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
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.061 41.245   26 -0.586   26 -0.611   26 -0.583   26 0.4429    1  4.081   15 -0.018   29 -1.149
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.010 41.257   17  0.057   17  0.041   14  0.082   17 0.5032    2  4.061    4  0.539   20 -0.374
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.054 40.761   22 -0.301   22 -0.324   22 -0.423   22 0.4677    3  4.043   18 -0.061   27 -0.785
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.090 41.181   30 -0.793   30 -0.822   30 -0.823   30 0.4268    4  4.040   27 -0.478   30 -1.168
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.021 43.482    7  0.355    7  0.336    7  0.289    6 0.5326    5  4.023    3  0.545   15  0.033
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.056 40.843   25 -0.501   25 -0.527   27 -0.585   25 0.4506    6  4.021   25 -0.344   28 -0.827
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.040 40.922   23 -0.461   24 -0.486   21 -0.249   23 0.4546    7  4.017   16 -0.029   23 -0.468
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.034 44.782   11  0.159   11  0.139   13  0.107   12 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.288   18 -0.075
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.058 41.310   29 -0.678   29 -0.706   24 -0.501   29 0.4338    9  4.001   26 -0.365   25 -0.637
CAVALIERS     60 39 11651 11331  0.061 50.724    8  0.325    8  0.309    8  0.252    8 0.5284   10  3.996    6  0.364   13  0.140
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.054 40.823   24 -0.463   23 -0.484   23 -0.428   24 0.4536   11  3.995   24 -0.319   24 -0.537
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.068 41.316   27 -0.596   27 -0.614   28 -0.666   27 0.4426   12  3.990   28 -0.587   26 -0.744
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.049 47.977   10  0.263   10  0.242   12  0.123   10 0.5233   13  3.979   10  0.147   14  0.098
SPURS         71 26 11568 10756  0.095 49.369    2  0.684    2  0.650    2  0.730    2 0.5603   14  3.976    1  0.738    5  0.722
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.016 44.773   18  0.035   18  0.022   18 -0.000   18 0.5016   15  3.974   14 -0.003   16  0.003
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.035 48.574   14  0.141   14  0.126   19 -0.080   14 0.5100   16  3.972   20 -0.092   17 -0.069
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.047 47.245    6  0.356    6  0.344   11  0.151    7 0.5317   17  3.971   11  0.134   11  0.169
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.003 42.091   20 -0.093   20 -0.114   20 -0.160   20 0.4887   18  3.967   22 -0.200   19 -0.121
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.045 46.893   13  0.155   12  0.134   17  0.048   13 0.5119   19  3.956   17 -0.049   12  0.144
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.067 40.709   21 -0.282   21 -0.299   25 -0.550   21 0.4703   20  3.953   29 -0.660   22 -0.441
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.003 40.770   16  0.087   16  0.066    6  0.387   16 0.5057   21  3.946    8  0.242    7  0.532
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.028 40.397   19  0.004   19 -0.019   15  0.082   19 0.4982   22  3.942   19 -0.082   10  0.247
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.023 44.629   12  0.157   13  0.132   10  0.209   11 0.5126   23  3.937   13  0.017    8  0.401
THUNDER       74 19 11090 10026  0.084 46.595    1  0.855    1  0.822    1  0.827    1 0.5751   24  3.936    2  0.632    1  1.023
KNICKS        65 31 11222 10458  0.037 47.283    4  0.478    4  0.446    3  0.683    4 0.5429   25  3.935    5  0.481    2  0.885
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.044 45.187   15  0.113   15  0.096   16  0.051   15 0.5089   26  3.922   23 -0.213    9  0.315
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.022 46.842    3  0.512    3  0.484    4  0.487    3 0.5472   27  3.921    9  0.215    4  0.758
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.081 41.145   28 -0.675   28 -0.695   29 -0.804   28 0.4359   28  3.901   30 -1.174   21 -0.433
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.011 43.017    5  0.406    5  0.381    5  0.473    5 0.5378   29  3.899   12  0.092    3  0.853
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.001 42.805    9  0.287    9  0.264    9  0.242    9 0.5264   30  3.899   21 -0.141    6  0.625

