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       46 15 7288 6601  0.044 29.485    1  0.603    1  0.611    1  0.673    1 0.5614   24  3.936    4  0.469    1  0.878
PISTONS       44 14 6815 6362  0.007 27.604    2  0.570    2  0.579    2  0.539    2 0.5598   23  3.946    6  0.383    3  0.696
SPURS         43 17 7102 6717  0.061 29.766    3  0.532    3  0.538    3  0.482    3 0.5543   17  3.979    2  0.497    5  0.467
CELTICS       39 20 6785 6345 -0.009 27.790    4  0.341    4  0.334    4  0.471    4 0.5369   28  3.909   11  0.129    2  0.814
ROCKETS       37 21 6653 6329  0.022 28.116    5  0.317    5  0.312    7  0.301    6 0.5321   30  3.906   17 -0.057    4  0.659
KNICKS        39 22 7160 6803  0.014 29.528    6  0.314    6  0.308    5  0.383    5 0.5336   21  3.962    8  0.309    6  0.457
CAVALIERS     37 24 7286 7026  0.040 30.255    7  0.270    7  0.264    6  0.346    7 0.5276    6  4.015    1  0.547   12  0.145
NUGGETS       37 23 7232 6956  0.006 28.997    8  0.257    8  0.252    9  0.256    8 0.5255    5  4.016    5  0.460   15  0.052
TIMBERWOLVES  37 23 7150 6881 -0.033 28.150    9  0.224    9  0.219   10  0.231    9 0.5228   11  3.997    7  0.339   13  0.124
LAKERS        34 24 6698 6722 -0.007 28.542   11  0.187   10  0.192   19 -0.065   10 0.5209   12  3.995   16  0.029   19 -0.159
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          34 26 6727 6681  0.035 30.245   10  0.187   11  0.184   15  0.023   11 0.5187   27  3.915   25 -0.291   10  0.337
RAPTORS       34 25 6704 6595  0.005 28.945   12  0.173   12  0.173   13  0.113   12 0.5178   25  3.929   22 -0.129    8  0.355
76ERS         33 26 6885 6841 -0.018 28.616   13  0.118   13  0.120   16  0.016   13 0.5124   13  3.983   15  0.053   16 -0.020
MAGIC         31 27 6668 6646  0.027 29.145   14  0.099   14  0.100   17 -0.005   14 0.5098   20  3.962   18 -0.077   14  0.068
WARRIORS      31 28 6834 6716  0.024 29.355   15  0.077   15  0.073   12  0.146   15 0.5073   18  3.968   12  0.105   11  0.188
HEAT          31 29 7195 7031  0.032 29.933   16  0.059   16  0.053   11  0.165   16 0.5056    2  4.036    3  0.478   18 -0.148
TRAIL BLAZERS 29 31 6951 7094  0.051 31.083   17  0.015   17  0.014   20 -0.111   17 0.5012    8  4.008   14  0.055   21 -0.277
HAWKS         30 31 7143 7176  0.009 30.391   18 -0.006   18 -0.009   18 -0.030   18 0.4992    7  4.014   10  0.168   20 -0.228
CLIPPERS      27 31 6477 6510  0.035 29.451   19 -0.037   19 -0.043   14  0.048   19 0.4953   26  3.918   23 -0.249    9  0.345
HORNETS       29 31 6970 6802 -0.017 28.798   20 -0.046   20 -0.058    8  0.284   20 0.4943   19  3.962    9  0.212    7  0.356
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         26 32 6502 6705 -0.011 29.020   21 -0.122   21 -0.114   22 -0.233   21 0.4879   22  3.950   26 -0.368   17 -0.098
BULLS         24 36 6944 7227 -0.027 29.799   22 -0.237   22 -0.230   25 -0.370   22 0.4739    3  4.026   21 -0.113   27 -0.627
GRIZZLIES     22 36 6702 6837 -0.035 28.281   23 -0.309   23 -0.308   21 -0.199   23 0.4685   10  4.000   19 -0.077   24 -0.320
MAVERICKS     21 38 6747 6960 -0.066 28.353   24 -0.377   24 -0.372   24 -0.282   24 0.4608   14  3.983   24 -0.251   23 -0.314
JAZZ          18 41 6960 7429 -0.009 30.148   25 -0.439   25 -0.426   26 -0.486   25 0.4540    1  4.079   13  0.058   30 -1.031
PELICANS      18 42 6903 7220 -0.008 30.210   26 -0.465   26 -0.458   23 -0.251   26 0.4524    9  4.006   20 -0.095   25 -0.407
WIZARDS       16 42 6492 7123 -0.076 28.584   27 -0.565   27 -0.561   30 -0.703   27 0.4429    4  4.018   27 -0.487   29 -0.919
NETS          15 44 6315 6820 -0.027 29.835   28 -0.571   28 -0.578   28 -0.623   28 0.4416   29  3.908   30 -0.969   22 -0.277
PACERS        15 45 6689 7168 -0.038 30.206   29 -0.580   29 -0.589   27 -0.509   30 0.4392   16  3.979   28 -0.494   26 -0.525
KINGS         14 47 6734 7388  0.018 32.102   30 -0.590   30 -0.597   29 -0.657   29 0.4404   15  3.980   29 -0.638   28 -0.675

