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       30  5 4284 3750 -0.023 15.845    1  0.744    1  0.748    1  0.863    1 0.5793   27  3.941    2  0.630    1  1.096
SPURS         25 11 4304 4120  0.055 17.997    2  0.438    2  0.441    5  0.323    3 0.5495   12  3.994    5  0.364    9  0.282
PISTONS       25  9 4043 3836 -0.060 15.662    3  0.430    3  0.431    6  0.291    2 0.5499   18  3.971    9  0.209    4  0.373
NUGGETS       23 11 4237 4007  0.011 16.402    4  0.344    4  0.338    4  0.337    6 0.5374    2  4.059    1  0.720   18 -0.046
KNICKS        24 12 4340 4137 -0.012 17.324    5  0.331    5  0.324    7  0.283    7 0.5361    9  4.014    4  0.427   12  0.139
ROCKETS       21 11 3840 3565  0.059 15.713    6  0.327    6  0.321    2  0.472    5 0.5376   26  3.950    7  0.287    2  0.657
LAKERS        21 11 3750 3756 -0.008 15.904    7  0.307    7  0.318   19 -0.062    4 0.5390   11  4.009   13  0.056   21 -0.180
CELTICS       22 12 4007 3765  0.003 16.389    8  0.283    8  0.278    3  0.413    8 0.5344   20  3.963    6  0.293    3  0.534
TIMBERWOLVES  22 13 4163 4011 -0.046 16.337    9  0.224    9  0.218    8  0.206    9 0.5258   16  3.977   12  0.155   10  0.257
SUNS          20 14 3926 3856  0.006 16.760   10  0.189   10  0.181   10  0.134   10 0.5214   25  3.953   17 -0.039    5  0.308
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC         19 16 4079 4029  0.099 18.616   11  0.165   11  0.156   12  0.123   11 0.5186   19  3.964   15  0.009   11  0.237
76ERS         19 14 3862 3832 -0.025 16.063   12  0.139   12  0.134   15  0.034   12 0.5158   15  3.977   16 -0.014   13  0.083
RAPTORS       21 15 4118 4055 -0.045 17.211   13  0.137   13  0.130   14  0.036   14 0.5127   28  3.936   22 -0.222    7  0.295
HEAT          19 16 4225 4116  0.065 18.054   14  0.134   14  0.124    9  0.192   13 0.5144    3  4.037    3  0.458   19 -0.073
WARRIORS      19 17 4147 4102  0.055 18.489   15  0.101   15  0.091   11  0.123   15 0.5106   24  3.953   19 -0.050    6  0.295
CAVALIERS     20 16 4300 4207 -0.027 17.336   16  0.095   16  0.087   13  0.110   16 0.5084   10  4.012    8  0.245   16 -0.026
TRAIL BLAZERS 16 20 4187 4307  0.097 19.589   17 -0.015   17 -0.023   20 -0.124   17 0.4980    8  4.017   14  0.034   23 -0.282
HAWKS         17 20 4402 4437  0.024 18.862   18 -0.055   18 -0.067   18 -0.041   18 0.4961    4  4.034   10  0.207   24 -0.290
BULLS         17 18 4139 4262 -0.118 16.300   19 -0.109   19 -0.108   25 -0.323   19 0.4864    5  4.034   20 -0.075   27 -0.570
GRIZZLIES     15 19 3945 3974 -0.016 16.865   20 -0.140   20 -0.141   17 -0.026   20 0.4858   14  3.984   18 -0.040   15 -0.011
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         15 20 3965 4061 -0.116 16.262   21 -0.229   21 -0.231   23 -0.266   21 0.4745   21  3.959   27 -0.407   20 -0.124
CLIPPERS      12 22 3821 3895  0.083 18.201   22 -0.239   22 -0.239   16  0.011   22 0.4722   29  3.932   24 -0.267    8  0.289
JAZZ          12 22 4069 4309  0.034 18.136   23 -0.260   23 -0.244   26 -0.349   23 0.4721    1  4.083   11  0.166   30 -0.863
MAVERICKS     13 23 4085 4229 -0.022 18.180   24 -0.297   24 -0.287   22 -0.209   24 0.4650   23  3.953   26 -0.381   17 -0.036
HORNETS       12 23 4054 4146 -0.073 16.765   25 -0.379   25 -0.374   21 -0.183   25 0.4582   13  3.988   21 -0.175   22 -0.190
NETS          10 22 3485 3656 -0.038 15.968   26 -0.399   26 -0.389   24 -0.272   26 0.4531   30  3.917   28 -0.627   14  0.083
KINGS          8 27 3872 4286  0.099 19.907   27 -0.466   27 -0.460   30 -0.606   27 0.4506   17  3.975   29 -0.667   26 -0.545
WIZARDS        9 24 3740 4088 -0.061 16.634   28 -0.494   28 -0.493   29 -0.554   28 0.4430    6  4.029   25 -0.330   29 -0.777
PELICANS       8 28 4155 4431 -0.005 18.597   29 -0.578   29 -0.585   27 -0.415   29 0.4360    7  4.019   23 -0.243   28 -0.587
PACERS         6 29 3855 4174 -0.061 17.750   30 -0.728   30 -0.752   28 -0.537   30 0.4201   22  3.953   30 -0.709   25 -0.365

