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       58 16 8789 7970  0.055 35.696    1  0.728    1  0.730    1  0.696    1 0.5692   26  3.929    5  0.452    1  0.940
SPURS         55 19 8820 8261  0.083 36.899    2  0.640    2  0.646    2  0.622    2 0.5616   14  3.987    1  0.675    6  0.570
PISTONS       53 20 8587 8015 -0.005 34.089    3  0.510    3  0.511    3  0.520    3 0.5508   22  3.944    7  0.353    3  0.688
CELTICS       49 24 8331 7805  0.016 34.703    4  0.401    4  0.396    4  0.486    4 0.5400   30  3.895   12  0.071    2  0.900
HORNETS       39 34 8493 8149 -0.004 34.698   17  0.068   17  0.060    5  0.474   17 0.5060   21  3.948    8  0.325    4  0.624
KNICKS        49 26 8785 8290  0.013 35.758    6  0.357    6  0.353    6  0.444    6 0.5353   20  3.951    9  0.310    5  0.577
CAVALIERS     46 28 8835 8521  0.026 36.098    7  0.299    8  0.299    7  0.313    8 0.5296    6  4.014    4  0.507   12  0.118
NUGGETS       47 28 9100 8768  0.016 36.286    8  0.298    7  0.299    8  0.276    7 0.5299    5  4.030    2  0.555   16 -0.004
TIMBERWOLVES  45 28 8634 8354 -0.004 34.910    9  0.256    9  0.256    9  0.216    9 0.5260   13  3.989   10  0.277   11  0.155
HAWKS         41 33 8746 8618  0.009 36.134   13  0.133   13  0.130   10  0.188   13 0.5127    7  4.014    6  0.380   17 -0.005
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ROCKETS       44 29 8332 8046  0.023 35.564   10  0.253   10  0.252   11  0.172   10 0.5249   28  3.903   22 -0.202    7  0.547
CLIPPERS      38 36 8423 8325  0.007 36.199   18  0.037   18  0.032   12  0.171   18 0.5029   25  3.936   17 -0.037    9  0.380
LAKERS        48 26 8631 8503  0.009 36.191    5  0.360    5  0.365   13  0.170    5 0.5358   11  3.992   11  0.248   13  0.093
HEAT          39 35 8901 8710  0.042 36.897   15  0.088   16  0.089   14  0.156   15 0.5084    2  4.048    3  0.527   20 -0.215
RAPTORS       41 32 8321 8198  0.007 35.675   11  0.153   11  0.151   15  0.095   11 0.5147   24  3.939   21 -0.102   10  0.292
SUNS          40 33 8204 8116  0.031 36.358   12  0.140   12  0.138   16  0.076   12 0.5142   27  3.917   24 -0.229    8  0.380
MAGIC         39 34 8448 8381  0.015 36.003   16  0.084   15  0.091   17  0.033   16 0.5081   18  3.967   16 -0.017   14  0.083
WARRIORS      36 38 8524 8503  0.019 36.722   20 -0.004   20 -0.013   18 -0.044   20 0.4982   19  3.966   20 -0.100   15  0.013
TRAIL BLAZERS 37 38 8643 8739  0.009 37.274   19  0.003   19  0.001   19 -0.050   19 0.4992   12  3.990   13  0.016   18 -0.115
76ERS         40 33 8479 8506 -0.020 35.385   14  0.099   14  0.106   20 -0.093   14 0.5098   16  3.984   19 -0.060   19 -0.127
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PELICANS      25 50 8644 8948 -0.005 37.412   23 -0.399   23 -0.400   21 -0.158   23 0.4610    9  4.005   15 -0.013   22 -0.304
BULLS         29 44 8488 8827 -0.007 36.590   21 -0.233   21 -0.229   22 -0.324   22 0.4758    3  4.037   14 -0.011   26 -0.637
GRIZZLIES     24 49 8396 8695 -0.020 36.099   24 -0.423   24 -0.426   23 -0.367   24 0.4582    8  4.009   23 -0.203   25 -0.531
MAVERICKS     24 50 8425 8802 -0.028 36.646   25 -0.432   25 -0.430   24 -0.377   25 0.4565   17  3.983   25 -0.345   24 -0.408
BUCKS         29 43 7964 8394 -0.034 35.713   22 -0.240   22 -0.230   25 -0.527   21 0.4760   23  3.943   29 -0.700   23 -0.354
JAZZ          21 53 8695 9273 -0.047 36.594   26 -0.538   26 -0.537   26 -0.542   26 0.4470    1  4.072   18 -0.042   30 -1.042
PACERS        16 58 8281 8928 -0.042 37.006   30 -0.701   30 -0.707   27 -0.591   30 0.4318   10  3.996   27 -0.494   27 -0.688
NETS          17 57 7857 8559 -0.002 38.052   28 -0.648   28 -0.646   28 -0.682   28 0.4382   29  3.899   30 -1.079   21 -0.286
WIZARDS       17 56 8246 9053 -0.048 36.740   29 -0.690   29 -0.687   29 -0.686   29 0.4352    4  4.034   26 -0.386   29 -0.986
KINGS         19 55 8202 8967 -0.031 37.493   27 -0.599   27 -0.595   30 -0.686   27 0.4430   15  3.986   28 -0.641   28 -0.732

