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       73 19 10967  9918  0.075 45.809    1  0.839    1  0.808    1  0.804    1 0.5739   25  3.936    2  0.605    1  1.003
SPURS         71 25 11460 10633  0.089 48.561    2  0.699    2  0.664    2  0.758    2 0.5616   14  3.975    1  0.762    5  0.753
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.025 46.878    3  0.515    3  0.486    4  0.492    3 0.5475   27  3.921    9  0.218    4  0.765
KNICKS        63 31 10992 10257  0.033 46.082    4  0.455    4  0.423    3  0.652    4 0.5407   23  3.937    5  0.461    3  0.843
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.012 42.999    5  0.408    5  0.382    5  0.475    5 0.5379   29  3.899   12  0.094    2  0.856
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.022 43.473    7  0.358    7  0.338    7  0.291    6 0.5328    5  4.023    3  0.547   15  0.036
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.049 47.222    6  0.358    6  0.345   11  0.152    7 0.5317   17  3.971   11  0.134   11  0.170
CAVALIERS     60 37 11450 11101  0.052 49.249    8  0.350    8  0.331    8  0.289    8 0.5307   10  3.998    6  0.411   12  0.167
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.003 42.796    9  0.291    9  0.266    9  0.244    9 0.5265   30  3.899   21 -0.139    6  0.628
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.051 47.981   10  0.268   10  0.243   12  0.126   10 0.5235   13  3.979   10  0.150   14  0.101
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  0.026 44.648   11  0.158   13  0.135   10  0.213   11 0.5128   24  3.937   13  0.019    8  0.406
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.035 44.744   12  0.158   11  0.140   13  0.107   12 0.5120    8  4.009    7  0.287   18 -0.073
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.047 46.884   13  0.150   12  0.135   17  0.050   13 0.5120   19  3.955   17 -0.048   13  0.147
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.036 48.540   14  0.136   14  0.127   19 -0.080   14 0.5100   16  3.972   20 -0.093   17 -0.068
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.045 45.161   15  0.108   15  0.097   16  0.052   15 0.5089   26  3.923   23 -0.213    9  0.316
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.002 40.761   16  0.083   16  0.067    6  0.390   16 0.5058   21  3.946    8  0.244    7  0.536
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.012 41.247   17  0.053   17  0.042   14  0.085   17 0.5033    2  4.061    4  0.540   20 -0.371
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.018 44.774   18  0.032   18  0.024   18  0.002   18 0.5017   15  3.974   14 -0.001   16  0.006
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.026 40.387   19  0.001   19 -0.017   15  0.084   19 0.4983   22  3.942   19 -0.081   10  0.249
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.001 42.081   20 -0.096   20 -0.112   20 -0.159   20 0.4888   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.120
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 -0.066 40.704   21 -0.283   21 -0.297   25 -0.550   21 0.4705   20  3.953   29 -0.661   22 -0.440
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.053 40.753   22 -0.302   22 -0.322   22 -0.423   22 0.4678    3  4.043   18 -0.062   27 -0.784
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.038 40.914   23 -0.460   24 -0.485   21 -0.248   23 0.4547    7  4.017   16 -0.029   23 -0.467
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.052 40.815   24 -0.463   23 -0.483   23 -0.427   24 0.4537   11  3.995   24 -0.319   24 -0.536
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.054 40.836   25 -0.500   25 -0.526   27 -0.585   25 0.4507    6  4.021   25 -0.345   28 -0.826
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.059 41.232   26 -0.585   26 -0.609   26 -0.584   26 0.4429    1  4.081   15 -0.019   29 -1.149
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.067 41.305   27 -0.595   27 -0.612   28 -0.666   27 0.4427   12  3.990   28 -0.588   26 -0.744
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.079 41.129   28 -0.672   28 -0.694   29 -0.805   28 0.4360   28  3.901   30 -1.177   21 -0.434
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.057 41.301   29 -0.676   29 -0.705   24 -0.501   29 0.4339    9  4.000   26 -0.366   25 -0.636
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.089 41.178   30 -0.789   30 -0.821   30 -0.824   30 0.4270    4  4.040   27 -0.480   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 35 10562 10467  0.049 47.222    6  0.358    6  0.345   11  0.152    7 0.5317   17  3.971   11  0.134   11  0.170
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.045 45.161   15  0.108   15  0.097   16  0.052   15 0.5089   26  3.923   23 -0.213    9  0.316
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.026 40.387   19  0.001   19 -0.017   15  0.084   19 0.4983   22  3.942   19 -0.081   10  0.249
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.001 42.081   20 -0.096   20 -0.112   20 -0.159   20 0.4888   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.120
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.067 41.305   27 -0.595   27 -0.612   28 -0.666   27 0.4427   12  3.990   28 -0.588   26 -0.744