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
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.068 41.316   27 -0.596   27 -0.614   28 -0.666   27 0.4426   12  3.990   28 -0.587   26 -0.744
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.047 47.245    6  0.356    6  0.344   11  0.151    7 0.5317   17  3.971   11  0.134   11  0.169
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.003 42.091   20 -0.093   20 -0.114   20 -0.160   20 0.4887   18  3.967   22 -0.200   19 -0.121
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.028 40.397   19  0.004   19 -0.019   15  0.082   19 0.4982   22  3.942   19 -0.082   10  0.247
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.044 45.187   15  0.113   15  0.096   16  0.051   15 0.5089   26  3.922   23 -0.213    9  0.315

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
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.061 41.245   26 -0.586   26 -0.611   26 -0.583   26 0.4429    1  4.081   15 -0.018   29 -1.149
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.021 43.482    7  0.355    7  0.336    7  0.289    6 0.5326    5  4.023    3  0.545   15  0.033
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.049 47.977   10  0.263   10  0.242   12  0.123   10 0.5233   13  3.979   10  0.147   14  0.098
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.016 44.773   18  0.035   18  0.022   18 -0.000   18 0.5016   15  3.974   14 -0.003   16  0.003
THUNDER       74 19 11090 10026  0.084 46.595    1  0.855    1  0.822    1  0.827    1 0.5751   24  3.936    2  0.632    1  1.023

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
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.056 40.843   25 -0.501   25 -0.527   27 -0.585   25 0.4506    6  4.021   25 -0.344   28 -0.827
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.040 40.922   23 -0.461   24 -0.486   21 -0.249   23 0.4546    7  4.017   16 -0.029   23 -0.468
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.054 40.823   24 -0.463   23 -0.484   23 -0.428   24 0.4536   11  3.995   24 -0.319   24 -0.537
SPURS         71 26 11568 10756  0.095 49.369    2  0.684    2  0.650    2  0.730    2 0.5603   14  3.976    1  0.738    5  0.722
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.001 42.805    9  0.287    9  0.264    9  0.242    9 0.5264   30  3.899   21 -0.141    6  0.625

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
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.054 40.761   22 -0.301   22 -0.324   22 -0.423   22 0.4677    3  4.043   18 -0.061   27 -0.785
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.058 41.310   29 -0.678   29 -0.706   24 -0.501   29 0.4338    9  4.001   26 -0.365   25 -0.637
CAVALIERS     60 39 11651 11331  0.061 50.724    8  0.325    8  0.309    8  0.252    8 0.5284   10  3.996    6  0.364   13  0.140
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.067 40.709   21 -0.282   21 -0.299   25 -0.550   21 0.4703   20  3.953   29 -0.660   22 -0.441
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.022 46.842    3  0.512    3  0.484    4  0.487    3 0.5472   27  3.921    9  0.215    4  0.758

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          43 40 10037  9847  0.010 41.257   17  0.057   17  0.041   14  0.082   17 0.5032    2  4.061    4  0.539   20 -0.374
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.090 41.181   30 -0.793   30 -0.822   30 -0.823   30 0.4268    4  4.040   27 -0.478   30 -1.168
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.034 44.782   11  0.159   11  0.139   13  0.107   12 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.288   18 -0.075
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.045 46.893   13  0.155   12  0.134   17  0.048   13 0.5119   19  3.956   17 -0.049   12  0.144
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.003 40.770   16  0.087   16  0.066    6  0.387   16 0.5057   21  3.946    8  0.242    7  0.532

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
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.035 48.574   14  0.141   14  0.126   19 -0.080   14 0.5100   16  3.972   20 -0.092   17 -0.069
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.023 44.629   12  0.157   13  0.132   10  0.209   11 0.5126   23  3.937   13  0.017    8  0.401
KNICKS        65 31 11222 10458  0.037 47.283    4  0.478    4  0.446    3  0.683    4 0.5429   25  3.935    5  0.481    2  0.885
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.081 41.145   28 -0.675   28 -0.695   29 -0.804   28 0.4359   28  3.901   30 -1.174   21 -0.433
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.011 43.017    5  0.406    5  0.381    5  0.473    5 0.5378   29  3.899   12  0.092    3  0.853

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 251 194 0.564    1  0.149
ATLANTIC DIVISION  243 207 0.540    2  0.105
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.041
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 202 229 0.469    4 -0.061
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.107
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 232 0.474    6 -0.152

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: Sun May 24 05:30:18 2026
games through: Sat May 23 2026

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