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       58 16 8789 7970  0.056 35.704    1  0.728    1  0.731    1  0.697    1 0.5692   26  3.929    5  0.453    1  0.941
CELTICS       49 24 8331 7805  0.017 34.731    4  0.402    4  0.397    4  0.487    4 0.5401   30  3.895   12  0.073    2  0.900
PISTONS       54 20 8696 8102  0.003 34.733    3  0.524    3  0.528    3  0.559    3 0.5523   23  3.940    7  0.372    3  0.746
SPURS         56 19 8947 8356  0.080 37.247    2  0.647    2  0.654    2  0.657    2 0.5623   13  3.987    1  0.706    4  0.608
HORNETS       39 35 8607 8267 -0.007 35.117   17  0.051   17  0.041    5  0.454   17 0.5042   21  3.949    9  0.308    5  0.600
KNICKS        49 26 8785 8290  0.014 35.777    6  0.358    6  0.355    6  0.445    6 0.5353   20  3.951    8  0.312    6  0.578
ROCKETS       44 29 8332 8046  0.024 35.586    9  0.255    9  0.254   11  0.173    9 0.5249   28  3.903   24 -0.201    7  0.547
SUNS          41 33 8338 8225  0.024 36.593   12  0.149   12  0.147   15  0.100   11 0.5148   27  3.918   23 -0.198    8  0.399
CLIPPERS      38 36 8423 8325  0.007 36.203   18  0.038   18  0.033   13  0.171   18 0.5029   25  3.936   17 -0.037    9  0.379
RAPTORS       41 32 8321 8198  0.007 35.668   11  0.153   11  0.151   16  0.095   12 0.5146   24  3.939   21 -0.102   10  0.292
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  45 29 8721 8463  0.001 35.584   10  0.244   10  0.243   10  0.180   10 0.5245   15  3.985   11  0.222   11  0.138
CAVALIERS     46 28 8835 8521  0.027 36.116    7  0.299    7  0.300    7  0.314    8 0.5295    6  4.015    4  0.509   12  0.118
LAKERS        48 26 8631 8503  0.010 36.210    5  0.360    5  0.367   12  0.172    5 0.5358   11  3.992   10  0.250   13  0.094
MAGIC         39 34 8448 8381  0.015 36.012   16  0.086   15  0.092   17  0.033   16 0.5081   18  3.967   16 -0.017   14  0.083
WARRIORS      36 38 8524 8503  0.019 36.719   20 -0.004   20 -0.013   18 -0.044   20 0.4982   19  3.966   20 -0.100   15  0.013
NUGGETS       47 28 9100 8768  0.016 36.278    8  0.298    8  0.299    8  0.276    7 0.5299    5  4.031    2  0.556   16 -0.004
HAWKS         42 33 8869 8731 -0.001 36.330   13  0.140   13  0.136    9  0.181   13 0.5133    7  4.014    6  0.375   17 -0.012
76ERS         41 33 8597 8620 -0.012 36.054   14  0.121   14  0.128   20 -0.075   14 0.5116   16  3.984   18 -0.038   18 -0.112
TRAIL BLAZERS 37 38 8643 8739  0.008 37.263   19  0.004   19  0.000   19 -0.051   19 0.4992   12  3.990   13  0.016   19 -0.117
HEAT          39 35 8901 8710  0.042 36.899   15  0.089   16  0.090   14  0.156   15 0.5083    2  4.048    3  0.527   20 -0.216
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
NETS          17 57 7857 8559 -0.001 38.080   28 -0.649   28 -0.647   28 -0.681   28 0.4383   29  3.899   30 -1.077   21 -0.285
PELICANS      25 50 8644 8948 -0.004 37.436   23 -0.400   23 -0.400   21 -0.158   23 0.4610    9  4.005   15 -0.012   22 -0.304
BUCKS         29 44 8059 8521 -0.029 36.407   22 -0.250   21 -0.239   25 -0.561   21 0.4752   22  3.943   29 -0.737   23 -0.385
MAVERICKS     24 50 8425 8802 -0.027 36.653   25 -0.434   25 -0.430   24 -0.377   25 0.4565   17  3.983   25 -0.345   24 -0.409
GRIZZLIES     25 49 8521 8819 -0.026 36.417   24 -0.410   24 -0.410   23 -0.367   24 0.4598    8  4.010   22 -0.197   25 -0.537
BULLS         29 45 8612 8952 -0.009 37.010   21 -0.248   22 -0.244   22 -0.323   22 0.4741    3  4.038   14 -0.004   26 -0.642
PACERS        16 58 8281 8928 -0.042 37.015   30 -0.703   30 -0.708   27 -0.591   30 0.4318   10  3.996   27 -0.494   27 -0.688
KINGS         19 56 8315 9090 -0.028 38.088   27 -0.609   27 -0.604   29 -0.682   27 0.4425   14  3.986   28 -0.635   28 -0.729
WIZARDS       17 56 8246 9053 -0.049 36.744   29 -0.692   29 -0.689   30 -0.686   29 0.4352    4  4.034   26 -0.385   29 -0.987
JAZZ          21 54 8804 9407 -0.045 37.197   26 -0.547   26 -0.546   26 -0.566   26 0.4464    1  4.073   19 -0.060   30 -1.072

