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       8 1 1100  996 -0.062  3.717    1  0.353    1  0.356    2  0.337    3 0.5672   28  3.923   17  0.004    1  0.669 P
LAKERS        7 2 1076 1049  0.102  4.656    2  0.301    2  0.301    7  0.138    2 0.5718   13  4.003    9  0.216   12  0.059 P
BULLS         6 1  843  809  0.060  3.480    3  0.299    3  0.301    9  0.117    1 0.5772   11  4.008    8  0.219   13  0.015 P
PISTONS       6 2  925  890  0.022  3.847    4  0.225    4  0.228   12  0.086    5 0.5442   21  3.967   19 -0.024    8  0.197 P
ROCKETS       5 2  873  782  0.154  3.389    5  0.200    5  0.195    1  0.348    8 0.5360   17  3.989    3  0.355    4  0.341 P
NUGGETS       5 2  872  795  0.090  3.346    6  0.199    6  0.194    3  0.326    4 0.5463   16  3.990    5  0.334    5  0.317 P
CAVALIERS     5 3  931  918  0.081  4.050    9  0.139    7  0.147   10  0.113    9 0.5320   20  3.974   15  0.038    9  0.188 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 5 3  963  942  0.137  4.284    7  0.149    8  0.147   15  0.077    6 0.5419    2  4.041    2  0.357   25 -0.204 P
KNICKS        5 3  951  909  0.094  4.007    8  0.144    9  0.139    5  0.184    7 0.5377   18  3.981   11  0.148    7  0.220 P
SPURS         5 2  825  767 -0.082  3.013   10  0.125   10  0.131    8  0.125   10 0.5251   27  3.927   22 -0.186    3  0.435 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         5 3  959  953 -0.018  3.805   11  0.112   11  0.116   17  0.020   11 0.5191    6  4.027    7  0.226   22 -0.185 P
76ERS         5 3  986  954 -0.025  3.702   12  0.099   12  0.101   14  0.078   14 0.5135    3  4.040    4  0.353   24 -0.198 P
WARRIORS      5 4 1057 1038  0.044  4.419   13  0.075   13  0.075   11  0.104   12 0.5160   23  3.965   18 -0.017    6  0.226 P
HEAT          4 4  979  941  0.228  4.445   14  0.066   14  0.067    4  0.203   13 0.5145    1  4.044    1  0.500   18 -0.094 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 4  932  946  0.074  4.125   15  0.043   15  0.040   16  0.022   15 0.5113   15  3.995   13  0.059   15 -0.015 P
RAPTORS       4 4  964  944  0.062  4.017   16  0.019   16  0.012   13  0.078   17 0.4989    4  4.034    6  0.321   21 -0.166 P
HAWKS         4 4  933  939  0.028  3.997   17 -0.009   17  0.008   19 -0.019   18 0.4979   12  4.006   12  0.074   19 -0.112 P
KINGS         3 5  935  963  0.234  4.673   18 -0.046   18 -0.030   18  0.008   16 0.5052    7  4.026   10  0.205   23 -0.189 P
CELTICS       4 5 1020  984  0.041  4.298   19 -0.048   19 -0.039    6  0.180   19 0.4905   30  3.915   23 -0.195    2  0.555 P
SUNS          4 5 1050 1064 -0.076  4.152   20 -0.088   20 -0.082   21 -0.060   20 0.4775   14  4.002   16  0.012   20 -0.132 P
TEAM          W L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAZZ          3 5  912  944  0.001  4.006   21 -0.119   21 -0.105   23 -0.154   23 0.4695   24  3.963   25 -0.284   16 -0.025 P
MAGIC         3 5  930  941  0.007  3.941   22 -0.121   22 -0.108   20 -0.039   21 0.4773   19  3.978   21 -0.091   14  0.013 P
CLIPPERS      3 5  884  921 -0.063  3.807   23 -0.125   23 -0.114   22 -0.134   22 0.4700   26  3.943   27 -0.366   10  0.099 P
GRIZZLIES     3 6 1033 1087 -0.065  4.368   24 -0.172   24 -0.167   24 -0.188   24 0.4555   10  4.010   20 -0.073   27 -0.302 P
PELICANS      2 6  863  966 -0.037  4.166   26 -0.223   25 -0.216   28 -0.367   25 0.4403   22  3.966   28 -0.483   26 -0.252 P
HORNETS       3 5  963  963 -0.298  3.089   25 -0.220   26 -0.225   25 -0.189   26 0.4392    5  4.034   14  0.053   28 -0.431 P
MAVERICKS     2 6  850  910 -0.284  3.433   27 -0.304   27 -0.308   27 -0.283   27 0.4241   29  3.915   30 -0.655   11  0.088 P
WIZARDS       1 7  895 1025 -0.062  4.250   29 -0.346   28 -0.345   30 -0.509   28 0.4140    8  4.026   26 -0.313   30 -0.705 P
NETS          1 7  895  996 -0.061  4.023   28 -0.345   29 -0.346   29 -0.376   29 0.4105    9  4.015   24 -0.235   29 -0.516 P
PACERS        1 7  893  956 -0.213  3.422   30 -0.382   30 -0.392   26 -0.279   30 0.4030   25  3.945   29 -0.503   17 -0.056 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
LAKERS        7 2 1076 1049  0.102  4.656    2  0.301    2  0.301    7  0.138    2 0.5718   13  4.003    9  0.216   12  0.059 P
WARRIORS      5 4 1057 1038  0.044  4.419   13  0.075   13  0.075   11  0.104   12 0.5160   23  3.965   18 -0.017    6  0.226 P
