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       44 14 6929 6249  0.021 27.603    1  0.578    1  0.593    1  0.678    1 0.5601   24  3.934    4  0.458    1  0.898
PISTONS       42 14 6569 6127 -0.013 26.363    2  0.524    2  0.534    2  0.521    2 0.5568   23  3.944    6  0.355    3  0.687
SPURS         41 17 6866 6500  0.066 28.966    3  0.502    3  0.510    3  0.476    3 0.5520   14  3.978    3  0.482    5  0.469
CELTICS       37 19 6456 6050 -0.010 26.490    4  0.330    4  0.327    4  0.450    4 0.5372   28  3.915   10  0.133    2  0.766
KNICKS        38 21 6939 6596  0.008 28.539    5  0.312    5  0.310    5  0.368    5 0.5343   19  3.967    8  0.315    6  0.421
CAVALIERS     36 22 6942 6692  0.024 28.500    7  0.280    7  0.280    6  0.328    7 0.5295    6  4.020    1  0.554   12  0.101
ROCKETS       35 21 6412 6124  0.029 27.465    6  0.288    6  0.285    7  0.262    6 0.5297   29  3.905   20 -0.101    4  0.625
TIMBERWOLVES  35 23 6932 6672 -0.036 27.214   11  0.193   11  0.184    8  0.222   11 0.5190   10  4.002    7  0.352   13  0.091
HORNETS       27 31 6706 6594 -0.010 28.186   20 -0.075   20 -0.087    9  0.209   20 0.4913   21  3.960   11  0.124   10  0.294
HEAT          31 27 6961 6779  0.034 29.009   13  0.107   14  0.092   10  0.208   14 0.5097    2  4.033    2  0.502   18 -0.085
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
NUGGETS       36 22 7008 6745 -0.020 27.620    8  0.240    8  0.238   11  0.207    9 0.5246    5  4.022    5  0.442   15 -0.029
WARRIORS      30 27 6592 6491  0.029 28.564   16  0.088   16  0.079   12  0.129   16 0.5083   18  3.968   13  0.081   11  0.176
RAPTORS       34 23 6490 6369 -0.018 27.541   10  0.203   10  0.198   13  0.114   10 0.5214   25  3.930   22 -0.126    7  0.354
CLIPPERS      27 30 6389 6416  0.032 28.928   19 -0.022   19 -0.027   14  0.057   19 0.4974   26  3.924   23 -0.212    9  0.326
SUNS          33 25 6533 6474  0.032 29.209   12  0.188   12  0.183   15  0.047   12 0.5187   27  3.920   25 -0.240    8  0.335
MAGIC         30 26 6450 6424  0.021 28.071   14  0.102   13  0.096   16 -0.005   15 0.5095   20  3.964   18 -0.072   14  0.063
76ERS         31 26 6626 6610 -0.015 27.855   15  0.094   15  0.088   17 -0.026   13 0.5098   13  3.979   16 -0.012   16 -0.039
LAKERS        34 22 6479 6499 -0.011 27.543    9  0.231    9  0.234   18 -0.063    8 0.5252   12  3.996   14  0.037   20 -0.163
HAWKS         28 31 6898 6982  0.034 30.137   18 -0.021   18 -0.024   19 -0.084   18 0.4976    7  4.020    9  0.139   23 -0.308
TRAIL BLAZERS 28 30 6709 6858  0.053 30.189   17  0.015   17  0.016   20 -0.126   17 0.5012    9  4.007   15  0.031   22 -0.284
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GRIZZLIES     21 35 6466 6599 -0.034 27.410   23 -0.309   23 -0.311   21 -0.203   23 0.4677   11  3.998   19 -0.094   24 -0.313
MAVERICKS     20 36 6398 6592 -0.035 27.550   24 -0.338   24 -0.338   22 -0.220   24 0.4636   15  3.978   24 -0.215   21 -0.224
BUCKS         24 31 6158 6345 -0.023 27.330   21 -0.154   21 -0.148   23 -0.232   21 0.4846   22  3.948   26 -0.381   17 -0.083
PELICANS      16 42 6661 6993 -0.001 29.468   26 -0.504   26 -0.503   24 -0.281   26 0.4470    8  4.008   21 -0.121   26 -0.440
BULLS         24 34 6733 6975 -0.022 28.885   22 -0.201   22 -0.195   25 -0.305   22 0.4777    3  4.027   17 -0.041   27 -0.569
PACERS        15 43 6466 6900 -0.033 29.276   29 -0.553   29 -0.556   26 -0.447   29 0.4418   17  3.974   28 -0.461   25 -0.433
JAZZ          18 40 6842 7300  0.005 29.960   25 -0.407   25 -0.397   27 -0.461   25 0.4566    1  4.079   12  0.082   30 -1.003
NETS          15 41 5980 6423 -0.029 28.205   27 -0.539   28 -0.536   28 -0.563   27 0.4446   30  3.896   30 -0.972   19 -0.153
WIZARDS       16 40 6298 6878 -0.077 27.531   28 -0.543   27 -0.531   29 -0.639   28 0.4446    4  4.024   27 -0.392   29 -0.886
KINGS         13 46 6507 7139  0.016 31.061   30 -0.608   30 -0.612   30 -0.651   30 0.4381   16  3.976   29 -0.658   28 -0.645

