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          21 51 8456 9005 -0.038 35.718   26 -0.509   26 -0.508   26 -0.509   26 0.4493    1  4.070   16 -0.013   29 -1.005
HEAT          38 34 8653 8458  0.030 35.561   15  0.079   16  0.080   13  0.146   16 0.5074    2  4.046    3  0.513   20 -0.220
WIZARDS       16 55 7987 8812 -0.049 35.846   30 -0.706   30 -0.704   30 -0.745   29 0.4337    3  4.032   26 -0.453   30 -1.037
BULLS         29 42 8238 8539 -0.016 35.229   21 -0.216   21 -0.211   22 -0.301   22 0.4772    4  4.029   17 -0.028   26 -0.575
NUGGETS       45 28 8823 8504  0.032 35.732    8  0.285    8  0.285    8  0.296    8 0.5290    5  4.024    2  0.544   15  0.048
HAWKS         40 32 8514 8380 -0.010 34.623   13  0.118   13  0.115   10  0.176   13 0.5114    6  4.016    6  0.381   17 -0.028
CAVALIERS     45 27 8583 8273  0.024 35.021    7  0.304    7  0.305    7  0.320    7 0.5305    7  4.013    4  0.511   12  0.130
GRIZZLIES     24 47 8189 8453 -0.029 34.798   24 -0.406   24 -0.411   23 -0.338   24 0.4594    8  4.010   22 -0.164   25 -0.513
PELICANS      25 48 8430 8700 -0.016 36.026   23 -0.383   23 -0.386   21 -0.129   23 0.4619    9  4.005   14  0.019   21 -0.277
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 37 8420 8540  0.025 36.758   18  0.016   18  0.016   19 -0.066   18 0.5005   10  3.995   13  0.028   19 -0.159
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  44 28 8524 8246 -0.005 34.370   10  0.243   10  0.242    9  0.216   10 0.5245   11  3.992   10  0.298   11  0.134
PACERS        16 56 8038 8677 -0.043 36.047   29 -0.684   29 -0.687   27 -0.607   30 0.4332   12  3.992   27 -0.526   27 -0.688
LAKERS        46 26 8378 8274  0.025 35.683    6  0.348    6  0.353   11  0.167    6 0.5350   13  3.989   11  0.232   13  0.101
SPURS         54 19 8697 8163  0.086 36.479    2  0.635    2  0.640    2  0.598    2 0.5611   14  3.989    1  0.663    6  0.532
KINGS         19 54 8085 8846 -0.034 36.908   27 -0.590   27 -0.587   29 -0.703   27 0.4436   15  3.985   29 -0.658   28 -0.749
MAVERICKS     23 49 8190 8567 -0.036 35.469   25 -0.447   25 -0.447   24 -0.409   25 0.4545   16  3.983   25 -0.375   24 -0.443
76ERS         39 33 8322 8369 -0.014 35.077   14  0.088   14  0.097   20 -0.115   14 0.5088   17  3.977   21 -0.112   18 -0.119
MAGIC         38 34 8327 8264  0.025 35.773   16  0.077   15  0.084   17  0.046   15 0.5075   18  3.967   15 -0.003   14  0.095
WARRIORS      34 38 8284 8271  0.042 36.343   20 -0.019   20 -0.027   18 -0.019   20 0.4969   19  3.964   20 -0.083   16  0.044
KNICKS        49 25 8682 8176  0.006 35.042    4  0.373    4  0.368    5  0.463    4 0.5371   20  3.953    8  0.339    5  0.586
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HORNETS       38 34 8379 8046 -0.009 34.087   17  0.049   17  0.041    6  0.458   17 0.5041   21  3.949    9  0.319    4  0.598
BUCKS         29 42 7865 8264 -0.034 35.162   22 -0.227   22 -0.218   25 -0.488   21 0.4772   22  3.944   28 -0.654   23 -0.322
PISTONS       52 19 8329 7777 -0.000 33.237    3  0.528    3  0.529    3  0.520    3 0.5529   23  3.944    7  0.351    3  0.689
RAPTORS       40 31 8108 7973  0.010 34.710   11  0.157   11  0.156   15  0.127   11 0.5155   24  3.941   19 -0.058   10  0.311
CLIPPERS      36 36 8190 8118  0.013 35.428   19  0.013   19  0.007   14  0.146   19 0.5002   25  3.938   18 -0.054    9  0.345
THUNDER       57 15 8549 7738  0.051 34.621    1  0.744    1  0.745    1  0.713    1 0.5707   26  3.926    5  0.456    1  0.970
SUNS          40 33 8204 8116  0.031 36.328   12  0.139   12  0.139   16  0.076   12 0.5141   27  3.918   24 -0.224    8  0.376
ROCKETS       43 28 8105 7827  0.018 34.439    9  0.255    9  0.254   12  0.160    9 0.5253   28  3.907   23 -0.196    7  0.515
NETS          17 55 7652 8334 -0.009 36.860   28 -0.632   28 -0.631   28 -0.690   28 0.4390   29  3.901   30 -1.073   22 -0.308
CELTICS       47 24 8103 7594  0.004 33.453    5  0.368    5  0.362    4  0.463    5 0.5370   30  3.896   12  0.055    2  0.871

