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       55 15 8294 7524  0.053 33.911    1  0.720    1  0.724    1  0.688    1 0.5697   26  3.925    5  0.432    1  0.944
SPURS         52 19 8427 7933  0.087 35.712    2  0.608    2  0.618    2  0.567    2 0.5604   14  3.987    1  0.624    6  0.510
PISTONS       51 19 8216 7667  0.000 32.847    3  0.512    3  0.517    3  0.529    3 0.5516   23  3.945    6  0.374    3  0.684
CELTICS       47 23 8011 7492  0.005 33.016    4  0.387    4  0.382    4  0.491    4 0.5391   29  3.901   12  0.112    2  0.869
KNICKS        47 25 8416 7947  0.020 34.648    5  0.358    5  0.354    5  0.454    5 0.5366   21  3.950    7  0.322    4  0.586
HORNETS       36 34 8121 7855 -0.000 33.644   17  0.027   17  0.022    6  0.387   17 0.5024   20  3.952   10  0.267    7  0.508
CAVALIERS     43 27 8336 8036  0.026 34.151    7  0.278    7  0.277    7  0.322    7 0.5281    7  4.012    4  0.513   12  0.130
NUGGETS       43 28 8570 8269  0.030 34.814    9  0.262    9  0.257    8  0.279    9 0.5261    5  4.022    3  0.522   16  0.036
TIMBERWOLVES  43 28 8422 8154 -0.016 33.710   10  0.223   10  0.219    9  0.187   10 0.5223   10  3.997    9  0.298   13  0.077
ROCKETS       42 27 7858 7573  0.019 33.495    8  0.263    8  0.259   10  0.178    8 0.5262   28  3.902   23 -0.196    5  0.553
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          38 32 8420 8199  0.018 34.255   14  0.113   14  0.103   11  0.178   14 0.5099    2  4.044    2  0.539   19 -0.183
LAKERS        45 25 8163 8057  0.011 34.389    6  0.342    6  0.347   12  0.157    6 0.5347   12  3.993   11  0.248   14  0.066
RAPTORS       39 30 7867 7726  0.010 33.769   12  0.162   12  0.158   13  0.148   12 0.5157   24  3.937   17 -0.048    9  0.345
CLIPPERS      34 36 7923 7891  0.023 34.861   19 -0.011   19 -0.015   14  0.102   19 0.4978   25  3.936   22 -0.102   10  0.306
HAWKS         38 32 8242 8163 -0.009 33.905   15  0.092   16  0.088   15  0.102   15 0.5092    6  4.015    8  0.304   17 -0.101
MAGIC         38 31 7966 7895  0.031 34.460   13  0.147   13  0.145   16  0.071   13 0.5132   18  3.963   14  0.007   11  0.135
SUNS          39 31 7856 7785  0.034 35.035   11  0.167   11  0.165   17  0.058   11 0.5166   27  3.917   24 -0.242    8  0.358
WARRIORS      33 37 8037 8014  0.042 35.373   20 -0.024   20 -0.029   18 -0.003   20 0.4969   19  3.963   19 -0.069   15  0.064
TRAIL BLAZERS 35 36 8174 8313  0.030 35.981   18  0.016   18  0.020   19 -0.095   18 0.5010   11  3.994   15  0.001   20 -0.190
76ERS         38 32 8093 8130 -0.017 34.066   16  0.090   15  0.096   20 -0.109   16 0.5088   17  3.978   21 -0.098   18 -0.120
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PELICANS      25 46 8208 8468 -0.028 34.766   23 -0.368   23 -0.369   21 -0.136   23 0.4632    9  4.008   13  0.030   22 -0.302
GRIZZLIES     24 45 7981 8183 -0.036 33.539   24 -0.387   24 -0.392   22 -0.263   24 0.4613    8  4.010   20 -0.085   25 -0.441
BULLS         28 42 8106 8415 -0.019 34.733   21 -0.239   22 -0.232   23 -0.324   22 0.4748    4  4.026   18 -0.061   26 -0.588
MAVERICKS     23 47 7928 8292 -0.032 34.633   25 -0.420   25 -0.417   24 -0.403   25 0.4572   16  3.980   25 -0.379   24 -0.427
BUCKS         28 41 7661 8030 -0.040 34.019   22 -0.240   21 -0.230   25 -0.468   21 0.4757   22  3.946   29 -0.622   23 -0.314
JAZZ          21 49 8213 8736 -0.034 34.860   26 -0.485   26 -0.479   26 -0.483   26 0.4514    1  4.067   16 -0.000   29 -0.966
PACERS        15 55 7791 8417 -0.053 34.800   30 -0.706   30 -0.714   27 -0.634   30 0.4300   13  3.988   27 -0.571   28 -0.696
NETS          17 53 7431 8074  0.003 36.136   28 -0.602   28 -0.599   28 -0.641   28 0.4412   30  3.898   30 -1.037   21 -0.246
KINGS         18 53 7869 8590 -0.023 36.095   27 -0.594   27 -0.591   29 -0.654   27 0.4427   15  3.984   28 -0.613   27 -0.696
WIZARDS       16 53 7763 8535 -0.060 34.395   29 -0.692   29 -0.690   30 -0.720   29 0.4338    3  4.029   26 -0.441   30 -0.998

