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       41 13 6474 5831  0.038 25.986    1  0.582    1  0.595    1  0.700    1 0.5609   24  3.936    2  0.487    1  0.913
CELTICS       34 19 6100 5746 -0.022 24.864    5  0.279    6  0.269    4  0.375    5 0.5317   28  3.916   14  0.064    2  0.687
PISTONS       39 13 6101 5697 -0.042 23.895    2  0.492    2  0.496    2  0.475    2 0.5541   23  3.944    7  0.303    3  0.646
ROCKETS       33 19 5974 5705  0.036 25.582    4  0.311    4  0.306    7  0.258    4 0.5327   29  3.910   20 -0.083    4  0.598
SPURS         37 17 6366 6068  0.068 27.062    3  0.449    3  0.452    3  0.396    3 0.5468   15  3.974    4  0.376    5  0.416
SUNS          32 22 6140 6015  0.030 26.890    9  0.226   10  0.225   10  0.167   10 0.5231   26  3.933   18 -0.060    6  0.394
KNICKS        35 20 6477 6176 -0.014 26.129    6  0.277    5  0.269    5  0.311    6 0.5304   18  3.969    8  0.270    7  0.353
CLIPPERS      25 28 5938 5964  0.033 26.867   19 -0.026   19 -0.031   15  0.058   19 0.4964   27  3.921   25 -0.231    8  0.348
RAPTORS       32 22 6163 6061 -0.027 25.871   12  0.177   12  0.178   14  0.075   11 0.5194   25  3.935   23 -0.143    9  0.292
HORNETS       25 29 6253 6152 -0.013 26.122   20 -0.081   20 -0.092    9  0.215   20 0.4910   20  3.963   10  0.141   10  0.288
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
WARRIORS      29 25 6241 6127  0.023 26.828   15  0.099   15  0.095   11  0.147   15 0.5100   21  3.962   13  0.065   11  0.229
TIMBERWOLVES  33 22 6569 6317 -0.023 25.993   11  0.185   11  0.182    8  0.248   12 0.5189   10  3.999    5  0.361   12  0.135
76ERS         30 23 6184 6121 -0.024 25.540   13  0.125   13  0.124   16  0.052   13 0.5146   13  3.978   15  0.052   13  0.052
CAVALIERS     33 21 6461 6261  0.019 26.569    7  0.255    8  0.250    6  0.274    7 0.5281    5  4.022    1  0.506   14  0.041
MAGIC         28 24 5990 5992  0.020 26.080   14  0.100   14  0.102   18 -0.058   14 0.5106   17  3.970   21 -0.097   15 -0.019
NUGGETS       34 20 6498 6283 -0.023 25.673    8  0.255    7  0.252   12  0.137    8 0.5265    7  4.016    6  0.339   16 -0.065
NETS          15 37 5596 5976 -0.040 25.758   27 -0.487   26 -0.482   28 -0.514   26 0.4488   30  3.904   30 -0.884   17 -0.143
LAKERS        32 21 6141 6162  0.001 26.241   10  0.220    9  0.230   17 -0.055    9 0.5252   11  3.997   16  0.046   18 -0.155
BUCKS         21 30 5699 5904 -0.044 24.993   22 -0.218   22 -0.219   25 -0.314   22 0.4775   22  3.947   28 -0.472   19 -0.156
MAVERICKS     19 34 6049 6216 -0.035 25.967   24 -0.322   24 -0.330   22 -0.186   24 0.4634   16  3.972   24 -0.212   20 -0.159
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          28 27 6574 6451  0.038 27.633   16  0.047   16  0.041   13  0.124   16 0.5049    3  4.032    3  0.411   21 -0.163
TRAIL BLAZERS 26 28 6270 6372  0.052 27.968   17  0.011   17  0.010   20 -0.069   17 0.5002    8  4.010   11  0.101   22 -0.238
GRIZZLIES     20 32 5993 6104 -0.014 25.729   23 -0.257   23 -0.265   21 -0.153   23 0.4712   12  3.995   19 -0.062   23 -0.245
HAWKS         26 29 6462 6533  0.038 28.099   18 -0.022   18 -0.025   19 -0.064   18 0.4983    4  4.026    9  0.191   24 -0.318
PACERS        14 40 5998 6413 -0.001 27.830   28 -0.517   28 -0.515   26 -0.412   28 0.4448   19  3.967   27 -0.466   25 -0.358
PELICANS      15 40 6306 6620  0.015 28.214   26 -0.486   27 -0.487   23 -0.255   27 0.4475    9  4.003   22 -0.121   26 -0.389
KINGS         12 43 6075 6634  0.024 29.015   30 -0.598   30 -0.599   29 -0.585   30 0.4378   14  3.975   29 -0.600   27 -0.570
BULLS         24 30 6318 6510 -0.054 26.089   21 -0.158   21 -0.152   24 -0.283   21 0.4826    2  4.033   17  0.009   28 -0.576
WIZARDS       14 38 5830 6388 -0.064 25.739   29 -0.551   29 -0.544   30 -0.650   29 0.4423    6  4.021   26 -0.424   29 -0.877
JAZZ          17 37 6383 6824  0.027 28.243   25 -0.367   25 -0.361   27 -0.461   25 0.4592    1  4.083   12  0.099   30 -1.021

