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
JAZZ          20 48 7974 8493 -0.030 33.971   26 -0.490   26 -0.485   26 -0.499   26 0.4500    1  4.067   14 -0.017   29 -0.981
HEAT          38 30 8188 7929  0.017 33.163   14  0.140   14  0.136    9  0.246   14 0.5136    2  4.041    2  0.589   18 -0.097
WIZARDS       16 50 7434 8163 -0.067 32.677   29 -0.663   29 -0.659   30 -0.709   29 0.4358    3  4.029   26 -0.430   30 -0.989
BULLS         27 40 7755 8054 -0.016 33.361   22 -0.221   22 -0.220   23 -0.325   22 0.4761    4  4.026   19 -0.063   26 -0.587
NUGGETS       41 27 8207 7933  0.032 33.459    9  0.254    9  0.252    8  0.254    9 0.5259    5  4.023    4  0.500   16  0.008
HAWKS         36 31 7888 7814 -0.013 32.369   16  0.076   16  0.071   15  0.102   16 0.5077    6  4.013    8  0.299   17 -0.095
CAVALIERS     41 27 8098 7810  0.033 33.407    8  0.258    8  0.255    6  0.328    8 0.5259    7  4.013    3  0.524   12  0.132
PELICANS      22 46 7850 8149 -0.024 33.574   25 -0.430   25 -0.429   21 -0.200   25 0.4575    8  4.009   15 -0.026   24 -0.375
GRIZZLIES     23 43 7637 7816 -0.043 31.894   23 -0.389   24 -0.393   22 -0.251   23 0.4609    9  4.009   20 -0.079   25 -0.423
TIMBERWOLVES  41 27 8055 7831 -0.007 32.632   10  0.220   10  0.221   12  0.148   10 0.5225   10  3.998    9  0.267   14  0.030
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TRAIL BLAZERS 32 36 7825 7995  0.038 34.762   20 -0.024   20 -0.025   20 -0.145   20 0.4964   11  3.997   16 -0.034   21 -0.255
LAKERS        42 25 7805 7723 -0.011 32.439    7  0.285    6  0.287   16  0.097    6 0.5291   12  3.992   11  0.183   15  0.010
SPURS         49 19 8075 7614  0.089 34.314    2  0.572    2  0.582    2  0.556    2 0.5576   13  3.988    1  0.619    6  0.493
PACERS        15 53 7562 8154 -0.054 33.709   30 -0.686   30 -0.692   29 -0.613   30 0.4311   14  3.984   28 -0.569   28 -0.657
KINGS         18 51 7647 8319 -0.024 34.981   27 -0.572   27 -0.568   27 -0.608   27 0.4440   15  3.980   29 -0.586   27 -0.630
MAVERICKS     23 45 7697 8028 -0.029 33.681   24 -0.394   23 -0.388   24 -0.363   24 0.4597   16  3.977   25 -0.358   23 -0.369
76ERS         37 31 7858 7888 -0.013 33.187   15  0.095   15  0.100   19 -0.095   15 0.5092   17  3.976   21 -0.091   19 -0.099
WARRIORS      32 35 7712 7662  0.033 33.574   19 -0.013   19 -0.024   18  0.031   19 0.4974   18  3.963   17 -0.035   13  0.096
MAGIC         38 28 7635 7528  0.019 32.573   12  0.188   12  0.189   13  0.115   12 0.5182   19  3.961   13  0.039   11  0.190
KNICKS        45 25 8187 7745  0.037 34.241    5  0.345    5  0.343    5  0.460    5 0.5362   20  3.952    7  0.340    4  0.581
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HORNETS       34 34 7855 7638 -0.004 32.711   18  0.001   18 -0.012    7  0.319   18 0.4992   21  3.949   10  0.185    7  0.454
PISTONS       48 19 7854 7354  0.019 32.037    3  0.493    3  0.497    3  0.514    3 0.5505   22  3.947    6  0.369    3  0.658
BUCKS         28 39 7449 7779 -0.035 33.086   21 -0.202   21 -0.198   25 -0.413   21 0.4789   23  3.947   27 -0.562   22 -0.264
CLIPPERS      34 33 7600 7543  0.022 33.290   17  0.039   17  0.033   11  0.151   17 0.5031   24  3.937   18 -0.046    9  0.348
RAPTORS       38 29 7613 7496  0.006 32.754   13  0.159   13  0.159   14  0.108   13 0.5157   25  3.934   22 -0.103   10  0.319
THUNDER       53 15 8060 7324  0.052 33.017    1  0.697    1  0.700    1  0.664    1 0.5682   26  3.926    5  0.411    1  0.916
SUNS          39 28 7540 7448  0.010 32.905   11  0.199   11  0.201   17  0.059   11 0.5201   27  3.918   24 -0.234    8  0.353
ROCKETS       41 25 7533 7254  0.020 32.049    6  0.288    7  0.286   10  0.180    7 0.5287   28  3.905   23 -0.176    5  0.536
NETS          17 50 7152 7746 -0.001 34.412   28 -0.573   28 -0.569   28 -0.613   28 0.4434   29  3.904   30 -0.973   20 -0.252
CELTICS       44 23 7654 7169  0.009 31.730    4  0.348    4  0.346    4  0.471    4 0.5363   30  3.898   12  0.079    2  0.863

