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       60 16 9014 8180  0.067 36.990    1  0.762    1  0.765    1  0.709    1 0.5713   26  3.927    5  0.454    1  0.964
SPURS         57 19 9076 8470  0.076 37.546    2  0.659    2  0.664    2  0.657    2 0.5626   12  3.988    1  0.715    6  0.600
PISTONS       55 21 8933 8332  0.017 35.969    3  0.525    3  0.527    3  0.564    3 0.5519   24  3.941    7  0.385    3  0.744
CELTICS       50 25 8547 8016  0.027 35.966    4  0.402    4  0.398    4  0.490    4 0.5396   30  3.894   12  0.072    2  0.908
LAKERS        50 26 8878 8717  0.003 36.898    5  0.380    5  0.387   12  0.201    5 0.5372   11  3.991    9  0.275   12  0.126
KNICKS        49 28 8979 8512  0.032 37.250    6  0.332    6  0.331    6  0.409    6 0.5328   20  3.949   10  0.267    7  0.551
NUGGETS       48 28 9216 8861  0.017 36.703    7  0.310    7  0.312    7  0.308    7 0.5309    5  4.028    2  0.578   14  0.038
CAVALIERS     47 29 9070 8761  0.021 36.983    8  0.290    8  0.291    8  0.284    8 0.5288    6  4.014    4  0.480   13  0.087
ROCKETS       46 29 8577 8242  0.031 36.570    9  0.284    9  0.283    9  0.250    9 0.5275   28  3.903   21 -0.121    4  0.620
TIMBERWOLVES  46 29 8845 8557 -0.001 35.915   10  0.255   10  0.253   10  0.223   10 0.5253   15  3.984   11  0.262   11  0.183
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         43 33 8981 8833  0.005 36.930   12  0.156   11  0.156   11  0.201   12 0.5149    7  4.013    6  0.393   15  0.009
RAPTORS       42 33 8576 8412  0.018 36.814   11  0.158   12  0.155   13  0.174   11 0.5150   23  3.942   15 -0.004   10  0.353
SUNS          42 34 8580 8445  0.026 37.557   13  0.143   13  0.144   15  0.133   13 0.5144   27  3.920   23 -0.153    8  0.418
76ERS         41 34 8706 8739 -0.010 36.625   14  0.107   14  0.114   20 -0.083   14 0.5100   16  3.983   18 -0.047   19 -0.119
MAGIC         40 35 8650 8631  0.013 37.073   15  0.087   15  0.091   18 -0.044   15 0.5081   18  3.969   20 -0.085   16 -0.003
HEAT          40 36 9138 8954  0.029 37.535   16  0.080   16  0.076   16  0.123   16 0.5072    2  4.048    3  0.501   20 -0.255
HORNETS       40 36 8823 8467 -0.010 35.956   17  0.049   17  0.038    5  0.457   17 0.5037   21  3.947    8  0.303    5  0.610
CLIPPERS      39 37 8654 8552  0.001 36.982   18  0.034   18  0.026   14  0.159   18 0.5025   25  3.938   16 -0.038    9  0.355
TRAIL BLAZERS 39 38 8880 8931  0.003 37.971   19  0.028   19  0.025   17  0.013   19 0.5016   13  3.986   13  0.064   18 -0.037
WARRIORS      36 39 8617 8619  0.026 37.439   20 -0.013   20 -0.022   19 -0.073   20 0.4973   19  3.964   22 -0.140   17 -0.007
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         30 45 8295 8747 -0.037 37.118   21 -0.252   21 -0.242   25 -0.533   21 0.4749   22  3.945   29 -0.695   23 -0.370
BULLS         29 46 8726 9081 -0.002 37.744   22 -0.254   22 -0.251   22 -0.323   22 0.4737    3  4.039   14  0.003   26 -0.649
PELICANS      25 51 8746 9082 -0.005 38.031   23 -0.410   23 -0.412   21 -0.203   23 0.4601    9  4.007   17 -0.045   22 -0.360
GRIZZLIES     25 50 8626 8950 -0.030 36.903   24 -0.423   24 -0.425   23 -0.402   24 0.4588    8  4.011   24 -0.221   25 -0.583
MAVERICKS     24 52 8618 9049 -0.034 37.603   25 -0.459   25 -0.457   24 -0.457   25 0.4545   17  3.982   25 -0.430   24 -0.483
JAZZ          21 55 8917 9529 -0.043 37.752   26 -0.557   26 -0.558   27 -0.565   26 0.4457    1  4.072   19 -0.059   30 -1.071
KINGS         19 57 8414 9206 -0.038 38.411   27 -0.628   27 -0.624   29 -0.710   27 0.4411   14  3.986   28 -0.662   28 -0.757
NETS          18 58 8059 8775 -0.017 38.745   28 -0.647   28 -0.645   28 -0.696   28 0.4386   29  3.897   30 -1.100   21 -0.292
PACERS        17 58 8416 9046 -0.042 37.464   29 -0.681   29 -0.684   26 -0.551   30 0.4341   10  3.998   26 -0.441   27 -0.661
WIZARDS       17 58 8435 9296 -0.049 37.843   30 -0.714   30 -0.709   30 -0.743   29 0.4344    4  4.030   27 -0.465   29 -1.020

