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       73 16 10710  9552  0.075 44.412    1  0.900    1  0.884    1  0.945    1 0.5785   16  3.963    2  0.962    1  0.928
CAVALIERS     68 20 10734  9840  0.006 41.976    2  0.705    2  0.680    2  0.651    2 0.5626    5  4.027    1  1.000    9  0.303
CELTICS       65 24 10261  9454 -0.008 42.180    3  0.566    3  0.544    3  0.556    3 0.5516   24  3.915    8  0.327    2  0.784
ROCKETS       55 34 10100  9730  0.072 45.940    4  0.351    4  0.337    8  0.277    4 0.5325   23  3.925   15  0.098    6  0.455
KNICKS        57 33 10341  9993  0.009 44.405    5  0.340    5  0.328    9  0.231    5 0.5309   20  3.943   12  0.143    8  0.319
NUGGETS       55 36 10883 10609  0.071 47.110    6  0.316    6  0.306   10  0.219    7 0.5289    4  4.037    4  0.620   18 -0.182
PACERS        56 33 10454 10223 -0.006 43.746    7  0.311    7  0.302    7  0.281    6 0.5298    7  4.001    5  0.493   14  0.068
TIMBERWOLVES  54 35 10114  9656  0.046 44.832    8  0.293    8  0.278    4  0.438    8 0.5281   25  3.912   10  0.193    4  0.683
CLIPPERS      53 36 10014  9628  0.059 45.414    9  0.284    9  0.270    5  0.416    9 0.5262   27  3.891   16  0.070    3  0.762
WARRIORS      54 38 10371 10109  0.071 47.834   10  0.277   10  0.269    6  0.293   10 0.5253   22  3.929   13  0.134    7  0.452
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        51 36  9800  9735  0.035 44.535   11  0.245   11  0.239   14  0.120   11 0.5223   19  3.944   17  0.041   11  0.199
GRIZZLIES     49 39 10618 10289  0.063 45.037   12  0.197   12  0.178   11  0.192   12 0.5168    1  4.059    3  0.710   20 -0.325
BUCKS         50 38 10120  9939 -0.001 43.538   13  0.170   13  0.156   13  0.135   13 0.5164   15  3.968   11  0.176   13  0.094
PISTONS       46 42 10111  9963  0.011 44.023   14  0.056   14  0.050   12  0.192   14 0.5061   14  3.971    9  0.247   12  0.137
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.022 43.055   15 -0.015   15 -0.024   21 -0.205   15 0.4961   10  3.984   19 -0.080   22 -0.330
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571 -0.003 41.442   16 -0.029   16 -0.044   15 -0.014   17 0.4949    9  3.984   14  0.113   16 -0.140
MAGIC         43 45  9233  9282 -0.024 43.542   17 -0.032   17 -0.046   16 -0.043   16 0.4956   30  3.817   27 -0.749    5  0.663
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.043 41.207   18 -0.074   18 -0.085   20 -0.103   18 0.4914    2  4.054    7  0.390   27 -0.597
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.048 40.642   19 -0.105   19 -0.114   17 -0.066   19 0.4895    3  4.050    6  0.406   26 -0.538
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563 -0.001 41.785   20 -0.132   20 -0.140   23 -0.220   20 0.4859   11  3.981   20 -0.110   21 -0.330
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.012 41.443   22 -0.148   21 -0.154   18 -0.067   22 0.4851   21  3.937   21 -0.185   15  0.051
HEAT          39 49  9683  9731 -0.014 43.832   21 -0.145   22 -0.155   19 -0.078   21 0.4856   28  3.885   24 -0.452   10  0.296
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.009 41.486   23 -0.195   23 -0.205   22 -0.215   23 0.4791    8  3.996   18 -0.026   23 -0.404
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.056 40.543   24 -0.358   24 -0.372   24 -0.306   24 0.4649   17  3.953   22 -0.343   19 -0.270
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.057 41.167   25 -0.470   25 -0.476   26 -0.566   25 0.4543   29  3.875   29 -0.991   17 -0.140
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.066 40.658   26 -0.537   26 -0.555   25 -0.527   26 0.4472   18  3.949   26 -0.582   25 -0.472
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.017 42.693   27 -0.599   27 -0.614   27 -0.631   27 0.4431   13  3.976   25 -0.548   28 -0.713
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.085 40.753   28 -0.711   28 -0.730   29 -0.760   28 0.4321   26  3.895   30 -1.087   24 -0.433
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.017 42.622   29 -0.723   29 -0.745   28 -0.656   29 0.4311    6  4.008   23 -0.405   29 -0.907
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.079 41.423   30 -0.739   30 -0.756   30 -0.855   30 0.4306   12  3.978   28 -0.763   30 -0.947
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING

