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          21 55 8917 9529 -0.043 37.765   26 -0.558   26 -0.557   26 -0.565   26 0.4457    1  4.072   19 -0.061   30 -1.070
HEAT          40 36 9138 8954  0.029 37.545   15  0.083   15  0.077   16  0.123   15 0.5072    2  4.048    4  0.499   20 -0.254
BULLS         29 46 8726 9081 -0.002 37.742   21 -0.257   21 -0.251   22 -0.323   22 0.4737    3  4.039   14  0.002   26 -0.648
WIZARDS       17 58 8435 9296 -0.049 37.835   30 -0.712   30 -0.709   30 -0.744   29 0.4344    4  4.030   27 -0.467   29 -1.020
NUGGETS       48 28 9216 8861  0.017 36.712    7  0.311    7  0.313    7  0.309    7 0.5309    5  4.028    2  0.577   14  0.040
CAVALIERS     47 28 8957 8634  0.019 36.367    8  0.306    8  0.307    8  0.308    8 0.5301    6  4.014    3  0.500   12  0.115
HAWKS         43 33 8981 8833  0.004 36.925   13  0.163   13  0.155   11  0.201   13 0.5149    7  4.013    6  0.392   15  0.009
GRIZZLIES     25 50 8626 8950 -0.030 36.916   24 -0.425   24 -0.424   23 -0.402   24 0.4588    8  4.011   24 -0.223   25 -0.582
PELICANS      25 51 8746 9082 -0.004 38.046   23 -0.413   23 -0.411   21 -0.202   23 0.4601    9  4.007   17 -0.046   22 -0.358
PACERS        17 58 8416 9046 -0.042 37.470   29 -0.680   29 -0.683   25 -0.551   30 0.4341   10  3.998   26 -0.442   27 -0.661
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        49 26 8751 8604  0.000 36.372    5  0.365    5  0.373   14  0.180    5 0.5359   11  3.990   11  0.250   13  0.109
SPURS         57 19 9076 8470  0.076 37.550    2  0.653    2  0.663    2  0.658    2 0.5627   12  3.988    1  0.714    4  0.602
TRAIL BLAZERS 38 38 8766 8827 -0.001 37.401   19  0.007   19  0.007   17 -0.008   19 0.4998   13  3.987   13  0.046   18 -0.063
KINGS         19 57 8414 9206 -0.037 38.409   27 -0.627   27 -0.623   29 -0.710   27 0.4411   14  3.986   28 -0.663   28 -0.756
TIMBERWOLVES  46 29 8845 8557  0.000 35.950   10  0.258   10  0.254    9  0.224   10 0.5255   15  3.984   10  0.262   11  0.185
76ERS         41 34 8706 8739 -0.008 36.662   14  0.112   14  0.115   20 -0.082   14 0.5101   16  3.983   18 -0.047   19 -0.117
MAVERICKS     24 51 8519 8926 -0.027 37.237   25 -0.447   25 -0.441   24 -0.417   25 0.4557   17  3.982   25 -0.389   24 -0.445
MAGIC         39 35 8535 8520  0.012 36.593   16  0.075   16  0.076   18 -0.052   16 0.5066   18  3.968   20 -0.097   17 -0.008
WARRIORS      36 39 8617 8619  0.026 37.445   20 -0.016   20 -0.022   19 -0.073   20 0.4973   19  3.964   21 -0.140   16 -0.005
KNICKS        49 27 8885 8401  0.027 36.578    6  0.347    6  0.346    5  0.438    6 0.5343   20  3.950    8  0.303    6  0.574
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HORNETS       39 36 8706 8381 -0.005 35.702   18  0.035   18  0.028    6  0.423   18 0.5027   21  3.948    9  0.278    7  0.569
BUCKS         29 45 8172 8648 -0.031 36.872   22 -0.266   22 -0.254   27 -0.573   21 0.4737   22  3.945   29 -0.734   23 -0.413
RAPTORS       42 32 8460 8285  0.009 36.059   11  0.171   11  0.165   13  0.181   12 0.5160   23  3.939   16 -0.011   10  0.374
CLIPPERS      39 36 8550 8438  0.004 36.556   17  0.046   17  0.044   12  0.183   17 0.5043   24  3.939   15 -0.010    9  0.377
PISTONS       54 21 8806 8216  0.017 35.507    3  0.512    3  0.517    3  0.560    3 0.5510   25  3.939    7  0.366    3  0.754
THUNDER       60 16 9014 8180  0.067 36.996    1  0.754    1  0.764    1  0.711    1 0.5714   26  3.926    5  0.454    1  0.967
SUNS          42 33 8469 8330  0.024 37.010   12  0.167   12  0.160   15  0.139   11 0.5160   27  3.920   23 -0.150    8  0.428
ROCKETS       45 29 8466 8148  0.026 35.995    9  0.270    9  0.267   10  0.218    9 0.5260   28  3.905   22 -0.145    5  0.582
NETS          18 57 7973 8658 -0.017 38.206   28 -0.636   28 -0.635   28 -0.659   28 0.4396   29  3.899   30 -1.054   21 -0.263
CELTICS       50 25 8547 8016  0.028 35.991    4  0.401    4  0.398    4  0.491    4 0.5397   30  3.894   12  0.072    2  0.910

