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
THUNDER       65 18  9879  8930  0.070 40.414    1  0.764    1  0.761    1  0.781    1 0.5701   26  3.930    3  0.540    1  1.021
SPURS         63 22 10153  9473  0.068 41.823    2  0.644    2  0.644    2  0.637    2 0.5599   14  3.983    1  0.666    6  0.607
CELTICS       57 27  9638  8989  0.032 40.380    4  0.448    4  0.438    3  0.564    4 0.5423   29  3.902   12  0.183    2  0.946
PISTONS       60 23  9758  9100  0.018 39.373    3  0.535    3  0.535    4  0.555    3 0.5517   22  3.942    7  0.376    3  0.735
KNICKS        55 30  9892  9352  0.037 41.341    7  0.379    7  0.370    5  0.452    7 0.5350   23  3.941    8  0.265    5  0.638
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.014 40.588   16  0.091   16  0.083    6  0.417   16 0.5073   21  3.944    9  0.244    7  0.590
NUGGETS       55 29 10240  9812  0.029 40.867    6  0.392    6  0.385    7  0.377    5 0.5371    5  4.029    2  0.649   14  0.106
ROCKETS       52 32  9641  9229  0.019 40.574    9  0.298    9  0.292    8  0.288    9 0.5283   28  3.908   19 -0.066    4  0.641
CAVALIERS     54 30 10042  9681  0.009 40.496    8  0.349    8  0.346    9  0.284    8 0.5328    8  4.014    5  0.475   15  0.093
HAWKS         47 37  9923  9735  0.033 41.690   11  0.177   11  0.167   10  0.261   11 0.5154    9  4.010    6  0.431   16  0.092
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       46 38  9618  9409  0.026 41.456   15  0.132   15  0.128   11  0.210   15 0.5120   24  3.941   15  0.022    8  0.397
LAKERS        55 29  9748  9588  0.012 41.181    5  0.394    5  0.396   12  0.200    6 0.5369   15  3.981   11  0.216   11  0.184
TIMBERWOLVES  50 34  9900  9631  0.016 40.951   10  0.240   10  0.231   13  0.185   10 0.5224   12  3.988   10  0.241   13  0.128
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.028 41.089   18  0.063   18  0.059   14  0.106   18 0.5048    2  4.058    4  0.533   20 -0.321
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.009 40.258   19  0.007   19  0.001   15  0.101   19 0.5000   25  3.940   20 -0.088   10  0.290
MAGIC         47 38  9821  9739  0.032 42.525   12  0.159   12  0.156   16  0.090   12 0.5141   18  3.967   14  0.038   12  0.143
SUNS          46 39  9537  9441  0.037 42.597   14  0.135   14  0.133   17  0.075   14 0.5126   27  3.915   23 -0.242    9  0.392
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 41  9787  9817  0.016 42.366   17  0.065   17  0.065   18  0.068   17 0.5056   16  3.977   13  0.064   17  0.073
76ERS         47 38  9813  9834  0.007 42.090   13  0.146   13  0.147   19 -0.028   13 0.5131   17  3.974   18 -0.045   18 -0.012
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.016 41.935   20 -0.088   20 -0.095   20 -0.147   20 0.4904   19  3.965   22 -0.211   19 -0.083
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.020 40.767   23 -0.462   24 -0.467   21 -0.238   23 0.4563    7  4.014   17 -0.045   23 -0.432
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.036 40.567   22 -0.300   22 -0.304   22 -0.421   22 0.4693    3  4.041   21 -0.089   27 -0.754
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.035 40.670   24 -0.464   23 -0.464   23 -0.422   24 0.4553   11  3.993   24 -0.339   24 -0.504
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.040 41.125   29 -0.679   29 -0.687   24 -0.501   29 0.4354   10  3.998   26 -0.395   25 -0.608
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.048 40.567   21 -0.281   21 -0.279   25 -0.548   21 0.4721   20  3.950   29 -0.686   21 -0.410
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.040 41.117   26 -0.585   26 -0.589   26 -0.583   26 0.4445    1  4.079   16 -0.044   29 -1.122
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.036 40.696   25 -0.502   25 -0.507   27 -0.584   25 0.4523    6  4.019   25 -0.369   28 -0.800
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.048 41.197   27 -0.594   27 -0.593   28 -0.669   27 0.4444   13  3.988   28 -0.616   26 -0.722
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.061 40.981   28 -0.673   28 -0.673   29 -0.811   28 0.4376   30  3.899   30 -1.209   22 -0.413
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.070 41.067   30 -0.790   30 -0.799   30 -0.829   30 0.4286    4  4.038   27 -0.514   30 -1.145

