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         48 19 7960 7512  0.087 33.751    2  0.563    2  0.571    2  0.544    2 0.5566   13  3.989    1  0.612    6  0.476
HEAT          38 29 8071 7808  0.018 32.685   13  0.164   13  0.156    8  0.260   13 0.5155    2  4.040    2  0.599   17 -0.078
CAVALIERS     41 26 7978 7680  0.044 33.121    7  0.286    7  0.286    6  0.367    6 0.5289    7  4.011    3  0.549   11  0.186
NUGGETS       41 26 8082 7806  0.029 32.880    8  0.269    9  0.270    9  0.260    9 0.5274    5  4.024    4  0.509   15  0.010
THUNDER       52 15 7944 7221  0.050 32.458    1  0.690    1  0.690    1  0.655    1 0.5672   26  3.927    5  0.405    1  0.905
PISTONS       48 18 7746 7235  0.019 31.476    3  0.517    3  0.522    3  0.543    3 0.5527   22  3.946    6  0.392    3  0.694
KNICKS        44 25 8077 7638  0.040 33.778    5  0.333    5  0.332    5  0.469    5 0.5352   20  3.953    7  0.351    4  0.586
HAWKS         35 31 7766 7715 -0.007 32.112   17  0.062   17  0.062   16  0.074   16 0.5066    6  4.014    8  0.274   18 -0.126
TIMBERWOLVES  41 26 7952 7715 -0.021 31.774   10  0.230   10  0.228   12  0.153   10 0.5234   11  3.999    9  0.274   14  0.032
HORNETS       34 33 7753 7523 -0.013 31.968   18  0.012   18 -0.003    7  0.336   18 0.5000   21  3.951   10  0.207    7  0.465
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        41 25 7678 7598 -0.016 31.850    9  0.264    8  0.271   14  0.090    8 0.5274   12  3.993   11  0.179   16  0.001
CELTICS       43 23 7543 7069  0.021 31.589    4  0.346    4  0.344    4  0.486    4 0.5362   30  3.900   12  0.102    2  0.870
MAGIC         37 28 7514 7411  0.014 31.988   12  0.171   12  0.171   13  0.103   12 0.5164   19  3.960   13  0.022   12  0.183
JAZZ          20 47 7863 8377 -0.023 33.672   26 -0.476   26 -0.468   26 -0.492   26 0.4516    1  4.068   14 -0.003   29 -0.980
CLIPPERS      34 32 7491 7425  0.034 33.075   16  0.064   16  0.064   10  0.190   17 0.5061   24  3.936   15 -0.012    8  0.392
TRAIL BLAZERS 32 35 7722 7886  0.036 34.219   20 -0.008   19 -0.010   20 -0.140   20 0.4978   10  3.999   16 -0.018   21 -0.261
PELICANS      22 46 7850 8149 -0.025 33.543   25 -0.436   25 -0.432   21 -0.203   24 0.4574    8  4.009   17 -0.031   23 -0.374
WARRIORS      32 34 7605 7552  0.024 32.857   19 -0.003   20 -0.015   18  0.022   19 0.4985   18  3.964   18 -0.040   13  0.085
BULLS         27 40 7755 8054 -0.014 33.419   22 -0.220   22 -0.219   23 -0.325   22 0.4763    4  4.026   19 -0.065   26 -0.585
76ERS         35 31 7645 7688  0.002 32.609   15  0.078   15  0.081   19 -0.100   15 0.5071   14  3.982   20 -0.070   19 -0.131
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GRIZZLIES     23 43 7637 7816 -0.045 31.865   23 -0.394   23 -0.396   22 -0.254   23 0.4608    9  4.008   21 -0.085   25 -0.423
RAPTORS       37 29 7494 7388 -0.001 32.122   14  0.142   14  0.138   15  0.080   14 0.5135   25  3.933   22 -0.138   10  0.297
ROCKETS       41 25 7533 7254  0.020 32.030    6  0.286    6  0.286   11  0.179    7 0.5286   29  3.905   23 -0.179    5  0.537
SUNS          39 28 7540 7448  0.009 32.890   11  0.201   11  0.201   17  0.058   11 0.5201   27  3.918   24 -0.238    9  0.355
MAVERICKS     22 45 7567 7908 -0.038 33.015   24 -0.429   24 -0.422   25 -0.402   25 0.4567   17  3.974   25 -0.412   24 -0.393
WIZARDS       16 49 7334 8052 -0.076 31.959   29 -0.657   29 -0.656   30 -0.723   29 0.4359    3  4.031   26 -0.434   30 -1.013
BUCKS         27 38 7216 7534 -0.026 32.310   21 -0.200   21 -0.196   24 -0.397   21 0.4791   23  3.943   27 -0.563   20 -0.231
PACERS        15 52 7439 8020 -0.052 33.324   30 -0.671   30 -0.681   27 -0.606   30 0.4320   16  3.980   28 -0.584   27 -0.627
KINGS         16 51 7413 8099 -0.018 34.192   28 -0.622   28 -0.620   29 -0.653   28 0.4395   15  3.981   29 -0.626   28 -0.680
NETS          17 49 7055 7642 -0.002 33.922   27 -0.562   27 -0.559   28 -0.617   27 0.4442   28  3.907   30 -0.966   22 -0.268

