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       67 18 10120  9146  0.068 41.511    1  0.786    1  0.777    1  0.786    1 0.5712   26  3.933    3  0.566    1  1.007
SPURS         65 22 10387  9674  0.066 42.908    2  0.669    2  0.660    2  0.663    2 0.5613   14  3.981    1  0.688    6  0.638
PISTONS       61 24  9961  9296  0.016 40.462    3  0.529    3  0.521    4  0.544    3 0.5505   24  3.938    7  0.347    3  0.740
CELTICS       59 27  9874  9185  0.031 41.442    4  0.472    4  0.457    3  0.606    4 0.5444   29  3.902   11  0.228    2  0.984
LAKERS        56 30  9956  9811  0.020 42.616    5  0.400    5  0.395   13  0.182    5 0.5367   15  3.978   12  0.188   12  0.176
KNICKS        56 31 10114  9559  0.042 42.623    6  0.378    6  0.365    5  0.466    6 0.5346   23  3.939    8  0.274    4  0.659
NUGGETS       55 31 10432 10037  0.033 42.278    7  0.362    7  0.355    7  0.318    7 0.5341    5  4.025    2  0.569   15  0.067
CAVALIERS     54 32 10235  9900  0.011 41.829    8  0.320    8  0.314   10  0.238    8 0.5296    8  4.010    5  0.415   16  0.062
ROCKETS       53 33  9864  9437  0.014 41.563    9  0.292    9  0.281    8  0.296    9 0.5277   28  3.905   18 -0.067    5  0.658
TIMBERWOLVES  52 34 10125  9823  0.017 42.064   10  0.265   10  0.254   11  0.236   10 0.5247   13  3.983    9  0.272   11  0.200
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         48 38 10130  9957  0.036 42.996   11  0.182   11  0.167   12  0.234   11 0.5151    9  4.008    6  0.398   14  0.070
MAGIC         48 39 10017  9942  0.040 43.962   12  0.170   12  0.160   16  0.092   12 0.5144   19  3.963   14  0.023   13  0.161
RAPTORS       48 38  9837  9602  0.025 42.545   13  0.166   13  0.152    9  0.245   13 0.5144   25  3.937   13  0.042    8  0.447
76ERS         47 40 10009 10070  0.011 43.508   14  0.123   14  0.122   19 -0.078   15 0.5103   17  3.974   21 -0.090   18 -0.065
SUNS          46 41  9753  9682  0.050 44.248   15  0.119   15  0.115   17  0.064   14 0.5108   27  3.918   23 -0.234    9  0.362
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.010 40.632   16  0.087   16  0.079    6  0.412   16 0.5069   21  3.944   10  0.248    7  0.575
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.024 41.141   17  0.057   17  0.055   14  0.102   17 0.5045    2  4.059    4  0.539   20 -0.334
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 43  9988 10051  0.021 43.800   18  0.040   18  0.041   18  0.026   18 0.5034   16  3.975   15  0.017   17  0.035
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.013 40.301   19  0.004   19 -0.003   15  0.097   19 0.4996   22  3.941   20 -0.083   10  0.278
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.012 41.972   20 -0.092   20 -0.100   20 -0.150   20 0.4900   18  3.966   22 -0.205   19 -0.095
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.052 40.607   21 -0.282   21 -0.284   25 -0.550   21 0.4717   20  3.951   29 -0.679   21 -0.421
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.041 40.603   22 -0.301   22 -0.309   22 -0.423   22 0.4689    3  4.042   19 -0.081   27 -0.765
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.039 40.716   24 -0.465   23 -0.470   23 -0.424   24 0.4550   11  3.994   24 -0.332   24 -0.516
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.025 40.814   23 -0.461   24 -0.471   21 -0.240   23 0.4559    7  4.015   17 -0.038   23 -0.443
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.040 40.738   25 -0.501   25 -0.511   27 -0.586   25 0.4519    6  4.019   25 -0.362   28 -0.811
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.045 41.152   26 -0.584   26 -0.594   26 -0.586   26 0.4441    1  4.080   16 -0.038   29 -1.134
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.052 41.229   27 -0.594   27 -0.598   28 -0.671   27 0.4440   12  3.988   28 -0.609   26 -0.732
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.066 41.027   28 -0.672   28 -0.678   29 -0.812   28 0.4372   30  3.900   30 -1.201   22 -0.423
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.044 41.166   29 -0.678   29 -0.692   24 -0.503   29 0.4350   10  3.999   26 -0.388   25 -0.619
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.075 41.086   30 -0.789   30 -0.805   30 -0.831   30 0.4282    4  4.038   27 -0.506   30 -1.157

