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       57 16 8658 7857  0.061 35.382    1  0.724    1  0.725    1  0.693    1 0.5689   26  3.928    5  0.442    1  0.944
CELTICS       48 24 8222 7703  0.015 34.188    4  0.384    4  0.383    4  0.484    4 0.5388   30  3.897   12  0.080    2  0.888
PISTONS       53 20 8587 8015 -0.006 34.055    3  0.506    3  0.510    3  0.520    3 0.5507   22  3.945    7  0.354    3  0.686
HORNETS       39 34 8493 8149 -0.005 34.662   17  0.073   17  0.059    5  0.474   17 0.5060   21  3.948    8  0.327    4  0.621
KNICKS        49 26 8785 8290  0.012 35.729    5  0.353    6  0.353    6  0.443    6 0.5353   20  3.951    9  0.312    5  0.575
SPURS         55 19 8820 8261  0.083 36.875    2  0.639    2  0.647    2  0.623    2 0.5615   15  3.987    1  0.677    6  0.569
ROCKETS       43 29 8213 7937  0.025 35.132   10  0.244   10  0.241   13  0.163   10 0.5238   28  3.903   23 -0.213    7  0.539
CLIPPERS      37 36 8309 8212  0.014 35.880   18  0.034   19  0.022   11  0.184   18 0.5018   25  3.936   17 -0.023    8  0.391
SUNS          40 33 8204 8116  0.031 36.357   13  0.138   13  0.139   16  0.076   11 0.5141   27  3.917   24 -0.227    9  0.379
RAPTORS       40 32 8202 8092  0.012 35.318   11  0.142   11  0.140   15  0.083   12 0.5139   24  3.939   21 -0.111   10  0.277
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  45 28 8634 8354 -0.003 34.916    9  0.259    9  0.257    9  0.217    9 0.5259   13  3.989   10  0.280   11  0.154
CAVALIERS     45 28 8686 8393  0.023 35.567    8  0.285    8  0.285    8  0.285    8 0.5283    7  4.010    4  0.459   12  0.110
LAKERS        47 26 8515 8404  0.019 36.000    6  0.352    5  0.361   14  0.163    5 0.5355   12  3.993   11  0.246   13  0.079
MAGIC         39 34 8448 8381  0.015 35.982   16  0.090   16  0.091   17  0.032   16 0.5082   18  3.968   15 -0.015   14  0.079
WARRIORS      35 38 8393 8377  0.031 36.548   20 -0.005   20 -0.019   19 -0.032   20 0.4976   19  3.963   20 -0.102   15  0.038
NUGGETS       46 28 8965 8639  0.025 36.033    7  0.293    7  0.293    7  0.288    7 0.5294    5  4.028    2  0.557   16  0.018
HAWKS         41 32 8644 8509 -0.001 35.368   12  0.140   12  0.140   10  0.190   13 0.5138    6  4.016    6  0.392   17 -0.013
TRAIL BLAZERS 37 37 8550 8639  0.017 36.961   19  0.030   18  0.024   18 -0.026   19 0.5015   11  3.995   13  0.065   18 -0.118
76ERS         40 33 8479 8506 -0.021 35.344   15  0.100   14  0.106   20 -0.094   14 0.5098   17  3.984   18 -0.059   19 -0.130
HEAT          39 34 8773 8561  0.037 36.189   14  0.102   15  0.100   12  0.182   15 0.5095    2  4.044    3  0.533   20 -0.169
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
NETS          17 56 7758 8443 -0.006 37.423   28 -0.643   28 -0.640   28 -0.675   28 0.4383   29  3.900   30 -1.065   21 -0.285
PELICANS      25 49 8538 8829 -0.008 36.804   23 -0.389   23 -0.391   21 -0.146   23 0.4616    9  4.006   14  0.003   22 -0.295
BUCKS         29 43 7964 8394 -0.035 35.670   22 -0.238   22 -0.232   25 -0.529   22 0.4760   23  3.944   29 -0.699   23 -0.359
MAVERICKS     23 50 8325 8709 -0.030 36.134   25 -0.455   25 -0.454   24 -0.400   25 0.4540   14  3.988   25 -0.343   24 -0.458
GRIZZLIES     24 48 8287 8576 -0.022 35.545   24 -0.412   24 -0.416   23 -0.361   24 0.4591    8  4.008   22 -0.199   25 -0.523
BULLS         29 43 8375 8696 -0.017 35.741   21 -0.226   21 -0.225   22 -0.324   21 0.4761    3  4.035   16 -0.017   26 -0.631
PACERS        16 57 8168 8814 -0.044 36.492   30 -0.696   30 -0.698   27 -0.604   30 0.4327   10  3.996   27 -0.505   27 -0.702
KINGS         19 55 8202 8967 -0.032 37.474   27 -0.601   27 -0.596   29 -0.688   27 0.4429   16  3.986   28 -0.641   28 -0.735
WIZARDS       17 55 8120 8922 -0.053 36.139   29 -0.687   29 -0.681   30 -0.699   29 0.4358    4  4.032   26 -0.412   29 -0.986
JAZZ          21 52 8566 9138 -0.054 35.926   26 -0.533   26 -0.531   26 -0.555   26 0.4473    1  4.070   19 -0.065   30 -1.045

