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 -0.046 41.144   26 -0.585   26 -0.595   26 -0.586   26 0.4441    1  4.080   16 -0.038   29 -1.134
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.024 41.140   17  0.060   17  0.054   15  0.101   17 0.5045    2  4.059    4  0.539   20 -0.337
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.042 40.596   22 -0.300   22 -0.310   22 -0.424   22 0.4689    3  4.042   19 -0.080   27 -0.767
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.076 41.079   30 -0.792   30 -0.806   30 -0.831   30 0.4281    4  4.039   27 -0.505   30 -1.158
NUGGETS       56 31 10557 10150  0.033 42.780    7  0.371    6  0.365    7  0.331    6 0.5351    5  4.025    3  0.583   14  0.079
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.041 40.730   25 -0.502   25 -0.512   27 -0.587   25 0.4518    6  4.019   25 -0.362   28 -0.811
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.026 40.803   23 -0.461   24 -0.472   21 -0.241   23 0.4558    7  4.015   17 -0.039   23 -0.443
CAVALIERS     54 32 10235  9900  0.010 41.821    8  0.317    8  0.313   10  0.237    8 0.5295    8  4.010    5  0.415   16  0.060
HAWKS         48 38 10130  9957  0.035 42.989   12  0.182   12  0.167   11  0.232   12 0.5151    9  4.008    6  0.397   15  0.067
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.045 41.156   29 -0.679   29 -0.692   24 -0.504   29 0.4349   10  3.999   26 -0.387   25 -0.621
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 -0.040 40.707   24 -0.465   23 -0.470   23 -0.424   24 0.4549   11  3.994   24 -0.332   24 -0.516
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.053 41.220   27 -0.595   27 -0.599   28 -0.671   27 0.4439   12  3.988   28 -0.609   26 -0.732
TIMBERWOLVES  52 35 10238  9948  0.022 42.762   10  0.252   10  0.242   12  0.222   10 0.5236   13  3.984    9  0.259   12  0.185
SPURS         65 22 10387  9674  0.065 42.903    2  0.669    2  0.659    2  0.662    2 0.5613   14  3.981    1  0.686    6  0.638
LAKERS        56 30  9956  9811  0.019 42.607    5  0.397    5  0.394   13  0.181    5 0.5366   15  3.977   12  0.187   13  0.175
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 43  9988 10051  0.021 43.791   18  0.043   18  0.040   18  0.025   18 0.5033   16  3.975   15  0.016   17  0.034
76ERS         47 40 10009 10070  0.010 43.500   14  0.126   14  0.121   19 -0.078   14 0.5103   17  3.974   21 -0.090   18 -0.067
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.011 41.964   20 -0.090   20 -0.100   20 -0.151   20 0.4900   18  3.966   22 -0.207   19 -0.095
MAGIC         49 39 10111 10030  0.043 44.581   11  0.186   11  0.175   14  0.108   11 0.5159   19  3.959   14  0.019   11  0.196
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.053 40.596   21 -0.281   21 -0.284   25 -0.550   21 0.4716   20  3.951   29 -0.678   21 -0.422
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  0.009 40.631   16  0.090   16  0.078    6  0.411   16 0.5069   21  3.945   10  0.248    7  0.573
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.014 40.290   19  0.007   19 -0.004   16  0.096   19 0.4995   22  3.941   20 -0.084   10  0.277
KNICKS        56 31 10114  9559  0.041 42.619    6  0.375    7  0.365    5  0.465    7 0.5346   23  3.939    8  0.274    5  0.656
RAPTORS       48 38  9837  9602  0.024 42.537   13  0.170   13  0.151    9  0.244   13 0.5143   24  3.937   13  0.041    8  0.446
THUNDER       68 18 10251  9268  0.069 42.092    1  0.796    1  0.787    1  0.788    1 0.5720   25  3.937    2  0.584    1  0.991
PISTONS       61 25 10049  9390  0.018 41.068    3  0.511    3  0.502    4  0.525    3 0.5488   26  3.934    7  0.309    3  0.742
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.056 45.000   15  0.114   15  0.106   17  0.063   15 0.5099   27  3.921   23 -0.218    9  0.344
ROCKETS       53 33  9864  9437  0.013 41.557    9  0.289    9  0.280    8  0.294    9 0.5277   28  3.905   18 -0.068    4  0.657
CELTICS       59 27  9874  9185  0.030 41.434    4  0.470    4  0.456    3  0.604    4 0.5443   29  3.902   11  0.227    2  0.981
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.067 41.016   28 -0.674   28 -0.679   29 -0.812   28 0.4371   30  3.900   30 -1.200   22 -0.424