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
SUNS          32 22 6140 6015  0.030 26.890    9  0.226   10  0.225   10  0.167   10 0.5231   26  3.933   18 -0.060    6  0.394
CLIPPERS      25 28 5938 5964  0.033 26.867   19 -0.026   19 -0.031   15  0.058   19 0.4964   27  3.921   25 -0.231    8  0.348
WARRIORS      29 25 6241 6127  0.023 26.828   15  0.099   15  0.095   11  0.147   15 0.5100   21  3.962   13  0.065   11  0.229
LAKERS        32 21 6141 6162  0.001 26.241   10  0.220    9  0.230   17 -0.055    9 0.5252   11  3.997   16  0.046   18 -0.155
KINGS         12 43 6075 6634  0.024 29.015   30 -0.598   30 -0.599   29 -0.585   30 0.4378   14  3.975   29 -0.600   27 -0.570

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       41 13 6474 5831  0.038 25.986    1  0.582    1  0.595    1  0.700    1 0.5609   24  3.936    2  0.487    1  0.913
TIMBERWOLVES  33 22 6569 6317 -0.023 25.993   11  0.185   11  0.182    8  0.248   12 0.5189   10  3.999    5  0.361   12  0.135
NUGGETS       34 20 6498 6283 -0.023 25.673    8  0.255    7  0.252   12  0.137    8 0.5265    7  4.016    6  0.339   16 -0.065
TRAIL BLAZERS 26 28 6270 6372  0.052 27.968   17  0.011   17  0.010   20 -0.069   17 0.5002    8  4.010   11  0.101   22 -0.238
JAZZ          17 37 6383 6824  0.027 28.243   25 -0.367   25 -0.361   27 -0.461   25 0.4592    1  4.083   12  0.099   30 -1.021

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
ROCKETS       33 19 5974 5705  0.036 25.582    4  0.311    4  0.306    7  0.258    4 0.5327   29  3.910   20 -0.083    4  0.598
SPURS         37 17 6366 6068  0.068 27.062    3  0.449    3  0.452    3  0.396    3 0.5468   15  3.974    4  0.376    5  0.416
MAVERICKS     19 34 6049 6216 -0.035 25.967   24 -0.322   24 -0.330   22 -0.186   24 0.4634   16  3.972   24 -0.212   20 -0.159
GRIZZLIES     20 32 5993 6104 -0.014 25.729   23 -0.257   23 -0.265   21 -0.153   23 0.4712   12  3.995   19 -0.062   23 -0.245
PELICANS      15 40 6306 6620  0.015 28.214   26 -0.486   27 -0.487   23 -0.255   27 0.4475    9  4.003   22 -0.121   26 -0.389

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       39 13 6101 5697 -0.042 23.895    2  0.492    2  0.496    2  0.475    2 0.5541   23  3.944    7  0.303    3  0.646
CAVALIERS     33 21 6461 6261  0.019 26.569    7  0.255    8  0.250    6  0.274    7 0.5281    5  4.022    1  0.506   14  0.041
BUCKS         21 30 5699 5904 -0.044 24.993   22 -0.218   22 -0.219   25 -0.314   22 0.4775   22  3.947   28 -0.472   19 -0.156
PACERS        14 40 5998 6413 -0.001 27.830   28 -0.517   28 -0.515   26 -0.412   28 0.4448   19  3.967   27 -0.466   25 -0.358
BULLS         24 30 6318 6510 -0.054 26.089   21 -0.158   21 -0.152   24 -0.283   21 0.4826    2  4.033   17  0.009   28 -0.576

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
HORNETS       25 29 6253 6152 -0.013 26.122   20 -0.081   20 -0.092    9  0.215   20 0.4910   20  3.963   10  0.141   10  0.288
MAGIC         28 24 5990 5992  0.020 26.080   14  0.100   14  0.102   18 -0.058   14 0.5106   17  3.970   21 -0.097   15 -0.019
HEAT          28 27 6574 6451  0.038 27.633   16  0.047   16  0.041   13  0.124   16 0.5049    3  4.032    3  0.411   21 -0.163
HAWKS         26 29 6462 6533  0.038 28.099   18 -0.022   18 -0.025   19 -0.064   18 0.4983    4  4.026    9  0.191   24 -0.318
WIZARDS       14 38 5830 6388 -0.064 25.739   29 -0.551   29 -0.544   30 -0.650   29 0.4423    6  4.021   26 -0.424   29 -0.877

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       34 19 6100 5746 -0.022 24.864    5  0.279    6  0.269    4  0.375    5 0.5317   28  3.916   14  0.064    2  0.687
KNICKS        35 20 6477 6176 -0.014 26.129    6  0.277    5  0.269    5  0.311    6 0.5304   18  3.969    8  0.270    7  0.353
RAPTORS       32 22 6163 6061 -0.027 25.871   12  0.177   12  0.178   14  0.075   11 0.5194   25  3.935   23 -0.143    9  0.292
76ERS         30 23 6184 6121 -0.024 25.540   13  0.125   13  0.124   16  0.052   13 0.5146   13  3.978   15  0.052   13  0.052
NETS          15 37 5596 5976 -0.040 25.758   27 -0.487   26 -0.482   28 -0.514   26 0.4488   30  3.904   30 -0.884   17 -0.143

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 151 120 0.557    1  0.161
ATLANTIC DIVISION  146 121 0.547    2  0.089
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 124 142 0.466    3  0.006
PACIFIC DIVISION   130 139 0.483    4 -0.065
CENTRAL DIVISION   131 134 0.494    5 -0.084
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 121 147 0.451    6 -0.099

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.147 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: Wed Feb 11 05:30:07 2026
games through: Tue Feb 10 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.