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
WARRIORS      30 27 6592 6491  0.029 28.564   16  0.088   16  0.079   12  0.129   16 0.5083   18  3.968   13  0.081   11  0.176
CLIPPERS      27 30 6389 6416  0.032 28.928   19 -0.022   19 -0.027   14  0.057   19 0.4974   26  3.924   23 -0.212    9  0.326
SUNS          33 25 6533 6474  0.032 29.209   12  0.188   12  0.183   15  0.047   12 0.5187   27  3.920   25 -0.240    8  0.335
LAKERS        34 22 6479 6499 -0.011 27.543    9  0.231    9  0.234   18 -0.063    8 0.5252   12  3.996   14  0.037   20 -0.163
KINGS         13 46 6507 7139  0.016 31.061   30 -0.608   30 -0.612   30 -0.651   30 0.4381   16  3.976   29 -0.658   28 -0.645

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       44 14 6929 6249  0.021 27.603    1  0.578    1  0.593    1  0.678    1 0.5601   24  3.934    4  0.458    1  0.898
TIMBERWOLVES  35 23 6932 6672 -0.036 27.214   11  0.193   11  0.184    8  0.222   11 0.5190   10  4.002    7  0.352   13  0.091
NUGGETS       36 22 7008 6745 -0.020 27.620    8  0.240    8  0.238   11  0.207    9 0.5246    5  4.022    5  0.442   15 -0.029
TRAIL BLAZERS 28 30 6709 6858  0.053 30.189   17  0.015   17  0.016   20 -0.126   17 0.5012    9  4.007   15  0.031   22 -0.284
JAZZ          18 40 6842 7300  0.005 29.960   25 -0.407   25 -0.397   27 -0.461   25 0.4566    1  4.079   12  0.082   30 -1.003

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         41 17 6866 6500  0.066 28.966    3  0.502    3  0.510    3  0.476    3 0.5520   14  3.978    3  0.482    5  0.469
ROCKETS       35 21 6412 6124  0.029 27.465    6  0.288    6  0.285    7  0.262    6 0.5297   29  3.905   20 -0.101    4  0.625
GRIZZLIES     21 35 6466 6599 -0.034 27.410   23 -0.309   23 -0.311   21 -0.203   23 0.4677   11  3.998   19 -0.094   24 -0.313
MAVERICKS     20 36 6398 6592 -0.035 27.550   24 -0.338   24 -0.338   22 -0.220   24 0.4636   15  3.978   24 -0.215   21 -0.224
PELICANS      16 42 6661 6993 -0.001 29.468   26 -0.504   26 -0.503   24 -0.281   26 0.4470    8  4.008   21 -0.121   26 -0.440

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       42 14 6569 6127 -0.013 26.363    2  0.524    2  0.534    2  0.521    2 0.5568   23  3.944    6  0.355    3  0.687
CAVALIERS     36 22 6942 6692  0.024 28.500    7  0.280    7  0.280    6  0.328    7 0.5295    6  4.020    1  0.554   12  0.101
BUCKS         24 31 6158 6345 -0.023 27.330   21 -0.154   21 -0.148   23 -0.232   21 0.4846   22  3.948   26 -0.381   17 -0.083
BULLS         24 34 6733 6975 -0.022 28.885   22 -0.201   22 -0.195   25 -0.305   22 0.4777    3  4.027   17 -0.041   27 -0.569
PACERS        15 43 6466 6900 -0.033 29.276   29 -0.553   29 -0.556   26 -0.447   29 0.4418   17  3.974   28 -0.461   25 -0.433

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       27 31 6706 6594 -0.010 28.186   20 -0.075   20 -0.087    9  0.209   20 0.4913   21  3.960   11  0.124   10  0.294
HEAT          31 27 6961 6779  0.034 29.009   13  0.107   14  0.092   10  0.208   14 0.5097    2  4.033    2  0.502   18 -0.085
MAGIC         30 26 6450 6424  0.021 28.071   14  0.102   13  0.096   16 -0.005   15 0.5095   20  3.964   18 -0.072   14  0.063
HAWKS         28 31 6898 6982  0.034 30.137   18 -0.021   18 -0.024   19 -0.084   18 0.4976    7  4.020    9  0.139   23 -0.308
WIZARDS       16 40 6298 6878 -0.077 27.531   28 -0.543   27 -0.531   29 -0.639   28 0.4446    4  4.024   27 -0.392   29 -0.886

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       37 19 6456 6050 -0.010 26.490    4  0.330    4  0.327    4  0.450    4 0.5372   28  3.915   10  0.133    2  0.766
KNICKS        38 21 6939 6596  0.008 28.539    5  0.312    5  0.310    5  0.368    5 0.5343   19  3.967    8  0.315    6  0.421
RAPTORS       34 23 6490 6369 -0.018 27.541   10  0.203   10  0.198   13  0.114   10 0.5214   25  3.930   22 -0.126    7  0.354
76ERS         31 26 6626 6610 -0.015 27.855   15  0.094   15  0.088   17 -0.026   13 0.5098   13  3.979   16 -0.012   16 -0.039
NETS          15 41 5980 6423 -0.029 28.205   27 -0.539   28 -0.536   28 -0.563   27 0.4446   30  3.896   30 -0.972   19 -0.153

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 161 129 0.555    1  0.151
ATLANTIC DIVISION  155 130 0.544    2  0.098
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 133 151 0.468    3 -0.002
CENTRAL DIVISION   141 144 0.495    4 -0.060
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 132 155 0.460    5 -0.078
PACIFIC DIVISION   137 150 0.477    6 -0.098

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue Feb 24 05:30:07 2026
games through: Mon Feb 23 2026

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