994    5  0.171    5  0.204    8  0.162    3 0.5594    8  4.000    5  0.288   15  0.036 P
LAKERS        2 0 252 222 -0.080  0.847    6  0.160    6  0.186    7  0.172    7 0.5421    7  4.003    4  0.314   16  0.030 P
CAVALIERS     1 1 231 235 -0.086  0.888   15  0.041   15  0.033   15  0.057   14 0.5013    9  3.997    7  0.166   17 -0.052 P
MAVERICKS     1 2 337 355  0.178  1.746   20 -0.035   21 -0.036   17 -0.066   18 0.4891   14  3.982   17 -0.034   18 -0.097 P
SUNS          1 1 214 246 -0.039  1.041   16  0.037   16  0.031   22 -0.153   16 0.4954   18  3.972   24 -0.172   19 -0.134 P
PACERS        1 1 228 241 -0.235  0.817   21 -0.089   19 -0.024   21 -0.145   22 0.4646   17  3.975   22 -0.148   20 -0.141 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC         0 2 218 247  0.371  1.349   24 -0.163   24 -0.104   18 -0.092   24 0.4459   12  3.991   16 -0.011   21 -0.174 P
JAZZ          1 1 223 242 -0.188  0.915   19 -0.015   20 -0.027   27 -0.232   21 0.4670   16  3.976   28 -0.229   22 -0.235 P
WIZARDS       2 1 354 348 -0.276  1.213   17  0.014   18  0.008   26 -0.206   19 0.4850   15  3.982   25 -0.176   23 -0.237 P
WARRIORS      0 3 335 369  0.043  1.598   26 -0.228   26 -0.206   19 -0.107   25 0.4434    6  4.006   14  0.049   24 -0.263 P
KINGS         0 2 216 249  0.252  1.284   25 -0.189   25 -0.138   25 -0.203   27 0.4315   10  3.994   19 -0.107   25 -0.299 P
NETS          0 2 224 235 -0.342  0.808   28 -0.268   28 -0.240   28 -0.235   29 0.4122   11  3.994   21 -0.140   26 -0.330 P
HEAT          0 3 327 374  0.014  1.606   27 -0.241   27 -0.210   23 -0.179   26 0.4411    4  4.019   13  0.050   27 -0.407 P
BULLS         1 2 344 384 -0.166  1.446   23 -0.154   23 -0.099   29 -0.266   23 0.4606    3  4.034   15  0.039   28 -0.571 P
PELICANS      0 3 374 384 -0.185  1.305   29 -0.285   30 -0.280   20 -0.136   30 0.4045    2  4.062    3  0.318   29 -0.590 P
BUCKS         0 3 357 387 -0.235  1.294   30 -0.300   29 -0.277   24 -0.196   28 0.4210    1  4.065    6  0.276   30 -0.668 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
CLIPPERS      1 1 238 221  0.075  0.965   14  0.042   14  0.035   10  0.152   15 0.4990   20  3.963   10  0.088   11  0.217 P
LAKERS        2 0 252 222 -0.080  0.847    6  0.160    6  0.186    7  0.172    7 0.5421    7  4.003    4  0.314   16  0.030 P
SUNS          1 1 214 246 -0.039  1.041   16  0.037   16  0.031   22 -0.153   16 0.4954   18  3.972   24 -0.172   19 -0.134 P
WARRIORS      0 3 335 369  0.043  1.598   26 -0.228   26 -0.206   19 -0.107   25 0.4434    6  4.006   14  0.049   24 -0.263 P
KINGS         0 2 216 249  0.252  1.284   25 -0.189   25 -0.138   25 -0.203   27 0.4315   10  3.994   19 -0.107   25 -0.299 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       2 0 212 188  0.340  1.166    2  0.248    2  0.286    1  0.378    2 0.5966   30  3.857   27 -0.217    1  0.973 P
TIMBERWOLVES  2 0 246 199  0.031  0.905    4  0.184    4  0.211    2  0.335    4 0.5569   25  3.928    9  0.092    2  0.578 P
NUGGETS       1 1 225 231  0.261  1.153   12  0.075   12  0.076   13  0.099   12 0.5116   26  3.918   26 -0.196    5  0.393 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 2 0 252 203 -0.317  0.643    9  0.113    9  0.130    9  0.156    8 0.5373   21  3.961   11  0.080    9  0.231 P