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 -0.053 41.220   27 -0.595   27 -0.599   28 -0.671   27 0.4439   12  3.988   28 -0.609   26 -0.732
LAKERS        56 30  9956  9811  0.019 42.607    5  0.397    5  0.394   13  0.181    5 0.5366   15  3.977   12  0.187   13  0.175
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.011 41.964   20 -0.090   20 -0.100   20 -0.151   20 0.4900   18  3.966   22 -0.207   19 -0.095
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.014 40.290   19  0.007   19 -0.004   16  0.096   19 0.4995   22  3.941   20 -0.084   10  0.277
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.056 45.000   15  0.114   15  0.106   17  0.063   15 0.5099   27  3.921   23 -0.218    9  0.344

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 -0.046 41.144   26 -0.585   26 -0.595   26 -0.586   26 0.4441    1  4.080   16 -0.038   29 -1.134
NUGGETS       56 31 10557 10150  0.033 42.780    7  0.371    6  0.365    7  0.331    6 0.5351    5  4.025    3  0.583   14  0.079
TIMBERWOLVES  52 35 10238  9948  0.022 42.762   10  0.252   10  0.242   12  0.222   10 0.5236   13  3.984    9  0.259   12  0.185
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 43  9988 10051  0.021 43.791   18  0.043   18  0.040   18  0.025   18 0.5033   16  3.975   15  0.016   17  0.034
THUNDER       68 18 10251  9268  0.069 42.092    1  0.796    1  0.787    1  0.788    1 0.5720   25  3.937    2  0.584    1  0.991

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 -0.041 40.730   25 -0.502   25 -0.512   27 -0.587   25 0.4518    6  4.019   25 -0.362   28 -0.811
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.026 40.803   23 -0.461   24 -0.472   21 -0.241   23 0.4558    7  4.015   17 -0.039   23 -0.443
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.040 40.707   24 -0.465   23 -0.470   23 -0.424   24 0.4549   11  3.994   24 -0.332   24 -0.516
SPURS         65 22 10387  9674  0.065 42.903    2  0.669    2  0.659    2  0.662    2 0.5613   14  3.981    1  0.686    6  0.638
ROCKETS       53 33  9864  9437  0.013 41.557    9  0.289    9  0.280    8  0.294    9 0.5277   28  3.905   18 -0.068    4  0.657

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 -0.042 40.596   22 -0.300   22 -0.310   22 -0.424   22 0.4689    3  4.042   19 -0.080   27 -0.767
CAVALIERS     54 32 10235  9900  0.010 41.821    8  0.317    8  0.313   10  0.237    8 0.5295    8  4.010    5  0.415   16  0.060
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.045 41.156   29 -0.679   29 -0.692   24 -0.504   29 0.4349   10  3.999   26 -0.387   25 -0.621
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.053 40.596   21 -0.281   21 -0.284   25 -0.550   21 0.4716   20  3.951   29 -0.678   21 -0.422
PISTONS       61 25 10049  9390  0.018 41.068    3  0.511    3  0.502    4  0.525    3 0.5488   26  3.934    7  0.309    3  0.742

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  0.024 41.140   17  0.060   17  0.054   15  0.101   17 0.5045    2  4.059    4  0.539   20 -0.337
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.076 41.079   30 -0.792   30 -0.806   30 -0.831   30 0.4281    4  4.039   27 -0.505   30 -1.158
HAWKS         48 38 10130  9957  0.035 42.989   12  0.182   12  0.167   11  0.232   12 0.5151    9  4.008    6  0.397   15  0.067
MAGIC         49 39 10111 10030  0.043 44.581   11  0.186   11  0.175   14  0.108   11 0.5159   19  3.959   14  0.019   11  0.196
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.009 40.631   16  0.090   16  0.078    6  0.411   16 0.5069   21  3.945   10  0.248    7  0.573

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         47 40 10009 10070  0.010 43.500   14  0.126   14  0.121   19 -0.078   14 0.5103   17  3.974   21 -0.090   18 -0.067
KNICKS        56 31 10114  9559  0.041 42.619    6  0.375    7  0.365    5  0.465    7 0.5346   23  3.939    8  0.274    5  0.656
RAPTORS       48 38  9837  9602  0.024 42.537   13  0.170   13  0.151    9  0.244   13 0.5143   24  3.937   13  0.041    8  0.446
CELTICS       59 27  9874  9185  0.030 41.434    4  0.470    4  0.456    3  0.604    4 0.5443   29  3.902   11  0.227    2  0.981
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.067 41.016   28 -0.674   28 -0.679   29 -0.812   28 0.4371   30  3.900   30 -1.200   22 -0.424

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 242 187 0.564    1  0.170
ATLANTIC DIVISION  230 198 0.537    2  0.104
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 221 0.478    3 -0.011
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 195 224 0.465    4 -0.054
PACIFIC DIVISION   204 219 0.482    5 -0.094
CENTRAL DIVISION   197 221 0.471    6 -0.141

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.152 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: Tue Apr 28 05:30:17 2026
games through: Mon Apr 27 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.