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        56 30  9956  9811  0.020 42.616    5  0.400    5  0.395   13  0.182    5 0.5367   15  3.978   12  0.188   12  0.176
SUNS          46 41  9753  9682  0.050 44.248   15  0.119   15  0.115   17  0.064   14 0.5108   27  3.918   23 -0.234    9  0.362
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.013 40.301   19  0.004   19 -0.003   15  0.097   19 0.4996   22  3.941   20 -0.083   10  0.278
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.012 41.972   20 -0.092   20 -0.100   20 -0.150   20 0.4900   18  3.966   22 -0.205   19 -0.095
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.052 41.229   27 -0.594   27 -0.598   28 -0.671   27 0.4440   12  3.988   28 -0.609   26 -0.732

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       67 18 10120  9146  0.068 41.511    1  0.786    1  0.777    1  0.786    1 0.5712   26  3.933    3  0.566    1  1.007
NUGGETS       55 31 10432 10037  0.033 42.278    7  0.362    7  0.355    7  0.318    7 0.5341    5  4.025    2  0.569   15  0.067
TIMBERWOLVES  52 34 10125  9823  0.017 42.064   10  0.265   10  0.254   11  0.236   10 0.5247   13  3.983    9  0.272   11  0.200
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 43  9988 10051  0.021 43.800   18  0.040   18  0.041   18  0.026   18 0.5034   16  3.975   15  0.017   17  0.035
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.045 41.152   26 -0.584   26 -0.594   26 -0.586   26 0.4441    1  4.080   16 -0.038   29 -1.134

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         65 22 10387  9674  0.066 42.908    2  0.669    2  0.660    2  0.663    2 0.5613   14  3.981    1  0.688    6  0.638
ROCKETS       53 33  9864  9437  0.014 41.563    9  0.292    9  0.281    8  0.296    9 0.5277   28  3.905   18 -0.067    5  0.658
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.039 40.716   24 -0.465   23 -0.470   23 -0.424   24 0.4550   11  3.994   24 -0.332   24 -0.516
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.025 40.814   23 -0.461   24 -0.471   21 -0.240   23 0.4559    7  4.015   17 -0.038   23 -0.443
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.040 40.738   25 -0.501   25 -0.511   27 -0.586   25 0.4519    6  4.019   25 -0.362   28 -0.811

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       61 24  9961  9296  0.016 40.462    3  0.529    3  0.521    4  0.544    3 0.5505   24  3.938    7  0.347    3  0.740
CAVALIERS     54 32 10235  9900  0.011 41.829    8  0.320    8  0.314   10  0.238    8 0.5296    8  4.010    5  0.415   16  0.062
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.052 40.607   21 -0.282   21 -0.284   25 -0.550   21 0.4717   20  3.951   29 -0.679   21 -0.421
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.041 40.603   22 -0.301   22 -0.309   22 -0.423   22 0.4689    3  4.042   19 -0.081   27 -0.765
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.044 41.166   29 -0.678   29 -0.692   24 -0.503   29 0.4350   10  3.999   26 -0.388   25 -0.619

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         48 38 10130  9957  0.036 42.996   11  0.182   11  0.167   12  0.234   11 0.5151    9  4.008    6  0.398   14  0.070
MAGIC         48 39 10017  9942  0.040 43.962   12  0.170   12  0.160   16  0.092   12 0.5144   19  3.963   14  0.023   13  0.161
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.010 40.632   16  0.087   16  0.079    6  0.412   16 0.5069   21  3.944   10  0.248    7  0.575
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.024 41.141   17  0.057   17  0.055   14  0.102   17 0.5045    2  4.059    4  0.539   20 -0.334
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.075 41.086   30 -0.789   30 -0.805   30 -0.831   30 0.4282    4  4.038   27 -0.506   30 -1.157

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       59 27  9874  9185  0.031 41.442    4  0.472    4  0.457    3  0.606    4 0.5444   29  3.902   11  0.228    2  0.984
KNICKS        56 31 10114  9559  0.042 42.623    6  0.378    6  0.365    5  0.466    6 0.5346   23  3.939    8  0.274    4  0.659
RAPTORS       48 38  9837  9602  0.025 42.545   13  0.166   13  0.152    9  0.245   13 0.5144   25  3.937   13  0.042    8  0.447
76ERS         47 40 10009 10070  0.011 43.508   14  0.123   14  0.122   19 -0.078   15 0.5103   17  3.974   21 -0.090   18 -0.065
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.066 41.027   28 -0.672   28 -0.678   29 -0.812   28 0.4372   30  3.900   30 -1.201   22 -0.423

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 240 186 0.563    1  0.171
ATLANTIC DIVISION  230 198 0.537    2  0.105
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 201 221 0.476    3 -0.012
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 195 224 0.465    4 -0.053
PACIFIC DIVISION   204 218 0.483    5 -0.093
CENTRAL DIVISION   197 220 0.472    6 -0.139

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.151 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: Mon Apr 27 05:30:13 2026
games through: Sun Apr 26 2026

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