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
SPURS         66 22 10501  9769  0.060 43.334    2  0.677    2  0.664    2  0.671    2 0.5616   14  3.980    1  0.693    6  0.649
THUNDER       68 18 10251  9268  0.067 42.123    1  0.797    1  0.784    1  0.783    1 0.5717   24  3.937    2  0.588    1  0.978
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.034 43.478    7  0.360    7  0.349    7  0.310    7 0.5336    5  4.023    3  0.557   14  0.063
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.020 41.136   17  0.059   17  0.051   14  0.096   17 0.5041    2  4.060    4  0.542   20 -0.350
CAVALIERS     55 33 10470 10132  0.012 42.974    8  0.317    8  0.307   11  0.236    8 0.5289    8  4.010    5  0.416   15  0.056
KNICKS        58 31 10380  9745  0.040 43.562    5  0.398    6  0.382    3  0.572    5 0.5364   23  3.939    6  0.385    4  0.759
PISTONS       63 25 10258  9578  0.016 42.096    3  0.528    3  0.519    4  0.540    3 0.5504   26  3.930    7  0.308    3  0.773
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.041 44.553   14  0.160   14  0.146   13  0.112   14 0.5126    9  4.008    8  0.282   18 -0.058
TIMBERWOLVES  53 35 10348 10046  0.021 43.316   10  0.266   10  0.252   10  0.237   10 0.5245   13  3.981    9  0.268   12  0.206
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.006 40.641   16  0.089   16  0.075    6  0.406   16 0.5066   21  3.945   10  0.252    7  0.561
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        57 31 10147  9988  0.024 43.836    6  0.396    5  0.389   12  0.211    6 0.5362   17  3.971   11  0.187   11  0.234
CELTICS       59 29 10064  9404  0.026 42.536    4  0.431    4  0.415    5  0.526    4 0.5408   29  3.900   12  0.142    2  0.910
RAPTORS       49 39 10069  9837  0.028 43.778   11  0.168   13  0.152    9  0.238   11 0.5144   25  3.936   13  0.038    8  0.438
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.025 44.605   18  0.036   18  0.031   18  0.006   18 0.5025   15  3.973   14 -0.005   16  0.018
MAGIC         49 41 10299 10239  0.051 46.036   12  0.165   12  0.154   16  0.087   12 0.5138   19  3.955   15 -0.017   13  0.190
76ERS         49 40 10228 10260  0.020 44.812   13  0.162   11  0.155   19 -0.010   13 0.5132   16  3.972   16 -0.028   17  0.009
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.049 41.161   26 -0.585   26 -0.598   26 -0.586   26 0.4438    1  4.081   17 -0.029   29 -1.143
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.028 40.827   23 -0.461   24 -0.474   21 -0.243   23 0.4556    7  4.016   18 -0.031   23 -0.454
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.044 40.635   22 -0.300   22 -0.312   22 -0.423   22 0.4686    3  4.042   19 -0.072   27 -0.775
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.016 40.313   19  0.007   19 -0.007   15  0.094   19 0.4992   22  3.942   20 -0.078   10  0.266
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.013 42.724    9  0.289    9  0.275    8  0.260    9 0.5276   30  3.898   21 -0.130    5  0.651
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.008 41.989   20 -0.090   20 -0.103   20 -0.153   20 0.4897   18  3.966   22 -0.200   19 -0.106
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.054 45.032   15  0.114   15  0.105   17  0.060   15 0.5096   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.333
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.042 40.731   24 -0.464   23 -0.473   23 -0.426   24 0.4546   11  3.995   24 -0.325   24 -0.527
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.044 40.743   25 -0.501   25 -0.515   27 -0.588   25 0.4516    6  4.020   25 -0.355   28 -0.821
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.047 41.199   29 -0.679   29 -0.695   24 -0.502   29 0.4347   10  4.000   26 -0.377   25 -0.627
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.078 41.089   30 -0.792   30 -0.809   30 -0.831   30 0.4278    4  4.039   27 -0.496   30 -1.165
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.056 41.238   27 -0.595   27 -0.601   28 -0.671   27 0.4436   12  3.989   28 -0.600   26 -0.741
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.056 40.619   21 -0.281   21 -0.287   25 -0.552   21 0.4714   20  3.952   29 -0.672   21 -0.432
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.069 41.037   28 -0.674   28 -0.681   29 -0.812   28 0.4369   28  3.900   30 -1.192   22 -0.432

