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       60 16 9014 8180  0.067 37.037    1  0.762    1  0.765    1  0.708    1 0.5714   26  3.926    5  0.446    1  0.970
SPURS         58 19 9203 8583  0.077 38.115    2  0.670    2  0.674    2  0.669    2 0.5636   12  3.988    1  0.726    5  0.612
PISTONS       55 21 8933 8332  0.017 36.007    3  0.524    3  0.526    3  0.563    3 0.5519   24  3.941    7  0.375    3  0.752
CELTICS       51 25 8694 8145  0.032 36.614    4  0.419    4  0.414    4  0.515    4 0.5410   29  3.899   12  0.117    2  0.913
LAKERS        50 26 8878 8717  0.004 36.949    5  0.381    5  0.387   12  0.201    5 0.5373   11  3.990   10  0.269   12  0.133
KNICKS        50 28 9109 8631  0.028 37.667    6  0.342    6  0.341    6  0.413    6 0.5335   20  3.950    9  0.273    7  0.553
NUGGETS       49 28 9346 8978  0.012 37.051    7  0.318    7  0.320    7  0.312    7 0.5316    5  4.028    2  0.576   15  0.049
ROCKETS       47 29 8696 8355  0.023 36.882    8  0.289    9  0.289   10  0.242    9 0.5283   28  3.905   20 -0.126    6  0.610
CAVALIERS     47 29 9070 8761  0.020 36.991    9  0.288    8  0.290    8  0.282    8 0.5287    6  4.013    4  0.469   13  0.094
TIMBERWOLVES  46 29 8845 8557 -0.000 35.969   10  0.254   10  0.254   11  0.223   10 0.5254   16  3.984   11  0.256   11  0.189
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         44 33 9111 8934  0.008 37.474   11  0.174   11  0.171    9  0.249   11 0.5165    8  4.012    6  0.431   14  0.067
SUNS          42 34 8580 8445  0.027 37.620   12  0.147   12  0.145   15  0.133   12 0.5146   27  3.920   23 -0.159    8  0.425
RAPTORS       42 34 8691 8535  0.008 37.073   13  0.126   13  0.125   14  0.137   13 0.5123   23  3.942   16 -0.042   10  0.316
76ERS         42 34 8859 8870 -0.017 36.880   14  0.113   14  0.121   18 -0.063   14 0.5108   13  3.988   14 -0.007   19 -0.119
MAGIC         40 36 8751 8761  0.010 37.629   15  0.067   15  0.075   20 -0.090   15 0.5064   18  3.967   21 -0.142   18 -0.039
HEAT          40 37 9267 9101  0.032 38.206   16  0.066   16  0.065   16  0.101   16 0.5059    2  4.053    3  0.500   21 -0.297
HORNETS       40 36 8823 8467 -0.011 35.961   17  0.046   17  0.037    5  0.457   17 0.5035   21  3.946    8  0.295    4  0.619
CLIPPERS      39 37 8654 8552  0.001 37.015   18  0.032   18  0.026   13  0.159   18 0.5025   25  3.937   17 -0.044    9  0.362
TRAIL BLAZERS 39 38 8880 8931  0.003 38.006   19  0.025   19  0.025   17  0.014   19 0.5017   15  3.986   13  0.058   17 -0.030
WARRIORS      36 40 8730 8746  0.030 38.162   20 -0.024   20 -0.031   19 -0.084   20 0.4964   19  3.964   22 -0.150   16 -0.018
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         30 46 8408 8866 -0.031 37.809   21 -0.260   21 -0.251   26 -0.520   21 0.4741   22  3.946   29 -0.682   23 -0.358
BULLS         29 47 8852 9226 -0.013 38.025   22 -0.275   22 -0.273   22 -0.361   22 0.4715    3  4.042   15 -0.023   27 -0.698
PELICANS      25 51 8746 9082 -0.004 38.075   23 -0.410   23 -0.411   21 -0.203   23 0.4601    9  4.006   18 -0.052   22 -0.353
GRIZZLIES     25 51 8745 9080 -0.025 37.577   24 -0.430   24 -0.432   23 -0.403   24 0.4581    7  4.013   24 -0.217   25 -0.588
MAVERICKS     24 52 8618 9049 -0.032 37.665   25 -0.458   25 -0.456   24 -0.455   25 0.4546   17  3.981   26 -0.435   24 -0.475
JAZZ          21 56 9034 9659 -0.039 38.376   26 -0.564   26 -0.565   27 -0.568   26 0.4451    1  4.072   19 -0.069   30 -1.068
KINGS         20 57 8537 9321 -0.031 39.046   27 -0.596   27 -0.591   28 -0.674   27 0.4438   14  3.987   28 -0.626   28 -0.722
NETS          18 58 8059 8775 -0.017 38.766   28 -0.646   28 -0.645   29 -0.695   28 0.4385   30  3.896   30 -1.107   20 -0.283
PACERS        18 58 8561 9172 -0.042 37.878   29 -0.657   29 -0.659   25 -0.514   29 0.4363   10  4.000   25 -0.393   26 -0.634
WIZARDS       17 59 8566 9449 -0.049 38.330   30 -0.723   30 -0.719   30 -0.762   30 0.4337    4  4.034   27 -0.464   29 -1.060