KINGS         3 5  935  963  0.234  4.673   18 -0.046   18 -0.030   18  0.008   16 0.5052    7  4.026   10  0.205   23 -0.189 P
SUNS          4 5 1050 1064 -0.076  4.152   20 -0.088   20 -0.082   21 -0.060   20 0.4775   14  4.002   16  0.012   20 -0.132 P
CLIPPERS      3 5  884  921 -0.063  3.807   23 -0.125   23 -0.114   22 -0.134   22 0.4700   26  3.943   27 -0.366   10  0.099 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
THUNDER       8 1 1100  996 -0.062  3.717    1  0.353    1  0.356    2  0.337    3 0.5672   28  3.923   17  0.004    1  0.669 P
NUGGETS       5 2  872  795  0.090  3.346    6  0.199    6  0.194    3  0.326    4 0.5463   16  3.990    5  0.334    5  0.317 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 5 3  963  942  0.137  4.284    7  0.149    8  0.147   15  0.077    6 0.5419    2  4.041    2  0.357   25 -0.204 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 4  932  946  0.074  4.125   15  0.043   15  0.040   16  0.022   15 0.5113   15  3.995   13  0.059   15 -0.015 P
JAZZ          3 5  912  944  0.001  4.006   21 -0.119   21 -0.105   23 -0.154   23 0.4695   24  3.963   25 -0.284   16 -0.025 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
ROCKETS       5 2  873  782  0.154  3.389    5  0.200    5  0.195    1  0.348    8 0.5360   17  3.989    3  0.355    4  0.341 P
SPURS         5 2  825  767 -0.082  3.013   10  0.125   10  0.131    8  0.125   10 0.5251   27  3.927   22 -0.186    3  0.435 P
GRIZZLIES     3 6 1033 1087 -0.065  4.368   24 -0.172   24 -0.167   24 -0.188   24 0.4555   10  4.010   20 -0.073   27 -0.302 P
PELICANS      2 6  863  966 -0.037  4.166   26 -0.223   25 -0.216   28 -0.367   25 0.4403   22  3.966   28 -0.483   26 -0.252 P
MAVERICKS     2 6  850  910 -0.284  3.433   27 -0.304   27 -0.308   27 -0.283   27 0.4241   29  3.915   30 -0.655   11  0.088 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         6 1  843  809  0.060  3.480    3  0.299    3  0.301    9  0.117    1 0.5772   11  4.008    8  0.219   13  0.015 P
PISTONS       6 2  925  890  0.022  3.847    4  0.225    4  0.228   12  0.086    5 0.5442   21  3.967   19 -0.024    8  0.197 P
CAVALIERS     5 3  931  918  0.081  4.050    9  0.139    7  0.147   10  0.113    9 0.5320   20  3.974   15  0.038    9  0.188 P
BUCKS         5 3  959  953 -0.018  3.805   11  0.112   11  0.116   17  0.020   11 0.5191    6  4.027    7  0.226   22 -0.185 P
PACERS        1 7  893  956 -0.213  3.422   30 -0.382   30 -0.392   26 -0.279   30 0.4030   25  3.945   29 -0.503   17 -0.056 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
HEAT          4 4  979  941  0.228  4.445   14  0.066   14  0.067    4  0.203   13 0.5145    1  4.044    1  0.500   18 -0.094 P
HAWKS         4 4  933  939  0.028  3.997   17 -0.009   17  0.008   19 -0.019   18 0.4979   12  4.006   12  0.074   19 -0.112 P
MAGIC         3 5  930  941  0.007  3.941   22 -0.121   22 -0.108   20 -0.039   21 0.4773   19  3.978   21 -0.091   14  0.013 P
HORNETS       3 5  963  963 -0.298  3.089   25 -0.220   26 -0.225   25 -0.189   26 0.4392    5  4.034   14  0.053   28 -0.431 P
WIZARDS       1 7  895 1025 -0.062  4.250   29 -0.346   28 -0.345   30 -0.509   28 0.4140    8  4.026   26 -0.313   30 -0.705 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
KNICKS        5 3  951  909  0.094  4.007    8  0.144    9  0.139    5  0.184    7 0.5377   18  3.981   11  0.148    7  0.220 P
76ERS         5 3  986  954 -0.025  3.702   12  0.099   12  0.101   14  0.078   14 0.5135    3  4.040    4  0.353   24 -0.198 P
RAPTORS       4 4  964  944  0.062  4.017   16  0.019   16  0.012   13  0.078   17 0.4989    4  4.034    6  0.321   21 -0.166 P
CELTICS       4 5 1020  984  0.041  4.298   19 -0.048   19 -0.039    6  0.180   19 0.4905   30  3.915   23 -0.195    2  0.555 P
NETS          1 7  895  996 -0.061  4.023   28 -0.345   29 -0.346   29 -0.376   29 0.4105    9  4.015   24 -0.235   29 -0.516 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 25 15 0.625    1  0.252
ATLANTIC DIVISION  19 22 0.463    2  0.071
CENTRAL DIVISION   23 16 0.590    3  0.040
PACIFIC DIVISION   22 21 0.512    4  0.019
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 17 22 0.436    5 -0.145
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 15 25 0.375    6 -0.199

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Nov  7 05:30:15 2025
games through: Thu Nov  6 2025

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