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       72 18 10730  9683  0.066 44.405    1  0.841    1  0.817    1  0.820    1 0.5747   24  3.937    2  0.628    1  1.011
SPURS         70 24 11225 10396  0.068 46.884    2  0.689    2  0.658    2  0.755    2 0.5612   14  3.977    1  0.767    5  0.744
KNICKS        62 31 10877 10153  0.033 45.538    4  0.443    4  0.414    3  0.649    4 0.5398   23  3.940    5  0.471    3  0.828
PISTONS       67 28 11032 10309  0.026 46.252    3  0.529    3  0.505    4  0.552    3 0.5492   27  3.921    8  0.279    4  0.826
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.015 43.018    5  0.409    5  0.384    5  0.480    5 0.5381   29  3.899   12  0.097    2  0.863
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.000 40.762   16  0.085   16  0.069    6  0.394   16 0.5060   21  3.946    9  0.246    7  0.542
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.024 43.484    7  0.358    7  0.340    7  0.295    6 0.5329    5  4.023    3  0.548   15  0.041
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.005 42.806    9  0.290    9  0.268    8  0.247    9 0.5267   30  3.899   21 -0.138    6  0.633
CAVALIERS     59 36 11221 10892  0.041 47.830    8  0.343    8  0.327    9  0.245    8 0.5304    9  4.001    6  0.382   13  0.107
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.026 44.600   13  0.156   13  0.135   10  0.213   11 0.5129   25  3.936   13  0.016    8  0.411
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.051 47.240    6  0.358    6  0.347   11  0.156    7 0.5319   17  3.971   11  0.135   11  0.176
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.052 47.984   10  0.266   10  0.245   12  0.128   10 0.5236   13  3.979   10  0.150   14  0.106
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.036 44.744   11  0.162   11  0.141   13  0.109   13 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.068
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.013 41.250   17  0.055   17  0.044   14  0.087   17 0.5034    2  4.061    4  0.540   20 -0.366
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.025 40.398   19  0.002   19 -0.015   15  0.086   19 0.4985   22  3.942   19 -0.080   10  0.253
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.051 46.957   12  0.157   12  0.139   16  0.056   12 0.5123   19  3.955   17 -0.044   12  0.155
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.048 45.178   15  0.110   15  0.099   17  0.055   15 0.5091   26  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.321
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.020 44.780   18  0.034   18  0.026   18  0.004   18 0.5019   15  3.974   14 -0.002   16  0.009
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.037 48.544   14  0.139   14  0.129   19 -0.079   14 0.5101   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.064
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.001 42.093   20 -0.094   20 -0.110   20 -0.158   20 0.4890   18  3.967   22 -0.200   19 -0.117
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 -0.036 40.922   23 -0.461   24 -0.483   21 -0.247   23 0.4548    7  4.016   16 -0.030   23 -0.465
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.051 40.762   22 -0.302   22 -0.320   22 -0.424   22 0.4680    3  4.043   18 -0.065   27 -0.782
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.051 40.825   24 -0.464   23 -0.481   23 -0.428   24 0.4539   11  3.995   24 -0.322   24 -0.535
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.055 41.309   29 -0.677   29 -0.703   24 -0.502   29 0.4340   10  4.000   26 -0.370   25 -0.635
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.064 40.714   21 -0.283   21 -0.295   25 -0.552   21 0.4706   20  3.953   29 -0.664   22 -0.439
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.058 41.244   26 -0.586   26 -0.607   26 -0.586   26 0.4431    1  4.081   15 -0.023   29 -1.149
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.052 40.845   25 -0.501   25 -0.524   27 -0.587   25 0.4509    6  4.021   25 -0.348   28 -0.826
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.065 41.316   27 -0.596   27 -0.611   28 -0.669   27 0.4429   12  3.989   28 -0.592   26 -0.745
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.078 41.146   28 -0.674   28 -0.692   29 -0.808   28 0.4362   28  3.901   30 -1.181   21 -0.435
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.087 41.189   30 -0.791   30 -0.819   30 -0.827   30 0.4271    4  4.040   27 -0.485   30 -1.169