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        49 26 8751 8604  0.000 36.372    5  0.365    5  0.373   14  0.180    5 0.5359   11  3.990   11  0.250   13  0.109
KINGS         19 57 8414 9206 -0.037 38.409   27 -0.627   27 -0.623   29 -0.710   27 0.4411   14  3.986   28 -0.663   28 -0.756
WARRIORS      36 39 8617 8619  0.026 37.445   20 -0.016   20 -0.022   19 -0.073   20 0.4973   19  3.964   21 -0.140   16 -0.005
CLIPPERS      39 36 8550 8438  0.004 36.556   17  0.046   17  0.044   12  0.183   17 0.5043   24  3.939   15 -0.010    9  0.377
SUNS          42 33 8469 8330  0.024 37.010   12  0.167   12  0.160   15  0.139   11 0.5160   27  3.920   23 -0.150    8  0.428

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          21 55 8917 9529 -0.043 37.765   26 -0.558   26 -0.557   26 -0.565   26 0.4457    1  4.072   19 -0.061   30 -1.070
NUGGETS       48 28 9216 8861  0.017 36.712    7  0.311    7  0.313    7  0.309    7 0.5309    5  4.028    2  0.577   14  0.040
TRAIL BLAZERS 38 38 8766 8827 -0.001 37.401   19  0.007   19  0.007   17 -0.008   19 0.4998   13  3.987   13  0.046   18 -0.063
TIMBERWOLVES  46 29 8845 8557  0.000 35.950   10  0.258   10  0.254    9  0.224   10 0.5255   15  3.984   10  0.262   11  0.185
THUNDER       60 16 9014 8180  0.067 36.996    1  0.754    1  0.764    1  0.711    1 0.5714   26  3.926    5  0.454    1  0.967

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 50 8626 8950 -0.030 36.916   24 -0.425   24 -0.424   23 -0.402   24 0.4588    8  4.011   24 -0.223   25 -0.582
PELICANS      25 51 8746 9082 -0.004 38.046   23 -0.413   23 -0.411   21 -0.202   23 0.4601    9  4.007   17 -0.046   22 -0.358
SPURS         57 19 9076 8470  0.076 37.550    2  0.653    2  0.663    2  0.658    2 0.5627   12  3.988    1  0.714    4  0.602
MAVERICKS     24 51 8519 8926 -0.027 37.237   25 -0.447   25 -0.441   24 -0.417   25 0.4557   17  3.982   25 -0.389   24 -0.445
ROCKETS       45 29 8466 8148  0.026 35.995    9  0.270    9  0.267   10  0.218    9 0.5260   28  3.905   22 -0.145    5  0.582

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         29 46 8726 9081 -0.002 37.742   21 -0.257   21 -0.251   22 -0.323   22 0.4737    3  4.039   14  0.002   26 -0.648
CAVALIERS     47 28 8957 8634  0.019 36.367    8  0.306    8  0.307    8  0.308    8 0.5301    6  4.014    3  0.500   12  0.115
PACERS        17 58 8416 9046 -0.042 37.470   29 -0.680   29 -0.683   25 -0.551   30 0.4341   10  3.998   26 -0.442   27 -0.661
BUCKS         29 45 8172 8648 -0.031 36.872   22 -0.266   22 -0.254   27 -0.573   21 0.4737   22  3.945   29 -0.734   23 -0.413
PISTONS       54 21 8806 8216  0.017 35.507    3  0.512    3  0.517    3  0.560    3 0.5510   25  3.939    7  0.366    3  0.754

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          40 36 9138 8954  0.029 37.545   15  0.083   15  0.077   16  0.123   15 0.5072    2  4.048    4  0.499   20 -0.254
WIZARDS       17 58 8435 9296 -0.049 37.835   30 -0.712   30 -0.709   30 -0.744   29 0.4344    4  4.030   27 -0.467   29 -1.020
HAWKS         43 33 8981 8833  0.004 36.925   13  0.163   13  0.155   11  0.201   13 0.5149    7  4.013    6  0.392   15  0.009
MAGIC         39 35 8535 8520  0.012 36.593   16  0.075   16  0.076   18 -0.052   16 0.5066   18  3.968   20 -0.097   17 -0.008
HORNETS       39 36 8706 8381 -0.005 35.702   18  0.035   18  0.028    6  0.423   18 0.5027   21  3.948    9  0.278    7  0.569

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         41 34 8706 8739 -0.008 36.662   14  0.112   14  0.115   20 -0.082   14 0.5101   16  3.983   18 -0.047   19 -0.117
KNICKS        49 27 8885 8401  0.027 36.578    6  0.347    6  0.346    5  0.438    6 0.5343   20  3.950    8  0.303    6  0.574
RAPTORS       42 32 8460 8285  0.009 36.059   11  0.171   11  0.165   13  0.181   12 0.5160   23  3.939   16 -0.011   10  0.374
NETS          18 57 7973 8658 -0.017 38.206   28 -0.636   28 -0.635   28 -0.659   28 0.4396   29  3.899   30 -1.054   21 -0.263
CELTICS       50 25 8547 8016  0.028 35.991    4  0.401    4  0.398    4  0.491    4 0.5397   30  3.894   12  0.072    2  0.910

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 213 166 0.562    1  0.163
ATLANTIC DIVISION  200 175 0.533    2  0.096
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 178 198 0.473    3 -0.025
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 176 200 0.468    4 -0.028
PACIFIC DIVISION   185 191 0.492    5 -0.063
CENTRAL DIVISION   176 198 0.471    6 -0.121

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.142 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: Tue Mar 31 05:30:10 2026
games through: Mon Mar 30 2026

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