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      38 36 8423 8325  0.007 36.199   18  0.037   18  0.032   12  0.171   18 0.5029   25  3.936   17 -0.037    9  0.380
LAKERS        48 26 8631 8503  0.009 36.191    5  0.360    5  0.365   13  0.170    5 0.5358   11  3.992   11  0.248   13  0.093
SUNS          40 33 8204 8116  0.031 36.358   12  0.140   12  0.138   16  0.076   12 0.5142   27  3.917   24 -0.229    8  0.380
WARRIORS      36 38 8524 8503  0.019 36.722   20 -0.004   20 -0.013   18 -0.044   20 0.4982   19  3.966   20 -0.100   15  0.013
KINGS         19 55 8202 8967 -0.031 37.493   27 -0.599   27 -0.595   30 -0.686   27 0.4430   15  3.986   28 -0.641   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       58 16 8789 7970  0.055 35.696    1  0.728    1  0.730    1  0.696    1 0.5692   26  3.929    5  0.452    1  0.940
NUGGETS       47 28 9100 8768  0.016 36.286    8  0.298    7  0.299    8  0.276    7 0.5299    5  4.030    2  0.555   16 -0.004
TIMBERWOLVES  45 28 8634 8354 -0.004 34.910    9  0.256    9  0.256    9  0.216    9 0.5260   13  3.989   10  0.277   11  0.155
TRAIL BLAZERS 37 38 8643 8739  0.009 37.274   19  0.003   19  0.001   19 -0.050   19 0.4992   12  3.990   13  0.016   18 -0.115
JAZZ          21 53 8695 9273 -0.047 36.594   26 -0.538   26 -0.537   26 -0.542   26 0.4470    1  4.072   18 -0.042   30 -1.042

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         55 19 8820 8261  0.083 36.899    2  0.640    2  0.646    2  0.622    2 0.5616   14  3.987    1  0.675    6  0.570
ROCKETS       44 29 8332 8046  0.023 35.564   10  0.253   10  0.252   11  0.172   10 0.5249   28  3.903   22 -0.202    7  0.547
PELICANS      25 50 8644 8948 -0.005 37.412   23 -0.399   23 -0.400   21 -0.158   23 0.4610    9  4.005   15 -0.013   22 -0.304
GRIZZLIES     24 49 8396 8695 -0.020 36.099   24 -0.423   24 -0.426   23 -0.367   24 0.4582    8  4.009   23 -0.203   25 -0.531
MAVERICKS     24 50 8425 8802 -0.028 36.646   25 -0.432   25 -0.430   24 -0.377   25 0.4565   17  3.983   25 -0.345   24 -0.408

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       53 20 8587 8015 -0.005 34.089    3  0.510    3  0.511    3  0.520    3 0.5508   22  3.944    7  0.353    3  0.688
CAVALIERS     46 28 8835 8521  0.026 36.098    7  0.299    8  0.299    7  0.313    8 0.5296    6  4.014    4  0.507   12  0.118
BULLS         29 44 8488 8827 -0.007 36.590   21 -0.233   21 -0.229   22 -0.324   22 0.4758    3  4.037   14 -0.011   26 -0.637
BUCKS         29 43 7964 8394 -0.034 35.713   22 -0.240   22 -0.230   25 -0.527   21 0.4760   23  3.943   29 -0.700   23 -0.354
PACERS        16 58 8281 8928 -0.042 37.006   30 -0.701   30 -0.707   27 -0.591   30 0.4318   10  3.996   27 -0.494   27 -0.688

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       39 34 8493 8149 -0.004 34.698   17  0.068   17  0.060    5  0.474   17 0.5060   21  3.948    8  0.325    4  0.624
HAWKS         41 33 8746 8618  0.009 36.134   13  0.133   13  0.130   10  0.188   13 0.5127    7  4.014    6  0.380   17 -0.005
HEAT          39 35 8901 8710  0.042 36.897   15  0.088   16  0.089   14  0.156   15 0.5084    2  4.048    3  0.527   20 -0.215
MAGIC         39 34 8448 8381  0.015 36.003   16  0.084   15  0.091   17  0.033   16 0.5081   18  3.967   16 -0.017   14  0.083
WIZARDS       17 56 8246 9053 -0.048 36.740   29 -0.690   29 -0.687   29 -0.686   29 0.4352    4  4.034   26 -0.386   29 -0.986

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       49 24 8331 7805  0.016 34.703    4  0.401    4  0.396    4  0.486    4 0.5400   30  3.895   12  0.071    2  0.900
KNICKS        49 26 8785 8290  0.013 35.758    6  0.357    6  0.353    6  0.444    6 0.5353   20  3.951    9  0.310    5  0.577
RAPTORS       41 32 8321 8198  0.007 35.675   11  0.153   11  0.151   15  0.095   11 0.5147   24  3.939   21 -0.102   10  0.292
76ERS         40 33 8479 8506 -0.020 35.385   14  0.099   14  0.106   20 -0.093   14 0.5098   16  3.984   19 -0.060   19 -0.127
NETS          17 57 7857 8559 -0.002 38.052   28 -0.648   28 -0.646   28 -0.682   28 0.4382   29  3.899   30 -1.079   21 -0.286

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 208 163 0.561    1  0.154
ATLANTIC DIVISION  196 172 0.533    2  0.082
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 175 192 0.477    3  0.000
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 172 197 0.466    4 -0.023
PACIFIC DIVISION   181 188 0.491    5 -0.069
CENTRAL DIVISION   173 193 0.473    6 -0.123

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.141 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 28 05:30:13 2026
games through: Fri Mar 27 2026

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