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       49 15 7607 6896  0.048 30.922    1  0.649    1  0.652    1  0.673    1 0.5644   25  3.929    5  0.438    1  0.909
SPURS         45 18 7443 7028  0.081 31.618    3  0.551    3  0.555    2  0.527    3 0.5555   16  3.977    3  0.536    6  0.517
PISTONS       45 16 7136 6688  0.031 29.538    2  0.553    2  0.557    3  0.524    2 0.5571   23  3.943    7  0.360    3  0.688
CELTICS       41 21 7096 6642 -0.013 29.065    4  0.337    4  0.336    4  0.458    4 0.5364   30  3.902   12  0.091    2  0.826
KNICKS        41 23 7485 7090  0.037 31.376    5  0.333    5  0.332    5  0.452    5 0.5358   20  3.955    8  0.351    5  0.553
HORNETS       32 31 7314 7074 -0.010 30.152   19  0.010   20 -0.000    6  0.398   18 0.5002   21  3.955    9  0.294    7  0.503
CAVALIERS     39 24 7505 7237  0.041 31.183    6  0.294    6  0.298    7  0.344    6 0.5307    7  4.013    2  0.542   12  0.146
TIMBERWOLVES  40 23 7499 7206 -0.025 29.625    8  0.268    8  0.270    8  0.261    8 0.5276   11  3.995    6  0.366   11  0.156
ROCKETS       38 23 6994 6677  0.016 29.422    7  0.277    7  0.278    9  0.261    7 0.5278   29  3.906   20 -0.087    4  0.609
NUGGETS       39 24 7588 7311 -0.001 30.257    9  0.257    9  0.257   10  0.231    9 0.5260    6  4.016    4  0.444   15  0.018
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          34 29 7560 7344  0.020 30.956   15  0.100   15  0.094   11  0.219   15 0.5095    2  4.037    1  0.544   18 -0.106
CLIPPERS      30 31 6858 6835  0.025 30.528   18  0.010   18  0.005   12  0.124   19 0.4997   26  3.925   22 -0.133    8  0.380
RAPTORS       35 27 7040 6946  0.007 30.438   12  0.154   12  0.153   13  0.076   12 0.5154   24  3.932   23 -0.141   10  0.294
WARRIORS      32 30 7151 7072  0.025 30.896   16  0.059   16  0.057   14  0.073   16 0.5058   18  3.967   14  0.033   13  0.113
HAWKS         32 31 7409 7390  0.011 31.217   17  0.029   17  0.026   15  0.057   17 0.5032    5  4.017   10  0.277   19 -0.164
LAKERS        37 25 7178 7148 -0.011 30.218   10  0.210   10  0.215   16  0.021   10 0.5224   12  3.992   11  0.111   16 -0.068
SUNS          35 27 6944 6889  0.019 30.799   11  0.169   11  0.167   17  0.013   11 0.5170   27  3.912   24 -0.306    9  0.333
MAGIC         33 28 7001 6975  0.015 30.324   13  0.109   13  0.109   18 -0.020   14 0.5102   19  3.961   21 -0.094   14  0.053
76ERS         34 28 7180 7188 -0.014 30.244   14  0.103   14  0.105   19 -0.070   13 0.5103   15  3.977   17 -0.058   17 -0.082
TRAIL BLAZERS 30 33 7267 7452  0.053 32.691   20  0.006   19  0.002   20 -0.167   20 0.4995    9  4.006   15 -0.006   24 -0.328
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GRIZZLIES     23 38 7051 7182 -0.040 29.554   23 -0.315   23 -0.320   21 -0.187   23 0.4677   10  4.000   18 -0.058   22 -0.315
PELICANS      20 44 7369 7695 -0.019 31.867   25 -0.445   25 -0.445   22 -0.261   25 0.4550    8  4.008   19 -0.087   25 -0.436
BULLS         26 37 7277 7543 -0.015 31.433   22 -0.195   22 -0.196   23 -0.300   22 0.4783    4  4.022   16 -0.054   26 -0.545
MAVERICKS     21 41 7038 7292 -0.048 30.245   24 -0.403   24 -0.403   24 -0.312   24 0.4579   17  3.976   25 -0.308   23 -0.316
BUCKS         26 35 6793 7064 -0.016 30.535   21 -0.163   21 -0.164   25 -0.342   21 0.4827   22  3.947   27 -0.485   20 -0.200
JAZZ          19 44 7414 7890 -0.021 31.813   26 -0.459   26 -0.453   26 -0.472   26 0.4521    1  4.072   13  0.043   30 -0.986
PACERS        15 47 6902 7423 -0.044 31.045   28 -0.615   28 -0.617   27 -0.564   30 0.4365   14  3.983   28 -0.524   27 -0.604
NETS          15 47 6625 7176 -0.011 31.675   27 -0.605   27 -0.605   28 -0.637   27 0.4395   28  3.907   30 -0.979   21 -0.295
KINGS         14 50 7064 7763  0.005 33.319   30 -0.649   30 -0.644   29 -0.700   29 0.4370   13  3.984   29 -0.654   28 -0.746
WIZARDS       16 46 6956 7628 -0.080 30.438   29 -0.629   29 -0.621   30 -0.712   28 0.4384    3  4.024   26 -0.456   29 -0.967

