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       47 15 7388 6688  0.033 29.705    1  0.605    1  0.614    1  0.671    1 0.5616   25  3.932    3  0.446    1  0.895
PISTONS       45 14 6921 6454  0.014 28.200    2  0.586    2  0.597    2  0.559    2 0.5614   23  3.943    6  0.393    3  0.726
SPURS         43 18 7191 6831  0.068 30.479    3  0.512    3  0.519    4  0.434    3 0.5521   17  3.977    4  0.439    6  0.428
CELTICS       41 20 7007 6524 -0.007 28.686    4  0.365    4  0.362    3  0.528    4 0.5397   30  3.903   11  0.162    2  0.893
KNICKS        40 22 7274 6892  0.023 30.148    5  0.330    5  0.329    5  0.429    5 0.5358   19  3.960    8  0.346    5  0.512
ROCKETS       38 22 6881 6562  0.015 28.947    6  0.300    6  0.299    8  0.268    6 0.5305   28  3.908   19 -0.076    4  0.612
CAVALIERS     38 24 7392 7128  0.034 30.573    7  0.275    7  0.275    6  0.334    7 0.5286    7  4.013    1  0.529   12  0.138
NUGGETS       38 24 7468 7198  0.000 29.855    8  0.243    8  0.242   10  0.227    9 0.5243    5  4.016    5  0.436   15  0.018
TIMBERWOLVES  38 23 7267 6989 -0.027 28.730    9  0.239    9  0.239    9  0.249    8 0.5248   11  3.996    7  0.356   11  0.143
LAKERS        36 24 6955 6927 -0.014 29.240   10  0.212   10  0.217   17  0.018   10 0.5233   12  3.995   12  0.120   17 -0.084
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          34 26 6727 6681  0.034 30.213   11  0.186   11  0.184   16  0.023   12 0.5187   27  3.915   25 -0.285    9  0.330
RAPTORS       35 25 6838 6720 -0.005 29.195   12  0.186   12  0.183   12  0.110   11 0.5188   24  3.935   21 -0.100   10  0.319
76ERS         33 27 6983 6955 -0.004 29.452   13  0.114   13  0.114   18  0.004   13 0.5113   13  3.983   14  0.040   16 -0.032
MAGIC         31 28 6760 6752  0.036 29.873   14  0.091   14  0.089   19 -0.021   14 0.5085   20  3.959   22 -0.105   14  0.063
HEAT          32 29 7310 7136  0.040 30.589   15  0.088   15  0.077   11  0.189   15 0.5080    2  4.036    2  0.506   18 -0.128
WARRIORS      31 30 7036 6959  0.013 30.196   16  0.038   16  0.028   14  0.056   16 0.5029   18  3.968   15  0.018   13  0.093
HAWKS         31 31 7278 7277  0.011 30.848   17  0.021   17  0.010   15  0.030   17 0.5013    6  4.014    9  0.232   20 -0.173
CLIPPERS      29 31 6728 6728  0.035 30.380   18  0.008   18 -0.004   13  0.103   18 0.4990   26  3.922   23 -0.172    8  0.378
TRAIL BLAZERS 29 33 7145 7338  0.052 32.232   19 -0.012   19 -0.018   21 -0.186   19 0.4976    9  4.005   16 -0.035   24 -0.338
HORNETS       30 31 7079 6895 -0.018 29.202   20 -0.028   20 -0.041    7  0.302   20 0.4962   21  3.959   10  0.214    7  0.390
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         26 34 6680 6933 -0.011 30.160   21 -0.154   21 -0.144   24 -0.313   21 0.4848   22  3.944   27 -0.475   19 -0.152
BULLS         25 36 7064 7324 -0.030 30.145   22 -0.221   22 -0.213   25 -0.325   22 0.4762    4  4.025   18 -0.067   27 -0.582
GRIZZLIES     23 36 6827 6943 -0.045 28.492   23 -0.296   23 -0.293   20 -0.174   23 0.4701   10  4.000   17 -0.046   23 -0.301
MAVERICKS     21 39 6834 7060 -0.057 29.060   24 -0.386   24 -0.381   23 -0.286   24 0.4600   16  3.977   24 -0.276   22 -0.295
PELICANS      19 43 7135 7462 -0.015 31.024   25 -0.455   25 -0.452   22 -0.264   25 0.4534    8  4.008   20 -0.097   25 -0.432
JAZZ          18 43 7190 7672 -0.015 31.017   26 -0.467   26 -0.458   26 -0.494   26 0.4508    1  4.078   13  0.046   30 -1.035
WIZARDS       16 44 6735 7380 -0.068 29.702   28 -0.591   27 -0.583   30 -0.684   27 0.4413    3  4.025   26 -0.426   29 -0.942
NETS          15 45 6417 6926 -0.019 30.500   27 -0.584   28 -0.584   28 -0.605   28 0.4410   29  3.906   30 -0.956   21 -0.253
PACERS        15 46 6795 7293 -0.043 30.609   29 -0.599   29 -0.604   27 -0.535   30 0.4376   15  3.980   28 -0.513   26 -0.557
KINGS         14 48 6838 7516  0.015 32.603   30 -0.609   30 -0.610   29 -0.681   29 0.4399   14  3.981   29 -0.655   28 -0.706

