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
NUGGETS       20  6 3266 3021 -0.003 12.193    3  0.516    3  0.498    3  0.498    4 0.5566    2  4.058    1  0.886   13  0.110
THUNDER       25  2 3322 2866 -0.070 11.602    1  0.856    1  0.873    1  0.914    1 0.5903   29  3.931    2  0.640    1  1.188
KNICKS        20  7 3263 3032 -0.010 12.734    4  0.489    5  0.469    4  0.489    6 0.5480   12  3.999    3  0.561    5  0.417
HEAT          15 12 3245 3156  0.054 13.777   13  0.129   13  0.135   10  0.177   13 0.5142    6  4.026    4  0.390   16 -0.036
SPURS         19  8 3225 3097  0.079 13.803    5  0.485    4  0.475    7  0.312    5 0.5543   11  3.999    5  0.386    9  0.237
ROCKETS       16  8 2907 2690  0.105 12.035    7  0.362    7  0.360    2  0.507    7 0.5437   21  3.960    6  0.376    2  0.637
MAGIC         15 12 3180 3092  0.165 14.821    8  0.221    8  0.220    5  0.322    9 0.5231   16  3.979    7  0.293    6  0.351
LAKERS        19  7 3099 3052 -0.008 12.791    6  0.459    6  0.464   12  0.080    2 0.5588    7  4.020    8  0.263   20 -0.103
PISTONS       21  6 3217 3054 -0.064 12.376    2  0.534    2  0.517    8  0.276    3 0.5572   17  3.979    9  0.246    7  0.306
TRAIL BLAZERS 11 16 3207 3302  0.138 15.146   19 -0.073   19 -0.066   19 -0.111   19 0.4940    3  4.052   10  0.243   25 -0.465
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  17 10 3225 3093 -0.077 12.253    9  0.197    9  0.192    9  0.200    8 0.5245   13  3.985   11  0.200   10  0.201
JAZZ          10 16 3110 3296 -0.004 13.638   20 -0.213   20 -0.200   27 -0.378   20 0.4794    1  4.080   12  0.127   29 -0.882
CELTICS       15 11 3020 2882  0.048 13.007   11  0.163   11  0.159    6  0.312   11 0.5203   23  3.949   13  0.126    3  0.498
HAWKS         15 13 3312 3304 -0.036 13.613   15  0.032   15  0.039   17 -0.035   14 0.5087    8  4.010   14  0.097   21 -0.166
CAVALIERS     15 13 3316 3256 -0.094 12.874   16 -0.002   16 -0.001   16 -0.002   18 0.4971   10  4.001   15  0.081   19 -0.084
GRIZZLIES     13 14 3089 3110  0.026 13.826   18 -0.021   18 -0.018   15  0.030   17 0.4974   20  3.965   16 -0.071   12  0.131
76ERS         14 11 2921 2896 -0.101 11.508   14  0.035   14  0.048   18 -0.041   15 0.5030   19  3.971   17 -0.111   15  0.029
RAPTORS       17 11 3227 3162 -0.072 13.080   12  0.149   12  0.157   14  0.044   12 0.5155   22  3.955   18 -0.112   11  0.199
SUNS          15 12 3083 3075  0.069 14.095   10  0.165   10  0.163   13  0.079   10 0.5210   24  3.948   19 -0.113    8  0.271
WARRIORS      13 15 3186 3155  0.099 14.832   17 -0.004   17 -0.008   11  0.158   16 0.5003   30  3.928   20 -0.132    4  0.449
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BULLS         11 15 3058 3170 -0.111 12.391   21 -0.218   21 -0.207   26 -0.365   21 0.4727    5  4.027   21 -0.146   28 -0.583
HORNETS        9 18 3119 3205 -0.077 13.033   24 -0.389   24 -0.391   21 -0.212   25 0.4544   15  3.981   22 -0.230   22 -0.193
PELICANS       6 22 3216 3444  0.059 15.261   28 -0.534   28 -0.539   25 -0.364   27 0.4413    9  4.009   23 -0.240   27 -0.489
BUCKS         11 17 3180 3288 -0.109 13.283   23 -0.293   23 -0.284   24 -0.345   23 0.4670   18  3.972   24 -0.414   23 -0.276
CLIPPERS       6 21 2995 3160  0.113 15.115   26 -0.485   26 -0.491   22 -0.242   26 0.4459   25  3.946   25 -0.444   17 -0.041
MAVERICKS     11 17 3164 3268 -0.051 13.991   22 -0.254   22 -0.242   20 -0.190   22 0.4723   27  3.935   26 -0.445   14  0.066
KINGS          6 21 3015 3316  0.148 15.952   25 -0.426   25 -0.427   28 -0.481   24 0.4574   14  3.984   27 -0.485   26 -0.476
WIZARDS        4 21 2800 3160 -0.089 12.874   30 -0.731   30 -0.736   30 -0.805   30 0.4179    4  4.033   28 -0.552   30 -1.058
NETS           7 19 2850 3003 -0.079 12.748   27 -0.503   27 -0.512   23 -0.319   28 0.4390   28  3.933   29 -0.586   18 -0.052
PACERS         6 21 2977 3189 -0.130 13.130   29 -0.648   29 -0.665   29 -0.500   29 0.4284   26  3.943   30 -0.716   24 -0.283