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  0.025 35.683    6  0.348    6  0.353   11  0.167    6 0.5350   13  3.989   11  0.232   13  0.101
KINGS         19 54 8085 8846 -0.034 36.908   27 -0.590   27 -0.587   29 -0.703   27 0.4436   15  3.985   29 -0.658   28 -0.749
WARRIORS      34 38 8284 8271  0.042 36.343   20 -0.019   20 -0.027   18 -0.019   20 0.4969   19  3.964   20 -0.083   16  0.044
CLIPPERS      36 36 8190 8118  0.013 35.428   19  0.013   19  0.007   14  0.146   19 0.5002   25  3.938   18 -0.054    9  0.345
SUNS          40 33 8204 8116  0.031 36.328   12  0.139   12  0.139   16  0.076   12 0.5141   27  3.918   24 -0.224    8  0.376

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          21 51 8456 9005 -0.038 35.718   26 -0.509   26 -0.508   26 -0.509   26 0.4493    1  4.070   16 -0.013   29 -1.005
NUGGETS       45 28 8823 8504  0.032 35.732    8  0.285    8  0.285    8  0.296    8 0.5290    5  4.024    2  0.544   15  0.048
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 37 8420 8540  0.025 36.758   18  0.016   18  0.016   19 -0.066   18 0.5005   10  3.995   13  0.028   19 -0.159
TIMBERWOLVES  44 28 8524 8246 -0.005 34.370   10  0.243   10  0.242    9  0.216   10 0.5245   11  3.992   10  0.298   11  0.134
THUNDER       57 15 8549 7738  0.051 34.621    1  0.744    1  0.745    1  0.713    1 0.5707   26  3.926    5  0.456    1  0.970

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     24 47 8189 8453 -0.029 34.798   24 -0.406   24 -0.411   23 -0.338   24 0.4594    8  4.010   22 -0.164   25 -0.513
PELICANS      25 48 8430 8700 -0.016 36.026   23 -0.383   23 -0.386   21 -0.129   23 0.4619    9  4.005   14  0.019   21 -0.277
SPURS         54 19 8697 8163  0.086 36.479    2  0.635    2  0.640    2  0.598    2 0.5611   14  3.989    1  0.663    6  0.532
MAVERICKS     23 49 8190 8567 -0.036 35.469   25 -0.447   25 -0.447   24 -0.409   25 0.4545   16  3.983   25 -0.375   24 -0.443
ROCKETS       43 28 8105 7827  0.018 34.439    9  0.255    9  0.254   12  0.160    9 0.5253   28  3.907   23 -0.196    7  0.515

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         29 42 8238 8539 -0.016 35.229   21 -0.216   21 -0.211   22 -0.301   22 0.4772    4  4.029   17 -0.028   26 -0.575
CAVALIERS     45 27 8583 8273  0.024 35.021    7  0.304    7  0.305    7  0.320    7 0.5305    7  4.013    4  0.511   12  0.130
PACERS        16 56 8038 8677 -0.043 36.047   29 -0.684   29 -0.687   27 -0.607   30 0.4332   12  3.992   27 -0.526   27 -0.688
BUCKS         29 42 7865 8264 -0.034 35.162   22 -0.227   22 -0.218   25 -0.488   21 0.4772   22  3.944   28 -0.654   23 -0.322
PISTONS       52 19 8329 7777 -0.000 33.237    3  0.528    3  0.529    3  0.520    3 0.5529   23  3.944    7  0.351    3  0.689

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 35.561   15  0.079   16  0.080   13  0.146   16 0.5074    2  4.046    3  0.513   20 -0.220
WIZARDS       16 55 7987 8812 -0.049 35.846   30 -0.706   30 -0.704   30 -0.745   29 0.4337    3  4.032   26 -0.453   30 -1.037
HAWKS         40 32 8514 8380 -0.010 34.623   13  0.118   13  0.115   10  0.176   13 0.5114    6  4.016    6  0.381   17 -0.028
MAGIC         38 34 8327 8264  0.025 35.773   16  0.077   15  0.084   17  0.046   15 0.5075   18  3.967   15 -0.003   14  0.095
HORNETS       38 34 8379 8046 -0.009 34.087   17  0.049   17  0.041    6  0.458   17 0.5041   21  3.949    9  0.319    4  0.598

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         39 33 8322 8369 -0.014 35.077   14  0.088   14  0.097   20 -0.115   14 0.5088   17  3.977   21 -0.112   18 -0.119
KNICKS        49 25 8682 8176  0.006 35.042    4  0.373    4  0.368    5  0.463    4 0.5371   20  3.953    8  0.339    5  0.586
RAPTORS       40 31 8108 7973  0.010 34.710   11  0.157   11  0.156   15  0.127   11 0.5155   24  3.941   19 -0.058   10  0.311
NETS          17 55 7652 8334 -0.009 36.860   28 -0.632   28 -0.631   28 -0.690   28 0.4390   29  3.901   30 -1.073   22 -0.308
CELTICS       47 24 8103 7594  0.004 33.453    5  0.368    5  0.362    4  0.463    5 0.5370   30  3.896   12  0.055    2  0.871

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 203 159 0.561    1  0.160
ATLANTIC DIVISION  192 168 0.533    2  0.082
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 170 189 0.474    3 -0.010
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 169 191 0.469    4 -0.024
PACIFIC DIVISION   175 187 0.483    5 -0.071
CENTRAL DIVISION   171 186 0.479    6 -0.116

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.141 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: Wed Mar 25 05:30:11 2026
games through: Tue Mar 24 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.