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        50 26 8878 8717  0.003 36.898    5  0.380    5  0.387   12  0.201    5 0.5372   11  3.991    9  0.275   12  0.126
SUNS          42 34 8580 8445  0.026 37.557   13  0.143   13  0.144   15  0.133   13 0.5144   27  3.920   23 -0.153    8  0.418
CLIPPERS      39 37 8654 8552  0.001 36.982   18  0.034   18  0.026   14  0.159   18 0.5025   25  3.938   16 -0.038    9  0.355
WARRIORS      36 39 8617 8619  0.026 37.439   20 -0.013   20 -0.022   19 -0.073   20 0.4973   19  3.964   22 -0.140   17 -0.007
KINGS         19 57 8414 9206 -0.038 38.411   27 -0.628   27 -0.624   29 -0.710   27 0.4411   14  3.986   28 -0.662   28 -0.757

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       60 16 9014 8180  0.067 36.990    1  0.762    1  0.765    1  0.709    1 0.5713   26  3.927    5  0.454    1  0.964
NUGGETS       48 28 9216 8861  0.017 36.703    7  0.310    7  0.312    7  0.308    7 0.5309    5  4.028    2  0.578   14  0.038
TIMBERWOLVES  46 29 8845 8557 -0.001 35.915   10  0.255   10  0.253   10  0.223   10 0.5253   15  3.984   11  0.262   11  0.183
TRAIL BLAZERS 39 38 8880 8931  0.003 37.971   19  0.028   19  0.025   17  0.013   19 0.5016   13  3.986   13  0.064   18 -0.037
JAZZ          21 55 8917 9529 -0.043 37.752   26 -0.557   26 -0.558   27 -0.565   26 0.4457    1  4.072   19 -0.059   30 -1.071

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         57 19 9076 8470  0.076 37.546    2  0.659    2  0.664    2  0.657    2 0.5626   12  3.988    1  0.715    6  0.600
ROCKETS       46 29 8577 8242  0.031 36.570    9  0.284    9  0.283    9  0.250    9 0.5275   28  3.903   21 -0.121    4  0.620
PELICANS      25 51 8746 9082 -0.005 38.031   23 -0.410   23 -0.412   21 -0.203   23 0.4601    9  4.007   17 -0.045   22 -0.360
GRIZZLIES     25 50 8626 8950 -0.030 36.903   24 -0.423   24 -0.425   23 -0.402   24 0.4588    8  4.011   24 -0.221   25 -0.583
MAVERICKS     24 52 8618 9049 -0.034 37.603   25 -0.459   25 -0.457   24 -0.457   25 0.4545   17  3.982   25 -0.430   24 -0.483

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       55 21 8933 8332  0.017 35.969    3  0.525    3  0.527    3  0.564    3 0.5519   24  3.941    7  0.385    3  0.744
CAVALIERS     47 29 9070 8761  0.021 36.983    8  0.290    8  0.291    8  0.284    8 0.5288    6  4.014    4  0.480   13  0.087
BUCKS         30 45 8295 8747 -0.037 37.118   21 -0.252   21 -0.242   25 -0.533   21 0.4749   22  3.945   29 -0.695   23 -0.370
BULLS         29 46 8726 9081 -0.002 37.744   22 -0.254   22 -0.251   22 -0.323   22 0.4737    3  4.039   14  0.003   26 -0.649
PACERS        17 58 8416 9046 -0.042 37.464   29 -0.681   29 -0.684   26 -0.551   30 0.4341   10  3.998   26 -0.441   27 -0.661

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
HAWKS         43 33 8981 8833  0.005 36.930   12  0.156   11  0.156   11  0.201   12 0.5149    7  4.013    6  0.393   15  0.009
MAGIC         40 35 8650 8631  0.013 37.073   15  0.087   15  0.091   18 -0.044   15 0.5081   18  3.969   20 -0.085   16 -0.003
HEAT          40 36 9138 8954  0.029 37.535   16  0.080   16  0.076   16  0.123   16 0.5072    2  4.048    3  0.501   20 -0.255
HORNETS       40 36 8823 8467 -0.010 35.956   17  0.049   17  0.038    5  0.457   17 0.5037   21  3.947    8  0.303    5  0.610
WIZARDS       17 58 8435 9296 -0.049 37.843   30 -0.714   30 -0.709   30 -0.743   29 0.4344    4  4.030   27 -0.465   29 -1.020

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       50 25 8547 8016  0.027 35.966    4  0.402    4  0.398    4  0.490    4 0.5396   30  3.894   12  0.072    2  0.908
KNICKS        49 28 8979 8512  0.032 37.250    6  0.332    6  0.331    6  0.409    6 0.5328   20  3.949   10  0.267    7  0.551
RAPTORS       42 33 8576 8412  0.018 36.814   11  0.158   12  0.155   13  0.174   11 0.5150   23  3.942   15 -0.004   10  0.353
76ERS         41 34 8706 8739 -0.010 36.625   14  0.107   14  0.114   20 -0.083   14 0.5100   16  3.983   18 -0.047   19 -0.119
NETS          18 58 8059 8775 -0.017 38.745   28 -0.647   28 -0.645   28 -0.696   28 0.4386   29  3.897   30 -1.100   21 -0.292

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 214 166 0.563    1  0.165
ATLANTIC DIVISION  200 178 0.529    2  0.087
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 180 198 0.476    3 -0.019
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 177 201 0.468    4 -0.029
PACIFIC DIVISION   186 193 0.491    5 -0.064
CENTRAL DIVISION   178 199 0.472    6 -0.119

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.144 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: Wed Apr  1 05:30:11 2026
games through: Tue Mar 31 2026

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