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       63 16  9422  8474  0.066 38.272    1  0.793    1  0.797    1  0.839    1 0.5731   26  3.927    3  0.579    1  1.100
SPURS         60 20  9570  8920  0.085 39.807    2  0.675    2  0.680    2  0.689    2 0.5634   14  3.986    1  0.731    6  0.648
PISTONS       57 22  9269  8656  0.026 37.763    3  0.530    3  0.535    4  0.560    3 0.5525   24  3.938    7  0.359    3  0.762
CELTICS       54 25  9055  8449  0.037 38.133    4  0.456    4  0.453    3  0.577    4 0.5440   29  3.900   11  0.183    2  0.971
KNICKS        52 28  9353  8832  0.032 38.692    5  0.370    5  0.369    6  0.464    5 0.5359   21  3.947    9  0.309    7  0.619
NUGGETS       51 28  9619  9244  0.015 38.162    6  0.346    6  0.350    7  0.316    6 0.5342    5  4.029    2  0.581   14  0.050
LAKERS        50 29  9189  9113  0.014 39.026    7  0.331    7  0.344   15  0.082    7 0.5326   11  3.992   12  0.157   15  0.006
ROCKETS       50 29  9072  8682  0.022 38.240    8  0.324    8  0.326    9  0.295    8 0.5314   28  3.908   18 -0.060    5  0.650
CAVALIERS     50 29  9447  9106  0.016 38.289    9  0.321    9  0.325    8  0.298    9 0.5313    7  4.015    4  0.491   12  0.106
TIMBERWOLVES  47 32  9288  9011  0.005 38.138   10  0.222   10  0.219   12  0.197   10 0.5213   17  3.981   10  0.213   11  0.182
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         45 34  9357  9149  0.011 38.505   11  0.173   11  0.170   10  0.284   11 0.5161    8  4.012    6  0.465   13  0.103
RAPTORS       44 35  9041  8841  0.020 38.842   12  0.151   12  0.146   11  0.215   12 0.5139   23  3.939   14  0.018    8  0.412
SUNS          43 36  8912  8801  0.029 39.316   13  0.133   13  0.130   14  0.097   13 0.5125   27  3.922   23 -0.187    9  0.381
MAGIC         43 36  9124  9103  0.014 39.189   14  0.121   14  0.121   18 -0.036   14 0.5108   18  3.970   20 -0.074   16  0.003
76ERS         43 36  9169  9204  0.001 39.016   15  0.118   15  0.120   19 -0.071   15 0.5107   16  3.983   16 -0.046   19 -0.096
HORNETS       43 37  9303  8903  0.002 38.177   16  0.085   16  0.073    5  0.497   16 0.5068   20  3.948    8  0.344    4  0.651
HEAT          41 38  9514  9358  0.028 39.176   17  0.066   17  0.062   16  0.064   17 0.5055    2  4.055    5  0.472   21 -0.344
CLIPPERS      41 38  9007  8882 -0.010 38.177   18  0.034   18  0.030   13  0.168   18 0.5030   25  3.937   15 -0.039   10  0.375
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 39  9130  9174  0.001 38.995   19  0.023   19  0.023   17  0.024   19 0.5013   15  3.985   13  0.060   17 -0.012
WARRIORS      37 42  9067  9086  0.022 39.505   20 -0.044   20 -0.052   20 -0.095   20 0.4943   19  3.963   22 -0.170   18 -0.020
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         31 48  8730  9210 -0.039 39.220   21 -0.273   21 -0.266   25 -0.536   21 0.4729   22  3.945   29 -0.702   22 -0.370
BULLS         30 49  9187  9580 -0.016 39.604   22 -0.283   22 -0.282   22 -0.368   22 0.4713    3  4.039   17 -0.046   27 -0.691
PELICANS      26 54  9229  9566 -0.027 39.504   23 -0.449   23 -0.448   21 -0.222   23 0.4575    9  4.008   19 -0.064   23 -0.379
MAVERICKS     25 54  8982  9431 -0.035 39.155   24 -0.468   24 -0.462   23 -0.457   24 0.4549   12  3.987   25 -0.409   24 -0.504
GRIZZLIES     25 54  9082  9481 -0.033 39.067   25 -0.475   25 -0.474   24 -0.482   25 0.4549    6  4.017   24 -0.279   26 -0.685
JAZZ          21 59  9388 10101 -0.034 40.385   26 -0.593   26 -0.593   27 -0.640   26 0.4437    1  4.080   21 -0.100   30 -1.180
KINGS         21 59  8868  9682 -0.043 40.355   27 -0.607   27 -0.601   28 -0.690   27 0.4435   13  3.986   28 -0.647   28 -0.733
NETS          20 59  8383  9121 -0.042 39.850   28 -0.633   28 -0.629   29 -0.716   28 0.4411   30  3.896   30 -1.132   20 -0.301
PACERS        18 61  8881  9542 -0.031 39.931   29 -0.681   29 -0.682   26 -0.541   29 0.4352   10  3.999   26 -0.429   25 -0.652
WIZARDS       17 62  8915  9851 -0.063 39.694   30 -0.766   30 -0.765   30 -0.814   30 0.4310    4  4.038   27 -0.501   29 -1.128

