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       74 17 10906  9752  0.082 45.773    1  0.889    1  0.870    1  0.913    1 0.5776   16  3.955    2  0.889    1  0.937
CAVALIERS     69 21 10969 10073  0.011 43.238    2  0.697    2  0.670    2  0.636    2 0.5620    5  4.026    1  0.984    9  0.288
CELTICS       66 24 10376  9547 -0.005 42.801    3  0.579    3  0.554    3  0.586    3 0.5526   24  3.914    8  0.355    2  0.818
ROCKETS       55 34 10100  9730  0.070 45.921    4  0.350    4  0.334    8  0.273    4 0.5321   23  3.925   15  0.100    6  0.446
KNICKS        57 34 10434 10108  0.012 45.129    5  0.328    6  0.314   10  0.196    6 0.5295   20  3.942   14  0.106   10  0.286
NUGGETS       56 37 11083 10805  0.086 48.691    6  0.327    5  0.314    9  0.247    7 0.5295    4  4.029    4  0.606   16 -0.113
PACERS        57 34 10687 10458  0.005 45.164    7  0.316    7  0.305    6  0.286    5 0.5300    7  4.000    5  0.498   14  0.075
TIMBERWOLVES  55 35 10216  9753  0.048 45.484    8  0.306    8  0.290    4  0.443    8 0.5293   25  3.910   10  0.194    4  0.692
CLIPPERS      53 36 10014  9628  0.058 45.451    9  0.285    9  0.269    5  0.414    9 0.5261   27  3.892   16  0.076    3  0.752
WARRIORS      54 39 10468 10211  0.071 48.451   10  0.266   10  0.254    7  0.281   10 0.5237   22  3.927   12  0.117    7  0.445
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  0.033 44.547   11  0.245   11  0.237   14  0.118   11 0.5221   19  3.945   17  0.044   11  0.192
GRIZZLIES     49 39 10618 10289  0.060 45.016   12  0.196   12  0.176   11  0.188   12 0.5166    1  4.059    3  0.712   22 -0.336
BUCKS         50 38 10120  9939 -0.003 43.543   13  0.170   13  0.154   13  0.133   13 0.5162   15  3.968   11  0.178   13  0.088
PISTONS       46 42 10111  9963  0.008 43.984   14  0.055   14  0.047   12  0.187   14 0.5058   14  3.971    9  0.245   12  0.129
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.020 43.056   15 -0.015   15 -0.026   21 -0.206   15 0.4959   10  3.985   19 -0.077   21 -0.336
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571 -0.005 41.447   16 -0.028   16 -0.046   15 -0.016   17 0.4947    9  3.985   13  0.115   18 -0.147
MAGIC         43 45  9233  9282 -0.026 43.560   17 -0.031   17 -0.048   16 -0.043   16 0.4954   30  3.817   27 -0.746    5  0.659
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.046 41.192   18 -0.074   18 -0.087   20 -0.106   18 0.4912    2  4.054    7  0.391   27 -0.602
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.050 40.644   19 -0.104   19 -0.116   17 -0.068   19 0.4893    3  4.050    6  0.407   26 -0.543
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563 -0.002 41.790   20 -0.132   20 -0.141   23 -0.221   20 0.4857   11  3.982   20 -0.107   20 -0.335
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          39 49  9683  9731 -0.017 43.827   21 -0.145   22 -0.157   19 -0.080   21 0.4854   28  3.886   24 -0.451    8  0.290
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.014 41.447   22 -0.147   21 -0.156   18 -0.069   22 0.4850   21  3.937   21 -0.182   15  0.044
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.011 41.486   23 -0.195   23 -0.207   22 -0.216   23 0.4789    8  3.997   18 -0.024   23 -0.409
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.058 40.537   24 -0.359   24 -0.374   24 -0.308   24 0.4647   17  3.953   22 -0.341   19 -0.274
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.059 41.164   25 -0.470   25 -0.478   26 -0.566   25 0.4541   29  3.875   29 -0.988   17 -0.143
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.068 40.657   26 -0.537   26 -0.557   25 -0.527   26 0.4470   18  3.949   26 -0.579   25 -0.476
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.019 42.694   27 -0.599   27 -0.616   27 -0.630   27 0.4429   13  3.977   25 -0.543   28 -0.718
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.087 40.752   28 -0.711   28 -0.732   29 -0.759   28 0.4319   26  3.895   30 -1.083   24 -0.436
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.019 42.625   29 -0.723   29 -0.747   28 -0.655   29 0.4309    6  4.009   23 -0.399   29 -0.911
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.081 41.420   30 -0.739   30 -0.757   30 -0.854   30 0.4304   12  3.978   28 -0.759   30 -0.948
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  0.058 45.451    9  0.285    9  0.269    5  0.414    9 0.5261   27  3.892   16  0.076    3  0.752
WARRIORS      54 39 10468 10211  0.071 48.451   10  0.266   10  0.254    7  0.281   10 0.5237   22  3.927   12  0.117    7  0.445
LAKERS        51 36  9800  9735  0.033 44.547   11  0.245   11  0.237   14  0.118   11 0.5221   19  3.945   17  0.044   11  0.192
KINGS         40 43  9596  9571 -0.005 41.447   16 -0.028   16 -0.046   15 -0.016   17 0.4947    9  3.985   13  0.115   18 -0.147
SUNS          36 46  9317  9563 -0.002 41.790   20 -0.132   20 -0.141   23 -0.221   20 0.4857   11  3.982   20 -0.107   20 -0.335