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        45 25 8163 8057  0.011 34.389    6  0.342    6  0.347   12  0.157    6 0.5347   12  3.993   11  0.248   14  0.066
CLIPPERS      34 36 7923 7891  0.023 34.861   19 -0.011   19 -0.015   14  0.102   19 0.4978   25  3.936   22 -0.102   10  0.306
SUNS          39 31 7856 7785  0.034 35.035   11  0.167   11  0.165   17  0.058   11 0.5166   27  3.917   24 -0.242    8  0.358
WARRIORS      33 37 8037 8014  0.042 35.373   20 -0.024   20 -0.029   18 -0.003   20 0.4969   19  3.963   19 -0.069   15  0.064
KINGS         18 53 7869 8590 -0.023 36.095   27 -0.594   27 -0.591   29 -0.654   27 0.4427   15  3.984   28 -0.613   27 -0.696

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       55 15 8294 7524  0.053 33.911    1  0.720    1  0.724    1  0.688    1 0.5697   26  3.925    5  0.432    1  0.944
NUGGETS       43 28 8570 8269  0.030 34.814    9  0.262    9  0.257    8  0.279    9 0.5261    5  4.022    3  0.522   16  0.036
TIMBERWOLVES  43 28 8422 8154 -0.016 33.710   10  0.223   10  0.219    9  0.187   10 0.5223   10  3.997    9  0.298   13  0.077
TRAIL BLAZERS 35 36 8174 8313  0.030 35.981   18  0.016   18  0.020   19 -0.095   18 0.5010   11  3.994   15  0.001   20 -0.190
JAZZ          21 49 8213 8736 -0.034 34.860   26 -0.485   26 -0.479   26 -0.483   26 0.4514    1  4.067   16 -0.000   29 -0.966

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         52 19 8427 7933  0.087 35.712    2  0.608    2  0.618    2  0.567    2 0.5604   14  3.987    1  0.624    6  0.510
ROCKETS       42 27 7858 7573  0.019 33.495    8  0.263    8  0.259   10  0.178    8 0.5262   28  3.902   23 -0.196    5  0.553
PELICANS      25 46 8208 8468 -0.028 34.766   23 -0.368   23 -0.369   21 -0.136   23 0.4632    9  4.008   13  0.030   22 -0.302
GRIZZLIES     24 45 7981 8183 -0.036 33.539   24 -0.387   24 -0.392   22 -0.263   24 0.4613    8  4.010   20 -0.085   25 -0.441
MAVERICKS     23 47 7928 8292 -0.032 34.633   25 -0.420   25 -0.417   24 -0.403   25 0.4572   16  3.980   25 -0.379   24 -0.427

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       51 19 8216 7667  0.000 32.847    3  0.512    3  0.517    3  0.529    3 0.5516   23  3.945    6  0.374    3  0.684
CAVALIERS     43 27 8336 8036  0.026 34.151    7  0.278    7  0.277    7  0.322    7 0.5281    7  4.012    4  0.513   12  0.130
BULLS         28 42 8106 8415 -0.019 34.733   21 -0.239   22 -0.232   23 -0.324   22 0.4748    4  4.026   18 -0.061   26 -0.588
BUCKS         28 41 7661 8030 -0.040 34.019   22 -0.240   21 -0.230   25 -0.468   21 0.4757   22  3.946   29 -0.622   23 -0.314
PACERS        15 55 7791 8417 -0.053 34.800   30 -0.706   30 -0.714   27 -0.634   30 0.4300   13  3.988   27 -0.571   28 -0.696

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       36 34 8121 7855 -0.000 33.644   17  0.027   17  0.022    6  0.387   17 0.5024   20  3.952   10  0.267    7  0.508
HEAT          38 32 8420 8199  0.018 34.255   14  0.113   14  0.103   11  0.178   14 0.5099    2  4.044    2  0.539   19 -0.183
HAWKS         38 32 8242 8163 -0.009 33.905   15  0.092   16  0.088   15  0.102   15 0.5092    6  4.015    8  0.304   17 -0.101
MAGIC         38 31 7966 7895  0.031 34.460   13  0.147   13  0.145   16  0.071   13 0.5132   18  3.963   14  0.007   11  0.135
WIZARDS       16 53 7763 8535 -0.060 34.395   29 -0.692   29 -0.690   30 -0.720   29 0.4338    3  4.029   26 -0.441   30 -0.998

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       47 23 8011 7492  0.005 33.016    4  0.387    4  0.382    4  0.491    4 0.5391   29  3.901   12  0.112    2  0.869
KNICKS        47 25 8416 7947  0.020 34.648    5  0.358    5  0.354    5  0.454    5 0.5366   21  3.950    7  0.322    4  0.586
RAPTORS       39 30 7867 7726  0.010 33.769   12  0.162   12  0.158   13  0.148   12 0.5157   24  3.937   17 -0.048    9  0.345
76ERS         38 32 8093 8130 -0.017 34.066   16  0.090   15  0.096   20 -0.109   16 0.5088   17  3.978   21 -0.098   18 -0.120
NETS          17 53 7431 8074  0.003 36.136   28 -0.602   28 -0.599   28 -0.641   28 0.4412   30  3.898   30 -1.037   21 -0.246

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 197 156 0.558    1  0.151
ATLANTIC DIVISION  188 163 0.536    2  0.094
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 166 184 0.474    3 -0.015
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 166 182 0.477    4 -0.020
PACIFIC DIVISION   169 182 0.481    5 -0.074
CENTRAL DIVISION   165 184 0.473    6 -0.119

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.134 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 21 05:30:14 2026
games through: Fri Mar 20 2026

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