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       73 19 10967  9918  0.075 45.809    1  0.839    1  0.808    1  0.804    1 0.5739   25  3.936    2  0.605    1  1.003
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.022 43.473    7  0.358    7  0.338    7  0.291    6 0.5328    5  4.023    3  0.547   15  0.036
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.051 47.981   10  0.268   10  0.243   12  0.126   10 0.5235   13  3.979   10  0.150   14  0.101
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.018 44.774   18  0.032   18  0.024   18  0.002   18 0.5017   15  3.974   14 -0.001   16  0.006
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.059 41.232   26 -0.585   26 -0.609   26 -0.584   26 0.4429    1  4.081   15 -0.019   29 -1.149

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         71 25 11460 10633  0.089 48.561    2  0.699    2  0.664    2  0.758    2 0.5616   14  3.975    1  0.762    5  0.753
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.003 42.796    9  0.291    9  0.266    9  0.244    9 0.5265   30  3.899   21 -0.139    6  0.628
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.038 40.914   23 -0.460   24 -0.485   21 -0.248   23 0.4547    7  4.017   16 -0.029   23 -0.467
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.052 40.815   24 -0.463   23 -0.483   23 -0.427   24 0.4537   11  3.995   24 -0.319   24 -0.536
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.054 40.836   25 -0.500   25 -0.526   27 -0.585   25 0.4507    6  4.021   25 -0.345   28 -0.826

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       67 29 11126 10434  0.025 46.878    3  0.515    3  0.486    4  0.492    3 0.5475   27  3.921    9  0.218    4  0.765
CAVALIERS     60 37 11450 11101  0.052 49.249    8  0.350    8  0.331    8  0.289    8 0.5307   10  3.998    6  0.411   12  0.167
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.066 40.704   21 -0.283   21 -0.297   25 -0.550   21 0.4705   20  3.953   29 -0.661   22 -0.440
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.053 40.753   22 -0.302   22 -0.322   22 -0.423   22 0.4678    3  4.043   18 -0.062   27 -0.784
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.057 41.301   29 -0.676   29 -0.705   24 -0.501   29 0.4339    9  4.000   26 -0.366   25 -0.636

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
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.035 44.744   12  0.158   11  0.140   13  0.107   12 0.5120    8  4.009    7  0.287   18 -0.073
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.047 46.884   13  0.150   12  0.135   17  0.050   13 0.5120   19  3.955   17 -0.048   13  0.147
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.002 40.761   16  0.083   16  0.067    6  0.390   16 0.5058   21  3.946    8  0.244    7  0.536
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.012 41.247   17  0.053   17  0.042   14  0.085   17 0.5033    2  4.061    4  0.540   20 -0.371
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.089 41.178   30 -0.789   30 -0.821   30 -0.824   30 0.4270    4  4.040   27 -0.480   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
KNICKS        63 31 10992 10257  0.033 46.082    4  0.455    4  0.423    3  0.652    4 0.5407   23  3.937    5  0.461    3  0.843
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.012 42.999    5  0.408    5  0.382    5  0.475    5 0.5379   29  3.899   12  0.094    2  0.856
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.026 44.648   11  0.158   13  0.135   10  0.213   11 0.5128   24  3.937   13  0.019    8  0.406
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.036 48.540   14  0.136   14  0.127   19 -0.080   14 0.5100   16  3.972   20 -0.093   17 -0.068
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.079 41.129   28 -0.672   28 -0.694   29 -0.805   28 0.4360   28  3.901   30 -1.177   21 -0.434

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 250 194 0.563    1  0.148
ATLANTIC DIVISION  241 207 0.538    2  0.103
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.039
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 202 228 0.470    4 -0.058
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.105
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 230 0.476    6 -0.147

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.148 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.015 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 21 05:30:13 2026
games through: Wed May 20 2026

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