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       74 17 10906  9752  0.082 45.773    1  0.889    1  0.870    1  0.913    1 0.5776   16  3.955    2  0.889    1  0.937
NUGGETS       56 37 11083 10805  0.086 48.691    6  0.327    5  0.314    9  0.247    7 0.5295    4  4.029    4  0.606   16 -0.113
TIMBERWOLVES  55 35 10216  9753  0.048 45.484    8  0.306    8  0.290    4  0.443    8 0.5293   25  3.910   10  0.194    4  0.692
TRAIL BLAZERS 36 46  9093  9336 -0.014 41.447   22 -0.147   21 -0.156   18 -0.069   22 0.4850   21  3.937   21 -0.182   15  0.044
JAZZ          17 65  9175  9941 -0.019 42.625   29 -0.723   29 -0.747   28 -0.655   29 0.4309    6  4.009   23 -0.399   29 -0.911

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  0.070 45.921    4  0.350    4  0.334    8  0.273    4 0.5321   23  3.925   15  0.100    6  0.446
GRIZZLIES     49 39 10618 10289  0.060 45.016   12  0.196   12  0.176   11  0.188   12 0.5166    1  4.059    3  0.712   22 -0.336
MAVERICKS     40 44  9590  9688  0.020 43.056   15 -0.015   15 -0.026   21 -0.206   15 0.4959   10  3.985   19 -0.077   21 -0.336
SPURS         34 48  9342  9568 -0.011 41.486   23 -0.195   23 -0.207   22 -0.216   23 0.4789    8  3.997   18 -0.024   23 -0.409
PELICANS      21 61  9006  9779 -0.019 42.694   27 -0.599   27 -0.616   27 -0.630   27 0.4429   13  3.977   25 -0.543   28 -0.718

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     69 21 10969 10073  0.011 43.238    2  0.697    2  0.670    2  0.636    2 0.5620    5  4.026    1  0.984    9  0.288
PACERS        57 34 10687 10458  0.005 45.164    7  0.316    7  0.305    6  0.286    5 0.5300    7  4.000    5  0.498   14  0.075
BUCKS         50 38 10120  9939 -0.003 43.543   13  0.170   13  0.154   13  0.133   13 0.5162   15  3.968   11  0.178   13  0.088
PISTONS       46 42 10111  9963  0.008 43.984   14  0.055   14  0.047   12  0.187   14 0.5058   14  3.971    9  0.245   12  0.129
BULLS         39 44  9750  9897 -0.050 40.644   19 -0.104   19 -0.116   17 -0.068   19 0.4893    3  4.050    6  0.407   26 -0.543

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 -0.026 43.560   17 -0.031   17 -0.048   16 -0.043   16 0.4954   30  3.817   27 -0.746    5  0.659
HAWKS         40 44  9900 10027 -0.046 41.192   18 -0.074   18 -0.087   20 -0.106   18 0.4912    2  4.054    7  0.391   27 -0.602
HEAT          39 49  9683  9731 -0.017 43.827   21 -0.145   22 -0.157   19 -0.080   21 0.4854   28  3.886   24 -0.451    8  0.290
HORNETS       19 63  8618  9365 -0.087 40.752   28 -0.711   28 -0.732   29 -0.759   28 0.4319   26  3.895   30 -1.083   24 -0.436
WIZARDS       18 64  8856  9876 -0.081 41.420   30 -0.739   30 -0.757   30 -0.854   30 0.4304   12  3.978   28 -0.759   30 -0.948

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       66 24 10376  9547 -0.005 42.801    3  0.579    3  0.554    3  0.586    3 0.5526   24  3.914    8  0.355    2  0.818
KNICKS        57 34 10434 10108  0.012 45.129    5  0.328    6  0.314   10  0.196    6 0.5295   20  3.942   14  0.106   10  0.286
RAPTORS       30 52  9091  9443 -0.058 40.537   24 -0.359   24 -0.374   24 -0.308   24 0.4647   17  3.953   22 -0.341   19 -0.274
NETS          26 56  8619  9202 -0.059 41.164   25 -0.470   25 -0.478   26 -0.566   25 0.4541   29  3.875   29 -0.988   17 -0.143
76ERS         24 58  8988  9499 -0.068 40.657   26 -0.537   26 -0.557   25 -0.527   26 0.4470   18  3.949   26 -0.579   25 -0.476

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
CENTRAL DIVISION   261 179 0.593    1  0.195
NORTHWEST DIVISION 238 200 0.543    2  0.162
PACIFIC DIVISION   234 200 0.539    3  0.104
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 199 226 0.468    4 -0.052
ATLANTIC DIVISION  203 224 0.475    5 -0.111
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 159 265 0.375    6 -0.393

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: Mon May 12 05:30:14 2025
games through: Sun May 11 2025

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