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       68 18 10251  9268  0.068 42.101    1  0.796    1  0.786    1  0.785    1 0.5718   25  3.937    2  0.584    1  0.986
SPURS         66 22 10501  9769  0.062 43.316    2  0.676    2  0.665    2  0.674    2 0.5617   14  3.979    1  0.690    6  0.658
PISTONS       62 25 10165  9499  0.015 41.546    3  0.518    3  0.510    4  0.523    3 0.5495   26  3.934    7  0.309    3  0.736
CELTICS       59 28  9971  9298  0.026 41.929    4  0.448    4  0.433    3  0.559    4 0.5423   29  3.901   11  0.179    2  0.939
LAKERS        56 31 10049  9910  0.020 43.208    6  0.378    5  0.376   13  0.170    7 0.5349   15  3.975   12  0.163   13  0.177
KNICKS        57 31 10240  9656  0.039 43.074    5  0.384    6  0.373    5  0.500    5 0.5353   24  3.938    8  0.307    4  0.693
NUGGETS       56 31 10557 10150  0.032 42.790    7  0.373    7  0.364    7  0.329    6 0.5350    5  4.025    3  0.584   14  0.074
CAVALIERS     55 32 10360 10020  0.009 42.340    8  0.329    8  0.323    9  0.239    8 0.5304    8  4.012    5  0.427   15  0.052
ROCKETS       54 33  9963  9530  0.015 42.155    9  0.303    9  0.293    8  0.303    9 0.5291   28  3.902   19 -0.072    5  0.677
TIMBERWOLVES  52 35 10238  9948  0.020 42.769   10  0.253   10  0.240   11  0.220   10 0.5234   13  3.984    9  0.259   12  0.181
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC         49 40 10220 10146  0.049 45.344   11  0.178   11  0.165   14  0.107   11 0.5150   19  3.959   14  0.021   11  0.193
HAWKS         48 39 10227 10083  0.040 43.787   12  0.173   12  0.157   12  0.191   12 0.5140    9  4.008    6  0.355   16  0.028
76ERS         48 40 10122 10167  0.016 44.205   14  0.149   13  0.140   19 -0.038   14 0.5119   16  3.973   18 -0.053   18 -0.023
RAPTORS       48 39  9957  9727  0.028 43.217   13  0.159   14  0.139   10  0.238   13 0.5132   23  3.939   13  0.046    8  0.430
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.055 45.007   15  0.114   15  0.105   17  0.061   15 0.5098   27  3.921   23 -0.217    9  0.340
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.008 40.641   16  0.090   16  0.077    6  0.408   16 0.5067   21  3.945   10  0.247    7  0.569
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.022 41.143   17  0.060   17  0.052   15  0.099   17 0.5043    2  4.059    4  0.539   20 -0.340
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.027 44.602   18  0.037   18  0.032   18  0.008   18 0.5026   17  3.973   15 -0.009   17  0.025
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.015 40.296   19  0.007   19 -0.006   16  0.095   19 0.4993   22  3.941   21 -0.083   10  0.273
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.009 41.971   20 -0.089   20 -0.102   20 -0.152   20 0.4898   18  3.966   22 -0.205   19 -0.099
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 -0.055 40.606   21 -0.281   21 -0.286   25 -0.551   21 0.4715   20  3.951   29 -0.677   21 -0.424
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.043 40.613   22 -0.300   22 -0.311   22 -0.424   22 0.4687    3  4.042   20 -0.079   27 -0.768
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.041 40.718   24 -0.464   23 -0.471   23 -0.425   24 0.4547   11  3.994   24 -0.331   24 -0.519
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.027 40.811   23 -0.461   24 -0.473   21 -0.242   23 0.4557    7  4.015   17 -0.037   23 -0.447
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.043 40.740   25 -0.502   25 -0.514   27 -0.587   25 0.4517    6  4.020   25 -0.360   28 -0.814
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.048 41.149   26 -0.586   26 -0.596   26 -0.586   26 0.4439    1  4.080   16 -0.035   29 -1.136
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.055 41.226   27 -0.596   27 -0.600   28 -0.670   27 0.4437   12  3.989   28 -0.606   26 -0.735
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.068 41.025   28 -0.674   28 -0.680   29 -0.812   28 0.4370   30  3.900   30 -1.198   22 -0.426
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.046 41.173   29 -0.679   29 -0.693   24 -0.503   29 0.4348   10  3.999   26 -0.385   25 -0.622
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.077 41.090   30 -0.792   30 -0.807   30 -0.831   30 0.4280    4  4.039   27 -0.503   30 -1.159

