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       66 18  9999  9037  0.067 40.880    1  0.770    1  0.768    1  0.781    1 0.5706   26  3.931    3  0.548    1  1.015
SPURS         63 22 10153  9473  0.066 41.816    2  0.644    2  0.643    2  0.634    2 0.5598   14  3.983    1  0.665    6  0.602
PISTONS       61 23  9856  9183  0.016 39.815    3  0.543    3  0.542    3  0.568    3 0.5524   25  3.938    7  0.368    3  0.767
CELTICS       57 27  9638  8989  0.031 40.383    4  0.449    4  0.437    4  0.562    4 0.5422   29  3.902   12  0.183    2  0.941
LAKERS        55 29  9748  9588  0.011 41.178    5  0.395    5  0.394   13  0.197    5 0.5368   15  3.981   11  0.216   11  0.179
NUGGETS       55 30 10336  9925  0.031 41.545    6  0.378    6  0.370    7  0.346    6 0.5356    5  4.027    2  0.606   15  0.087
KNICKS        55 31 10000  9461  0.040 41.976    7  0.365    7  0.354    5  0.446    7 0.5335   24  3.940    9  0.256    5  0.636
CAVALIERS     54 31 10146  9807  0.010 41.158    8  0.335    8  0.331   10  0.247    8 0.5312    8  4.014    5  0.442   17  0.052
ROCKETS       52 32  9641  9229  0.017 40.570    9  0.299    9  0.291    8  0.286    9 0.5282   28  3.908   19 -0.065    4  0.637
TIMBERWOLVES  51 34 10013  9727  0.018 41.493   10  0.254   10  0.243   12  0.213   10 0.5237   13  3.986    8  0.258   12  0.168
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         48 37 10032  9843  0.036 42.302   11  0.195   11  0.182    9  0.262   11 0.5167    9  4.009    6  0.428   14  0.096
76ERS         47 38  9813  9834  0.005 42.089   14  0.147   12  0.146   19 -0.029   14 0.5129   17  3.975   18 -0.043   18 -0.016
MAGIC         47 39  9904  9837  0.038 43.290   12  0.153   13  0.146   16  0.075   13 0.5131   19  3.963   15  0.003   13  0.147
RAPTORS       47 38  9744  9513  0.026 41.964   13  0.152   14  0.141   11  0.242   12 0.5133   22  3.941   14  0.058    8  0.427
SUNS          46 40  9644  9561  0.045 43.439   15  0.129   15  0.126   17  0.072   15 0.5119   27  3.916   23 -0.238    9  0.382
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.012 40.581   16  0.087   16  0.081    6  0.414   16 0.5072   21  3.944   10  0.244    7  0.584
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 41  9787  9817  0.015 42.368   17  0.061   17  0.063   18  0.067   17 0.5055   16  3.977   13  0.065   16  0.069
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.027 41.084   18  0.059   18  0.057   14  0.105   18 0.5047    2  4.059    4  0.535   20 -0.325
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.010 40.262   19  0.005   19 -0.000   15  0.100   19 0.4998   23  3.941   21 -0.087   10  0.286
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.015 41.935   20 -0.091   20 -0.097   20 -0.148   20 0.4903   18  3.965   22 -0.209   19 -0.087
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 -0.049 40.568   21 -0.282   21 -0.280   25 -0.548   21 0.4720   20  3.951   29 -0.683   21 -0.413
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.038 40.558   22 -0.301   22 -0.306   22 -0.422   22 0.4692    3  4.041   20 -0.086   27 -0.758
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.036 40.668   24 -0.465   23 -0.466   23 -0.423   24 0.4552   11  3.994   24 -0.337   24 -0.508
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.022 40.769   23 -0.462   24 -0.468   21 -0.238   23 0.4562    7  4.015   17 -0.043   23 -0.434
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.037 40.696   25 -0.502   25 -0.508   27 -0.585   25 0.4522    6  4.019   25 -0.367   28 -0.803
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.042 41.116   26 -0.585   26 -0.591   26 -0.584   26 0.4444    1  4.079   16 -0.042   29 -1.125
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.049 41.195   27 -0.594   27 -0.594   28 -0.669   27 0.4443   12  3.988   28 -0.614   26 -0.724
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.063 40.988   28 -0.672   28 -0.674   29 -0.810   28 0.4375   30  3.899   30 -1.205   22 -0.415
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.041 41.124   29 -0.678   29 -0.688   24 -0.502   29 0.4353   10  3.998   26 -0.392   25 -0.611
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.071 41.059   30 -0.789   30 -0.800   30 -0.829   30 0.4285    4  4.038   27 -0.510   30 -1.148

