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
THUNDER       43 14 6808 6136  0.020 27.048    1  0.566    1  0.578    1  0.679    1 0.5585   25  3.933    4  0.453    1  0.905
PISTONS       41 13 6340 5903 -0.018 25.268    2  0.537    2  0.547    2  0.535    2 0.5584   23  3.944    7  0.367    3  0.704
SPURS         39 17 6613 6275  0.070 28.109    3  0.478    3  0.485    3  0.456    3 0.5495   14  3.974    5  0.440    5  0.472
CELTICS       36 19 6345 5961 -0.015 25.919    4  0.308    4  0.308    4  0.412    4 0.5352   28  3.919   10  0.114    2  0.710
ROCKETS       34 20 6181 5911  0.031 26.531    5  0.292    5  0.294    8  0.244    5 0.5311   29  3.907   20 -0.113    4  0.601
CAVALIERS     36 21 6829 6571  0.005 27.617    6  0.283    6  0.288    6  0.327    6 0.5310    7  4.019    1  0.547   13  0.108
KNICKS        36 21 6726 6391  0.004 27.439    7  0.276    7  0.275    5  0.366    7 0.5309   16  3.972    8  0.338    6  0.394
NUGGETS       36 21 6891 6617 -0.022 27.037    8  0.258    8  0.258    9  0.228    9 0.5269    5  4.020    3  0.453   15  0.002
LAKERS        34 21 6390 6388 -0.014 26.894    9  0.248    9  0.253   17 -0.028    8 0.5273   11  4.000   13  0.090   20 -0.146
TIMBERWOLVES  35 22 6824 6537 -0.030 26.763   10  0.217   10  0.209    7  0.282   10 0.5213   10  4.001    6  0.403   12  0.160
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          32 24 6343 6272  0.042 28.339   11  0.199   11  0.196   13  0.086   12 0.5196   24  3.936   21 -0.126    9  0.298
RAPTORS       33 23 6368 6275 -0.020 27.062   12  0.185   12  0.181   15  0.062   11 0.5196   26  3.931   23 -0.176    8  0.299
MAGIC         29 25 6229 6202  0.011 26.849   13  0.097   13  0.090   16 -0.014   14 0.5089   17  3.970   17 -0.051   14  0.023
76ERS         30 25 6380 6376 -0.021 26.778   14  0.092   14  0.087   18 -0.054   13 0.5102   13  3.976   18 -0.059   17 -0.048
HEAT          30 27 6825 6659  0.039 28.616   15  0.087   15  0.078   11  0.192   15 0.5083    3  4.029    2  0.466   18 -0.081
WARRIORS      29 27 6464 6374  0.027 28.023   16  0.067   16  0.059   12  0.107   16 0.5060   20  3.965   14  0.045   11  0.170
CLIPPERS      27 29 6280 6305  0.039 28.538   17  0.004   17 -0.003   14  0.069   17 0.5001   27  3.923   24 -0.205    7  0.343
TRAIL BLAZERS 27 30 6617 6781  0.048 29.608   18 -0.006   18 -0.008   21 -0.169   18 0.4983    8  4.015   15  0.030   24 -0.369
HAWKS         27 31 6783 6878  0.046 29.879   19 -0.030   19 -0.034   19 -0.090   19 0.4968    6  4.020    9  0.135   23 -0.316
HORNETS       26 31 6577 6482  0.001 27.949   20 -0.079   20 -0.097   10  0.200   20 0.4901   21  3.959   11  0.107   10  0.293
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         24 30 6064 6223 -0.022 26.784   21 -0.130   21 -0.131   22 -0.180   21 0.4866   22  3.949   26 -0.325   16 -0.035
BULLS         24 32 6524 6744 -0.035 27.553   22 -0.176   22 -0.173   24 -0.298   22 0.4802    2  4.031   16 -0.015   27 -0.581
GRIZZLIES     21 33 6232 6340 -0.023 26.573   23 -0.265   23 -0.267   20 -0.151   23 0.4718   12  3.994   19 -0.063   22 -0.239
MAVERICKS     19 36 6264 6462 -0.026 27.243   24 -0.353   24 -0.356   23 -0.220   24 0.4616   15  3.972   25 -0.246   21 -0.194
JAZZ          18 39 6737 7175 -0.001 29.284   25 -0.397   25 -0.388   27 -0.448   25 0.4572    1  4.080   12  0.096   30 -0.991
WIZARDS       16 39 6186 6749 -0.078 27.048   27 -0.525   26 -0.515   29 -0.624   26 0.4465    4  4.023   27 -0.384   29 -0.863
NETS          15 40 5876 6308 -0.030 27.680   26 -0.522   27 -0.522   28 -0.556   27 0.4459   30  3.896   30 -0.966   19 -0.146
PELICANS      15 42 6535 6882  0.004 29.117   28 -0.530   28 -0.527   25 -0.310   28 0.4443    9  4.007   22 -0.156   26 -0.463
PACERS        15 42 6336 6766 -0.028 28.877   29 -0.544   29 -0.538   26 -0.444   29 0.4439   19  3.969   28 -0.489   25 -0.400
KINGS         12 45 6262 6886  0.012 29.977   30 -0.637   30 -0.634   30 -0.683   30 0.4356   18  3.969   29 -0.724   28 -0.643

