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         61 20  9682  9021  0.082 40.229    2  0.682    2  0.687    2  0.689    2 0.5639   14  3.984    1  0.718    5  0.659
THUNDER       64 16  9550  8584  0.069 38.844    1  0.803    1  0.809    1  0.855    1 0.5739   26  3.929    2  0.604    1  1.105
NUGGETS       52 28  9755  9363  0.009 38.441    6  0.355    7  0.356    7  0.323    6 0.5344    5  4.030    3  0.597   14  0.050
CAVALIERS     51 29  9569  9222  0.017 38.817    9  0.336    8  0.337    8  0.302    8 0.5325    7  4.014    4  0.494   12  0.111
HEAT          41 39  9628  9486  0.031 39.835   17  0.053   17  0.050   16  0.047   17 0.5043    2  4.056    5  0.458   21 -0.364
HAWKS         45 35  9473  9271  0.016 39.182   12  0.161   12  0.157   10  0.276   12 0.5149    8  4.012    6  0.456   13  0.096
PISTONS       58 22  9406  8767  0.020 38.015    3  0.535    3  0.540    3  0.575    3 0.5528   23  3.941    7  0.387    3  0.763
HORNETS       43 37  9303  8903  0.002 38.195   16  0.083   16  0.073    5  0.496   16 0.5068   21  3.948    8  0.342    6  0.650
KNICKS        53 28  9465  8938  0.038 39.359    5  0.389    5  0.386    6  0.473    5 0.5372   22  3.947    9  0.318    7  0.629
TIMBERWOLVES  47 33  9408  9143  0.005 38.697   10  0.210   10  0.202   12  0.177   10 0.5197   15  3.983   10  0.205   11  0.149
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        51 29  9308  9216  0.016 39.545    7  0.346    6  0.357   14  0.109    7 0.5337   11  3.991   11  0.180   15  0.039
CELTICS       54 26  9161  8561  0.044 38.872    4  0.444    4  0.439    4  0.566    4 0.5425   29  3.900   12  0.171    2  0.961
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 40  9231  9286  0.009 39.763   19  0.015   19  0.015   17  0.020   19 0.5007   16  3.982   13  0.044   17 -0.004
RAPTORS       45 35  9169  8955  0.021 39.337   11  0.165   11  0.159   11  0.233   11 0.5151   24  3.940   14  0.039    8  0.426
MAGIC         44 36  9256  9223  0.016 39.715   14  0.135   14  0.135   18 -0.014   14 0.5122   18  3.973   15 -0.040   16  0.012
CLIPPERS      41 39  9117  9010 -0.002 38.962   18  0.026   18  0.022   13  0.152   18 0.5021   25  3.939   16 -0.046   10  0.349
BULLS         31 49  9306  9688 -0.025 39.830   21 -0.273   22 -0.273   22 -0.358   22 0.4724    3  4.037   17 -0.047   26 -0.670
ROCKETS       51 29  9185  8784  0.020 38.656    8  0.336    9  0.336    9  0.302    9 0.5324   28  3.907   18 -0.057    4  0.662
76ERS         43 37  9271  9317  0.006 39.712   15  0.105   15  0.109   19 -0.078   15 0.5095   17  3.982   19 -0.059   19 -0.098
PELICANS      26 54  9229  9566 -0.028 39.510   23 -0.452   23 -0.449   21 -0.222   23 0.4575    9  4.008   20 -0.065   22 -0.379
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAZZ          21 59  9388 10101 -0.035 40.379   26 -0.596   26 -0.594   27 -0.640   26 0.4436    1  4.079   21 -0.102   30 -1.179
SUNS          44 36  9024  8908  0.021 39.595   13  0.139   13  0.138   15  0.090   13 0.5131   27  3.921   22 -0.197    9  0.378
WARRIORS      37 43  9170  9205  0.019 39.992   20 -0.059   20 -0.068   20 -0.122   20 0.4930   19  3.962   23 -0.202   18 -0.042
GRIZZLIES     25 55  9201  9617 -0.029 39.742   25 -0.484   25 -0.482   24 -0.489   24 0.4544    6  4.018   24 -0.279   27 -0.699
PACERS        19 61  9004  9636 -0.037 40.191   29 -0.661   29 -0.665   25 -0.492   29 0.4369   10  3.998   25 -0.384   25 -0.599
MAVERICKS     25 55  9089  9543 -0.033 39.734   24 -0.478   24 -0.472   23 -0.451   25 0.4542   12  3.986   26 -0.407   24 -0.494
WIZARDS       17 63  9023  9970 -0.070 40.013   30 -0.777   30 -0.780   30 -0.825   30 0.4298    4  4.036   27 -0.523   29 -1.128
KINGS         21 59  8868  9682 -0.044 40.353   27 -0.609   27 -0.603   28 -0.690   27 0.4434   13  3.986   28 -0.648   28 -0.732
BUCKS         31 49  8841  9347 -0.033 40.008   22 -0.277   21 -0.272   26 -0.550   21 0.4725   20  3.948   29 -0.702   23 -0.398
NETS          20 60  8477  9244 -0.054 40.107   28 -0.653   28 -0.649   29 -0.765   28 0.4393   30  3.895   30 -1.185   20 -0.345

