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       29  5 4153 3656 -0.040 15.230    1  0.722    1  0.719    1  0.787    1 0.5766   27  3.940    2  0.550    1  1.023
SPURS         24 10 4071 3892  0.086 17.390    2  0.477    2  0.480    5  0.358    2 0.5551   12  3.994    5  0.398    7  0.318
PISTONS       25  8 3931 3718 -0.071 15.057    3  0.466    3  0.467    7  0.307    3 0.5540   18  3.972    8  0.232    4  0.381
KNICKS        24 10 4122 3896  0.004 16.494    4  0.416    4  0.414    3  0.370    4 0.5458   10  4.017    3  0.531   12  0.209
NUGGETS       23 10 4129 3894  0.012 15.921    5  0.379    5  0.376    4  0.359    5 0.5423    2  4.064    1  0.769   17 -0.051
ROCKETS       20 10 3616 3359  0.081 14.967    6  0.366    6  0.352    2  0.475    6 0.5422   21  3.954    6  0.307    2  0.643
LAKERS        20 11 3622 3635 -0.003 15.514    7  0.294    7  0.295   19 -0.076    7 0.5371   11  4.005   14  0.022   21 -0.174
CELTICS       20 12 3741 3544  0.013 15.624    8  0.253    8  0.237    6  0.344    8 0.5304   23  3.954   11  0.175    3  0.513
MAGIC         19 15 3965 3908  0.115 18.290    9  0.201    9  0.199   11  0.157    9 0.5232   19  3.963   13  0.038   10  0.276
TIMBERWOLVES  21 13 4038 3896 -0.055 15.834   10  0.193   10  0.188   10  0.182   10 0.5232   15  3.975   12  0.122   11  0.242
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          19 14 3797 3754  0.034 16.719   11  0.180   11  0.176   12  0.104   11 0.5208   25  3.952   19 -0.076    9  0.285
HEAT          18 15 3992 3879  0.064 16.992   12  0.129   12  0.123    8  0.204   12 0.5138    4  4.037    4  0.471   18 -0.062
WARRIORS      18 16 3930 3857  0.056 17.429   14  0.094   14  0.091    9  0.193   13 0.5107   24  3.953   15  0.018    5  0.368
RAPTORS       20 15 3984 3938 -0.044 16.820   13  0.107   13  0.106   15  0.004   14 0.5093   28  3.931   24 -0.282    8  0.289
76ERS         17 14 3609 3605 -0.046 14.959   15  0.067   15  0.066   17 -0.046   15 0.5073   17  3.972   20 -0.120   14  0.028
CAVALIERS     19 16 4187 4099 -0.041 16.709   16  0.057   16  0.050   13  0.090   16 0.5042    9  4.017    7  0.251   19 -0.072
HAWKS         16 19 4174 4204  0.001 17.586   18 -0.083   18 -0.090   18 -0.062   17 0.4937    5  4.036   10  0.196   23 -0.320
TRAIL BLAZERS 14 20 3950 4088  0.100 18.638   17 -0.083   17 -0.088   21 -0.182   18 0.4902    7  4.021   16  0.001   25 -0.365
BULLS         16 17 3919 4036 -0.111 15.525   19 -0.107   19 -0.100   25 -0.314   19 0.4874    3  4.039   17 -0.040   28 -0.588
GRIZZLIES     15 18 3824 3846 -0.019 16.350   20 -0.124   20 -0.117   16 -0.017   20 0.4874   14  3.980   18 -0.051   15  0.017
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAZZ          12 20 3854 4068  0.025 16.990   21 -0.220   21 -0.201   26 -0.320   21 0.4780    1  4.089    9  0.223   30 -0.863
BUCKS         14 20 3843 3940 -0.114 15.902   23 -0.267   23 -0.261   24 -0.269   22 0.4712   20  3.955   27 -0.432   20 -0.106
CLIPPERS      11 21 3588 3648  0.092 17.252   22 -0.256   22 -0.247   14  0.047   23 0.4707   29  3.927   23 -0.259    6  0.354
MAVERICKS     12 22 3867 4002 -0.031 17.111   24 -0.316   24 -0.309   22 -0.211   24 0.4627   22  3.954   26 -0.379   16 -0.043
NETS          10 20 3290 3417 -0.035 14.933   25 -0.348   25 -0.341   20 -0.168   25 0.4579   30  3.922   28 -0.500   13  0.163
HORNETS       11 22 3821 3925 -0.066 16.006   26 -0.382   26 -0.382   23 -0.213   26 0.4556   13  3.990   21 -0.193   22 -0.233
KINGS          8 25 3664 4037  0.090 18.672   27 -0.427   27 -0.426   29 -0.566   27 0.4537   16  3.974   29 -0.633   26 -0.499
WIZARDS        8 24 3621 3989 -0.058 16.284   28 -0.522   28 -0.531   30 -0.615   28 0.4385    6  4.032   25 -0.375   29 -0.854
PELICANS       8 27 4046 4309  0.004 18.251   29 -0.549   29 -0.559   27 -0.390   29 0.4381    8  4.021   22 -0.211   27 -0.568
PACERS         6 28 3742 4051 -0.073 17.183   30 -0.716   30 -0.739   28 -0.541   30 0.4203   26  3.951   30 -0.725   24 -0.358