JAZZ          1 1 223 242 -0.188  0.915   19 -0.015   20 -0.027   27 -0.232   21 0.4670   16  3.976   28 -0.229   22 -0.235 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
GRIZZLIES     2 0 234 211 -0.310  0.693    8  0.128    8  0.142   16  0.035   10 0.5356   23  3.937   23 -0.165    8  0.235 P
ROCKETS       3 0 363 334  0.389  1.826    1  0.298    1  0.350    3  0.274    1 0.5969   13  3.985    2  0.321   10  0.227 P
SPURS         1 2 336 336  0.358  1.906   18  0.014   17  0.011   11  0.120   13 0.5108   19  3.968   12  0.078   13  0.161 P
MAVERICKS     1 2 337 355  0.178  1.746   20 -0.035   21 -0.036   17 -0.066   18 0.4891   14  3.982   17 -0.034   18 -0.097 P
PELICANS      0 3 374 384 -0.185  1.305   29 -0.285   30 -0.280   20 -0.136   30 0.4045    2  4.062    3  0.318   29 -0.590 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       2 0 249 224  0.071  0.994    5  0.171    5  0.204    8  0.162    3 0.5594    8  4.000    5  0.288   15  0.036 P
CAVALIERS     1 1 231 235 -0.086  0.888   15  0.041   15  0.033   15  0.057   14 0.5013    9  3.997    7  0.166   17 -0.052 P
PACERS        1 1 228 241 -0.235  0.817   21 -0.089   19 -0.024   21 -0.145   22 0.4646   17  3.975   22 -0.148   20 -0.141 P
BULLS         1 2 344 384 -0.166  1.446   23 -0.154   23 -0.099   29 -0.266   23 0.4606    3  4.034   15  0.039   28 -0.571 P
BUCKS         0 3 357 387 -0.235  1.294   30 -0.300   29 -0.277   24 -0.196   28 0.4210    1  4.065    6  0.276   30 -0.668 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
HORNETS       2 1 306 341 -0.286  1.254   13  0.046   13  0.050   30 -0.287   17 0.4913   29  3.881   30 -0.763   12  0.189 P
HAWKS         2 1 374 327  0.089  1.465   11  0.089   11  0.102    4  0.254    9 0.5366    5  4.009    1  0.429   14  0.079 P
MAGIC         0 2 218 247  0.371  1.349   24 -0.163   24 -0.104   18 -0.092   24 0.4459   12  3.991   16 -0.011   21 -0.174 P
WIZARDS       2 1 354 348 -0.276  1.213   17  0.014   18  0.008   26 -0.206   19 0.4850   15  3.982   25 -0.176   23 -0.237 P
HEAT          0 3 327 374  0.014  1.606   27 -0.241   27 -0.210   23 -0.179   26 0.4411    4  4.019   13  0.050   27 -0.407 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
RAPTORS       2 0 247 194 -0.326  0.616    7  0.135    7  0.144    5  0.224    5 0.5497   27  3.916   18 -0.080    3  0.528 P
KNICKS        0 2 203 213  0.325  1.243   22 -0.138   22 -0.085   12  0.109   20 0.4684   28  3.894   29 -0.303    4  0.521 P
CELTICS       1 1 220 224  0.337  1.219   10  0.101   10  0.109    6  0.209   11 0.5296   22  3.957    8  0.113    6  0.306 P
76ERS         3 0 347 322 -0.046  1.351    3  0.207    3  0.252   14  0.097    6 0.5494   24  3.935   20 -0.109    7  0.303 P
NETS          0 2 224 235 -0.342  0.808   28 -0.268   28 -0.240   28 -0.235   29 0.4122   11  3.994   21 -0.140   26 -0.330 P

DIVISION           W L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 8 2 0.800    1  0.370
ATLANTIC DIVISION  6 5 0.545    2  0.198
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 7 7 0.500    3  0.109
PACIFIC DIVISION   4 7 0.364    4 -0.079
CENTRAL DIVISION   5 7 0.417    5 -0.185
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 6 8 0.429    6 -0.239

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.235 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: Sun Oct 25 05:30:20 2026
games through: Sat Oct 24 2026

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