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        55 29  9748  9588  0.012 41.181    5  0.394    5  0.396   12  0.200    6 0.5369   15  3.981   11  0.216   11  0.184
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.009 40.258   19  0.007   19  0.001   15  0.101   19 0.5000   25  3.940   20 -0.088   10  0.290
SUNS          46 39  9537  9441  0.037 42.597   14  0.135   14  0.133   17  0.075   14 0.5126   27  3.915   23 -0.242    9  0.392
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.016 41.935   20 -0.088   20 -0.095   20 -0.147   20 0.4904   19  3.965   22 -0.211   19 -0.083
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.048 41.197   27 -0.594   27 -0.593   28 -0.669   27 0.4444   13  3.988   28 -0.616   26 -0.722

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       65 18  9879  8930  0.070 40.414    1  0.764    1  0.761    1  0.781    1 0.5701   26  3.930    3  0.540    1  1.021
NUGGETS       55 29 10240  9812  0.029 40.867    6  0.392    6  0.385    7  0.377    5 0.5371    5  4.029    2  0.649   14  0.106
TIMBERWOLVES  50 34  9900  9631  0.016 40.951   10  0.240   10  0.231   13  0.185   10 0.5224   12  3.988   10  0.241   13  0.128
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 41  9787  9817  0.016 42.366   17  0.065   17  0.065   18  0.068   17 0.5056   16  3.977   13  0.064   17  0.073
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.040 41.117   26 -0.585   26 -0.589   26 -0.583   26 0.4445    1  4.079   16 -0.044   29 -1.122

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         63 22 10153  9473  0.068 41.823    2  0.644    2  0.644    2  0.637    2 0.5599   14  3.983    1  0.666    6  0.607
ROCKETS       52 32  9641  9229  0.019 40.574    9  0.298    9  0.292    8  0.288    9 0.5283   28  3.908   19 -0.066    4  0.641
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.020 40.767   23 -0.462   24 -0.467   21 -0.238   23 0.4563    7  4.014   17 -0.045   23 -0.432
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.035 40.670   24 -0.464   23 -0.464   23 -0.422   24 0.4553   11  3.993   24 -0.339   24 -0.504
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.036 40.696   25 -0.502   25 -0.507   27 -0.584   25 0.4523    6  4.019   25 -0.369   28 -0.800

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       60 23  9758  9100  0.018 39.373    3  0.535    3  0.535    4  0.555    3 0.5517   22  3.942    7  0.376    3  0.735
CAVALIERS     54 30 10042  9681  0.009 40.496    8  0.349    8  0.346    9  0.284    8 0.5328    8  4.014    5  0.475   15  0.093
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.036 40.567   22 -0.300   22 -0.304   22 -0.421   22 0.4693    3  4.041   21 -0.089   27 -0.754
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.040 41.125   29 -0.679   29 -0.687   24 -0.501   29 0.4354   10  3.998   26 -0.395   25 -0.608
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.048 40.567   21 -0.281   21 -0.279   25 -0.548   21 0.4721   20  3.950   29 -0.686   21 -0.410

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
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.014 40.588   16  0.091   16  0.083    6  0.417   16 0.5073   21  3.944    9  0.244    7  0.590
HAWKS         47 37  9923  9735  0.033 41.690   11  0.177   11  0.167   10  0.261   11 0.5154    9  4.010    6  0.431   16  0.092
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.028 41.089   18  0.063   18  0.059   14  0.106   18 0.5048    2  4.058    4  0.533   20 -0.321
MAGIC         47 38  9821  9739  0.032 42.525   12  0.159   12  0.156   16  0.090   12 0.5141   18  3.967   14  0.038   12  0.143
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.070 41.067   30 -0.790   30 -0.799   30 -0.829   30 0.4286    4  4.038   27 -0.514   30 -1.145

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
CELTICS       57 27  9638  8989  0.032 40.380    4  0.448    4  0.438    3  0.564    4 0.5423   29  3.902   12  0.183    2  0.946
KNICKS        55 30  9892  9352  0.037 41.341    7  0.379    7  0.370    5  0.452    7 0.5350   23  3.941    8  0.265    5  0.638
RAPTORS       46 38  9618  9409  0.026 41.456   15  0.132   15  0.128   11  0.210   15 0.5120   24  3.941   15  0.022    8  0.397
76ERS         47 38  9813  9834  0.007 42.090   13  0.146   13  0.147   19 -0.028   13 0.5131   17  3.974   18 -0.045   18 -0.012
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.061 40.981   28 -0.673   28 -0.673   29 -0.811   28 0.4376   30  3.899   30 -1.209   22 -0.413

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 236 182 0.565    1  0.178
ATLANTIC DIVISION  225 195 0.536    2  0.102
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 199 219 0.476    3 -0.007
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 192 223 0.463    4 -0.053
PACIFIC DIVISION   203 215 0.486    5 -0.087
CENTRAL DIVISION   196 217 0.475    6 -0.130

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.150 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: Wed Apr 22 05:30:11 2026
games through: Tue Apr 21 2026

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