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
RAPTORS       2 4 719 740  0.139  3.398   20 -0.064   20 -0.066   18 -0.048   20 0.4800    1  4.078    1  0.423   28 -0.518 P
HORNETS       2 3 620 622 -0.182  2.259   23 -0.094   23 -0.099   25 -0.133   24 0.4567    2  4.053    7  0.206   27 -0.472 P
NETS          0 5 569 639 -0.001  2.745   29 -0.228   29 -0.238   29 -0.243   30 0.4037    3  4.053   11  0.093   29 -0.579 P
WIZARDS       1 4 592 645 -0.083  2.595   27 -0.166   27 -0.169   30 -0.253   27 0.4484    4  4.051   12  0.074   30 -0.579 P
76ERS         4 1 625 604 -0.032  2.366    5  0.144    6  0.133   13  0.035    6 0.5416    5  4.046    3  0.333   25 -0.263 P
GRIZZLIES     3 3 714 732 -0.168  2.679   18 -0.029   19 -0.030   22 -0.086   21 0.4791    6  4.043    8  0.199   26 -0.371 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 4 2 727 700  0.140  3.296    7  0.121    7  0.103   11  0.066    7 0.5367    7  4.033    4  0.299   22 -0.167 P
HEAT          3 2 627 570  0.106  2.541   11  0.055   11  0.053    3  0.186   11 0.5215    8  4.033    2  0.418   15 -0.046 P
BULLS         5 0 614 570 -0.156  2.088    2  0.201    2  0.195   10  0.074    1 0.5788    9  4.023    5  0.250   19 -0.102 P
JAZZ          2 3 601 601 -0.173  2.173   22 -0.085   22 -0.090   23 -0.094   25 0.4565   10  4.012   15  0.028   23 -0.216 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         4 1 609 575  0.033  2.438    4  0.156    4  0.145    7  0.128    3 0.5600   11  4.004    6  0.207   10  0.049 P
HAWKS         3 3 697 710 -0.083  2.848   17 -0.026   17 -0.023   19 -0.075   17 0.4943   12  3.998   18 -0.028   21 -0.122 P
ROCKETS       2 2 511 470  0.034  1.904   16 -0.009   16 -0.007    6  0.129   16 0.4988   13  3.996    9  0.164    9  0.094 P
TIMBERWOLVES  2 3 571 595  0.038  2.617   19 -0.030   18 -0.028   17 -0.027   18 0.4883   14  3.994   16 -0.000   16 -0.053 P
SUNS          2 4 698 726 -0.096  2.862   25 -0.104   25 -0.111   24 -0.098   26 0.4495   15  3.993   20 -0.075   20 -0.120 P
LAKERS        4 2 705 698  0.008  2.993    8  0.087    8  0.089   14  0.024    8 0.5357   16  3.990   14  0.031   14  0.017 P
PELICANS      0 5 540 618  0.187  3.089   28 -0.200   28 -0.203   28 -0.233   28 0.4160   17  3.986   25 -0.248   24 -0.218 P
MAGIC         2 4 693 720  0.038  3.168   21 -0.084   21 -0.085   21 -0.083   19 0.4803   18  3.985   21 -0.103   17 -0.063 P
PISTONS       3 2 575 571  0.166  2.850    9  0.061    9  0.068   15 -0.000    9 0.5243   19  3.982   19 -0.038   11  0.038 P
WARRIORS      4 2 714 696  0.212  3.395    6  0.143    5  0.134    5  0.135    4 0.5558   20  3.975   13  0.061    7  0.209 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
NUGGETS       3 2 620 559  0.124  2.459   10  0.058   10  0.057    1  0.237   12 0.5197   21  3.972   10  0.152    4  0.323 P
KNICKS        2 3 567 577  0.406  3.299   14  0.027   15  0.026    9  0.080   13 0.5172   22  3.971   17 -0.014    8  0.174 P
KINGS         1 4 555 584  0.054  2.685   26 -0.134   26 -0.132   20 -0.075   22 0.4610   23  3.969   23 -0.180   12  0.030 P
PACERS        0 5 561 618 -0.136  2.353   30 -0.237   30 -0.251   27 -0.194   29 0.4092   24  3.964   26 -0.323   18 -0.066 P
CAVALIERS     3 3 682 688  0.154  3.329   15  0.024   13  0.035   12  0.057   14 0.5124   25  3.956   22 -0.113    6  0.226 P
MAVERICKS     2 3 539 577 -0.379  1.902   24 -0.097   24 -0.110   26 -0.193   23 0.4593   26  3.946   29 -0.414   13  0.027 P
CLIPPERS      3 2 556 560 -0.141  2.216   13  0.037   14  0.029   16 -0.023   15 0.5068   27  3.924   27 -0.354    5  0.307 P
CELTICS       3 3 680 644  0.155  3.195   12  0.044   12  0.039    2  0.222   10 0.5229   28  3.905   24 -0.204    3  0.647 P
THUNDER       6 0 718 662 -0.189  2.334    1  0.245    1  0.242    4  0.172    2 0.5781   29  3.873   28 -0.413    1  0.756 P
SPURS         5 0 591 519 -0.225  1.872    3  0.184    3  0.176    8  0.123    5 0.5532   30  3.873   30 -0.464    2  0.710 P