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
CLIPPERS      30 31 6858 6835  0.025 30.528   18  0.010   18  0.005   12  0.124   19 0.4997   26  3.925   22 -0.133    8  0.380
WARRIORS      32 30 7151 7072  0.025 30.896   16  0.059   16  0.057   14  0.073   16 0.5058   18  3.967   14  0.033   13  0.113
LAKERS        37 25 7178 7148 -0.011 30.218   10  0.210   10  0.215   16  0.021   10 0.5224   12  3.992   11  0.111   16 -0.068
SUNS          35 27 6944 6889  0.019 30.799   11  0.169   11  0.167   17  0.013   11 0.5170   27  3.912   24 -0.306    9  0.333
KINGS         14 50 7064 7763  0.005 33.319   30 -0.649   30 -0.644   29 -0.700   29 0.4370   13  3.984   29 -0.654   28 -0.746

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       49 15 7607 6896  0.048 30.922    1  0.649    1  0.652    1  0.673    1 0.5644   25  3.929    5  0.438    1  0.909
TIMBERWOLVES  40 23 7499 7206 -0.025 29.625    8  0.268    8  0.270    8  0.261    8 0.5276   11  3.995    6  0.366   11  0.156
NUGGETS       39 24 7588 7311 -0.001 30.257    9  0.257    9  0.257   10  0.231    9 0.5260    6  4.016    4  0.444   15  0.018
TRAIL BLAZERS 30 33 7267 7452  0.053 32.691   20  0.006   19  0.002   20 -0.167   20 0.4995    9  4.006   15 -0.006   24 -0.328
JAZZ          19 44 7414 7890 -0.021 31.813   26 -0.459   26 -0.453   26 -0.472   26 0.4521    1  4.072   13  0.043   30 -0.986

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         45 18 7443 7028  0.081 31.618    3  0.551    3  0.555    2  0.527    3 0.5555   16  3.977    3  0.536    6  0.517
ROCKETS       38 23 6994 6677  0.016 29.422    7  0.277    7  0.278    9  0.261    7 0.5278   29  3.906   20 -0.087    4  0.609
GRIZZLIES     23 38 7051 7182 -0.040 29.554   23 -0.315   23 -0.320   21 -0.187   23 0.4677   10  4.000   18 -0.058   22 -0.315
PELICANS      20 44 7369 7695 -0.019 31.867   25 -0.445   25 -0.445   22 -0.261   25 0.4550    8  4.008   19 -0.087   25 -0.436
MAVERICKS     21 41 7038 7292 -0.048 30.245   24 -0.403   24 -0.403   24 -0.312   24 0.4579   17  3.976   25 -0.308   23 -0.316

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       45 16 7136 6688  0.031 29.538    2  0.553    2  0.557    3  0.524    2 0.5571   23  3.943    7  0.360    3  0.688
CAVALIERS     39 24 7505 7237  0.041 31.183    6  0.294    6  0.298    7  0.344    6 0.5307    7  4.013    2  0.542   12  0.146
BULLS         26 37 7277 7543 -0.015 31.433   22 -0.195   22 -0.196   23 -0.300   22 0.4783    4  4.022   16 -0.054   26 -0.545
BUCKS         26 35 6793 7064 -0.016 30.535   21 -0.163   21 -0.164   25 -0.342   21 0.4827   22  3.947   27 -0.485   20 -0.200
PACERS        15 47 6902 7423 -0.044 31.045   28 -0.615   28 -0.617   27 -0.564   30 0.4365   14  3.983   28 -0.524   27 -0.604

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       32 31 7314 7074 -0.010 30.152   19  0.010   20 -0.000    6  0.398   18 0.5002   21  3.955    9  0.294    7  0.503
HEAT          34 29 7560 7344  0.020 30.956   15  0.100   15  0.094   11  0.219   15 0.5095    2  4.037    1  0.544   18 -0.106
HAWKS         32 31 7409 7390  0.011 31.217   17  0.029   17  0.026   15  0.057   17 0.5032    5  4.017   10  0.277   19 -0.164
MAGIC         33 28 7001 6975  0.015 30.324   13  0.109   13  0.109   18 -0.020   14 0.5102   19  3.961   21 -0.094   14  0.053
WIZARDS       16 46 6956 7628 -0.080 30.438   29 -0.629   29 -0.621   30 -0.712   28 0.4384    3  4.024   26 -0.456   29 -0.967

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       41 21 7096 6642 -0.013 29.065    4  0.337    4  0.336    4  0.458    4 0.5364   30  3.902   12  0.091    2  0.826
KNICKS        41 23 7485 7090  0.037 31.376    5  0.333    5  0.332    5  0.452    5 0.5358   20  3.955    8  0.351    5  0.553
RAPTORS       35 27 7040 6946  0.007 30.438   12  0.154   12  0.153   13  0.076   12 0.5154   24  3.932   23 -0.141   10  0.294
76ERS         34 28 7180 7188 -0.014 30.244   14  0.103   14  0.105   19 -0.070   13 0.5103   15  3.977   17 -0.058   17 -0.082
NETS          15 47 6625 7176 -0.011 31.675   27 -0.605   27 -0.605   28 -0.637   27 0.4395   28  3.907   30 -0.979   21 -0.295

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 177 139 0.560    1  0.148
ATLANTIC DIVISION  166 146 0.532    2  0.088
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 147 164 0.473    3 -0.003
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 147 165 0.471    4 -0.036
CENTRAL DIVISION   151 159 0.487    5 -0.085
PACIFIC DIVISION   148 163 0.476    6 -0.093

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Mar  6 05:30:09 2026
games through: Thu Mar  5 2026

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