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
CLIPPERS      53 36 10014  9628  0.059 45.414    9  0.284    9  0.270    5  0.416    9 0.5262   27  3.891   16  0.070    3  0.762
WARRIORS      54 38 10371 10109  0.071 47.834   10  0.277   10  0.269    6  0.293   10 0.5253   22  3.929   13  0.134    7  0.452
LAKERS        51 36  9800  9735  0.035 44.535   11  0.245   11  0.239   14  0.120   11 0.5223   19  3.944   17  0.041   11  0.199
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571 -0.003 41.442   16 -0.029   16 -0.044   15 -0.014   17 0.4949    9  3.984   14  0.113   16 -0.140
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563 -0.001 41.785   20 -0.132   20 -0.140   23 -0.220   20 0.4859   11  3.981   20 -0.110   21 -0.330

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       73 16 10710  9552  0.075 44.412    1  0.900    1  0.884    1  0.945    1 0.5785   16  3.963    2  0.962    1  0.928
NUGGETS       55 36 10883 10609  0.071 47.110    6  0.316    6  0.306   10  0.219    7 0.5289    4  4.037    4  0.620   18 -0.182
TIMBERWOLVES  54 35 10114  9656  0.046 44.832    8  0.293    8  0.278    4  0.438    8 0.5281   25  3.912   10  0.193    4  0.683
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.012 41.443   22 -0.148   21 -0.154   18 -0.067   22 0.4851   21  3.937   21 -0.185   15  0.051
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.017 42.622   29 -0.723   29 -0.745   28 -0.656   29 0.4311    6  4.008   23 -0.405   29 -0.907

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
ROCKETS       55 34 10100  9730  0.072 45.940    4  0.351    4  0.337    8  0.277    4 0.5325   23  3.925   15  0.098    6  0.455
GRIZZLIES     49 39 10618 10289  0.063 45.037   12  0.197   12  0.178   11  0.192   12 0.5168    1  4.059    3  0.710   20 -0.325
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.022 43.055   15 -0.015   15 -0.024   21 -0.205   15 0.4961   10  3.984   19 -0.080   22 -0.330
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.009 41.486   23 -0.195   23 -0.205   22 -0.215   23 0.4791    8  3.996   18 -0.026   23 -0.404
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.017 42.693   27 -0.599   27 -0.614   27 -0.631   27 0.4431   13  3.976   25 -0.548   28 -0.713

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     68 20 10734  9840  0.006 41.976    2  0.705    2  0.680    2  0.651    2 0.5626    5  4.027    1  1.000    9  0.303
PACERS        56 33 10454 10223 -0.006 43.746    7  0.311    7  0.302    7  0.281    6 0.5298    7  4.001    5  0.493   14  0.068
BUCKS         50 38 10120  9939 -0.001 43.538   13  0.170   13  0.156   13  0.135   13 0.5164   15  3.968   11  0.176   13  0.094
PISTONS       46 42 10111  9963  0.011 44.023   14  0.056   14  0.050   12  0.192   14 0.5061   14  3.971    9  0.247   12  0.137
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.048 40.642   19 -0.105   19 -0.114   17 -0.066   19 0.4895    3  4.050    6  0.406   26 -0.538

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         43 45  9233  9282 -0.024 43.542   17 -0.032   17 -0.046   16 -0.043   16 0.4956   30  3.817   27 -0.749    5  0.663
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.043 41.207   18 -0.074   18 -0.085   20 -0.103   18 0.4914    2  4.054    7  0.390   27 -0.597
HEAT          39 49  9683  9731 -0.014 43.832   21 -0.145   22 -0.155   19 -0.078   21 0.4856   28  3.885   24 -0.452   10  0.296
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.085 40.753   28 -0.711   28 -0.730   29 -0.760   28 0.4321   26  3.895   30 -1.087   24 -0.433
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.079 41.423   30 -0.739   30 -0.756   30 -0.855   30 0.4306   12  3.978   28 -0.763   30 -0.947

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       65 24 10261  9454 -0.008 42.180    3  0.566    3  0.544    3  0.556    3 0.5516   24  3.915    8  0.327    2  0.784
KNICKS        57 33 10341  9993  0.009 44.405    5  0.340    5  0.328    9  0.231    5 0.5309   20  3.943   12  0.143    8  0.319
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.056 40.543   24 -0.358   24 -0.372   24 -0.306   24 0.4649   17  3.953   22 -0.343   19 -0.270
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.057 41.167   25 -0.470   25 -0.476   26 -0.566   25 0.4543   29  3.875   29 -0.991   17 -0.140
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.066 40.658   26 -0.537   26 -0.555   25 -0.527   26 0.4472   18  3.949   26 -0.582   25 -0.472

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION   259 177 0.594    1  0.197
NORTHWEST DIVISION 235 198 0.543    2  0.162
PACIFIC DIVISION   234 199 0.540    3  0.107
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 199 226 0.468    4 -0.050
ATLANTIC DIVISION  202 223 0.475    5 -0.108
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 159 265 0.375    6 -0.391

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.142 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: Fri May  9 05:30:20 2025
games through: Thu May  8 2025

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