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          22 60  9642 10333 -0.066 41.243   26 -0.587   26 -0.616   26 -0.576   26 0.4424    1  4.081   15 -0.007   29 -1.145
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.005 41.280   17  0.056   17  0.036   15  0.074   17 0.5029    2  4.061    3  0.534   20 -0.386
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.059 40.781   22 -0.302   22 -0.329   22 -0.419   22 0.4674    3  4.044   17 -0.053   27 -0.784
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.096 41.190   30 -0.793   30 -0.828   30 -0.809   30 0.4265    4  4.040   27 -0.461   30 -1.158
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.015 43.496    6  0.358    7  0.331    7  0.277    6 0.5321    5  4.024    2  0.537   15  0.017
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.061 40.863   25 -0.501   25 -0.532   27 -0.576   25 0.4502    6  4.021   25 -0.331   28 -0.822
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.045 40.945   23 -0.460   24 -0.491   21 -0.248   23 0.4541    7  4.017   16 -0.025   23 -0.472
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.031 44.864   11  0.160   11  0.136   13  0.103   12 0.5120    8  4.010    7  0.289   18 -0.083
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.063 41.332   29 -0.677   29 -0.711   24 -0.493   29 0.4335    9  4.001   26 -0.354   25 -0.633
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.059 51.492    8  0.313    8  0.294   10  0.190    8 0.5270   10  3.996    6  0.304   14  0.076
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.059 40.841   24 -0.463   23 -0.489   23 -0.423   24 0.4532   11  3.996   24 -0.310   24 -0.536
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.073 41.325   27 -0.596   27 -0.619   28 -0.655   27 0.4421   12  3.990   28 -0.572   26 -0.737
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.045 48.037   10  0.263   10  0.238   12  0.117   10 0.5228   13  3.980   10  0.148   13  0.087
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.012 44.817   18  0.035   18  0.018   18 -0.003   18 0.5011   14  3.975   14  0.000   16 -0.006
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.031 48.649   14  0.141   14  0.123   19 -0.081   14 0.5099   15  3.973   20 -0.088   17 -0.075
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.040 47.209    7  0.356    6  0.337   11  0.138    7 0.5310   16  3.971   11  0.125   11  0.151
SPURS         75 30 12434 11587  0.145 55.442    2  0.690    2  0.650    1  0.767    2 0.5597   17  3.968    1  0.736    4  0.797
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.008 42.099   20 -0.095   20 -0.118   20 -0.162   20 0.4882   18  3.967   22 -0.197   19 -0.128
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.040 46.914   13  0.153   12  0.129   17  0.040   13 0.5116   19  3.956   18 -0.054   12  0.133
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.073 40.722   21 -0.283   21 -0.304   25 -0.543   21 0.4700   20  3.953   29 -0.649   22 -0.437
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 -0.008 40.793   16  0.085   16  0.061    6  0.374   16 0.5054   21  3.946    8  0.232    7  0.515
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.033 40.406   19  0.003   19 -0.024   14  0.075   19 0.4978   22  3.942   19 -0.086   10  0.236
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.017 44.611   12  0.154   13  0.126    9  0.196   11 0.5122   23  3.937   13  0.008    8  0.385
THUNDER       75 22 11493 10472  0.107 49.713    1  0.822    1  0.782    3  0.720    1 0.5715   24  3.933    5  0.508    2  0.931
KNICKS        69 32 11780 10971  0.067 50.944    3  0.527    3  0.490    2  0.733    3 0.5468   25  3.931    4  0.511    1  0.954
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.037 45.141   15  0.109   15  0.089   16  0.040   15 0.5082   26  3.923   23 -0.219    9  0.299
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.015 46.792    4  0.513    4  0.477    4  0.469    4 0.5468   27  3.921    9  0.200    5  0.737
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.086 41.178   28 -0.674   28 -0.700   29 -0.790   28 0.4356   28  3.901   30 -1.157   21 -0.423
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.006 43.053    5  0.409    5  0.376    5  0.457    5 0.5376   29  3.899   12  0.080    3  0.835
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.004 42.823    9  0.285    9  0.259    8  0.232    9 0.5259   30  3.899   21 -0.147    6  0.611