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 24 6698 6722 -0.007 28.542   11  0.187   10  0.192   19 -0.065   10 0.5209   12  3.995   16  0.029   19 -0.159
SUNS          34 26 6727 6681  0.035 30.245   10  0.187   11  0.184   15  0.023   11 0.5187   27  3.915   25 -0.291   10  0.337
WARRIORS      31 28 6834 6716  0.024 29.355   15  0.077   15  0.073   12  0.146   15 0.5073   18  3.968   12  0.105   11  0.188
CLIPPERS      27 31 6477 6510  0.035 29.451   19 -0.037   19 -0.043   14  0.048   19 0.4953   26  3.918   23 -0.249    9  0.345
KINGS         14 47 6734 7388  0.018 32.102   30 -0.590   30 -0.597   29 -0.657   29 0.4404   15  3.980   29 -0.638   28 -0.675

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       46 15 7288 6601  0.044 29.485    1  0.603    1  0.611    1  0.673    1 0.5614   24  3.936    4  0.469    1  0.878
NUGGETS       37 23 7232 6956  0.006 28.997    8  0.257    8  0.252    9  0.256    8 0.5255    5  4.016    5  0.460   15  0.052
TIMBERWOLVES  37 23 7150 6881 -0.033 28.150    9  0.224    9  0.219   10  0.231    9 0.5228   11  3.997    7  0.339   13  0.124
TRAIL BLAZERS 29 31 6951 7094  0.051 31.083   17  0.015   17  0.014   20 -0.111   17 0.5012    8  4.008   14  0.055   21 -0.277
JAZZ          18 41 6960 7429 -0.009 30.148   25 -0.439   25 -0.426   26 -0.486   25 0.4540    1  4.079   13  0.058   30 -1.031

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         43 17 7102 6717  0.061 29.766    3  0.532    3  0.538    3  0.482    3 0.5543   17  3.979    2  0.497    5  0.467
ROCKETS       37 21 6653 6329  0.022 28.116    5  0.317    5  0.312    7  0.301    6 0.5321   30  3.906   17 -0.057    4  0.659
GRIZZLIES     22 36 6702 6837 -0.035 28.281   23 -0.309   23 -0.308   21 -0.199   23 0.4685   10  4.000   19 -0.077   24 -0.320
MAVERICKS     21 38 6747 6960 -0.066 28.353   24 -0.377   24 -0.372   24 -0.282   24 0.4608   14  3.983   24 -0.251   23 -0.314
PELICANS      18 42 6903 7220 -0.008 30.210   26 -0.465   26 -0.458   23 -0.251   26 0.4524    9  4.006   20 -0.095   25 -0.407

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       44 14 6815 6362  0.007 27.604    2  0.570    2  0.579    2  0.539    2 0.5598   23  3.946    6  0.383    3  0.696
CAVALIERS     37 24 7286 7026  0.040 30.255    7  0.270    7  0.264    6  0.346    7 0.5276    6  4.015    1  0.547   12  0.145
BUCKS         26 32 6502 6705 -0.011 29.020   21 -0.122   21 -0.114   22 -0.233   21 0.4879   22  3.950   26 -0.368   17 -0.098
BULLS         24 36 6944 7227 -0.027 29.799   22 -0.237   22 -0.230   25 -0.370   22 0.4739    3  4.026   21 -0.113   27 -0.627
PACERS        15 45 6689 7168 -0.038 30.206   29 -0.580   29 -0.589   27 -0.509   30 0.4392   16  3.979   28 -0.494   26 -0.525

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         31 27 6668 6646  0.027 29.145   14  0.099   14  0.100   17 -0.005   14 0.5098   20  3.962   18 -0.077   14  0.068
HEAT          31 29 7195 7031  0.032 29.933   16  0.059   16  0.053   11  0.165   16 0.5056    2  4.036    3  0.478   18 -0.148
HAWKS         30 31 7143 7176  0.009 30.391   18 -0.006   18 -0.009   18 -0.030   18 0.4992    7  4.014   10  0.168   20 -0.228
HORNETS       29 31 6970 6802 -0.017 28.798   20 -0.046   20 -0.058    8  0.284   20 0.4943   19  3.962    9  0.212    7  0.356
WIZARDS       16 42 6492 7123 -0.076 28.584   27 -0.565   27 -0.561   30 -0.703   27 0.4429    4  4.018   27 -0.487   29 -0.919

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       39 20 6785 6345 -0.009 27.790    4  0.341    4  0.334    4  0.471    4 0.5369   28  3.909   11  0.129    2  0.814
KNICKS        39 22 7160 6803  0.014 29.528    6  0.314    6  0.308    5  0.383    5 0.5336   21  3.962    8  0.309    6  0.457
RAPTORS       34 25 6704 6595  0.005 28.945   12  0.173   12  0.173   13  0.113   12 0.5178   25  3.929   22 -0.129    8  0.355
76ERS         33 26 6885 6841 -0.018 28.616   13  0.118   13  0.120   16  0.016   13 0.5124   13  3.983   15  0.053   16 -0.020
NETS          15 44 6315 6820 -0.027 29.835   28 -0.571   28 -0.578   28 -0.623   28 0.4416   29  3.908   30 -0.969   22 -0.277

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 167 133 0.557    1  0.156
ATLANTIC DIVISION  160 137 0.539    2  0.100
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 141 154 0.478    3  0.000
CENTRAL DIVISION   146 151 0.492    4 -0.071
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 137 160 0.461    5 -0.072
PACIFIC DIVISION   140 156 0.473    6 -0.101

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.120 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.013 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 28 05:30:12 2026
games through: Fri Feb 27 2026

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