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
SPURS         54 19 8697 8163  0.086 36.505    2  0.631    2  0.639    2  0.598    2 0.5612   13  3.989    1  0.666    6  0.531
NUGGETS       44 28 8698 8381  0.029 35.177    8  0.271    8  0.270    8  0.294    8 0.5273    5  4.022    2  0.532   15  0.057
HEAT          38 34 8653 8458  0.030 35.558   16  0.081   16  0.080   14  0.146   16 0.5074    2  4.047    3  0.515   20 -0.224
CAVALIERS     44 27 8447 8142  0.024 34.549    7  0.292    7  0.291    7  0.320    7 0.5293    8  4.009    4  0.491   11  0.149
THUNDER       57 15 8549 7738  0.051 34.645    1  0.741    1  0.744    1  0.714    1 0.5708   26  3.926    5  0.459    1  0.968
HAWKS         40 32 8514 8380 -0.012 34.607   13  0.116   13  0.114   10  0.176   13 0.5114    6  4.016    6  0.382   17 -0.031
PISTONS       52 19 8329 7777 -0.001 33.254    3  0.524    3  0.528    3  0.520    3 0.5528   23  3.944    7  0.354    3  0.686
KNICKS        48 25 8561 8060  0.012 34.726    5  0.365    5  0.360    4  0.474    5 0.5366   20  3.952    8  0.349    4  0.599
TIMBERWOLVES  44 28 8524 8246 -0.004 34.418   10  0.244   10  0.243    9  0.217   10 0.5245   11  3.993    9  0.301   12  0.133
HORNETS       37 34 8245 7956 -0.002 33.937   17  0.042   17  0.034    6  0.411   17 0.5034   21  3.950   10  0.277    5  0.544
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        46 26 8378 8274  0.026 35.717    6  0.349    6  0.354   11  0.168    6 0.5351   14  3.989   11  0.235   14  0.100
CELTICS       47 24 8103 7594  0.005 33.482    4  0.367    4  0.362    5  0.463    4 0.5370   30  3.896   12  0.058    2  0.869
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 37 8420 8540  0.026 36.786   18  0.016   18  0.017   19 -0.065   18 0.5005   10  3.995   13  0.031   19 -0.161
PELICANS      25 47 8314 8579 -0.024 35.330   23 -0.377   23 -0.379   21 -0.136   23 0.4624    9  4.004   14  0.010   21 -0.283
JAZZ          21 51 8456 9005 -0.037 35.758   26 -0.509   26 -0.506   26 -0.508   26 0.4493    1  4.070   15 -0.010   29 -1.005
MAGIC         38 33 8196 8128  0.019 35.095   14  0.095   15  0.096   17  0.044   15 0.5086   19  3.963   16 -0.025   13  0.113
BULLS         29 42 8238 8539 -0.017 35.222   21 -0.218   21 -0.212   22 -0.302   22 0.4771    4  4.029   17 -0.025   26 -0.578
CLIPPERS      36 36 8190 8118  0.014 35.453   19  0.013   19  0.008   13  0.147   19 0.5002   25  3.938   18 -0.050    9  0.344
RAPTORS       40 31 8108 7973  0.010 34.700   11  0.156   12  0.155   15  0.127   12 0.5155   24  3.941   19 -0.056   10  0.309
WARRIORS      34 38 8284 8271  0.043 36.361   20 -0.020   20 -0.026   18 -0.019   20 0.4969   18  3.964   20 -0.080   16  0.043
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
76ERS         39 33 8322 8369 -0.014 35.095   15  0.091   14  0.097   20 -0.115   14 0.5088   17  3.978   21 -0.109   18 -0.120
GRIZZLIES     24 47 8189 8453 -0.028 34.827   24 -0.405   24 -0.409   23 -0.338   24 0.4595    7  4.010   22 -0.161   25 -0.515
ROCKETS       43 28 8105 7827  0.019 34.470    9  0.255    9  0.255   12  0.160    9 0.5253   28  3.907   23 -0.193    7  0.514
SUNS          40 32 8081 7991  0.030 35.808   12  0.156   11  0.155   16  0.078   11 0.5158   27  3.915   24 -0.233    8  0.389
MAVERICKS     23 49 8190 8567 -0.035 35.497   25 -0.446   25 -0.445   24 -0.408   25 0.4545   16  3.983   25 -0.372   24 -0.445
WIZARDS       16 55 7987 8812 -0.049 35.840   30 -0.706   30 -0.702   30 -0.745   29 0.4337    3  4.033   26 -0.450   30 -1.040
PACERS        16 56 8038 8677 -0.043 36.052   29 -0.683   29 -0.687   27 -0.606   30 0.4332   12  3.992   27 -0.523   27 -0.690
KINGS         19 53 7995 8712 -0.037 36.262   27 -0.582   27 -0.578   28 -0.651   27 0.4443   15  3.986   28 -0.600   28 -0.702
BUCKS         29 42 7865 8264 -0.034 35.153   22 -0.229   22 -0.219   25 -0.488   21 0.4772   22  3.944   29 -0.651   23 -0.325
NETS          17 55 7652 8334 -0.009 36.871   28 -0.632   28 -0.631   29 -0.690   28 0.4390   29  3.901   30 -1.070   22 -0.310

