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       56 15 8426 7635  0.044 34.101    1  0.728    1  0.727    1  0.691    1 0.5696   26  3.927    5  0.441    1  0.940
SPURS         53 19 8561 8052  0.077 35.882    2  0.613    2  0.620    2  0.560    2 0.5600   14  3.989    1  0.629    7  0.491
PISTONS       51 19 8216 7667  0.001 32.872    3  0.516    3  0.517    3  0.529    3 0.5517   22  3.945    6  0.373    3  0.685
CELTICS       47 23 8011 7492  0.005 33.033    4  0.389    4  0.383    4  0.491    4 0.5392   29  3.901   12  0.111    2  0.871
KNICKS        47 25 8416 7947  0.022 34.677    5  0.360    6  0.355    5  0.454    5 0.5366   21  3.950    8  0.321    4  0.587
LAKERS        46 25 8268 8161  0.013 34.936    6  0.357    5  0.362   12  0.159    6 0.5362   12  3.991   11  0.235   13  0.083
CAVALIERS     44 27 8447 8142  0.025 34.632    7  0.290    7  0.291    7  0.321    7 0.5293    7  4.010    4  0.498   12  0.144
ROCKETS       43 27 7981 7695  0.018 34.005    8  0.275    8  0.273   11  0.178    8 0.5274   28  3.904   23 -0.188    5  0.543
NUGGETS       43 28 8570 8269  0.030 34.800    9  0.261    9  0.257    8  0.278    9 0.5261    5  4.022    3  0.520   16  0.037
TIMBERWOLVES  43 28 8422 8154 -0.018 33.665   10  0.221   10  0.217    9  0.185   10 0.5222   10  3.997    9  0.294   14  0.076
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       39 30 7867 7726  0.013 33.834   11  0.162   11  0.161   13  0.149   11 0.5160   25  3.937   17 -0.048    8  0.347
SUNS          39 32 7961 7893  0.025 35.301   12  0.137   12  0.137   17  0.039   12 0.5141   27  3.916   24 -0.267    9  0.344
MAGIC         38 32 8070 8000  0.032 34.986   13  0.127   13  0.127   16  0.069   13 0.5117   19  3.961   15 -0.010   11  0.147
HAWKS         39 32 8368 8273 -0.007 34.396   14  0.106   15  0.105   14  0.127   14 0.5107    6  4.015    7  0.331   17 -0.077
76ERS         39 32 8219 8246 -0.021 34.423   15  0.100   14  0.107   20 -0.098   15 0.5100   17  3.978   19 -0.086   18 -0.110
HEAT          38 33 8542 8322  0.025 34.947   16  0.092   16  0.092   10  0.183   16 0.5087    2  4.046    2  0.554   19 -0.188
HORNETS       37 34 8245 7956 -0.002 34.018   17  0.040   17  0.035    6  0.411   17 0.5035   20  3.951   10  0.286    6  0.536
TRAIL BLAZERS 35 36 8174 8313  0.028 35.942   18  0.014   18  0.019   19 -0.095   18 0.5009   11  3.994   14 -0.001   20 -0.189
CLIPPERS      35 36 8061 8022  0.018 35.199   19 -0.001   19 -0.004   15  0.103   19 0.4990   24  3.938   20 -0.090   10  0.296
WARRIORS      33 38 8147 8140  0.043 35.935   20 -0.039   20 -0.043   18 -0.026   20 0.4954   18  3.963   21 -0.091   15  0.039
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         29 41 7769 8135 -0.034 34.638   21 -0.215   21 -0.205   25 -0.445   21 0.4783   23  3.945   28 -0.603   22 -0.287
BULLS         28 42 8106 8415 -0.017 34.788   22 -0.235   22 -0.230   23 -0.323   22 0.4750    4  4.026   18 -0.059   26 -0.586
PELICANS      25 47 8314 8579 -0.026 35.296   23 -0.376   23 -0.380   21 -0.138   23 0.4622    9  4.005   13  0.014   23 -0.290
GRIZZLIES     24 46 8082 8307 -0.033 34.174   24 -0.394   24 -0.401   22 -0.288   24 0.4602    8  4.009   22 -0.116   25 -0.461
MAVERICKS     23 48 8059 8430 -0.034 35.070   25 -0.431   25 -0.431   24 -0.407   25 0.4558   16  3.982   25 -0.373   24 -0.441
JAZZ          21 50 8329 8862 -0.038 35.253   26 -0.497   26 -0.494   26 -0.494   26 0.4502    1  4.067   16 -0.011   29 -0.976
KINGS         18 53 7869 8590 -0.025 36.052   27 -0.595   27 -0.592   29 -0.655   27 0.4427   15  3.983   29 -0.615   27 -0.694
NETS          17 53 7431 8074  0.004 36.163   28 -0.601   28 -0.598   28 -0.640   28 0.4413   30  3.897   30 -1.037   21 -0.243
WIZARDS       16 54 7874 8667 -0.052 35.202   29 -0.695   29 -0.692   30 -0.721   29 0.4339    3  4.030   26 -0.435   30 -1.007
PACERS        15 56 7910 8551 -0.044 35.584   30 -0.709   30 -0.717   27 -0.627   30 0.4304   13  3.990   27 -0.552   28 -0.701

