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
HEAT          10  6 1997 1904  0.166  8.420    8  0.333    9  0.316    4  0.395    9 0.5339    2  4.055    1  0.745   17  0.044 P
NUGGETS       12  4 1980 1820 -0.020  6.897    5  0.414    5  0.393    3  0.437    5 0.5428   10  4.007    2  0.536    6  0.337 P
ROCKETS       10  4 1720 1575  0.212  7.158    3  0.473    3  0.458    2  0.554    4 0.5516   18  3.983    3  0.527    3  0.582 P
RAPTORS       11  5 1938 1834  0.038  7.491    7  0.349    7  0.331    5  0.329    7 0.5368    7  4.017    4  0.478   13  0.180 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  7  9 1938 1960  0.126  8.530   18 -0.043   18 -0.021   18 -0.004   18 0.4927    1  4.070    5  0.426   25 -0.435 P
KNICKS         9  6 1812 1742  0.035  7.161   13  0.177   14  0.185   10  0.228   14 0.5154    8  4.016    6  0.372   16  0.085 P
THUNDER       16  1 2085 1807 -0.141  6.284    1  0.739    1  0.752    1  0.722    2 0.5757   28  3.911    7  0.328    1  1.117 P
CAVALIERS     11  6 2038 1965  0.070  8.321    9  0.323    8  0.317    8  0.251    8 0.5346   12  3.991    8  0.264    9  0.238 P
HAWKS         10  7 1999 1949  0.098  8.643   10  0.221   10  0.221   11  0.227   10 0.5293   14  3.990    9  0.235   10  0.219 P
PISTONS       14  2 1912 1798 -0.047  7.009    2  0.654    2  0.663    7  0.281    1 0.5764   23  3.973   10  0.203    5  0.359 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  10  6 1922 1825 -0.141  6.520   15  0.088   15  0.121   13  0.195   15 0.5084   15  3.986   11  0.182   11  0.209 P
MAGIC         10  7 2000 1931  0.088  8.486   11  0.198   11  0.205    6  0.287   13 0.5167   25  3.967   12  0.178    4  0.397 P
SPURS         11  4 1790 1684 -0.071  6.463    6  0.368    6  0.347    9  0.248    6 0.5380   22  3.974   13  0.176    7  0.321 P
BULLS          9  7 1932 1969  0.099  8.448   14  0.155   13  0.195   19 -0.083   11 0.5270    5  4.034   14  0.157   22 -0.323 P
LAKERS        11  4 1768 1728  0.054  7.382    4  0.456    4  0.438   14  0.166    3 0.5532   17  3.983   15  0.138   12  0.193 P
76ERS          9  6 1776 1742  0.043  7.368   12  0.191   12  0.200   16  0.116   12 0.5203   13  3.991   16  0.129   15  0.104 P
SUNS          10  6 1904 1824 -0.183  6.363   16  0.060   16  0.088   15  0.144   17 0.5000   16  3.983   17  0.118   14  0.170 P
JAZZ           5 10 1784 1892 -0.033  7.466   22 -0.304   22 -0.284   24 -0.389   23 0.4582    3  4.048   18 -0.073   29 -0.705 P
WARRIORS       9  9 2067 2068  0.088  9.219   17  0.027   17  0.058   17  0.072   16 0.5025   26  3.953   19 -0.109    8  0.253 P
BUCKS          8  9 1994 2033 -0.090  7.853   20 -0.116   20 -0.096   22 -0.205   20 0.4856   11  3.996   20 -0.165   21 -0.244 P
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CELTICS        8  8 1811 1741  0.000  7.401   19 -0.046   19 -0.028   12  0.210   19 0.4898   29  3.908   21 -0.200    2  0.620 P
HORNETS        4 12 1865 1934 -0.139  7.284   26 -0.537   26 -0.552   23 -0.328   26 0.4260    9  4.008   22 -0.224   24 -0.432 P
GRIZZLIES      6 11 1906 1980  0.020  8.728   21 -0.264   21 -0.242   20 -0.177   21 0.4642   24  3.972   23 -0.260   20 -0.094 P
KINGS          4 13 1904 2114  0.215 10.266   24 -0.325   24 -0.304   26 -0.456   22 0.4634    6  4.025   24 -0.262   28 -0.650 P
CLIPPERS       5 11 1796 1873  0.045  8.255   23 -0.311   23 -0.295   21 -0.202   24 0.4495   27  3.948   25 -0.411   18  0.008 P
WIZARDS        1 15 1806 2066 -0.066  8.569   30 -0.818   30 -0.837   30 -0.787   30 0.3989    4  4.048   26 -0.474   30 -1.100 P
NETS           3 12 1648 1803  0.043  8.035   25 -0.487   25 -0.476   25 -0.437   25 0.4307   21  3.976   27 -0.504   23 -0.370 P
PELICANS       2 15 1847 2064  0.010  9.024   29 -0.698   29 -0.704   28 -0.627   29 0.4078   19  3.979   28 -0.676   26 -0.577 P
PACERS         2 14 1761 1966 -0.055  8.188   28 -0.691   28 -0.698   29 -0.644   28 0.4107   20  3.977   29 -0.705   27 -0.583 P
MAVERICKS      5 13 1979 2088 -0.306  7.442   27 -0.587   27 -0.603   27 -0.513   27 0.4175   30  3.906   30 -0.934   19 -0.091 P