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        46 26 8378 8274  0.026 35.717    6  0.349    6  0.354   11  0.168    6 0.5351   14  3.989   11  0.235   14  0.100
CLIPPERS      36 36 8190 8118  0.014 35.453   19  0.013   19  0.008   13  0.147   19 0.5002   25  3.938   18 -0.050    9  0.344
WARRIORS      34 38 8284 8271  0.043 36.361   20 -0.020   20 -0.026   18 -0.019   20 0.4969   18  3.964   20 -0.080   16  0.043
SUNS          40 32 8081 7991  0.030 35.808   12  0.156   11  0.155   16  0.078   11 0.5158   27  3.915   24 -0.233    8  0.389
KINGS         19 53 7995 8712 -0.037 36.262   27 -0.582   27 -0.578   28 -0.651   27 0.4443   15  3.986   28 -0.600   28 -0.702

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
NUGGETS       44 28 8698 8381  0.029 35.177    8  0.271    8  0.270    8  0.294    8 0.5273    5  4.022    2  0.532   15  0.057
THUNDER       57 15 8549 7738  0.051 34.645    1  0.741    1  0.744    1  0.714    1 0.5708   26  3.926    5  0.459    1  0.968
TIMBERWOLVES  44 28 8524 8246 -0.004 34.418   10  0.244   10  0.243    9  0.217   10 0.5245   11  3.993    9  0.301   12  0.133
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 37 8420 8540  0.026 36.786   18  0.016   18  0.017   19 -0.065   18 0.5005   10  3.995   13  0.031   19 -0.161
JAZZ          21 51 8456 9005 -0.037 35.758   26 -0.509   26 -0.506   26 -0.508   26 0.4493    1  4.070   15 -0.010   29 -1.005

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         54 19 8697 8163  0.086 36.505    2  0.631    2  0.639    2  0.598    2 0.5612   13  3.989    1  0.666    6  0.531
PELICANS      25 47 8314 8579 -0.024 35.330   23 -0.377   23 -0.379   21 -0.136   23 0.4624    9  4.004   14  0.010   21 -0.283
GRIZZLIES     24 47 8189 8453 -0.028 34.827   24 -0.405   24 -0.409   23 -0.338   24 0.4595    7  4.010   22 -0.161   25 -0.515
ROCKETS       43 28 8105 7827  0.019 34.470    9  0.255    9  0.255   12  0.160    9 0.5253   28  3.907   23 -0.193    7  0.514
MAVERICKS     23 49 8190 8567 -0.035 35.497   25 -0.446   25 -0.445   24 -0.408   25 0.4545   16  3.983   25 -0.372   24 -0.445

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
CAVALIERS     44 27 8447 8142  0.024 34.549    7  0.292    7  0.291    7  0.320    7 0.5293    8  4.009    4  0.491   11  0.149
PISTONS       52 19 8329 7777 -0.001 33.254    3  0.524    3  0.528    3  0.520    3 0.5528   23  3.944    7  0.354    3  0.686
BULLS         29 42 8238 8539 -0.017 35.222   21 -0.218   21 -0.212   22 -0.302   22 0.4771    4  4.029   17 -0.025   26 -0.578
PACERS        16 56 8038 8677 -0.043 36.052   29 -0.683   29 -0.687   27 -0.606   30 0.4332   12  3.992   27 -0.523   27 -0.690
BUCKS         29 42 7865 8264 -0.034 35.153   22 -0.229   22 -0.219   25 -0.488   21 0.4772   22  3.944   29 -0.651   23 -0.325

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
HEAT          38 34 8653 8458  0.030 35.558   16  0.081   16  0.080   14  0.146   16 0.5074    2  4.047    3  0.515   20 -0.224
HAWKS         40 32 8514 8380 -0.012 34.607   13  0.116   13  0.114   10  0.176   13 0.5114    6  4.016    6  0.382   17 -0.031
HORNETS       37 34 8245 7956 -0.002 33.937   17  0.042   17  0.034    6  0.411   17 0.5034   21  3.950   10  0.277    5  0.544
MAGIC         38 33 8196 8128  0.019 35.095   14  0.095   15  0.096   17  0.044   15 0.5086   19  3.963   16 -0.025   13  0.113
WIZARDS       16 55 7987 8812 -0.049 35.840   30 -0.706   30 -0.702   30 -0.745   29 0.4337    3  4.033   26 -0.450   30 -1.040

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        48 25 8561 8060  0.012 34.726    5  0.365    5  0.360    4  0.474    5 0.5366   20  3.952    8  0.349    4  0.599
CELTICS       47 24 8103 7594  0.005 33.482    4  0.367    4  0.362    5  0.463    4 0.5370   30  3.896   12  0.058    2  0.869
RAPTORS       40 31 8108 7973  0.010 34.700   11  0.156   12  0.155   15  0.127   12 0.5155   24  3.941   19 -0.056   10  0.309
76ERS         39 33 8322 8369 -0.014 35.095   15  0.091   14  0.097   20 -0.115   14 0.5088   17  3.978   21 -0.109   18 -0.120
NETS          17 55 7652 8334 -0.009 36.871   28 -0.632   28 -0.631   29 -0.690   28 0.4390   29  3.901   30 -1.070   22 -0.310

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 202 159 0.560    1  0.161
ATLANTIC DIVISION  191 168 0.532    2  0.083
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 169 188 0.473    3 -0.016
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 169 190 0.471    4 -0.024
PACIFIC DIVISION   175 185 0.486    5 -0.065
CENTRAL DIVISION   170 186 0.478    6 -0.116

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue Mar 24 05:30:10 2026
games through: Mon Mar 23 2026

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