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        46 25 8268 8161  0.013 34.936    6  0.357    5  0.362   12  0.159    6 0.5362   12  3.991   11  0.235   13  0.083
SUNS          39 32 7961 7893  0.025 35.301   12  0.137   12  0.137   17  0.039   12 0.5141   27  3.916   24 -0.267    9  0.344
CLIPPERS      35 36 8061 8022  0.018 35.199   19 -0.001   19 -0.004   15  0.103   19 0.4990   24  3.938   20 -0.090   10  0.296
WARRIORS      33 38 8147 8140  0.043 35.935   20 -0.039   20 -0.043   18 -0.026   20 0.4954   18  3.963   21 -0.091   15  0.039
KINGS         18 53 7869 8590 -0.025 36.052   27 -0.595   27 -0.592   29 -0.655   27 0.4427   15  3.983   29 -0.615   27 -0.694

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       56 15 8426 7635  0.044 34.101    1  0.728    1  0.727    1  0.691    1 0.5696   26  3.927    5  0.441    1  0.940
NUGGETS       43 28 8570 8269  0.030 34.800    9  0.261    9  0.257    8  0.278    9 0.5261    5  4.022    3  0.520   16  0.037
TIMBERWOLVES  43 28 8422 8154 -0.018 33.665   10  0.221   10  0.217    9  0.185   10 0.5222   10  3.997    9  0.294   14  0.076
TRAIL BLAZERS 35 36 8174 8313  0.028 35.942   18  0.014   18  0.019   19 -0.095   18 0.5009   11  3.994   14 -0.001   20 -0.189
JAZZ          21 50 8329 8862 -0.038 35.253   26 -0.497   26 -0.494   26 -0.494   26 0.4502    1  4.067   16 -0.011   29 -0.976

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         53 19 8561 8052  0.077 35.882    2  0.613    2  0.620    2  0.560    2 0.5600   14  3.989    1  0.629    7  0.491
ROCKETS       43 27 7981 7695  0.018 34.005    8  0.275    8  0.273   11  0.178    8 0.5274   28  3.904   23 -0.188    5  0.543
PELICANS      25 47 8314 8579 -0.026 35.296   23 -0.376   23 -0.380   21 -0.138   23 0.4622    9  4.005   13  0.014   23 -0.290
GRIZZLIES     24 46 8082 8307 -0.033 34.174   24 -0.394   24 -0.401   22 -0.288   24 0.4602    8  4.009   22 -0.116   25 -0.461
MAVERICKS     23 48 8059 8430 -0.034 35.070   25 -0.431   25 -0.431   24 -0.407   25 0.4558   16  3.982   25 -0.373   24 -0.441

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       51 19 8216 7667  0.001 32.872    3  0.516    3  0.517    3  0.529    3 0.5517   22  3.945    6  0.373    3  0.685
CAVALIERS     44 27 8447 8142  0.025 34.632    7  0.290    7  0.291    7  0.321    7 0.5293    7  4.010    4  0.498   12  0.144
BUCKS         29 41 7769 8135 -0.034 34.638   21 -0.215   21 -0.205   25 -0.445   21 0.4783   23  3.945   28 -0.603   22 -0.287
BULLS         28 42 8106 8415 -0.017 34.788   22 -0.235   22 -0.230   23 -0.323   22 0.4750    4  4.026   18 -0.059   26 -0.586
PACERS        15 56 7910 8551 -0.044 35.584   30 -0.709   30 -0.717   27 -0.627   30 0.4304   13  3.990   27 -0.552   28 -0.701

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         38 32 8070 8000  0.032 34.986   13  0.127   13  0.127   16  0.069   13 0.5117   19  3.961   15 -0.010   11  0.147
HAWKS         39 32 8368 8273 -0.007 34.396   14  0.106   15  0.105   14  0.127   14 0.5107    6  4.015    7  0.331   17 -0.077
HEAT          38 33 8542 8322  0.025 34.947   16  0.092   16  0.092   10  0.183   16 0.5087    2  4.046    2  0.554   19 -0.188
HORNETS       37 34 8245 7956 -0.002 34.018   17  0.040   17  0.035    6  0.411   17 0.5035   20  3.951   10  0.286    6  0.536
WIZARDS       16 54 7874 8667 -0.052 35.202   29 -0.695   29 -0.692   30 -0.721   29 0.4339    3  4.030   26 -0.435   30 -1.007

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       47 23 8011 7492  0.005 33.033    4  0.389    4  0.383    4  0.491    4 0.5392   29  3.901   12  0.111    2  0.871
KNICKS        47 25 8416 7947  0.022 34.677    5  0.360    6  0.355    5  0.454    5 0.5366   21  3.950    8  0.321    4  0.587
RAPTORS       39 30 7867 7726  0.013 33.834   11  0.162   11  0.161   13  0.149   11 0.5160   25  3.937   17 -0.048    8  0.347
76ERS         39 32 8219 8246 -0.021 34.423   15  0.100   14  0.107   20 -0.098   15 0.5100   17  3.978   19 -0.086   18 -0.110
NETS          17 53 7431 8074  0.004 36.163   28 -0.601   28 -0.598   28 -0.640   28 0.4413   30  3.897   30 -1.037   21 -0.243

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 198 157 0.558    1  0.149
ATLANTIC DIVISION  189 163 0.537    2  0.096
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 168 185 0.476    3 -0.012
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 168 187 0.473    4 -0.021
PACIFIC DIVISION   171 184 0.482    5 -0.080
CENTRAL DIVISION   167 185 0.474    6 -0.114

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.135 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 22 05:30:09 2026
games through: Sat Mar 21 2026

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