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        41 25 7678 7598 -0.016 31.850    9  0.264    8  0.271   14  0.090    8 0.5274   12  3.993   11  0.179   16  0.001
CLIPPERS      34 32 7491 7425  0.034 33.075   16  0.064   16  0.064   10  0.190   17 0.5061   24  3.936   15 -0.012    8  0.392
WARRIORS      32 34 7605 7552  0.024 32.857   19 -0.003   20 -0.015   18  0.022   19 0.4985   18  3.964   18 -0.040   13  0.085
SUNS          39 28 7540 7448  0.009 32.890   11  0.201   11  0.201   17  0.058   11 0.5201   27  3.918   24 -0.238    9  0.355
KINGS         16 51 7413 8099 -0.018 34.192   28 -0.622   28 -0.620   29 -0.653   28 0.4395   15  3.981   29 -0.626   28 -0.680

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       41 26 8082 7806  0.029 32.880    8  0.269    9  0.270    9  0.260    9 0.5274    5  4.024    4  0.509   15  0.010
THUNDER       52 15 7944 7221  0.050 32.458    1  0.690    1  0.690    1  0.655    1 0.5672   26  3.927    5  0.405    1  0.905
TIMBERWOLVES  41 26 7952 7715 -0.021 31.774   10  0.230   10  0.228   12  0.153   10 0.5234   11  3.999    9  0.274   14  0.032
JAZZ          20 47 7863 8377 -0.023 33.672   26 -0.476   26 -0.468   26 -0.492   26 0.4516    1  4.068   14 -0.003   29 -0.980
TRAIL BLAZERS 32 35 7722 7886  0.036 34.219   20 -0.008   19 -0.010   20 -0.140   20 0.4978   10  3.999   16 -0.018   21 -0.261

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         48 19 7960 7512  0.087 33.751    2  0.563    2  0.571    2  0.544    2 0.5566   13  3.989    1  0.612    6  0.476
PELICANS      22 46 7850 8149 -0.025 33.543   25 -0.436   25 -0.432   21 -0.203   24 0.4574    8  4.009   17 -0.031   23 -0.374
GRIZZLIES     23 43 7637 7816 -0.045 31.865   23 -0.394   23 -0.396   22 -0.254   23 0.4608    9  4.008   21 -0.085   25 -0.423
ROCKETS       41 25 7533 7254  0.020 32.030    6  0.286    6  0.286   11  0.179    7 0.5286   29  3.905   23 -0.179    5  0.537
MAVERICKS     22 45 7567 7908 -0.038 33.015   24 -0.429   24 -0.422   25 -0.402   25 0.4567   17  3.974   25 -0.412   24 -0.393

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     41 26 7978 7680  0.044 33.121    7  0.286    7  0.286    6  0.367    6 0.5289    7  4.011    3  0.549   11  0.186
PISTONS       48 18 7746 7235  0.019 31.476    3  0.517    3  0.522    3  0.543    3 0.5527   22  3.946    6  0.392    3  0.694
BULLS         27 40 7755 8054 -0.014 33.419   22 -0.220   22 -0.219   23 -0.325   22 0.4763    4  4.026   19 -0.065   26 -0.585
BUCKS         27 38 7216 7534 -0.026 32.310   21 -0.200   21 -0.196   24 -0.397   21 0.4791   23  3.943   27 -0.563   20 -0.231
PACERS        15 52 7439 8020 -0.052 33.324   30 -0.671   30 -0.681   27 -0.606   30 0.4320   16  3.980   28 -0.584   27 -0.627

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          38 29 8071 7808  0.018 32.685   13  0.164   13  0.156    8  0.260   13 0.5155    2  4.040    2  0.599   17 -0.078
HAWKS         35 31 7766 7715 -0.007 32.112   17  0.062   17  0.062   16  0.074   16 0.5066    6  4.014    8  0.274   18 -0.126
HORNETS       34 33 7753 7523 -0.013 31.968   18  0.012   18 -0.003    7  0.336   18 0.5000   21  3.951   10  0.207    7  0.465
MAGIC         37 28 7514 7411  0.014 31.988   12  0.171   12  0.171   13  0.103   12 0.5164   19  3.960   13  0.022   12  0.183
WIZARDS       16 49 7334 8052 -0.076 31.959   29 -0.657   29 -0.656   30 -0.723   29 0.4359    3  4.031   26 -0.434   30 -1.013

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        44 25 8077 7638  0.040 33.778    5  0.333    5  0.332    5  0.469    5 0.5352   20  3.953    7  0.351    4  0.586
CELTICS       43 23 7543 7069  0.021 31.589    4  0.346    4  0.344    4  0.486    4 0.5362   30  3.900   12  0.102    2  0.870
76ERS         35 31 7645 7688  0.002 32.609   15  0.078   15  0.081   19 -0.100   15 0.5071   14  3.982   20 -0.070   19 -0.131
RAPTORS       37 29 7494 7388 -0.001 32.122   14  0.142   14  0.138   15  0.080   14 0.5135   25  3.933   22 -0.138   10  0.297
NETS          17 49 7055 7642 -0.002 33.922   27 -0.562   27 -0.559   28 -0.617   27 0.4442   28  3.907   30 -0.966   22 -0.268

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 186 149 0.555    1  0.134
ATLANTIC DIVISION  176 157 0.529    2  0.092
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 160 170 0.485    3 -0.017
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 156 178 0.467    4 -0.026
PACIFIC DIVISION   162 170 0.488    5 -0.070
CENTRAL DIVISION   158 174 0.476    6 -0.097

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sat Mar 14 05:30:10 2026
games through: Fri Mar 13 2026

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