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       69 18 10359  9358  0.065 42.660    1  0.808    1  0.791    1  0.794    1 0.5723   25  3.935    2  0.589    1  0.998
SPURS         67 23 10736  9968  0.061 44.437    2  0.667    2  0.648    2  0.702    2 0.5602   14  3.977    1  0.714    5  0.690
PISTONS       65 25 10485  9773  0.014 43.105    3  0.548    3  0.535    4  0.567    3 0.5518   26  3.928    7  0.325    3  0.809
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.021 43.017    5  0.408    5  0.390    5  0.490    4 0.5387   29  3.899   12  0.106    2  0.875
KNICKS        60 31 10625  9945  0.035 44.434    4  0.417    4  0.397    3  0.609    5 0.5380   23  3.939    5  0.424    4  0.795
LAKERS        57 32 10237 10096  0.031 44.750    6  0.385    6  0.379   12  0.193    6 0.5351   17  3.969   11  0.160   11  0.226
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.031 43.490    7  0.357    7  0.346    7  0.304    7 0.5334    5  4.023    3  0.556   15  0.052
CAVALIERS     56 34 10685 10345  0.017 44.275    8  0.316    8  0.306    9  0.241    8 0.5287    9  4.008    6  0.411   14  0.071
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.010 42.766    9  0.287    9  0.273    8  0.256    9 0.5273   30  3.899   21 -0.130    6  0.642
TIMBERWOLVES  54 36 10547 10281  0.034 44.963   10  0.273   10  0.261   11  0.197   10 0.5254   13  3.979   10  0.219   12  0.176
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.030 44.516   14  0.158   14  0.139   10  0.219   11 0.5131   24  3.935   13  0.017    8  0.420
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.056 46.899   13  0.160   13  0.144   16  0.062   12 0.5129   19  3.955   17 -0.043   13  0.167
76ERS         50 42 10537 10605  0.036 47.101   11  0.166   11  0.154   19 -0.026   13 0.5128   16  3.971   18 -0.049   17 -0.004
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.040 44.637   12  0.163   12  0.144   13  0.111   14 0.5125    8  4.009    8  0.286   18 -0.064
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.051 45.090   15  0.116   15  0.102   17  0.058   15 0.5094   27  3.922   23 -0.210    9  0.325
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.004 40.689   16  0.091   16  0.073    6  0.402   16 0.5063   21  3.946    9  0.251    7  0.552
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.018 41.180   17  0.061   17  0.048   14  0.092   17 0.5038    2  4.060    4  0.543   20 -0.358
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.023 44.680   18  0.038   18  0.029   18  0.005   18 0.5022   15  3.974   14 -0.001   16  0.012
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.019 40.352   19  0.008   19 -0.010   15  0.091   19 0.4990   22  3.942   20 -0.077   10  0.259
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.005 42.038   20 -0.089   20 -0.105   20 -0.155   20 0.4895   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.112
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.059 40.663   21 -0.281   21 -0.290   25 -0.552   21 0.4711   20  3.952   29 -0.667   22 -0.437
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.047 40.692   22 -0.300   22 -0.315   22 -0.424   22 0.4684    3  4.043   19 -0.068   27 -0.779
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.031 40.871   23 -0.461   24 -0.478   21 -0.244   23 0.4553    7  4.016   16 -0.028   23 -0.460
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.045 40.774   24 -0.464   23 -0.476   23 -0.427   24 0.4544   11  3.995   24 -0.322   24 -0.532
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.047 40.789   25 -0.502   25 -0.518   27 -0.588   25 0.4513    6  4.020   25 -0.350   28 -0.825
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.052 41.200   26 -0.587   26 -0.601   26 -0.586   26 0.4436    1  4.081   15 -0.024   29 -1.148
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.059 41.275   27 -0.596   27 -0.605   28 -0.670   27 0.4434   12  3.989   28 -0.595   26 -0.745
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.073 41.087   28 -0.675   28 -0.685   29 -0.811   28 0.4366   28  3.901   30 -1.186   21 -0.435
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.050 41.249   29 -0.680   29 -0.698   24 -0.502   29 0.4345   10  4.000   26 -0.372   25 -0.632
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.082 41.136   30 -0.794   30 -0.813   30 -0.829   30 0.4276    4  4.040   27 -0.490   30 -1.168

