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  0.072 40.460    1  0.766    1  0.764    1  0.785    1 0.5703   26  3.930    3  0.540    1  1.029
SPURS         63 21 10050  9367  0.073 41.433    2  0.673    2  0.675    2  0.663    2 0.5623   14  3.985    1  0.700    6  0.625
CELTICS       57 26  9541  8878  0.037 39.967    4  0.467    4  0.464    3  0.608    4 0.5444   29  3.903   10  0.230    2  0.987
PISTONS       60 23  9758  9100  0.020 39.414    3  0.533    3  0.537    4  0.558    3 0.5518   23  3.942    7  0.375    3  0.740
KNICKS        55 29  9786  9245  0.039 40.883    6  0.394    6  0.391    5  0.465    6 0.5370   22  3.942    8  0.284    4  0.647
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.015 40.635   16  0.097   16  0.084    6  0.420   16 0.5074   21  3.943    9  0.243    7  0.596
NUGGETS       55 28 10126  9693  0.030 40.377    5  0.407    5  0.406    7  0.394    5 0.5390    5  4.029    2  0.664   13  0.125
ROCKETS       52 31  9547  9128  0.017 40.008    9  0.308    9  0.309    8  0.302    9 0.5296   28  3.910   16 -0.040    5  0.644
CAVALIERS     53 30  9927  9576  0.008 40.036    8  0.333    8  0.336    9  0.274    8 0.5319    7  4.015    5  0.467   15  0.080
HAWKS         46 37  9816  9629  0.027 41.019   12  0.155   12  0.148   10  0.254   12 0.5137    9  4.011    6  0.429   16  0.079
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       46 37  9513  9294  0.022 40.830   13  0.150   13  0.140   11  0.224   13 0.5132   24  3.941   14  0.039    8  0.410
LAKERS        54 29  9647  9494  0.011 40.669    7  0.379    7  0.384   12  0.189    7 0.5359   15  3.983   12  0.217   11  0.161
TIMBERWOLVES  49 34  9781  9517  0.011 40.317   10  0.218   10  0.215   13  0.170   10 0.5208   12  3.988   11  0.226   14  0.115
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.030 41.143   17  0.066   17  0.060   14  0.108   17 0.5050    2  4.058    4  0.531   20 -0.315
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.008 40.297   19  0.012   19  0.002   15  0.103   19 0.5000   25  3.940   20 -0.090   10  0.295
MAGIC         47 38  9821  9739  0.033 42.568   11  0.158   11  0.157   16  0.092   11 0.5142   18  3.967   15  0.036   12  0.147
SUNS          46 39  9537  9441  0.038 42.639   14  0.141   14  0.134   17  0.076   14 0.5127   27  3.915   23 -0.245    9  0.397
TRAIL BLAZERS 43 41  9681  9714  0.009 41.661   18  0.045   18  0.042   18  0.050   18 0.5035   16  3.978   13  0.053   17  0.046
76ERS         46 38  9702  9737 -0.001 41.419   15  0.130   15  0.127   19 -0.067   15 0.5113   17  3.975   19 -0.080   18 -0.053
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.017 41.979   20 -0.084   20 -0.094   20 -0.146   20 0.4906   19  3.965   22 -0.213   19 -0.078
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 40.809   23 -0.463   24 -0.466   21 -0.238   23 0.4564    8  4.014   17 -0.048   23 -0.427
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.036 40.612   22 -0.299   22 -0.303   22 -0.421   22 0.4695    3  4.040   21 -0.092   27 -0.750
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.034 40.718   24 -0.465   23 -0.464   23 -0.422   24 0.4555   11  3.993   24 -0.343   24 -0.500
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.039 41.171   29 -0.682   29 -0.686   24 -0.502   29 0.4356   10  3.998   26 -0.399   25 -0.605
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.047 40.612   21 -0.280   21 -0.278   25 -0.548   21 0.4722   20  3.950   29 -0.689   21 -0.406
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.040 41.158   26 -0.587   26 -0.588   26 -0.584   26 0.4446    1  4.079   18 -0.049   29 -1.119
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.035 40.744   25 -0.503   25 -0.506   27 -0.584   25 0.4525    6  4.018   25 -0.373   28 -0.796
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.047 41.238   27 -0.597   27 -0.592   28 -0.670   27 0.4445   13  3.987   28 -0.621   26 -0.719
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.061 41.027   28 -0.677   28 -0.673   29 -0.812   28 0.4377   30  3.899   30 -1.213   22 -0.411
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.070 41.099   30 -0.796   30 -0.799   30 -0.831   30 0.4287    4  4.037   27 -0.519   30 -1.143