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        34 21 6390 6388 -0.014 26.894    9  0.248    9  0.253   17 -0.028    8 0.5273   11  4.000   13  0.090   20 -0.146
SUNS          32 24 6343 6272  0.042 28.339   11  0.199   11  0.196   13  0.086   12 0.5196   24  3.936   21 -0.126    9  0.298
WARRIORS      29 27 6464 6374  0.027 28.023   16  0.067   16  0.059   12  0.107   16 0.5060   20  3.965   14  0.045   11  0.170
CLIPPERS      27 29 6280 6305  0.039 28.538   17  0.004   17 -0.003   14  0.069   17 0.5001   27  3.923   24 -0.205    7  0.343
KINGS         12 45 6262 6886  0.012 29.977   30 -0.637   30 -0.634   30 -0.683   30 0.4356   18  3.969   29 -0.724   28 -0.643

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
THUNDER       43 14 6808 6136  0.020 27.048    1  0.566    1  0.578    1  0.679    1 0.5585   25  3.933    4  0.453    1  0.905
NUGGETS       36 21 6891 6617 -0.022 27.037    8  0.258    8  0.258    9  0.228    9 0.5269    5  4.020    3  0.453   15  0.002
TIMBERWOLVES  35 22 6824 6537 -0.030 26.763   10  0.217   10  0.209    7  0.282   10 0.5213   10  4.001    6  0.403   12  0.160
TRAIL BLAZERS 27 30 6617 6781  0.048 29.608   18 -0.006   18 -0.008   21 -0.169   18 0.4983    8  4.015   15  0.030   24 -0.369
JAZZ          18 39 6737 7175 -0.001 29.284   25 -0.397   25 -0.388   27 -0.448   25 0.4572    1  4.080   12  0.096   30 -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
SPURS         39 17 6613 6275  0.070 28.109    3  0.478    3  0.485    3  0.456    3 0.5495   14  3.974    5  0.440    5  0.472
ROCKETS       34 20 6181 5911  0.031 26.531    5  0.292    5  0.294    8  0.244    5 0.5311   29  3.907   20 -0.113    4  0.601
GRIZZLIES     21 33 6232 6340 -0.023 26.573   23 -0.265   23 -0.267   20 -0.151   23 0.4718   12  3.994   19 -0.063   22 -0.239
MAVERICKS     19 36 6264 6462 -0.026 27.243   24 -0.353   24 -0.356   23 -0.220   24 0.4616   15  3.972   25 -0.246   21 -0.194
PELICANS      15 42 6535 6882  0.004 29.117   28 -0.530   28 -0.527   25 -0.310   28 0.4443    9  4.007   22 -0.156   26 -0.463

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
PISTONS       41 13 6340 5903 -0.018 25.268    2  0.537    2  0.547    2  0.535    2 0.5584   23  3.944    7  0.367    3  0.704
CAVALIERS     36 21 6829 6571  0.005 27.617    6  0.283    6  0.288    6  0.327    6 0.5310    7  4.019    1  0.547   13  0.108
BUCKS         24 30 6064 6223 -0.022 26.784   21 -0.130   21 -0.131   22 -0.180   21 0.4866   22  3.949   26 -0.325   16 -0.035
BULLS         24 32 6524 6744 -0.035 27.553   22 -0.176   22 -0.173   24 -0.298   22 0.4802    2  4.031   16 -0.015   27 -0.581
PACERS        15 42 6336 6766 -0.028 28.877   29 -0.544   29 -0.538   26 -0.444   29 0.4439   19  3.969   28 -0.489   25 -0.400

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
MAGIC         29 25 6229 6202  0.011 26.849   13  0.097   13  0.090   16 -0.014   14 0.5089   17  3.970   17 -0.051   14  0.023
HEAT          30 27 6825 6659  0.039 28.616   15  0.087   15  0.078   11  0.192   15 0.5083    3  4.029    2  0.466   18 -0.081
HAWKS         27 31 6783 6878  0.046 29.879   19 -0.030   19 -0.034   19 -0.090   19 0.4968    6  4.020    9  0.135   23 -0.316
HORNETS       26 31 6577 6482  0.001 27.949   20 -0.079   20 -0.097   10  0.200   20 0.4901   21  3.959   11  0.107   10  0.293
WIZARDS       16 39 6186 6749 -0.078 27.048   27 -0.525   26 -0.515   29 -0.624   26 0.4465    4  4.023   27 -0.384   29 -0.863

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
CELTICS       36 19 6345 5961 -0.015 25.919    4  0.308    4  0.308    4  0.412    4 0.5352   28  3.919   10  0.114    2  0.710
KNICKS        36 21 6726 6391  0.004 27.439    7  0.276    7  0.275    5  0.366    7 0.5309   16  3.972    8  0.338    6  0.394
RAPTORS       33 23 6368 6275 -0.020 27.062   12  0.185   12  0.181   15  0.062   11 0.5196   26  3.931   23 -0.176    8  0.299
76ERS         30 25 6380 6376 -0.021 26.778   14  0.092   14  0.087   18 -0.054   13 0.5102   13  3.976   18 -0.059   17 -0.048
NETS          15 40 5876 6308 -0.030 27.680   26 -0.522   27 -0.522   28 -0.556   27 0.4459   30  3.896   30 -0.966   19 -0.146

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 159 126 0.558    1  0.159
ATLANTIC DIVISION  150 128 0.540    2  0.081
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 128 148 0.464    3 -0.002
CENTRAL DIVISION   140 138 0.504    4 -0.050
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 128 153 0.456    5 -0.083
PACIFIC DIVISION   134 146 0.479    6 -0.091

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.130 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: Sat Feb 21 05:30:10 2026
games through: Fri Feb 20 2026

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