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 31 10049  9910  0.020 43.208    6  0.378    5  0.376   13  0.170    7 0.5349   15  3.975   12  0.163   13  0.177
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.055 45.007   15  0.114   15  0.105   17  0.061   15 0.5098   27  3.921   23 -0.217    9  0.340
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.015 40.296   19  0.007   19 -0.006   16  0.095   19 0.4993   22  3.941   21 -0.083   10  0.273
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.009 41.971   20 -0.089   20 -0.102   20 -0.152   20 0.4898   18  3.966   22 -0.205   19 -0.099
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.055 41.226   27 -0.596   27 -0.600   28 -0.670   27 0.4437   12  3.989   28 -0.606   26 -0.735

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       68 18 10251  9268  0.068 42.101    1  0.796    1  0.786    1  0.785    1 0.5718   25  3.937    2  0.584    1  0.986
NUGGETS       56 31 10557 10150  0.032 42.790    7  0.373    7  0.364    7  0.329    6 0.5350    5  4.025    3  0.584   14  0.074
TIMBERWOLVES  52 35 10238  9948  0.020 42.769   10  0.253   10  0.240   11  0.220   10 0.5234   13  3.984    9  0.259   12  0.181
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.027 44.602   18  0.037   18  0.032   18  0.008   18 0.5026   17  3.973   15 -0.009   17  0.025
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.048 41.149   26 -0.586   26 -0.596   26 -0.586   26 0.4439    1  4.080   16 -0.035   29 -1.136

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         66 22 10501  9769  0.062 43.316    2  0.676    2  0.665    2  0.674    2 0.5617   14  3.979    1  0.690    6  0.658
ROCKETS       54 33  9963  9530  0.015 42.155    9  0.303    9  0.293    8  0.303    9 0.5291   28  3.902   19 -0.072    5  0.677
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.041 40.718   24 -0.464   23 -0.471   23 -0.425   24 0.4547   11  3.994   24 -0.331   24 -0.519
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.027 40.811   23 -0.461   24 -0.473   21 -0.242   23 0.4557    7  4.015   17 -0.037   23 -0.447
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.043 40.740   25 -0.502   25 -0.514   27 -0.587   25 0.4517    6  4.020   25 -0.360   28 -0.814

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       62 25 10165  9499  0.015 41.546    3  0.518    3  0.510    4  0.523    3 0.5495   26  3.934    7  0.309    3  0.736
CAVALIERS     55 32 10360 10020  0.009 42.340    8  0.329    8  0.323    9  0.239    8 0.5304    8  4.012    5  0.427   15  0.052
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.055 40.606   21 -0.281   21 -0.286   25 -0.551   21 0.4715   20  3.951   29 -0.677   21 -0.424
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.043 40.613   22 -0.300   22 -0.311   22 -0.424   22 0.4687    3  4.042   20 -0.079   27 -0.768
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.046 41.173   29 -0.679   29 -0.693   24 -0.503   29 0.4348   10  3.999   26 -0.385   25 -0.622

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         49 40 10220 10146  0.049 45.344   11  0.178   11  0.165   14  0.107   11 0.5150   19  3.959   14  0.021   11  0.193
HAWKS         48 39 10227 10083  0.040 43.787   12  0.173   12  0.157   12  0.191   12 0.5140    9  4.008    6  0.355   16  0.028
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.008 40.641   16  0.090   16  0.077    6  0.408   16 0.5067   21  3.945   10  0.247    7  0.569
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.022 41.143   17  0.060   17  0.052   15  0.099   17 0.5043    2  4.059    4  0.539   20 -0.340
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.077 41.090   30 -0.792   30 -0.807   30 -0.831   30 0.4280    4  4.039   27 -0.503   30 -1.159

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 28  9971  9298  0.026 41.929    4  0.448    4  0.433    3  0.559    4 0.5423   29  3.901   11  0.179    2  0.939
KNICKS        57 31 10240  9656  0.039 43.074    5  0.384    6  0.373    5  0.500    5 0.5353   24  3.938    8  0.307    4  0.693
76ERS         48 40 10122 10167  0.016 44.205   14  0.149   13  0.140   19 -0.038   14 0.5119   16  3.973   18 -0.053   18 -0.023
RAPTORS       48 39  9957  9727  0.028 43.217   13  0.159   14  0.139   10  0.238   13 0.5132   23  3.939   13  0.046    8  0.430
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.068 41.025   28 -0.674   28 -0.680   29 -0.812   28 0.4370   30  3.900   30 -1.198   22 -0.426

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 242 188 0.563    1  0.167
ATLANTIC DIVISION  232 200 0.537    2  0.106
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 223 0.475    3 -0.017
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 197 224 0.468    4 -0.053
PACIFIC DIVISION   204 220 0.481    5 -0.096
CENTRAL DIVISION   199 221 0.474    6 -0.142

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.152 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: Thu Apr 30 05:30:14 2026
games through: Wed Apr 29 2026

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