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        51 29  9308  9216  0.016 39.545    7  0.346    6  0.357   14  0.109    7 0.5337   11  3.991   11  0.180   15  0.039
CLIPPERS      41 39  9117  9010 -0.002 38.962   18  0.026   18  0.022   13  0.152   18 0.5021   25  3.939   16 -0.046   10  0.349
SUNS          44 36  9024  8908  0.021 39.595   13  0.139   13  0.138   15  0.090   13 0.5131   27  3.921   22 -0.197    9  0.378
WARRIORS      37 43  9170  9205  0.019 39.992   20 -0.059   20 -0.068   20 -0.122   20 0.4930   19  3.962   23 -0.202   18 -0.042
KINGS         21 59  8868  9682 -0.044 40.353   27 -0.609   27 -0.603   28 -0.690   27 0.4434   13  3.986   28 -0.648   28 -0.732

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       64 16  9550  8584  0.069 38.844    1  0.803    1  0.809    1  0.855    1 0.5739   26  3.929    2  0.604    1  1.105
NUGGETS       52 28  9755  9363  0.009 38.441    6  0.355    7  0.356    7  0.323    6 0.5344    5  4.030    3  0.597   14  0.050
TIMBERWOLVES  47 33  9408  9143  0.005 38.697   10  0.210   10  0.202   12  0.177   10 0.5197   15  3.983   10  0.205   11  0.149
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 40  9231  9286  0.009 39.763   19  0.015   19  0.015   17  0.020   19 0.5007   16  3.982   13  0.044   17 -0.004
JAZZ          21 59  9388 10101 -0.035 40.379   26 -0.596   26 -0.594   27 -0.640   26 0.4436    1  4.079   21 -0.102   30 -1.179

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         61 20  9682  9021  0.082 40.229    2  0.682    2  0.687    2  0.689    2 0.5639   14  3.984    1  0.718    5  0.659
ROCKETS       51 29  9185  8784  0.020 38.656    8  0.336    9  0.336    9  0.302    9 0.5324   28  3.907   18 -0.057    4  0.662
PELICANS      26 54  9229  9566 -0.028 39.510   23 -0.452   23 -0.449   21 -0.222   23 0.4575    9  4.008   20 -0.065   22 -0.379
GRIZZLIES     25 55  9201  9617 -0.029 39.742   25 -0.484   25 -0.482   24 -0.489   24 0.4544    6  4.018   24 -0.279   27 -0.699
MAVERICKS     25 55  9089  9543 -0.033 39.734   24 -0.478   24 -0.472   23 -0.451   25 0.4542   12  3.986   26 -0.407   24 -0.494

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     51 29  9569  9222  0.017 38.817    9  0.336    8  0.337    8  0.302    8 0.5325    7  4.014    4  0.494   12  0.111
PISTONS       58 22  9406  8767  0.020 38.015    3  0.535    3  0.540    3  0.575    3 0.5528   23  3.941    7  0.387    3  0.763
BULLS         31 49  9306  9688 -0.025 39.830   21 -0.273   22 -0.273   22 -0.358   22 0.4724    3  4.037   17 -0.047   26 -0.670
PACERS        19 61  9004  9636 -0.037 40.191   29 -0.661   29 -0.665   25 -0.492   29 0.4369   10  3.998   25 -0.384   25 -0.599
BUCKS         31 49  8841  9347 -0.033 40.008   22 -0.277   21 -0.272   26 -0.550   21 0.4725   20  3.948   29 -0.702   23 -0.398

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          41 39  9628  9486  0.031 39.835   17  0.053   17  0.050   16  0.047   17 0.5043    2  4.056    5  0.458   21 -0.364
HAWKS         45 35  9473  9271  0.016 39.182   12  0.161   12  0.157   10  0.276   12 0.5149    8  4.012    6  0.456   13  0.096
HORNETS       43 37  9303  8903  0.002 38.195   16  0.083   16  0.073    5  0.496   16 0.5068   21  3.948    8  0.342    6  0.650
MAGIC         44 36  9256  9223  0.016 39.715   14  0.135   14  0.135   18 -0.014   14 0.5122   18  3.973   15 -0.040   16  0.012
WIZARDS       17 63  9023  9970 -0.070 40.013   30 -0.777   30 -0.780   30 -0.825   30 0.4298    4  4.036   27 -0.523   29 -1.128

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        53 28  9465  8938  0.038 39.359    5  0.389    5  0.386    6  0.473    5 0.5372   22  3.947    9  0.318    7  0.629
CELTICS       54 26  9161  8561  0.044 38.872    4  0.444    4  0.439    4  0.566    4 0.5425   29  3.900   12  0.171    2  0.961
RAPTORS       45 35  9169  8955  0.021 39.337   11  0.165   11  0.159   11  0.233   11 0.5151   24  3.940   14  0.039    8  0.426
76ERS         43 37  9271  9317  0.006 39.712   15  0.105   15  0.109   19 -0.078   15 0.5095   17  3.982   19 -0.059   19 -0.098
NETS          20 60  8477  9244 -0.054 40.107   28 -0.653   28 -0.649   29 -0.765   28 0.4393   30  3.895   30 -1.185   20 -0.345

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 224 176 0.560    1  0.167
ATLANTIC DIVISION  215 186 0.536    2  0.106
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 190 210 0.475    3 -0.016
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 188 213 0.469    4 -0.034
PACIFIC DIVISION   194 206 0.485    5 -0.086
CENTRAL DIVISION   190 210 0.475    6 -0.114

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.136 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: Fri Apr 10 05:30:11 2026
games through: Thu Apr  9 2026

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