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        42 25 7805 7723 -0.011 32.439    7  0.285    6  0.287   16  0.097    6 0.5291   12  3.992   11  0.183   15  0.010
KINGS         18 51 7647 8319 -0.024 34.981   27 -0.572   27 -0.568   27 -0.608   27 0.4440   15  3.980   29 -0.586   27 -0.630
WARRIORS      32 35 7712 7662  0.033 33.574   19 -0.013   19 -0.024   18  0.031   19 0.4974   18  3.963   17 -0.035   13  0.096
CLIPPERS      34 33 7600 7543  0.022 33.290   17  0.039   17  0.033   11  0.151   17 0.5031   24  3.937   18 -0.046    9  0.348
SUNS          39 28 7540 7448  0.010 32.905   11  0.199   11  0.201   17  0.059   11 0.5201   27  3.918   24 -0.234    8  0.353

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
JAZZ          20 48 7974 8493 -0.030 33.971   26 -0.490   26 -0.485   26 -0.499   26 0.4500    1  4.067   14 -0.017   29 -0.981
NUGGETS       41 27 8207 7933  0.032 33.459    9  0.254    9  0.252    8  0.254    9 0.5259    5  4.023    4  0.500   16  0.008
TIMBERWOLVES  41 27 8055 7831 -0.007 32.632   10  0.220   10  0.221   12  0.148   10 0.5225   10  3.998    9  0.267   14  0.030
TRAIL BLAZERS 32 36 7825 7995  0.038 34.762   20 -0.024   20 -0.025   20 -0.145   20 0.4964   11  3.997   16 -0.034   21 -0.255
THUNDER       53 15 8060 7324  0.052 33.017    1  0.697    1  0.700    1  0.664    1 0.5682   26  3.926    5  0.411    1  0.916

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
PELICANS      22 46 7850 8149 -0.024 33.574   25 -0.430   25 -0.429   21 -0.200   25 0.4575    8  4.009   15 -0.026   24 -0.375
GRIZZLIES     23 43 7637 7816 -0.043 31.894   23 -0.389   24 -0.393   22 -0.251   23 0.4609    9  4.009   20 -0.079   25 -0.423
SPURS         49 19 8075 7614  0.089 34.314    2  0.572    2  0.582    2  0.556    2 0.5576   13  3.988    1  0.619    6  0.493
MAVERICKS     23 45 7697 8028 -0.029 33.681   24 -0.394   23 -0.388   24 -0.363   24 0.4597   16  3.977   25 -0.358   23 -0.369
ROCKETS       41 25 7533 7254  0.020 32.049    6  0.288    7  0.286   10  0.180    7 0.5287   28  3.905   23 -0.176    5  0.536

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
BULLS         27 40 7755 8054 -0.016 33.361   22 -0.221   22 -0.220   23 -0.325   22 0.4761    4  4.026   19 -0.063   26 -0.587
CAVALIERS     41 27 8098 7810  0.033 33.407    8  0.258    8  0.255    6  0.328    8 0.5259    7  4.013    3  0.524   12  0.132
PACERS        15 53 7562 8154 -0.054 33.709   30 -0.686   30 -0.692   29 -0.613   30 0.4311   14  3.984   28 -0.569   28 -0.657
PISTONS       48 19 7854 7354  0.019 32.037    3  0.493    3  0.497    3  0.514    3 0.5505   22  3.947    6  0.369    3  0.658
BUCKS         28 39 7449 7779 -0.035 33.086   21 -0.202   21 -0.198   25 -0.413   21 0.4789   23  3.947   27 -0.562   22 -0.264

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
HEAT          38 30 8188 7929  0.017 33.163   14  0.140   14  0.136    9  0.246   14 0.5136    2  4.041    2  0.589   18 -0.097
WIZARDS       16 50 7434 8163 -0.067 32.677   29 -0.663   29 -0.659   30 -0.709   29 0.4358    3  4.029   26 -0.430   30 -0.989
HAWKS         36 31 7888 7814 -0.013 32.369   16  0.076   16  0.071   15  0.102   16 0.5077    6  4.013    8  0.299   17 -0.095
MAGIC         38 28 7635 7528  0.019 32.573   12  0.188   12  0.189   13  0.115   12 0.5182   19  3.961   13  0.039   11  0.190
HORNETS       34 34 7855 7638 -0.004 32.711   18  0.001   18 -0.012    7  0.319   18 0.4992   21  3.949   10  0.185    7  0.454

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
76ERS         37 31 7858 7888 -0.013 33.187   15  0.095   15  0.100   19 -0.095   15 0.5092   17  3.976   21 -0.091   19 -0.099
KNICKS        45 25 8187 7745  0.037 34.241    5  0.345    5  0.343    5  0.460    5 0.5362   20  3.952    7  0.340    4  0.581
RAPTORS       38 29 7613 7496  0.006 32.754   13  0.159   13  0.159   14  0.108   13 0.5157   25  3.934   22 -0.103   10  0.319
NETS          17 50 7152 7746 -0.001 34.412   28 -0.573   28 -0.569   28 -0.613   28 0.4434   29  3.904   30 -0.973   20 -0.252
CELTICS       44 23 7654 7169  0.009 31.730    4  0.348    4  0.346    4  0.471    4 0.5363   30  3.898   12  0.079    2  0.863

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 187 153 0.550    1  0.132
ATLANTIC DIVISION  181 158 0.534    2  0.093
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 162 173 0.484    3 -0.014
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 158 178 0.470    4 -0.018
PACIFIC DIVISION   165 172 0.490    5 -0.068
CENTRAL DIVISION   159 178 0.472    6 -0.109

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.124 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: Mon Mar 16 05:30:09 2026
games through: Sun Mar 15 2026

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