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
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.073 41.325   27 -0.596   27 -0.619   28 -0.655   27 0.4421   12  3.990   28 -0.572   26 -0.737
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.040 47.209    7  0.356    6  0.337   11  0.138    7 0.5310   16  3.971   11  0.125   11  0.151
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.008 42.099   20 -0.095   20 -0.118   20 -0.162   20 0.4882   18  3.967   22 -0.197   19 -0.128
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.033 40.406   19  0.003   19 -0.024   14  0.075   19 0.4978   22  3.942   19 -0.086   10  0.236
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.037 45.141   15  0.109   15  0.089   16  0.040   15 0.5082   26  3.923   23 -0.219    9  0.299

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          22 60  9642 10333 -0.066 41.243   26 -0.587   26 -0.616   26 -0.576   26 0.4424    1  4.081   15 -0.007   29 -1.145
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.015 43.496    6  0.358    7  0.331    7  0.277    6 0.5321    5  4.024    2  0.537   15  0.017
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.045 48.037   10  0.263   10  0.238   12  0.117   10 0.5228   13  3.980   10  0.148   13  0.087
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.012 44.817   18  0.035   18  0.018   18 -0.003   18 0.5011   14  3.975   14  0.000   16 -0.006
THUNDER       75 22 11493 10472  0.107 49.713    1  0.822    1  0.782    3  0.720    1 0.5715   24  3.933    5  0.508    2  0.931

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
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.061 40.863   25 -0.501   25 -0.532   27 -0.576   25 0.4502    6  4.021   25 -0.331   28 -0.822
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.045 40.945   23 -0.460   24 -0.491   21 -0.248   23 0.4541    7  4.017   16 -0.025   23 -0.472
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.059 40.841   24 -0.463   23 -0.489   23 -0.423   24 0.4532   11  3.996   24 -0.310   24 -0.536
SPURS         75 30 12434 11587  0.145 55.442    2  0.690    2  0.650    1  0.767    2 0.5597   17  3.968    1  0.736    4  0.797
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628 -0.004 42.823    9  0.285    9  0.259    8  0.232    9 0.5259   30  3.899   21 -0.147    6  0.611

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         31 51  9537  9964 -0.059 40.781   22 -0.302   22 -0.329   22 -0.419   22 0.4674    3  4.044   17 -0.053   27 -0.784
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.063 41.332   29 -0.677   29 -0.711   24 -0.493   29 0.4335    9  4.001   26 -0.354   25 -0.633
CAVALIERS     60 40 11744 11461  0.059 51.492    8  0.313    8  0.294   10  0.190    8 0.5270   10  3.996    6  0.304   14  0.076
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.073 40.722   21 -0.283   21 -0.304   25 -0.543   21 0.4700   20  3.953   29 -0.649   22 -0.437
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.015 46.792    4  0.513    4  0.477    4  0.469    4 0.5468   27  3.921    9  0.200    5  0.737

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          43 40 10037  9847  0.005 41.280   17  0.056   17  0.036   15  0.074   17 0.5029    2  4.061    3  0.534   20 -0.386
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.096 41.190   30 -0.793   30 -0.828   30 -0.809   30 0.4265    4  4.040   27 -0.461   30 -1.158
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.031 44.864   11  0.160   11  0.136   13  0.103   12 0.5120    8  4.010    7  0.289   18 -0.083
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.040 46.914   13  0.153   12  0.129   17  0.040   13 0.5116   19  3.956   18 -0.054   12  0.133
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.008 40.793   16  0.085   16  0.061    6  0.374   16 0.5054   21  3.946    8  0.232    7  0.515

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         50 44 10745 10857  0.031 48.649   14  0.141   14  0.123   19 -0.081   14 0.5099   15  3.973   20 -0.088   17 -0.075
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.017 44.611   12  0.154   13  0.126    9  0.196   11 0.5122   23  3.937   13  0.008    8  0.385
KNICKS        69 32 11780 10971  0.067 50.944    3  0.527    3  0.490    2  0.733    3 0.5468   25  3.931    4  0.511    1  0.954
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.086 41.178   28 -0.674   28 -0.700   29 -0.790   28 0.4356   28  3.901   30 -1.157   21 -0.423
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.006 43.053    5  0.409    5  0.376    5  0.457    5 0.5376   29  3.899   12  0.080    3  0.835

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 252 197 0.561    1  0.136
ATLANTIC DIVISION  247 208 0.543    2  0.108
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.046
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 206 233 0.469    4 -0.061
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.113
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 233 0.473    6 -0.163

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu Jun 11 05:30:11 2026
games through: Wed Jun 10 2026

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