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        54 29  9647  9494  0.011 40.669    7  0.379    7  0.384   12  0.189    7 0.5359   15  3.983   12  0.217   11  0.161
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.008 40.297   19  0.012   19  0.002   15  0.103   19 0.5000   25  3.940   20 -0.090   10  0.295
SUNS          46 39  9537  9441  0.038 42.639   14  0.141   14  0.134   17  0.076   14 0.5127   27  3.915   23 -0.245    9  0.397
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.017 41.979   20 -0.084   20 -0.094   20 -0.146   20 0.4906   19  3.965   22 -0.213   19 -0.078
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.047 41.238   27 -0.597   27 -0.592   28 -0.670   27 0.4445   13  3.987   28 -0.621   26 -0.719

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  0.072 40.460    1  0.766    1  0.764    1  0.785    1 0.5703   26  3.930    3  0.540    1  1.029
NUGGETS       55 28 10126  9693  0.030 40.377    5  0.407    5  0.406    7  0.394    5 0.5390    5  4.029    2  0.664   13  0.125
TIMBERWOLVES  49 34  9781  9517  0.011 40.317   10  0.218   10  0.215   13  0.170   10 0.5208   12  3.988   11  0.226   14  0.115
TRAIL BLAZERS 43 41  9681  9714  0.009 41.661   18  0.045   18  0.042   18  0.050   18 0.5035   16  3.978   13  0.053   17  0.046
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.040 41.158   26 -0.587   26 -0.588   26 -0.584   26 0.4446    1  4.079   18 -0.049   29 -1.119

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 21 10050  9367  0.073 41.433    2  0.673    2  0.675    2  0.663    2 0.5623   14  3.985    1  0.700    6  0.625
ROCKETS       52 31  9547  9128  0.017 40.008    9  0.308    9  0.309    8  0.302    9 0.5296   28  3.910   16 -0.040    5  0.644
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.020 40.809   23 -0.463   24 -0.466   21 -0.238   23 0.4564    8  4.014   17 -0.048   23 -0.427
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.034 40.718   24 -0.465   23 -0.464   23 -0.422   24 0.4555   11  3.993   24 -0.343   24 -0.500
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.035 40.744   25 -0.503   25 -0.506   27 -0.584   25 0.4525    6  4.018   25 -0.373   28 -0.796

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  0.020 39.414    3  0.533    3  0.537    4  0.558    3 0.5518   23  3.942    7  0.375    3  0.740
CAVALIERS     53 30  9927  9576  0.008 40.036    8  0.333    8  0.336    9  0.274    8 0.5319    7  4.015    5  0.467   15  0.080
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.036 40.612   22 -0.299   22 -0.303   22 -0.421   22 0.4695    3  4.040   21 -0.092   27 -0.750
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.039 41.171   29 -0.682   29 -0.686   24 -0.502   29 0.4356   10  3.998   26 -0.399   25 -0.605
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.047 40.612   21 -0.280   21 -0.278   25 -0.548   21 0.4722   20  3.950   29 -0.689   21 -0.406

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  0.015 40.635   16  0.097   16  0.084    6  0.420   16 0.5074   21  3.943    9  0.243    7  0.596
HAWKS         46 37  9816  9629  0.027 41.019   12  0.155   12  0.148   10  0.254   12 0.5137    9  4.011    6  0.429   16  0.079
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.030 41.143   17  0.066   17  0.060   14  0.108   17 0.5050    2  4.058    4  0.531   20 -0.315
MAGIC         47 38  9821  9739  0.033 42.568   11  0.158   11  0.157   16  0.092   11 0.5142   18  3.967   15  0.036   12  0.147
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.070 41.099   30 -0.796   30 -0.799   30 -0.831   30 0.4287    4  4.037   27 -0.519   30 -1.143

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 26  9541  8878  0.037 39.967    4  0.467    4  0.464    3  0.608    4 0.5444   29  3.903   10  0.230    2  0.987
KNICKS        55 29  9786  9245  0.039 40.883    6  0.394    6  0.391    5  0.465    6 0.5370   22  3.942    8  0.284    4  0.647
RAPTORS       46 37  9513  9294  0.022 40.830   13  0.150   13  0.140   11  0.224   13 0.5132   24  3.941   14  0.039    8  0.410
76ERS         46 38  9702  9737 -0.001 41.419   15  0.130   15  0.127   19 -0.067   15 0.5113   17  3.975   19 -0.080   18 -0.053
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.061 41.027   28 -0.677   28 -0.673   29 -0.812   28 0.4377   30  3.899   30 -1.213   22 -0.411

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 234 181 0.564    1  0.177
ATLANTIC DIVISION  224 192 0.538    2  0.106
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 198 219 0.475    3 -0.007
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 192 221 0.465    4 -0.048
PACIFIC DIVISION   202 215 0.484    5 -0.087
CENTRAL DIVISION   195 217 0.473    6 -0.130

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Mon Apr 20 05:30:15 2026
games through: Sun Apr 19 2026

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