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        20 11 3622 3635 -0.003 15.514    7  0.294    7  0.295   19 -0.076    7 0.5371   11  4.005   14  0.022   21 -0.174
SUNS          19 14 3797 3754  0.034 16.719   11  0.180   11  0.176   12  0.104   11 0.5208   25  3.952   19 -0.076    9  0.285
WARRIORS      18 16 3930 3857  0.056 17.429   14  0.094   14  0.091    9  0.193   13 0.5107   24  3.953   15  0.018    5  0.368
CLIPPERS      11 21 3588 3648  0.092 17.252   22 -0.256   22 -0.247   14  0.047   23 0.4707   29  3.927   23 -0.259    6  0.354
KINGS          8 25 3664 4037  0.090 18.672   27 -0.427   27 -0.426   29 -0.566   27 0.4537   16  3.974   29 -0.633   26 -0.499

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       29  5 4153 3656 -0.040 15.230    1  0.722    1  0.719    1  0.787    1 0.5766   27  3.940    2  0.550    1  1.023
NUGGETS       23 10 4129 3894  0.012 15.921    5  0.379    5  0.376    4  0.359    5 0.5423    2  4.064    1  0.769   17 -0.051
TIMBERWOLVES  21 13 4038 3896 -0.055 15.834   10  0.193   10  0.188   10  0.182   10 0.5232   15  3.975   12  0.122   11  0.242
TRAIL BLAZERS 14 20 3950 4088  0.100 18.638   17 -0.083   17 -0.088   21 -0.182   18 0.4902    7  4.021   16  0.001   25 -0.365
JAZZ          12 20 3854 4068  0.025 16.990   21 -0.220   21 -0.201   26 -0.320   21 0.4780    1  4.089    9  0.223   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         24 10 4071 3892  0.086 17.390    2  0.477    2  0.480    5  0.358    2 0.5551   12  3.994    5  0.398    7  0.318
ROCKETS       20 10 3616 3359  0.081 14.967    6  0.366    6  0.352    2  0.475    6 0.5422   21  3.954    6  0.307    2  0.643
GRIZZLIES     15 18 3824 3846 -0.019 16.350   20 -0.124   20 -0.117   16 -0.017   20 0.4874   14  3.980   18 -0.051   15  0.017
MAVERICKS     12 22 3867 4002 -0.031 17.111   24 -0.316   24 -0.309   22 -0.211   24 0.4627   22  3.954   26 -0.379   16 -0.043
PELICANS       8 27 4046 4309  0.004 18.251   29 -0.549   29 -0.559   27 -0.390   29 0.4381    8  4.021   22 -0.211   27 -0.568

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  8 3931 3718 -0.071 15.057    3  0.466    3  0.467    7  0.307    3 0.5540   18  3.972    8  0.232    4  0.381
CAVALIERS     19 16 4187 4099 -0.041 16.709   16  0.057   16  0.050   13  0.090   16 0.5042    9  4.017    7  0.251   19 -0.072
BULLS         16 17 3919 4036 -0.111 15.525   19 -0.107   19 -0.100   25 -0.314   19 0.4874    3  4.039   17 -0.040   28 -0.588
BUCKS         14 20 3843 3940 -0.114 15.902   23 -0.267   23 -0.261   24 -0.269   22 0.4712   20  3.955   27 -0.432   20 -0.106
PACERS         6 28 3742 4051 -0.073 17.183   30 -0.716   30 -0.739   28 -0.541   30 0.4203   26  3.951   30 -0.725   24 -0.358

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 15 3965 3908  0.115 18.290    9  0.201    9  0.199   11  0.157    9 0.5232   19  3.963   13  0.038   10  0.276
HEAT          18 15 3992 3879  0.064 16.992   12  0.129   12  0.123    8  0.204   12 0.5138    4  4.037    4  0.471   18 -0.062
HAWKS         16 19 4174 4204  0.001 17.586   18 -0.083   18 -0.090   18 -0.062   17 0.4937    5  4.036   10  0.196   23 -0.320
HORNETS       11 22 3821 3925 -0.066 16.006   26 -0.382   26 -0.382   23 -0.213   26 0.4556   13  3.990   21 -0.193   22 -0.233
WIZARDS        8 24 3621 3989 -0.058 16.284   28 -0.522   28 -0.531   30 -0.615   28 0.4385    6  4.032   25 -0.375   29 -0.854

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 10 4122 3896  0.004 16.494    4  0.416    4  0.414    3  0.370    4 0.5458   10  4.017    3  0.531   12  0.209
CELTICS       20 12 3741 3544  0.013 15.624    8  0.253    8  0.237    6  0.344    8 0.5304   23  3.954   11  0.175    3  0.513
RAPTORS       20 15 3984 3938 -0.044 16.820   13  0.107   13  0.106   15  0.004   14 0.5093   28  3.931   24 -0.282    8  0.289
76ERS         17 14 3609 3605 -0.046 14.959   15  0.067   15  0.066   17 -0.046   15 0.5073   17  3.972   20 -0.120   14  0.028
NETS          10 20 3290 3417 -0.035 14.933   25 -0.348   25 -0.341   20 -0.168   25 0.4579   30  3.922   28 -0.500   13  0.163

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 99 68 0.593    1  0.219
ATLANTIC DIVISION  91 71 0.562    2  0.119
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 79 87 0.476    3  0.043
PACIFIC DIVISION   76 87 0.466    4 -0.077
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 72 95 0.431    5 -0.126
CENTRAL DIVISION   80 89 0.473    6 -0.176

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Thu Jan  1 05:30:44 2026
games through: Wed Dec 31 2025

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.