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 31 10147  9988  0.024 43.836    6  0.396    5  0.389   12  0.211    6 0.5362   17  3.971   11  0.187   11  0.234
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.016 40.313   19  0.007   19 -0.007   15  0.094   19 0.4992   22  3.942   20 -0.078   10  0.266
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.008 41.989   20 -0.090   20 -0.103   20 -0.153   20 0.4897   18  3.966   22 -0.200   19 -0.106
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.054 45.032   15  0.114   15  0.105   17  0.060   15 0.5096   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.333
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.056 41.238   27 -0.595   27 -0.601   28 -0.671   27 0.4436   12  3.989   28 -0.600   26 -0.741

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       68 18 10251  9268  0.067 42.123    1  0.797    1  0.784    1  0.783    1 0.5717   24  3.937    2  0.588    1  0.978
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.034 43.478    7  0.360    7  0.349    7  0.310    7 0.5336    5  4.023    3  0.557   14  0.063
TIMBERWOLVES  53 35 10348 10046  0.021 43.316   10  0.266   10  0.252   10  0.237   10 0.5245   13  3.981    9  0.268   12  0.206
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.025 44.605   18  0.036   18  0.031   18  0.006   18 0.5025   15  3.973   14 -0.005   16  0.018
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.049 41.161   26 -0.585   26 -0.598   26 -0.586   26 0.4438    1  4.081   17 -0.029   29 -1.143

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         66 22 10501  9769  0.060 43.334    2  0.677    2  0.664    2  0.671    2 0.5616   14  3.980    1  0.693    6  0.649
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.028 40.827   23 -0.461   24 -0.474   21 -0.243   23 0.4556    7  4.016   18 -0.031   23 -0.454
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.013 42.724    9  0.289    9  0.275    8  0.260    9 0.5276   30  3.898   21 -0.130    5  0.651
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.042 40.731   24 -0.464   23 -0.473   23 -0.426   24 0.4546   11  3.995   24 -0.325   24 -0.527
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.044 40.743   25 -0.501   25 -0.515   27 -0.588   25 0.4516    6  4.020   25 -0.355   28 -0.821

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
CAVALIERS     55 33 10470 10132  0.012 42.974    8  0.317    8  0.307   11  0.236    8 0.5289    8  4.010    5  0.416   15  0.056
PISTONS       63 25 10258  9578  0.016 42.096    3  0.528    3  0.519    4  0.540    3 0.5504   26  3.930    7  0.308    3  0.773
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.044 40.635   22 -0.300   22 -0.312   22 -0.423   22 0.4686    3  4.042   19 -0.072   27 -0.775
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.047 41.199   29 -0.679   29 -0.695   24 -0.502   29 0.4347   10  4.000   26 -0.377   25 -0.627
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.056 40.619   21 -0.281   21 -0.287   25 -0.552   21 0.4714   20  3.952   29 -0.672   21 -0.432

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
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.020 41.136   17  0.059   17  0.051   14  0.096   17 0.5041    2  4.060    4  0.542   20 -0.350
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.041 44.553   14  0.160   14  0.146   13  0.112   14 0.5126    9  4.008    8  0.282   18 -0.058
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.006 40.641   16  0.089   16  0.075    6  0.406   16 0.5066   21  3.945   10  0.252    7  0.561
MAGIC         49 41 10299 10239  0.051 46.036   12  0.165   12  0.154   16  0.087   12 0.5138   19  3.955   15 -0.017   13  0.190
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.078 41.089   30 -0.792   30 -0.809   30 -0.831   30 0.4278    4  4.039   27 -0.496   30 -1.165

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        58 31 10380  9745  0.040 43.562    5  0.398    6  0.382    3  0.572    5 0.5364   23  3.939    6  0.385    4  0.759
CELTICS       59 29 10064  9404  0.026 42.536    4  0.431    4  0.415    5  0.526    4 0.5408   29  3.900   12  0.142    2  0.910
RAPTORS       49 39 10069  9837  0.028 43.778   11  0.168   13  0.152    9  0.238   11 0.5144   25  3.936   13  0.038    8  0.438
76ERS         49 40 10228 10260  0.020 44.812   13  0.162   11  0.155   19 -0.010   13 0.5132   16  3.972   16 -0.028   17  0.009
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.069 41.037   28 -0.674   28 -0.681   29 -0.812   28 0.4369   28  3.900   30 -1.192   22 -0.432

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 243 189 0.562    1  0.166
ATLANTIC DIVISION  235 201 0.539    2  0.114
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 225 0.473    3 -0.029
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 197 225 0.467    4 -0.059
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 220 0.482    5 -0.092
CENTRAL DIVISION   200 222 0.474    6 -0.142

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.149 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: Sat May  2 05:30:17 2026
games through: Fri May  1 2026

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