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        57 32 10237 10096  0.031 44.750    6  0.385    6  0.379   12  0.193    6 0.5351   17  3.969   11  0.160   11  0.226
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.051 45.090   15  0.116   15  0.102   17  0.058   15 0.5094   27  3.922   23 -0.210    9  0.325
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.019 40.352   19  0.008   19 -0.010   15  0.091   19 0.4990   22  3.942   20 -0.077   10  0.259
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.005 42.038   20 -0.089   20 -0.105   20 -0.155   20 0.4895   18  3.967   22 -0.198   19 -0.112
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.059 41.275   27 -0.596   27 -0.605   28 -0.670   27 0.4434   12  3.989   28 -0.595   26 -0.745

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       69 18 10359  9358  0.065 42.660    1  0.808    1  0.791    1  0.794    1 0.5723   25  3.935    2  0.589    1  0.998
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.031 43.490    7  0.357    7  0.346    7  0.304    7 0.5334    5  4.023    3  0.556   15  0.052
TIMBERWOLVES  54 36 10547 10281  0.034 44.963   10  0.273   10  0.261   11  0.197   10 0.5254   13  3.979   10  0.219   12  0.176
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.023 44.680   18  0.038   18  0.029   18  0.005   18 0.5022   15  3.974   14 -0.001   16  0.012
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.052 41.200   26 -0.587   26 -0.601   26 -0.586   26 0.4436    1  4.081   15 -0.024   29 -1.148

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         67 23 10736  9968  0.061 44.437    2  0.667    2  0.648    2  0.702    2 0.5602   14  3.977    1  0.714    5  0.690
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.010 42.766    9  0.287    9  0.273    8  0.256    9 0.5273   30  3.899   21 -0.130    6  0.642
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.031 40.871   23 -0.461   24 -0.478   21 -0.244   23 0.4553    7  4.016   16 -0.028   23 -0.460
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.045 40.774   24 -0.464   23 -0.476   23 -0.427   24 0.4544   11  3.995   24 -0.322   24 -0.532
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.047 40.789   25 -0.502   25 -0.518   27 -0.588   25 0.4513    6  4.020   25 -0.350   28 -0.825

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       65 25 10485  9773  0.014 43.105    3  0.548    3  0.535    4  0.567    3 0.5518   26  3.928    7  0.325    3  0.809
CAVALIERS     56 34 10685 10345  0.017 44.275    8  0.316    8  0.306    9  0.241    8 0.5287    9  4.008    6  0.411   14  0.071
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.059 40.663   21 -0.281   21 -0.290   25 -0.552   21 0.4711   20  3.952   29 -0.667   22 -0.437
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.047 40.692   22 -0.300   22 -0.315   22 -0.424   22 0.4684    3  4.043   19 -0.068   27 -0.779
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.050 41.249   29 -0.680   29 -0.698   24 -0.502   29 0.4345   10  4.000   26 -0.372   25 -0.632

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         49 42 10393 10355  0.056 46.899   13  0.160   13  0.144   16  0.062   12 0.5129   19  3.955   17 -0.043   13  0.167
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.040 44.637   12  0.163   12  0.144   13  0.111   14 0.5125    8  4.009    8  0.286   18 -0.064
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.004 40.689   16  0.091   16  0.073    6  0.402   16 0.5063   21  3.946    9  0.251    7  0.552
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.018 41.180   17  0.061   17  0.048   14  0.092   17 0.5038    2  4.060    4  0.543   20 -0.358
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.082 41.136   30 -0.794   30 -0.813   30 -0.829   30 0.4276    4  4.040   27 -0.490   30 -1.168

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       59 30 10164  9513  0.021 43.017    5  0.408    5  0.390    5  0.490    4 0.5387   29  3.899   12  0.106    2  0.875
KNICKS        60 31 10625  9945  0.035 44.434    4  0.417    4  0.397    3  0.609    5 0.5380   23  3.939    5  0.424    4  0.795
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.030 44.516   14  0.158   14  0.139   10  0.219   11 0.5131   24  3.935   13  0.017    8  0.420
76ERS         50 42 10537 10605  0.036 47.101   11  0.166   11  0.154   19 -0.026   13 0.5128   16  3.971   18 -0.049   17 -0.004
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.073 41.087   28 -0.675   28 -0.685   29 -0.811   28 0.4366   28  3.901   30 -1.186   21 -0.435

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 245 190 0.563    1  0.160
ATLANTIC DIVISION  238 205 0.537    2  0.109
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.033
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 198 226 0.467    4 -0.058
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 221 0.481    5 -0.096
CENTRAL DIVISION   203 223 0.477    6 -0.141

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.152 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.016 points in improved RPI (0.019 for semineutral)
Average of 2.15 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu May  7 05:30:17 2026
games through: Wed May  6 2026

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