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        55 29  9748  9588  0.011 41.178    5  0.395    5  0.394   13  0.197    5 0.5368   15  3.981   11  0.216   11  0.179
SUNS          46 40  9644  9561  0.045 43.439   15  0.129   15  0.126   17  0.072   15 0.5119   27  3.916   23 -0.238    9  0.382
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.010 40.262   19  0.005   19 -0.000   15  0.100   19 0.4998   23  3.941   21 -0.087   10  0.286
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.015 41.935   20 -0.091   20 -0.097   20 -0.148   20 0.4903   18  3.965   22 -0.209   19 -0.087
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.049 41.195   27 -0.594   27 -0.594   28 -0.669   27 0.4443   12  3.988   28 -0.614   26 -0.724

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       66 18  9999  9037  0.067 40.880    1  0.770    1  0.768    1  0.781    1 0.5706   26  3.931    3  0.548    1  1.015
NUGGETS       55 30 10336  9925  0.031 41.545    6  0.378    6  0.370    7  0.346    6 0.5356    5  4.027    2  0.606   15  0.087
TIMBERWOLVES  51 34 10013  9727  0.018 41.493   10  0.254   10  0.243   12  0.213   10 0.5237   13  3.986    8  0.258   12  0.168
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 41  9787  9817  0.015 42.368   17  0.061   17  0.063   18  0.067   17 0.5055   16  3.977   13  0.065   16  0.069
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.042 41.116   26 -0.585   26 -0.591   26 -0.584   26 0.4444    1  4.079   16 -0.042   29 -1.125

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         63 22 10153  9473  0.066 41.816    2  0.644    2  0.643    2  0.634    2 0.5598   14  3.983    1  0.665    6  0.602
ROCKETS       52 32  9641  9229  0.017 40.570    9  0.299    9  0.291    8  0.286    9 0.5282   28  3.908   19 -0.065    4  0.637
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.036 40.668   24 -0.465   23 -0.466   23 -0.423   24 0.4552   11  3.994   24 -0.337   24 -0.508
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.022 40.769   23 -0.462   24 -0.468   21 -0.238   23 0.4562    7  4.015   17 -0.043   23 -0.434
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.037 40.696   25 -0.502   25 -0.508   27 -0.585   25 0.4522    6  4.019   25 -0.367   28 -0.803

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 23  9856  9183  0.016 39.815    3  0.543    3  0.542    3  0.568    3 0.5524   25  3.938    7  0.368    3  0.767
CAVALIERS     54 31 10146  9807  0.010 41.158    8  0.335    8  0.331   10  0.247    8 0.5312    8  4.014    5  0.442   17  0.052
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.049 40.568   21 -0.282   21 -0.280   25 -0.548   21 0.4720   20  3.951   29 -0.683   21 -0.413
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.038 40.558   22 -0.301   22 -0.306   22 -0.422   22 0.4692    3  4.041   20 -0.086   27 -0.758
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.041 41.124   29 -0.678   29 -0.688   24 -0.502   29 0.4353   10  3.998   26 -0.392   25 -0.611

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 37 10032  9843  0.036 42.302   11  0.195   11  0.182    9  0.262   11 0.5167    9  4.009    6  0.428   14  0.096
MAGIC         47 39  9904  9837  0.038 43.290   12  0.153   13  0.146   16  0.075   13 0.5131   19  3.963   15  0.003   13  0.147
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.012 40.581   16  0.087   16  0.081    6  0.414   16 0.5072   21  3.944   10  0.244    7  0.584
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.027 41.084   18  0.059   18  0.057   14  0.105   18 0.5047    2  4.059    4  0.535   20 -0.325
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.071 41.059   30 -0.789   30 -0.800   30 -0.829   30 0.4285    4  4.038   27 -0.510   30 -1.148

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       57 27  9638  8989  0.031 40.383    4  0.449    4  0.437    4  0.562    4 0.5422   29  3.902   12  0.183    2  0.941
KNICKS        55 31 10000  9461  0.040 41.976    7  0.365    7  0.354    5  0.446    7 0.5335   24  3.940    9  0.256    5  0.636
76ERS         47 38  9813  9834  0.005 42.089   14  0.147   12  0.146   19 -0.029   14 0.5129   17  3.975   18 -0.043   18 -0.016
RAPTORS       47 38  9744  9513  0.026 41.964   13  0.152   14  0.141   11  0.242   12 0.5133   22  3.941   14  0.058    8  0.427
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.063 40.988   28 -0.672   28 -0.674   29 -0.810   28 0.4375   30  3.899   30 -1.205   22 -0.415

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 238 183 0.565    1  0.177
ATLANTIC DIVISION  226 196 0.536    2  0.104
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 200 220 0.476    3 -0.009
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 192 223 0.463    4 -0.055
PACIFIC DIVISION   203 216 0.484    5 -0.088
CENTRAL DIVISION   197 218 0.475    6 -0.134

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Apr 24 05:30:17 2026
games through: Thu Apr 23 2026

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