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        50 26 8878 8717  0.004 36.949    5  0.381    5  0.387   12  0.201    5 0.5373   11  3.990   10  0.269   12  0.133
SUNS          42 34 8580 8445  0.027 37.620   12  0.147   12  0.145   15  0.133   12 0.5146   27  3.920   23 -0.159    8  0.425
CLIPPERS      39 37 8654 8552  0.001 37.015   18  0.032   18  0.026   13  0.159   18 0.5025   25  3.937   17 -0.044    9  0.362
WARRIORS      36 40 8730 8746  0.030 38.162   20 -0.024   20 -0.031   19 -0.084   20 0.4964   19  3.964   22 -0.150   16 -0.018
KINGS         20 57 8537 9321 -0.031 39.046   27 -0.596   27 -0.591   28 -0.674   27 0.4438   14  3.987   28 -0.626   28 -0.722

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       60 16 9014 8180  0.067 37.037    1  0.762    1  0.765    1  0.708    1 0.5714   26  3.926    5  0.446    1  0.970
NUGGETS       49 28 9346 8978  0.012 37.051    7  0.318    7  0.320    7  0.312    7 0.5316    5  4.028    2  0.576   15  0.049
TIMBERWOLVES  46 29 8845 8557 -0.000 35.969   10  0.254   10  0.254   11  0.223   10 0.5254   16  3.984   11  0.256   11  0.189
TRAIL BLAZERS 39 38 8880 8931  0.003 38.006   19  0.025   19  0.025   17  0.014   19 0.5017   15  3.986   13  0.058   17 -0.030
JAZZ          21 56 9034 9659 -0.039 38.376   26 -0.564   26 -0.565   27 -0.568   26 0.4451    1  4.072   19 -0.069   30 -1.068

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         58 19 9203 8583  0.077 38.115    2  0.670    2  0.674    2  0.669    2 0.5636   12  3.988    1  0.726    5  0.612
ROCKETS       47 29 8696 8355  0.023 36.882    8  0.289    9  0.289   10  0.242    9 0.5283   28  3.905   20 -0.126    6  0.610
PELICANS      25 51 8746 9082 -0.004 38.075   23 -0.410   23 -0.411   21 -0.203   23 0.4601    9  4.006   18 -0.052   22 -0.353
GRIZZLIES     25 51 8745 9080 -0.025 37.577   24 -0.430   24 -0.432   23 -0.403   24 0.4581    7  4.013   24 -0.217   25 -0.588
MAVERICKS     24 52 8618 9049 -0.032 37.665   25 -0.458   25 -0.456   24 -0.455   25 0.4546   17  3.981   26 -0.435   24 -0.475

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       55 21 8933 8332  0.017 36.007    3  0.524    3  0.526    3  0.563    3 0.5519   24  3.941    7  0.375    3  0.752
CAVALIERS     47 29 9070 8761  0.020 36.991    9  0.288    8  0.290    8  0.282    8 0.5287    6  4.013    4  0.469   13  0.094
BUCKS         30 46 8408 8866 -0.031 37.809   21 -0.260   21 -0.251   26 -0.520   21 0.4741   22  3.946   29 -0.682   23 -0.358
BULLS         29 47 8852 9226 -0.013 38.025   22 -0.275   22 -0.273   22 -0.361   22 0.4715    3  4.042   15 -0.023   27 -0.698
PACERS        18 58 8561 9172 -0.042 37.878   29 -0.657   29 -0.659   25 -0.514   29 0.4363   10  4.000   25 -0.393   26 -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         44 33 9111 8934  0.008 37.474   11  0.174   11  0.171    9  0.249   11 0.5165    8  4.012    6  0.431   14  0.067
MAGIC         40 36 8751 8761  0.010 37.629   15  0.067   15  0.075   20 -0.090   15 0.5064   18  3.967   21 -0.142   18 -0.039
HEAT          40 37 9267 9101  0.032 38.206   16  0.066   16  0.065   16  0.101   16 0.5059    2  4.053    3  0.500   21 -0.297
HORNETS       40 36 8823 8467 -0.011 35.961   17  0.046   17  0.037    5  0.457   17 0.5035   21  3.946    8  0.295    4  0.619
WIZARDS       17 59 8566 9449 -0.049 38.330   30 -0.723   30 -0.719   30 -0.762   30 0.4337    4  4.034   27 -0.464   29 -1.060

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       51 25 8694 8145  0.032 36.614    4  0.419    4  0.414    4  0.515    4 0.5410   29  3.899   12  0.117    2  0.913
KNICKS        50 28 9109 8631  0.028 37.667    6  0.342    6  0.341    6  0.413    6 0.5335   20  3.950    9  0.273    7  0.553
RAPTORS       42 34 8691 8535  0.008 37.073   13  0.126   13  0.125   14  0.137   13 0.5123   23  3.942   16 -0.042   10  0.316
76ERS         42 34 8859 8870 -0.017 36.880   14  0.113   14  0.121   18 -0.063   14 0.5108   13  3.988   14 -0.007   19 -0.119
NETS          18 58 8059 8775 -0.017 38.766   28 -0.646   28 -0.645   29 -0.695   28 0.4385   30  3.896   30 -1.107   20 -0.283

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 215 167 0.563    1  0.166
ATLANTIC DIVISION  203 179 0.531    2  0.088
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 181 201 0.474    3 -0.024
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 179 202 0.470    4 -0.029
PACIFIC DIVISION   187 194 0.491    5 -0.061
CENTRAL DIVISION   179 201 0.471    6 -0.118

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.137 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: Thu Apr  2 05:30:11 2026
games through: Wed Apr  1 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.