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        57 35 10562 10467  0.051 47.240    6  0.358    6  0.347   11  0.156    7 0.5319   17  3.971   11  0.135   11  0.176
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.025 40.398   19  0.002   19 -0.015   15  0.086   19 0.4985   22  3.942   19 -0.080   10  0.253
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.048 45.178   15  0.110   15  0.099   17  0.055   15 0.5091   26  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.321
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.001 42.093   20 -0.094   20 -0.110   20 -0.158   20 0.4890   18  3.967   22 -0.200   19 -0.117
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.065 41.316   27 -0.596   27 -0.611   28 -0.669   27 0.4429   12  3.989   28 -0.592   26 -0.745

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       72 18 10730  9683  0.066 44.405    1  0.841    1  0.817    1  0.820    1 0.5747   24  3.937    2  0.628    1  1.011
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.024 43.484    7  0.358    7  0.340    7  0.295    6 0.5329    5  4.023    3  0.548   15  0.041
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.052 47.984   10  0.266   10  0.245   12  0.128   10 0.5236   13  3.979   10  0.150   14  0.106
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.020 44.780   18  0.034   18  0.026   18  0.004   18 0.5019   15  3.974   14 -0.002   16  0.009
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.058 41.244   26 -0.586   26 -0.607   26 -0.586   26 0.4431    1  4.081   15 -0.023   29 -1.149

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         70 24 11225 10396  0.068 46.884    2  0.689    2  0.658    2  0.755    2 0.5612   14  3.977    1  0.767    5  0.744
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.005 42.806    9  0.290    9  0.268    8  0.247    9 0.5267   30  3.899   21 -0.138    6  0.633
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.036 40.922   23 -0.461   24 -0.483   21 -0.247   23 0.4548    7  4.016   16 -0.030   23 -0.465
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.051 40.825   24 -0.464   23 -0.481   23 -0.428   24 0.4539   11  3.995   24 -0.322   24 -0.535
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.052 40.845   25 -0.501   25 -0.524   27 -0.587   25 0.4509    6  4.021   25 -0.348   28 -0.826

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       67 28 11032 10309  0.026 46.252    3  0.529    3  0.505    4  0.552    3 0.5492   27  3.921    8  0.279    4  0.826
CAVALIERS     59 36 11221 10892  0.041 47.830    8  0.343    8  0.327    9  0.245    8 0.5304    9  4.001    6  0.382   13  0.107
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.051 40.762   22 -0.302   22 -0.320   22 -0.424   22 0.4680    3  4.043   18 -0.065   27 -0.782
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.055 41.309   29 -0.677   29 -0.703   24 -0.502   29 0.4340   10  4.000   26 -0.370   25 -0.635
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.064 40.714   21 -0.283   21 -0.295   25 -0.552   21 0.4706   20  3.953   29 -0.664   22 -0.439

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 -0.000 40.762   16  0.085   16  0.069    6  0.394   16 0.5060   21  3.946    9  0.246    7  0.542
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.036 44.744   11  0.162   11  0.141   13  0.109   13 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.068
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.013 41.250   17  0.055   17  0.044   14  0.087   17 0.5034    2  4.061    4  0.540   20 -0.366
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.051 46.957   12  0.157   12  0.139   16  0.056   12 0.5123   19  3.955   17 -0.044   12  0.155
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.087 41.189   30 -0.791   30 -0.819   30 -0.827   30 0.4271    4  4.040   27 -0.485   30 -1.169

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
KNICKS        62 31 10877 10153  0.033 45.538    4  0.443    4  0.414    3  0.649    4 0.5398   23  3.940    5  0.471    3  0.828
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.015 43.018    5  0.409    5  0.384    5  0.480    5 0.5381   29  3.899   12  0.097    2  0.863
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.026 44.600   13  0.156   13  0.135   10  0.213   11 0.5129   25  3.936   13  0.016    8  0.411
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.037 48.544   14  0.139   14  0.129   19 -0.079   14 0.5101   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.064
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.078 41.146   28 -0.674   28 -0.692   29 -0.808   28 0.4362   28  3.901   30 -1.181   21 -0.435

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 249 193 0.563    1  0.151
ATLANTIC DIVISION  240 207 0.537    2  0.104
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.037
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 201 227 0.470    4 -0.057
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.103
CENTRAL DIVISION   208 228 0.477    6 -0.145

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.150 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: Sat May 16 05:30:16 2026
games through: Fri May 15 2026

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