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        19  7 3099 3052 -0.008 12.791    6  0.459    6  0.464   12  0.080    2 0.5588    7  4.020    8  0.263   20 -0.103
SUNS          15 12 3083 3075  0.069 14.095   10  0.165   10  0.163   13  0.079   10 0.5210   24  3.948   19 -0.113    8  0.271
WARRIORS      13 15 3186 3155  0.099 14.832   17 -0.004   17 -0.008   11  0.158   16 0.5003   30  3.928   20 -0.132    4  0.449
CLIPPERS       6 21 2995 3160  0.113 15.115   26 -0.485   26 -0.491   22 -0.242   26 0.4459   25  3.946   25 -0.444   17 -0.041
KINGS          6 21 3015 3316  0.148 15.952   25 -0.426   25 -0.427   28 -0.481   24 0.4574   14  3.984   27 -0.485   26 -0.476

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
NUGGETS       20  6 3266 3021 -0.003 12.193    3  0.516    3  0.498    3  0.498    4 0.5566    2  4.058    1  0.886   13  0.110
THUNDER       25  2 3322 2866 -0.070 11.602    1  0.856    1  0.873    1  0.914    1 0.5903   29  3.931    2  0.640    1  1.188
TRAIL BLAZERS 11 16 3207 3302  0.138 15.146   19 -0.073   19 -0.066   19 -0.111   19 0.4940    3  4.052   10  0.243   25 -0.465
TIMBERWOLVES  17 10 3225 3093 -0.077 12.253    9  0.197    9  0.192    9  0.200    8 0.5245   13  3.985   11  0.200   10  0.201
JAZZ          10 16 3110 3296 -0.004 13.638   20 -0.213   20 -0.200   27 -0.378   20 0.4794    1  4.080   12  0.127   29 -0.882

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         19  8 3225 3097  0.079 13.803    5  0.485    4  0.475    7  0.312    5 0.5543   11  3.999    5  0.386    9  0.237
ROCKETS       16  8 2907 2690  0.105 12.035    7  0.362    7  0.360    2  0.507    7 0.5437   21  3.960    6  0.376    2  0.637
GRIZZLIES     13 14 3089 3110  0.026 13.826   18 -0.021   18 -0.018   15  0.030   17 0.4974   20  3.965   16 -0.071   12  0.131
PELICANS       6 22 3216 3444  0.059 15.261   28 -0.534   28 -0.539   25 -0.364   27 0.4413    9  4.009   23 -0.240   27 -0.489
MAVERICKS     11 17 3164 3268 -0.051 13.991   22 -0.254   22 -0.242   20 -0.190   22 0.4723   27  3.935   26 -0.445   14  0.066

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       21  6 3217 3054 -0.064 12.376    2  0.534    2  0.517    8  0.276    3 0.5572   17  3.979    9  0.246    7  0.306
CAVALIERS     15 13 3316 3256 -0.094 12.874   16 -0.002   16 -0.001   16 -0.002   18 0.4971   10  4.001   15  0.081   19 -0.084
BULLS         11 15 3058 3170 -0.111 12.391   21 -0.218   21 -0.207   26 -0.365   21 0.4727    5  4.027   21 -0.146   28 -0.583
BUCKS         11 17 3180 3288 -0.109 13.283   23 -0.293   23 -0.284   24 -0.345   23 0.4670   18  3.972   24 -0.414   23 -0.276
PACERS         6 21 2977 3189 -0.130 13.130   29 -0.648   29 -0.665   29 -0.500   29 0.4284   26  3.943   30 -0.716   24 -0.283

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          15 12 3245 3156  0.054 13.777   13  0.129   13  0.135   10  0.177   13 0.5142    6  4.026    4  0.390   16 -0.036
MAGIC         15 12 3180 3092  0.165 14.821    8  0.221    8  0.220    5  0.322    9 0.5231   16  3.979    7  0.293    6  0.351
HAWKS         15 13 3312 3304 -0.036 13.613   15  0.032   15  0.039   17 -0.035   14 0.5087    8  4.010   14  0.097   21 -0.166
HORNETS        9 18 3119 3205 -0.077 13.033   24 -0.389   24 -0.391   21 -0.212   25 0.4544   15  3.981   22 -0.230   22 -0.193
WIZARDS        4 21 2800 3160 -0.089 12.874   30 -0.731   30 -0.736   30 -0.805   30 0.4179    4  4.033   28 -0.552   30 -1.058

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        20  7 3263 3032 -0.010 12.734    4  0.489    5  0.469    4  0.489    6 0.5480   12  3.999    3  0.561    5  0.417
CELTICS       15 11 3020 2882  0.048 13.007   11  0.163   11  0.159    6  0.312   11 0.5203   23  3.949   13  0.126    3  0.498
76ERS         14 11 2921 2896 -0.101 11.508   14  0.035   14  0.048   18 -0.041   15 0.5030   19  3.971   17 -0.111   15  0.029
RAPTORS       17 11 3227 3162 -0.072 13.080   12  0.149   12  0.157   14  0.044   12 0.5155   22  3.955   18 -0.112   11  0.199
NETS           7 19 2850 3003 -0.079 12.748   27 -0.503   27 -0.512   23 -0.319   28 0.4390   28  3.933   29 -0.586   18 -0.052

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 83 50 0.624    1  0.284
ATLANTIC DIVISION  73 59 0.553    2  0.112
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 65 69 0.485    3  0.054
PACIFIC DIVISION   59 76 0.437    4 -0.097
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 58 76 0.433    5 -0.120
CENTRAL DIVISION   64 72 0.471    6 -0.215

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Dec 19 05:30:17 2025
games through: Thu Dec 18 2025

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