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        11  4 1768 1728  0.054  7.382    4  0.456    4  0.438   14  0.166    3 0.5532   17  3.983   15  0.138   12  0.193 P
SUNS          10  6 1904 1824 -0.183  6.363   16  0.060   16  0.088   15  0.144   17 0.5000   16  3.983   17  0.118   14  0.170 P
WARRIORS       9  9 2067 2068  0.088  9.219   17  0.027   17  0.058   17  0.072   16 0.5025   26  3.953   19 -0.109    8  0.253 P
KINGS          4 13 1904 2114  0.215 10.266   24 -0.325   24 -0.304   26 -0.456   22 0.4634    6  4.025   24 -0.262   28 -0.650 P
CLIPPERS       5 11 1796 1873  0.045  8.255   23 -0.311   23 -0.295   21 -0.202   24 0.4495   27  3.948   25 -0.411   18  0.008 P

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       12  4 1980 1820 -0.020  6.897    5  0.414    5  0.393    3  0.437    5 0.5428   10  4.007    2  0.536    6  0.337 P
TRAIL BLAZERS  7  9 1938 1960  0.126  8.530   18 -0.043   18 -0.021   18 -0.004   18 0.4927    1  4.070    5  0.426   25 -0.435 P
THUNDER       16  1 2085 1807 -0.141  6.284    1  0.739    1  0.752    1  0.722    2 0.5757   28  3.911    7  0.328    1  1.117 P
TIMBERWOLVES  10  6 1922 1825 -0.141  6.520   15  0.088   15  0.121   13  0.195   15 0.5084   15  3.986   11  0.182   11  0.209 P
JAZZ           5 10 1784 1892 -0.033  7.466   22 -0.304   22 -0.284   24 -0.389   23 0.4582    3  4.048   18 -0.073   29 -0.705 P

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
ROCKETS       10  4 1720 1575  0.212  7.158    3  0.473    3  0.458    2  0.554    4 0.5516   18  3.983    3  0.527    3  0.582 P
SPURS         11  4 1790 1684 -0.071  6.463    6  0.368    6  0.347    9  0.248    6 0.5380   22  3.974   13  0.176    7  0.321 P
GRIZZLIES      6 11 1906 1980  0.020  8.728   21 -0.264   21 -0.242   20 -0.177   21 0.4642   24  3.972   23 -0.260   20 -0.094 P
PELICANS       2 15 1847 2064  0.010  9.024   29 -0.698   29 -0.704   28 -0.627   29 0.4078   19  3.979   28 -0.676   26 -0.577 P
MAVERICKS      5 13 1979 2088 -0.306  7.442   27 -0.587   27 -0.603   27 -0.513   27 0.4175   30  3.906   30 -0.934   19 -0.091 P

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     11  6 2038 1965  0.070  8.321    9  0.323    8  0.317    8  0.251    8 0.5346   12  3.991    8  0.264    9  0.238 P
PISTONS       14  2 1912 1798 -0.047  7.009    2  0.654    2  0.663    7  0.281    1 0.5764   23  3.973   10  0.203    5  0.359 P
BULLS          9  7 1932 1969  0.099  8.448   14  0.155   13  0.195   19 -0.083   11 0.5270    5  4.034   14  0.157   22 -0.323 P
BUCKS          8  9 1994 2033 -0.090  7.853   20 -0.116   20 -0.096   22 -0.205   20 0.4856   11  3.996   20 -0.165   21 -0.244 P
PACERS         2 14 1761 1966 -0.055  8.188   28 -0.691   28 -0.698   29 -0.644   28 0.4107   20  3.977   29 -0.705   27 -0.583 P

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          10  6 1997 1904  0.166  8.420    8  0.333    9  0.316    4  0.395    9 0.5339    2  4.055    1  0.745   17  0.044 P
HAWKS         10  7 1999 1949  0.098  8.643   10  0.221   10  0.221   11  0.227   10 0.5293   14  3.990    9  0.235   10  0.219 P
MAGIC         10  7 2000 1931  0.088  8.486   11  0.198   11  0.205    6  0.287   13 0.5167   25  3.967   12  0.178    4  0.397 P
HORNETS        4 12 1865 1934 -0.139  7.284   26 -0.537   26 -0.552   23 -0.328   26 0.4260    9  4.008   22 -0.224   24 -0.432 P
WIZARDS        1 15 1806 2066 -0.066  8.569   30 -0.818   30 -0.837   30 -0.787   30 0.3989    4  4.048   26 -0.474   30 -1.100 P

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
RAPTORS       11  5 1938 1834  0.038  7.491    7  0.349    7  0.331    5  0.329    7 0.5368    7  4.017    4  0.478   13  0.180 P
KNICKS         9  6 1812 1742  0.035  7.161   13  0.177   14  0.185   10  0.228   14 0.5154    8  4.016    6  0.372   16  0.085 P
76ERS          9  6 1776 1742  0.043  7.368   12  0.191   12  0.200   16  0.116   12 0.5203   13  3.991   16  0.129   15  0.104 P
CELTICS        8  8 1811 1741  0.000  7.401   19 -0.046   19 -0.028   12  0.210   19 0.4898   29  3.908   21 -0.200    2  0.620 P
NETS           3 12 1648 1803  0.043  8.035   25 -0.487   25 -0.476   25 -0.437   25 0.4307   21  3.976   27 -0.504   23 -0.370 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 50 30 0.625    1  0.267
ATLANTIC DIVISION  40 37 0.519    2  0.128
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 35 47 0.427    3 -0.036
PACIFIC DIVISION   39 43 0.476    4 -0.074
CENTRAL DIVISION   44 38 0.537    5 -0.082
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 34 47 0.420    6 -0.136

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Nov 23 05:30:36 2025
games through: Sat Nov 22 2025

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