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      37 36 8309 8212  0.014 35.880   18  0.034   19  0.022   11  0.184   18 0.5018   25  3.936   17 -0.023    8  0.391
SUNS          40 33 8204 8116  0.031 36.357   13  0.138   13  0.139   16  0.076   11 0.5141   27  3.917   24 -0.227    9  0.379
LAKERS        47 26 8515 8404  0.019 36.000    6  0.352    5  0.361   14  0.163    5 0.5355   12  3.993   11  0.246   13  0.079
WARRIORS      35 38 8393 8377  0.031 36.548   20 -0.005   20 -0.019   19 -0.032   20 0.4976   19  3.963   20 -0.102   15  0.038
KINGS         19 55 8202 8967 -0.032 37.474   27 -0.601   27 -0.596   29 -0.688   27 0.4429   16  3.986   28 -0.641   28 -0.735

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       57 16 8658 7857  0.061 35.382    1  0.724    1  0.725    1  0.693    1 0.5689   26  3.928    5  0.442    1  0.944
TIMBERWOLVES  45 28 8634 8354 -0.003 34.916    9  0.259    9  0.257    9  0.217    9 0.5259   13  3.989   10  0.280   11  0.154
NUGGETS       46 28 8965 8639  0.025 36.033    7  0.293    7  0.293    7  0.288    7 0.5294    5  4.028    2  0.557   16  0.018
TRAIL BLAZERS 37 37 8550 8639  0.017 36.961   19  0.030   18  0.024   18 -0.026   19 0.5015   11  3.995   13  0.065   18 -0.118
JAZZ          21 52 8566 9138 -0.054 35.926   26 -0.533   26 -0.531   26 -0.555   26 0.4473    1  4.070   19 -0.065   30 -1.045

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         55 19 8820 8261  0.083 36.875    2  0.639    2  0.647    2  0.623    2 0.5615   15  3.987    1  0.677    6  0.569
ROCKETS       43 29 8213 7937  0.025 35.132   10  0.244   10  0.241   13  0.163   10 0.5238   28  3.903   23 -0.213    7  0.539
PELICANS      25 49 8538 8829 -0.008 36.804   23 -0.389   23 -0.391   21 -0.146   23 0.4616    9  4.006   14  0.003   22 -0.295
MAVERICKS     23 50 8325 8709 -0.030 36.134   25 -0.455   25 -0.454   24 -0.400   25 0.4540   14  3.988   25 -0.343   24 -0.458
GRIZZLIES     24 48 8287 8576 -0.022 35.545   24 -0.412   24 -0.416   23 -0.361   24 0.4591    8  4.008   22 -0.199   25 -0.523

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       53 20 8587 8015 -0.006 34.055    3  0.506    3  0.510    3  0.520    3 0.5507   22  3.945    7  0.354    3  0.686
CAVALIERS     45 28 8686 8393  0.023 35.567    8  0.285    8  0.285    8  0.285    8 0.5283    7  4.010    4  0.459   12  0.110
BUCKS         29 43 7964 8394 -0.035 35.670   22 -0.238   22 -0.232   25 -0.529   22 0.4760   23  3.944   29 -0.699   23 -0.359
BULLS         29 43 8375 8696 -0.017 35.741   21 -0.226   21 -0.225   22 -0.324   21 0.4761    3  4.035   16 -0.017   26 -0.631
PACERS        16 57 8168 8814 -0.044 36.492   30 -0.696   30 -0.698   27 -0.604   30 0.4327   10  3.996   27 -0.505   27 -0.702

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 34 8493 8149 -0.005 34.662   17  0.073   17  0.059    5  0.474   17 0.5060   21  3.948    8  0.327    4  0.621
MAGIC         39 34 8448 8381  0.015 35.982   16  0.090   16  0.091   17  0.032   16 0.5082   18  3.968   15 -0.015   14  0.079
HAWKS         41 32 8644 8509 -0.001 35.368   12  0.140   12  0.140   10  0.190   13 0.5138    6  4.016    6  0.392   17 -0.013
HEAT          39 34 8773 8561  0.037 36.189   14  0.102   15  0.100   12  0.182   15 0.5095    2  4.044    3  0.533   20 -0.169
WIZARDS       17 55 8120 8922 -0.053 36.139   29 -0.687   29 -0.681   30 -0.699   29 0.4358    4  4.032   26 -0.412   29 -0.986

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       48 24 8222 7703  0.015 34.188    4  0.384    4  0.383    4  0.484    4 0.5388   30  3.897   12  0.080    2  0.888
KNICKS        49 26 8785 8290  0.012 35.729    5  0.353    6  0.353    6  0.443    6 0.5353   20  3.951    9  0.312    5  0.575
RAPTORS       40 32 8202 8092  0.012 35.318   11  0.142   11  0.140   15  0.083   12 0.5139   24  3.939   21 -0.111   10  0.277
76ERS         40 33 8479 8506 -0.021 35.344   15  0.100   14  0.106   20 -0.094   14 0.5098   17  3.984   18 -0.059   19 -0.130
NETS          17 56 7758 8443 -0.006 37.423   28 -0.643   28 -0.640   28 -0.675   28 0.4383   29  3.900   30 -1.065   21 -0.285

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 206 161 0.561    1  0.157
ATLANTIC DIVISION  194 171 0.532    2  0.080
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 175 189 0.481    3  0.001
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 170 195 0.466    4 -0.024
PACIFIC DIVISION   178 188 0.486    5 -0.067
CENTRAL DIVISION   172 191 0.474    6 -0.129

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.141 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 Mar 27 05:30:09 2026
games through: Thu Mar 26 2026

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