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        21 11 3750 3756 -0.008 15.904    7  0.307    7  0.318   19 -0.062    4 0.5390   11  4.009   13  0.056   21 -0.180
SUNS          20 14 3926 3856  0.006 16.760   10  0.189   10  0.181   10  0.134   10 0.5214   25  3.953   17 -0.039    5  0.308
WARRIORS      19 17 4147 4102  0.055 18.489   15  0.101   15  0.091   11  0.123   15 0.5106   24  3.953   19 -0.050    6  0.295
CLIPPERS      12 22 3821 3895  0.083 18.201   22 -0.239   22 -0.239   16  0.011   22 0.4722   29  3.932   24 -0.267    8  0.289
KINGS          8 27 3872 4286  0.099 19.907   27 -0.466   27 -0.460   30 -0.606   27 0.4506   17  3.975   29 -0.667   26 -0.545

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       30  5 4284 3750 -0.023 15.845    1  0.744    1  0.748    1  0.863    1 0.5793   27  3.941    2  0.630    1  1.096
NUGGETS       23 11 4237 4007  0.011 16.402    4  0.344    4  0.338    4  0.337    6 0.5374    2  4.059    1  0.720   18 -0.046
TIMBERWOLVES  22 13 4163 4011 -0.046 16.337    9  0.224    9  0.218    8  0.206    9 0.5258   16  3.977   12  0.155   10  0.257
TRAIL BLAZERS 16 20 4187 4307  0.097 19.589   17 -0.015   17 -0.023   20 -0.124   17 0.4980    8  4.017   14  0.034   23 -0.282
JAZZ          12 22 4069 4309  0.034 18.136   23 -0.260   23 -0.244   26 -0.349   23 0.4721    1  4.083   11  0.166   30 -0.863

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         25 11 4304 4120  0.055 17.997    2  0.438    2  0.441    5  0.323    3 0.5495   12  3.994    5  0.364    9  0.282
ROCKETS       21 11 3840 3565  0.059 15.713    6  0.327    6  0.321    2  0.472    5 0.5376   26  3.950    7  0.287    2  0.657
GRIZZLIES     15 19 3945 3974 -0.016 16.865   20 -0.140   20 -0.141   17 -0.026   20 0.4858   14  3.984   18 -0.040   15 -0.011
MAVERICKS     13 23 4085 4229 -0.022 18.180   24 -0.297   24 -0.287   22 -0.209   24 0.4650   23  3.953   26 -0.381   17 -0.036
PELICANS       8 28 4155 4431 -0.005 18.597   29 -0.578   29 -0.585   27 -0.415   29 0.4360    7  4.019   23 -0.243   28 -0.587

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       25  9 4043 3836 -0.060 15.662    3  0.430    3  0.431    6  0.291    2 0.5499   18  3.971    9  0.209    4  0.373
CAVALIERS     20 16 4300 4207 -0.027 17.336   16  0.095   16  0.087   13  0.110   16 0.5084   10  4.012    8  0.245   16 -0.026
BULLS         17 18 4139 4262 -0.118 16.300   19 -0.109   19 -0.108   25 -0.323   19 0.4864    5  4.034   20 -0.075   27 -0.570
BUCKS         15 20 3965 4061 -0.116 16.262   21 -0.229   21 -0.231   23 -0.266   21 0.4745   21  3.959   27 -0.407   20 -0.124
PACERS         6 29 3855 4174 -0.061 17.750   30 -0.728   30 -0.752   28 -0.537   30 0.4201   22  3.953   30 -0.709   25 -0.365

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         19 16 4079 4029  0.099 18.616   11  0.165   11  0.156   12  0.123   11 0.5186   19  3.964   15  0.009   11  0.237
HEAT          19 16 4225 4116  0.065 18.054   14  0.134   14  0.124    9  0.192   13 0.5144    3  4.037    3  0.458   19 -0.073
HAWKS         17 20 4402 4437  0.024 18.862   18 -0.055   18 -0.067   18 -0.041   18 0.4961    4  4.034   10  0.207   24 -0.290
HORNETS       12 23 4054 4146 -0.073 16.765   25 -0.379   25 -0.374   21 -0.183   25 0.4582   13  3.988   21 -0.175   22 -0.190
WIZARDS        9 24 3740 4088 -0.061 16.634   28 -0.494   28 -0.493   29 -0.554   28 0.4430    6  4.029   25 -0.330   29 -0.777

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        24 12 4340 4137 -0.012 17.324    5  0.331    5  0.324    7  0.283    7 0.5361    9  4.014    4  0.427   12  0.139
CELTICS       22 12 4007 3765  0.003 16.389    8  0.283    8  0.278    3  0.413    8 0.5344   20  3.963    6  0.293    3  0.534
76ERS         19 14 3862 3832 -0.025 16.063   12  0.139   12  0.134   15  0.034   12 0.5158   15  3.977   16 -0.014   13  0.083
RAPTORS       21 15 4118 4055 -0.045 17.211   13  0.137   13  0.130   14  0.036   14 0.5127   28  3.936   22 -0.222    7  0.295
NETS          10 22 3485 3656 -0.038 15.968   26 -0.399   26 -0.389   24 -0.272   26 0.4531   30  3.917   28 -0.627   14  0.083

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 103  71 0.592    1  0.235
ATLANTIC DIVISION   96  75 0.561    2  0.120
SOUTHWEST DIVISION  82  92 0.471    3  0.029
PACIFIC DIVISION    80  91 0.468    4 -0.093
SOUTHEAST DIVISION  76  99 0.434    5 -0.115
CENTRAL DIVISION    83  92 0.474    6 -0.174

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Jan  4 05:30:17 2026
games through: Sat Jan  3 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.