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
SUNS          2 4 698 726 -0.096  2.862   25 -0.104   25 -0.111   24 -0.098   26 0.4495   15  3.993   20 -0.075   20 -0.120 P
LAKERS        4 2 705 698  0.008  2.993    8  0.087    8  0.089   14  0.024    8 0.5357   16  3.990   14  0.031   14  0.017 P
WARRIORS      4 2 714 696  0.212  3.395    6  0.143    5  0.134    5  0.135    4 0.5558   20  3.975   13  0.061    7  0.209 P
KINGS         1 4 555 584  0.054  2.685   26 -0.134   26 -0.132   20 -0.075   22 0.4610   23  3.969   23 -0.180   12  0.030 P
CLIPPERS      3 2 556 560 -0.141  2.216   13  0.037   14  0.029   16 -0.023   15 0.5068   27  3.924   27 -0.354    5  0.307 P

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
TRAIL BLAZERS 4 2 727 700  0.140  3.296    7  0.121    7  0.103   11  0.066    7 0.5367    7  4.033    4  0.299   22 -0.167 P
JAZZ          2 3 601 601 -0.173  2.173   22 -0.085   22 -0.090   23 -0.094   25 0.4565   10  4.012   15  0.028   23 -0.216 P
TIMBERWOLVES  2 3 571 595  0.038  2.617   19 -0.030   18 -0.028   17 -0.027   18 0.4883   14  3.994   16 -0.000   16 -0.053 P
NUGGETS       3 2 620 559  0.124  2.459   10  0.058   10  0.057    1  0.237   12 0.5197   21  3.972   10  0.152    4  0.323 P
THUNDER       6 0 718 662 -0.189  2.334    1  0.245    1  0.242    4  0.172    2 0.5781   29  3.873   28 -0.413    1  0.756 P

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     3 3 714 732 -0.168  2.679   18 -0.029   19 -0.030   22 -0.086   21 0.4791    6  4.043    8  0.199   26 -0.371 P
ROCKETS       2 2 511 470  0.034  1.904   16 -0.009   16 -0.007    6  0.129   16 0.4988   13  3.996    9  0.164    9  0.094 P
PELICANS      0 5 540 618  0.187  3.089   28 -0.200   28 -0.203   28 -0.233   28 0.4160   17  3.986   25 -0.248   24 -0.218 P
MAVERICKS     2 3 539 577 -0.379  1.902   24 -0.097   24 -0.110   26 -0.193   23 0.4593   26  3.946   29 -0.414   13  0.027 P
SPURS         5 0 591 519 -0.225  1.872    3  0.184    3  0.176    8  0.123    5 0.5532   30  3.873   30 -0.464    2  0.710 P

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         5 0 614 570 -0.156  2.088    2  0.201    2  0.195   10  0.074    1 0.5788    9  4.023    5  0.250   19 -0.102 P
BUCKS         4 1 609 575  0.033  2.438    4  0.156    4  0.145    7  0.128    3 0.5600   11  4.004    6  0.207   10  0.049 P
PISTONS       3 2 575 571  0.166  2.850    9  0.061    9  0.068   15 -0.000    9 0.5243   19  3.982   19 -0.038   11  0.038 P
PACERS        0 5 561 618 -0.136  2.353   30 -0.237   30 -0.251   27 -0.194   29 0.4092   24  3.964   26 -0.323   18 -0.066 P
CAVALIERS     3 3 682 688  0.154  3.329   15  0.024   13  0.035   12  0.057   14 0.5124   25  3.956   22 -0.113    6  0.226 P

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       2 3 620 622 -0.182  2.259   23 -0.094   23 -0.099   25 -0.133   24 0.4567    2  4.053    7  0.206   27 -0.472 P
WIZARDS       1 4 592 645 -0.083  2.595   27 -0.166   27 -0.169   30 -0.253   27 0.4484    4  4.051   12  0.074   30 -0.579 P
HEAT          3 2 627 570  0.106  2.541   11  0.055   11  0.053    3  0.186   11 0.5215    8  4.033    2  0.418   15 -0.046 P
HAWKS         3 3 697 710 -0.083  2.848   17 -0.026   17 -0.023   19 -0.075   17 0.4943   12  3.998   18 -0.028   21 -0.122 P
MAGIC         2 4 693 720  0.038  3.168   21 -0.084   21 -0.085   21 -0.083   19 0.4803   18  3.985   21 -0.103   17 -0.063 P

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
RAPTORS       2 4 719 740  0.139  3.398   20 -0.064   20 -0.066   18 -0.048   20 0.4800    1  4.078    1  0.423   28 -0.518 P
NETS          0 5 569 639 -0.001  2.745   29 -0.228   29 -0.238   29 -0.243   30 0.4037    3  4.053   11  0.093   29 -0.579 P
76ERS         4 1 625 604 -0.032  2.366    5  0.144    6  0.133   13  0.035    6 0.5416    5  4.046    3  0.333   25 -0.263 P
KNICKS        2 3 567 577  0.406  3.299   14  0.027   15  0.026    9  0.080   13 0.5172   22  3.971   17 -0.014    8  0.174 P
CELTICS       3 3 680 644  0.155  3.195   12  0.044   12  0.039    2  0.222   10 0.5229   28  3.905   24 -0.204    3  0.647 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 17 10 0.630    1  0.210
CENTRAL DIVISION   15 11 0.577    2  0.058
ATLANTIC DIVISION  11 16 0.407    3  0.037
PACIFIC DIVISION   14 14 0.500    4 -0.018
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 12 13 0.480    5 -0.130
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 11 16 0.407    6 -0.178

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sat Nov  1 05:30:21 2025
games through: Fri Oct 31 2025

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.