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        36 24 6955 6927 -0.014 29.240   10  0.212   10  0.217   17  0.018   10 0.5233   12  3.995   12  0.120   17 -0.084
SUNS          34 26 6727 6681  0.034 30.213   11  0.186   11  0.184   16  0.023   12 0.5187   27  3.915   25 -0.285    9  0.330
WARRIORS      31 30 7036 6959  0.013 30.196   16  0.038   16  0.028   14  0.056   16 0.5029   18  3.968   15  0.018   13  0.093
CLIPPERS      29 31 6728 6728  0.035 30.380   18  0.008   18 -0.004   13  0.103   18 0.4990   26  3.922   23 -0.172    8  0.378
KINGS         14 48 6838 7516  0.015 32.603   30 -0.609   30 -0.610   29 -0.681   29 0.4399   14  3.981   29 -0.655   28 -0.706

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       47 15 7388 6688  0.033 29.705    1  0.605    1  0.614    1  0.671    1 0.5616   25  3.932    3  0.446    1  0.895
NUGGETS       38 24 7468 7198  0.000 29.855    8  0.243    8  0.242   10  0.227    9 0.5243    5  4.016    5  0.436   15  0.018
TIMBERWOLVES  38 23 7267 6989 -0.027 28.730    9  0.239    9  0.239    9  0.249    8 0.5248   11  3.996    7  0.356   11  0.143
TRAIL BLAZERS 29 33 7145 7338  0.052 32.232   19 -0.012   19 -0.018   21 -0.186   19 0.4976    9  4.005   16 -0.035   24 -0.338
JAZZ          18 43 7190 7672 -0.015 31.017   26 -0.467   26 -0.458   26 -0.494   26 0.4508    1  4.078   13  0.046   30 -1.035

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         43 18 7191 6831  0.068 30.479    3  0.512    3  0.519    4  0.434    3 0.5521   17  3.977    4  0.439    6  0.428
ROCKETS       38 22 6881 6562  0.015 28.947    6  0.300    6  0.299    8  0.268    6 0.5305   28  3.908   19 -0.076    4  0.612
GRIZZLIES     23 36 6827 6943 -0.045 28.492   23 -0.296   23 -0.293   20 -0.174   23 0.4701   10  4.000   17 -0.046   23 -0.301
MAVERICKS     21 39 6834 7060 -0.057 29.060   24 -0.386   24 -0.381   23 -0.286   24 0.4600   16  3.977   24 -0.276   22 -0.295
PELICANS      19 43 7135 7462 -0.015 31.024   25 -0.455   25 -0.452   22 -0.264   25 0.4534    8  4.008   20 -0.097   25 -0.432

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       45 14 6921 6454  0.014 28.200    2  0.586    2  0.597    2  0.559    2 0.5614   23  3.943    6  0.393    3  0.726
CAVALIERS     38 24 7392 7128  0.034 30.573    7  0.275    7  0.275    6  0.334    7 0.5286    7  4.013    1  0.529   12  0.138
BUCKS         26 34 6680 6933 -0.011 30.160   21 -0.154   21 -0.144   24 -0.313   21 0.4848   22  3.944   27 -0.475   19 -0.152
BULLS         25 36 7064 7324 -0.030 30.145   22 -0.221   22 -0.213   25 -0.325   22 0.4762    4  4.025   18 -0.067   27 -0.582
PACERS        15 46 6795 7293 -0.043 30.609   29 -0.599   29 -0.604   27 -0.535   30 0.4376   15  3.980   28 -0.513   26 -0.557

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         31 28 6760 6752  0.036 29.873   14  0.091   14  0.089   19 -0.021   14 0.5085   20  3.959   22 -0.105   14  0.063
HEAT          32 29 7310 7136  0.040 30.589   15  0.088   15  0.077   11  0.189   15 0.5080    2  4.036    2  0.506   18 -0.128
HAWKS         31 31 7278 7277  0.011 30.848   17  0.021   17  0.010   15  0.030   17 0.5013    6  4.014    9  0.232   20 -0.173
HORNETS       30 31 7079 6895 -0.018 29.202   20 -0.028   20 -0.041    7  0.302   20 0.4962   21  3.959   10  0.214    7  0.390
WIZARDS       16 44 6735 7380 -0.068 29.702   28 -0.591   27 -0.583   30 -0.684   27 0.4413    3  4.025   26 -0.426   29 -0.942

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       41 20 7007 6524 -0.007 28.686    4  0.365    4  0.362    3  0.528    4 0.5397   30  3.903   11  0.162    2  0.893
KNICKS        40 22 7274 6892  0.023 30.148    5  0.330    5  0.329    5  0.429    5 0.5358   19  3.960    8  0.346    5  0.512
RAPTORS       35 25 6838 6720 -0.005 29.195   12  0.186   12  0.183   12  0.110   11 0.5188   24  3.935   21 -0.100   10  0.319
76ERS         33 27 6983 6955 -0.004 29.452   13  0.114   13  0.114   18  0.004   13 0.5113   13  3.983   14  0.040   16 -0.032
NETS          15 45 6417 6926 -0.019 30.500   27 -0.584   28 -0.584   28 -0.605   28 0.4410   29  3.906   30 -0.956   21 -0.253

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 170 138 0.552    1  0.140
ATLANTIC DIVISION  164 139 0.541    2  0.115
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 144 158 0.477    3 -0.010
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 140 163 0.462    4 -0.055
CENTRAL DIVISION   149 154 0.492    5 -0.078
PACIFIC DIVISION   144 159 0.475    6 -0.097

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.123 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.012 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  3 05:30:09 2026
games through: Mon Mar  2 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.