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       72 18 10730  9683  0.066 44.359    1  0.840    1  0.817    1  0.823    1 0.5748   24  3.937    2  0.631    1  1.015
SPURS         68 24 10960 10190  0.066 45.783    2  0.667    2  0.641    2  0.686    2 0.5596   14  3.976    1  0.693    5  0.680
PISTONS       66 27 10804 10098  0.021 45.026    3  0.534    3  0.512    4  0.538    3 0.5497   26  3.924    8  0.280    4  0.796
KNICKS        62 31 10877 10153  0.034 45.488    4  0.444    4  0.415    3  0.652    4 0.5399   23  3.940    5  0.473    3  0.831
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.016 42.978    5  0.409    5  0.385    5  0.482    5 0.5382   29  3.899   12  0.098    2  0.867
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.052 47.191    7  0.358    6  0.348   12  0.157    7 0.5320   17  3.971   11  0.136   12  0.178
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.028 43.533    6  0.360    7  0.343    7  0.301    6 0.5332    5  4.023    3  0.554   15  0.047
CAVALIERS     58 35 11010 10664  0.031 46.349    8  0.335    8  0.323    8  0.263    8 0.5301    9  4.004    6  0.416   14  0.110
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.006 42.762    9  0.286    9  0.269    9  0.250    9 0.5268   30  3.899   21 -0.136    6  0.635
TIMBERWOLVES  55 37 10769 10505  0.042 46.368   10  0.278   10  0.263   11  0.202   10 0.5255   13  3.978   10  0.218   11  0.186
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.038 44.709   11  0.159   11  0.143   13  0.110   13 0.5123    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.065
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.052 46.902   13  0.157   12  0.140   16  0.057   12 0.5124   19  3.955   17 -0.046   13  0.159
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.028 44.584   12  0.158   13  0.137   10  0.217   11 0.5130   25  3.936   13  0.017    8  0.416
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.039 48.505   14  0.142   14  0.130   19 -0.078   14 0.5102   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.062
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.048 45.130   15  0.113   15  0.100   17  0.055   15 0.5092   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.323
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.001 40.731   16  0.088   16  0.070    6  0.397   16 0.5061   21  3.946    9  0.248    7  0.546
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.015 41.220   17  0.058   17  0.045   14  0.089   17 0.5036    2  4.061    4  0.541   20 -0.364
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.020 44.710   18  0.035   18  0.026   18  0.002   18 0.5019   15  3.974   14 -0.004   16  0.008
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.023 40.377   19  0.005   19 -0.013   15  0.088   19 0.4986   22  3.942   19 -0.079   10  0.255
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.002 42.066   20 -0.092   20 -0.109   20 -0.157   20 0.4891   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.115
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.063 40.682   21 -0.282   21 -0.294   25 -0.553   21 0.4708   20  3.953   29 -0.667   22 -0.439
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.050 40.729   22 -0.300   22 -0.318   22 -0.424   22 0.4681    3  4.043   18 -0.067   27 -0.782
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.049 40.797   24 -0.463   23 -0.479   23 -0.428   24 0.4540   11  3.995   24 -0.322   24 -0.535
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.035 40.893   23 -0.461   24 -0.482   21 -0.246   23 0.4550    7  4.016   16 -0.030   23 -0.463
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.051 40.818   25 -0.501   25 -0.522   27 -0.588   25 0.4510    6  4.021   25 -0.349   28 -0.827
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.056 41.228   26 -0.586   26 -0.605   26 -0.586   26 0.4433    1  4.081   15 -0.024   29 -1.149
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.063 41.299   27 -0.595   27 -0.609   28 -0.671   27 0.4430   12  3.989   28 -0.595   26 -0.746
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.076 41.110   28 -0.674   28 -0.690   29 -0.810   28 0.4363   28  3.901   30 -1.185   21 -0.436
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.054 41.276   29 -0.678   29 -0.701   24 -0.503   29 0.4342   10  4.000   26 -0.372   25 -0.634
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.086 41.156   30 -0.792   30 -0.817   30 -0.829   30 0.4273    4  4.040   27 -0.488   30 -1.170