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 29  9189  9113  0.014 39.026    7  0.331    7  0.344   15  0.082    7 0.5326   11  3.992   12  0.157   15  0.006
SUNS          43 36  8912  8801  0.029 39.316   13  0.133   13  0.130   14  0.097   13 0.5125   27  3.922   23 -0.187    9  0.381
CLIPPERS      41 38  9007  8882 -0.010 38.177   18  0.034   18  0.030   13  0.168   18 0.5030   25  3.937   15 -0.039   10  0.375
WARRIORS      37 42  9067  9086  0.022 39.505   20 -0.044   20 -0.052   20 -0.095   20 0.4943   19  3.963   22 -0.170   18 -0.020
KINGS         21 59  8868  9682 -0.043 40.355   27 -0.607   27 -0.601   28 -0.690   27 0.4435   13  3.986   28 -0.647   28 -0.733

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       63 16  9422  8474  0.066 38.272    1  0.793    1  0.797    1  0.839    1 0.5731   26  3.927    3  0.579    1  1.100
NUGGETS       51 28  9619  9244  0.015 38.162    6  0.346    6  0.350    7  0.316    6 0.5342    5  4.029    2  0.581   14  0.050
TIMBERWOLVES  47 32  9288  9011  0.005 38.138   10  0.222   10  0.219   12  0.197   10 0.5213   17  3.981   10  0.213   11  0.182
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 39  9130  9174  0.001 38.995   19  0.023   19  0.023   17  0.024   19 0.5013   15  3.985   13  0.060   17 -0.012
JAZZ          21 59  9388 10101 -0.034 40.385   26 -0.593   26 -0.593   27 -0.640   26 0.4437    1  4.080   21 -0.100   30 -1.180

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         60 20  9570  8920  0.085 39.807    2  0.675    2  0.680    2  0.689    2 0.5634   14  3.986    1  0.731    6  0.648
ROCKETS       50 29  9072  8682  0.022 38.240    8  0.324    8  0.326    9  0.295    8 0.5314   28  3.908   18 -0.060    5  0.650
PELICANS      26 54  9229  9566 -0.027 39.504   23 -0.449   23 -0.448   21 -0.222   23 0.4575    9  4.008   19 -0.064   23 -0.379
MAVERICKS     25 54  8982  9431 -0.035 39.155   24 -0.468   24 -0.462   23 -0.457   24 0.4549   12  3.987   25 -0.409   24 -0.504
GRIZZLIES     25 54  9082  9481 -0.033 39.067   25 -0.475   25 -0.474   24 -0.482   25 0.4549    6  4.017   24 -0.279   26 -0.685

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       57 22  9269  8656  0.026 37.763    3  0.530    3  0.535    4  0.560    3 0.5525   24  3.938    7  0.359    3  0.762
CAVALIERS     50 29  9447  9106  0.016 38.289    9  0.321    9  0.325    8  0.298    9 0.5313    7  4.015    4  0.491   12  0.106
BUCKS         31 48  8730  9210 -0.039 39.220   21 -0.273   21 -0.266   25 -0.536   21 0.4729   22  3.945   29 -0.702   22 -0.370
BULLS         30 49  9187  9580 -0.016 39.604   22 -0.283   22 -0.282   22 -0.368   22 0.4713    3  4.039   17 -0.046   27 -0.691
PACERS        18 61  8881  9542 -0.031 39.931   29 -0.681   29 -0.682   26 -0.541   29 0.4352   10  3.999   26 -0.429   25 -0.652

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         45 34  9357  9149  0.011 38.505   11  0.173   11  0.170   10  0.284   11 0.5161    8  4.012    6  0.465   13  0.103
MAGIC         43 36  9124  9103  0.014 39.189   14  0.121   14  0.121   18 -0.036   14 0.5108   18  3.970   20 -0.074   16  0.003
HORNETS       43 37  9303  8903  0.002 38.177   16  0.085   16  0.073    5  0.497   16 0.5068   20  3.948    8  0.344    4  0.651
HEAT          41 38  9514  9358  0.028 39.176   17  0.066   17  0.062   16  0.064   17 0.5055    2  4.055    5  0.472   21 -0.344
WIZARDS       17 62  8915  9851 -0.063 39.694   30 -0.766   30 -0.765   30 -0.814   30 0.4310    4  4.038   27 -0.501   29 -1.128

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       54 25  9055  8449  0.037 38.133    4  0.456    4  0.453    3  0.577    4 0.5440   29  3.900   11  0.183    2  0.971
KNICKS        52 28  9353  8832  0.032 38.692    5  0.370    5  0.369    6  0.464    5 0.5359   21  3.947    9  0.309    7  0.619
RAPTORS       44 35  9041  8841  0.020 38.842   12  0.151   12  0.146   11  0.215   12 0.5139   23  3.939   14  0.018    8  0.412
76ERS         43 36  9169  9204  0.001 39.016   15  0.118   15  0.120   19 -0.071   15 0.5107   16  3.983   16 -0.046   19 -0.096
NETS          20 59  8383  9121 -0.042 39.850   28 -0.633   28 -0.629   29 -0.716   28 0.4411   30  3.896   30 -1.132   20 -0.301

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 222 174 0.561    1  0.169
ATLANTIC DIVISION  213 183 0.538    2  0.109
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 189 207 0.477    3 -0.014
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 186 211 0.469    4 -0.034
PACIFIC DIVISION   192 204 0.485    5 -0.083
CENTRAL DIVISION   186 209 0.471    6 -0.121

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.137 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  8 05:30:10 2026
games through: Tue Apr  7 2026

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