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
SUNS          41 33 8338 8225  0.024 36.593   12  0.149   12  0.147   15  0.100   11 0.5148   27  3.918   23 -0.198    8  0.399
CLIPPERS      38 36 8423 8325  0.007 36.203   18  0.038   18  0.033   13  0.171   18 0.5029   25  3.936   17 -0.037    9  0.379
LAKERS        48 26 8631 8503  0.010 36.210    5  0.360    5  0.367   12  0.172    5 0.5358   11  3.992   10  0.250   13  0.094
WARRIORS      36 38 8524 8503  0.019 36.719   20 -0.004   20 -0.013   18 -0.044   20 0.4982   19  3.966   20 -0.100   15  0.013
KINGS         19 56 8315 9090 -0.028 38.088   27 -0.609   27 -0.604   29 -0.682   27 0.4425   14  3.986   28 -0.635   28 -0.729

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       58 16 8789 7970  0.056 35.704    1  0.728    1  0.731    1  0.697    1 0.5692   26  3.929    5  0.453    1  0.941
TIMBERWOLVES  45 29 8721 8463  0.001 35.584   10  0.244   10  0.243   10  0.180   10 0.5245   15  3.985   11  0.222   11  0.138
NUGGETS       47 28 9100 8768  0.016 36.278    8  0.298    8  0.299    8  0.276    7 0.5299    5  4.031    2  0.556   16 -0.004
TRAIL BLAZERS 37 38 8643 8739  0.008 37.263   19  0.004   19  0.000   19 -0.051   19 0.4992   12  3.990   13  0.016   19 -0.117
JAZZ          21 54 8804 9407 -0.045 37.197   26 -0.547   26 -0.546   26 -0.566   26 0.4464    1  4.073   19 -0.060   30 -1.072

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         56 19 8947 8356  0.080 37.247    2  0.647    2  0.654    2  0.657    2 0.5623   13  3.987    1  0.706    4  0.608
ROCKETS       44 29 8332 8046  0.024 35.586    9  0.255    9  0.254   11  0.173    9 0.5249   28  3.903   24 -0.201    7  0.547
PELICANS      25 50 8644 8948 -0.004 37.436   23 -0.400   23 -0.400   21 -0.158   23 0.4610    9  4.005   15 -0.012   22 -0.304
MAVERICKS     24 50 8425 8802 -0.027 36.653   25 -0.434   25 -0.430   24 -0.377   25 0.4565   17  3.983   25 -0.345   24 -0.409
GRIZZLIES     25 49 8521 8819 -0.026 36.417   24 -0.410   24 -0.410   23 -0.367   24 0.4598    8  4.010   22 -0.197   25 -0.537

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       54 20 8696 8102  0.003 34.733    3  0.524    3  0.528    3  0.559    3 0.5523   23  3.940    7  0.372    3  0.746
CAVALIERS     46 28 8835 8521  0.027 36.116    7  0.299    7  0.300    7  0.314    8 0.5295    6  4.015    4  0.509   12  0.118
BUCKS         29 44 8059 8521 -0.029 36.407   22 -0.250   21 -0.239   25 -0.561   21 0.4752   22  3.943   29 -0.737   23 -0.385
BULLS         29 45 8612 8952 -0.009 37.010   21 -0.248   22 -0.244   22 -0.323   22 0.4741    3  4.038   14 -0.004   26 -0.642
PACERS        16 58 8281 8928 -0.042 37.015   30 -0.703   30 -0.708   27 -0.591   30 0.4318   10  3.996   27 -0.494   27 -0.688

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       39 35 8607 8267 -0.007 35.117   17  0.051   17  0.041    5  0.454   17 0.5042   21  3.949    9  0.308    5  0.600
MAGIC         39 34 8448 8381  0.015 36.012   16  0.086   15  0.092   17  0.033   16 0.5081   18  3.967   16 -0.017   14  0.083
HAWKS         42 33 8869 8731 -0.001 36.330   13  0.140   13  0.136    9  0.181   13 0.5133    7  4.014    6  0.375   17 -0.012
HEAT          39 35 8901 8710  0.042 36.899   15  0.089   16  0.090   14  0.156   15 0.5083    2  4.048    3  0.527   20 -0.216
WIZARDS       17 56 8246 9053 -0.049 36.744   29 -0.692   29 -0.689   30 -0.686   29 0.4352    4  4.034   26 -0.385   29 -0.987

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       49 24 8331 7805  0.017 34.731    4  0.402    4  0.397    4  0.487    4 0.5401   30  3.895   12  0.073    2  0.900
KNICKS        49 26 8785 8290  0.014 35.777    6  0.358    6  0.355    6  0.445    6 0.5353   20  3.951    8  0.312    6  0.578
RAPTORS       41 32 8321 8198  0.007 35.668   11  0.153   11  0.151   16  0.095   12 0.5146   24  3.939   21 -0.102   10  0.292
76ERS         41 33 8597 8620 -0.012 36.054   14  0.121   14  0.128   20 -0.075   14 0.5116   16  3.984   18 -0.038   18 -0.112
NETS          17 57 7857 8559 -0.001 38.080   28 -0.649   28 -0.647   28 -0.681   28 0.4383   29  3.899   30 -1.077   21 -0.285

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 208 165 0.558    1  0.147
ATLANTIC DIVISION  197 172 0.534    2  0.085
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 176 193 0.477    3 -0.003
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 174 197 0.469    4 -0.019
PACIFIC DIVISION   182 189 0.491    5 -0.065
CENTRAL DIVISION   174 195 0.472    6 -0.123

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.138 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: Sun Mar 29 05:30:11 2026
games through: Sat Mar 28 2026

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