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        57 35 10562 10467  0.052 47.191    7  0.358    6  0.348   12  0.157    7 0.5320   17  3.971   11  0.136   12  0.178
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.048 45.130   15  0.113   15  0.100   17  0.055   15 0.5092   27  3.922   23 -0.212    9  0.323
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.023 40.377   19  0.005   19 -0.013   15  0.088   19 0.4986   22  3.942   19 -0.079   10  0.255
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.002 42.066   20 -0.092   20 -0.109   20 -0.157   20 0.4891   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.115
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.063 41.299   27 -0.595   27 -0.609   28 -0.671   27 0.4430   12  3.989   28 -0.595   26 -0.746

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       72 18 10730  9683  0.066 44.359    1  0.840    1  0.817    1  0.823    1 0.5748   24  3.937    2  0.631    1  1.015
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.028 43.533    6  0.360    7  0.343    7  0.301    6 0.5332    5  4.023    3  0.554   15  0.047
TIMBERWOLVES  55 37 10769 10505  0.042 46.368   10  0.278   10  0.263   11  0.202   10 0.5255   13  3.978   10  0.218   11  0.186
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.020 44.710   18  0.035   18  0.026   18  0.002   18 0.5019   15  3.974   14 -0.004   16  0.008
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.056 41.228   26 -0.586   26 -0.605   26 -0.586   26 0.4433    1  4.081   15 -0.024   29 -1.149

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         68 24 10960 10190  0.066 45.783    2  0.667    2  0.641    2  0.686    2 0.5596   14  3.976    1  0.693    5  0.680
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.006 42.762    9  0.286    9  0.269    9  0.250    9 0.5268   30  3.899   21 -0.136    6  0.635
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.049 40.797   24 -0.463   23 -0.479   23 -0.428   24 0.4540   11  3.995   24 -0.322   24 -0.535
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.035 40.893   23 -0.461   24 -0.482   21 -0.246   23 0.4550    7  4.016   16 -0.030   23 -0.463
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.051 40.818   25 -0.501   25 -0.522   27 -0.588   25 0.4510    6  4.021   25 -0.349   28 -0.827

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       66 27 10804 10098  0.021 45.026    3  0.534    3  0.512    4  0.538    3 0.5497   26  3.924    8  0.280    4  0.796
CAVALIERS     58 35 11010 10664  0.031 46.349    8  0.335    8  0.323    8  0.263    8 0.5301    9  4.004    6  0.416   14  0.110
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.063 40.682   21 -0.282   21 -0.294   25 -0.553   21 0.4708   20  3.953   29 -0.667   22 -0.439
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.050 40.729   22 -0.300   22 -0.318   22 -0.424   22 0.4681    3  4.043   18 -0.067   27 -0.782
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.054 41.276   29 -0.678   29 -0.701   24 -0.503   29 0.4342   10  4.000   26 -0.372   25 -0.634

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
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.038 44.709   11  0.159   11  0.143   13  0.110   13 0.5123    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.065
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.052 46.902   13  0.157   12  0.140   16  0.057   12 0.5124   19  3.955   17 -0.046   13  0.159
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.001 40.731   16  0.088   16  0.070    6  0.397   16 0.5061   21  3.946    9  0.248    7  0.546
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.015 41.220   17  0.058   17  0.045   14  0.089   17 0.5036    2  4.061    4  0.541   20 -0.364
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.086 41.156   30 -0.792   30 -0.817   30 -0.829   30 0.4273    4  4.040   27 -0.488   30 -1.170

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        62 31 10877 10153  0.034 45.488    4  0.444    4  0.415    3  0.652    4 0.5399   23  3.940    5  0.473    3  0.831
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.016 42.978    5  0.409    5  0.385    5  0.482    5 0.5382   29  3.899   12  0.098    2  0.867
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.028 44.584   12  0.158   13  0.137   10  0.217   11 0.5130   25  3.936   13  0.017    8  0.416
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.039 48.505   14  0.142   14  0.130   19 -0.078   14 0.5102   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.062
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.076 41.110   28 -0.674   28 -0.690   29 -0.810   28 0.4363   28  3.901   30 -1.185   21 -0.436

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 249 191 0.566    1  0.161
ATLANTIC DIVISION  240 207 0.537    2  0.105
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.036
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 199 227 0.467    4 -0.062
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.102
CENTRAL DIVISION   206 226 0.477    6 -0.144

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue May 12 05:30:17 2026
games through: Mon May 11 2026

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