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  0.065 44.390    1  0.842    1  0.816    1  0.817    1 0.5747   24  3.937    2  0.626    1  1.009
SPURS         70 24 11225 10396  0.068 46.866    2  0.690    2  0.658    2  0.753    2 0.5612   14  3.977    1  0.765    5  0.741
KNICKS        62 31 10877 10153  0.033 45.525    4  0.446    4  0.414    3  0.647    4 0.5398   23  3.940    5  0.469    3  0.826
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.027 46.888    3  0.517    3  0.488    4  0.495    3 0.5477   27  3.920    9  0.220    4  0.771
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.014 42.995    5  0.411    5  0.384    5  0.478    5 0.5380   29  3.899   12  0.095    2  0.861
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.000 40.758   16  0.083   16  0.069    6  0.393   16 0.5059   21  3.946    8  0.245    7  0.541
CAVALIERS     60 36 11346 10986  0.047 48.477    7  0.359    7  0.342    7  0.301    8 0.5319    9  4.001    6  0.436   12  0.166
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.024 43.468    8  0.358    8  0.339    8  0.294    6 0.5329    5  4.023    3  0.548   15  0.040
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.005 42.791    9  0.290    9  0.267    9  0.247    9 0.5266   30  3.899   21 -0.138    6  0.632
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.028 44.654   11  0.159   13  0.137   10  0.216   11 0.5130   25  3.936   13  0.019    8  0.412
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  0.050 47.224    6  0.361    6  0.347   11  0.155    7 0.5319   17  3.971   11  0.135   11  0.175
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.052 47.968   10  0.267   10  0.245   12  0.127   10 0.5236   13  3.979   10  0.149   14  0.105
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.036 44.733   12  0.158   11  0.141   13  0.108   13 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.069
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.013 41.244   17  0.053   17  0.044   14  0.087   17 0.5034    2  4.061    4  0.540   20 -0.367
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.025 40.384   19  0.000   19 -0.016   15  0.086   19 0.4984   22  3.942   19 -0.080   10  0.252
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.047 45.165   15  0.108   15  0.099   16  0.054   15 0.5091   26  3.922   23 -0.213    9  0.321
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.049 46.882   13  0.150   12  0.137   17  0.052   12 0.5121   19  3.955   17 -0.048   13  0.151
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.019 44.764   18  0.032   18  0.025   18  0.003   18 0.5018   15  3.974   14 -0.002   16  0.009
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.037 48.530   14  0.136   14  0.129   19 -0.079   14 0.5101   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.065
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.000 42.077   20 -0.095   20 -0.110   20 -0.158   20 0.4890   18  3.967   22 -0.200   19 -0.117
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.037 40.909   23 -0.460   24 -0.483   21 -0.247   23 0.4548    7  4.016   16 -0.030   23 -0.465
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.051 40.750   22 -0.302   22 -0.320   22 -0.423   22 0.4679    3  4.043   18 -0.064   27 -0.782
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.051 40.811   24 -0.463   23 -0.481   23 -0.427   24 0.4539   11  3.995   24 -0.320   24 -0.534
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.055 41.298   29 -0.675   29 -0.703   24 -0.501   29 0.4340   10  4.000   26 -0.369   25 -0.634
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.064 40.703   21 -0.283   21 -0.295   25 -0.551   21 0.4706   20  3.953   29 -0.663   22 -0.439
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.058 41.230   26 -0.584   26 -0.607   26 -0.584   26 0.4431    1  4.081   15 -0.021   29 -1.147
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.052 40.831   25 -0.501   25 -0.524   27 -0.586   25 0.4509    6  4.021   25 -0.347   28 -0.825
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.065 41.302   27 -0.594   27 -0.611   28 -0.667   27 0.4428   12  3.989   28 -0.591   26 -0.744
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.078 41.125   28 -0.672   28 -0.692   29 -0.807   28 0.4361   28  3.901   30 -1.180   21 -0.434
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.087 41.177   30 -0.789   30 -0.819   30 -0.825   30 0.4271    4  4.040   27 -0.483   30 -1.168

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  0.050 47.224    6  0.361    6  0.347   11  0.155    7 0.5319   17  3.971   11  0.135   11  0.175
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.025 40.384   19  0.000   19 -0.016   15  0.086   19 0.4984   22  3.942   19 -0.080   10  0.252
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.047 45.165   15  0.108   15  0.099   16  0.054   15 0.5091   26  3.922   23 -0.213    9  0.321
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.000 42.077   20 -0.095   20 -0.110   20 -0.158   20 0.4890   18  3.967   22 -0.200   19 -0.117
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.065 41.302   27 -0.594   27 -0.611   28 -0.667   27 0.4428   12  3.989   28 -0.591   26 -0.744

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  0.065 44.390    1  0.842    1  0.816    1  0.817    1 0.5747   24  3.937    2  0.626    1  1.009
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.024 43.468    8  0.358    8  0.339    8  0.294    6 0.5329    5  4.023    3  0.548   15  0.040
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.052 47.968   10  0.267   10  0.245   12  0.127   10 0.5236   13  3.979   10  0.149   14  0.105
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.019 44.764   18  0.032   18  0.025   18  0.003   18 0.5018   15  3.974   14 -0.002   16  0.009
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.058 41.230   26 -0.584   26 -0.607   26 -0.584   26 0.4431    1  4.081   15 -0.021   29 -1.147

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         70 24 11225 10396  0.068 46.866    2  0.690    2  0.658    2  0.753    2 0.5612   14  3.977    1  0.765    5  0.741
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.005 42.791    9  0.290    9  0.267    9  0.247    9 0.5266   30  3.899   21 -0.138    6  0.632
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.037 40.909   23 -0.460   24 -0.483   21 -0.247   23 0.4548    7  4.016   16 -0.030   23 -0.465
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.051 40.811   24 -0.463   23 -0.481   23 -0.427   24 0.4539   11  3.995   24 -0.320   24 -0.534
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.052 40.831   25 -0.501   25 -0.524   27 -0.586   25 0.4509    6  4.021   25 -0.347   28 -0.825

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       67 29 11126 10434  0.027 46.888    3  0.517    3  0.488    4  0.495    3 0.5477   27  3.920    9  0.220    4  0.771
CAVALIERS     60 36 11346 10986  0.047 48.477    7  0.359    7  0.342    7  0.301    8 0.5319    9  4.001    6  0.436   12  0.166
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.051 40.750   22 -0.302   22 -0.320   22 -0.423   22 0.4679    3  4.043   18 -0.064   27 -0.782
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.055 41.298   29 -0.675   29 -0.703   24 -0.501   29 0.4340   10  4.000   26 -0.369   25 -0.634
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.064 40.703   21 -0.283   21 -0.295   25 -0.551   21 0.4706   20  3.953   29 -0.663   22 -0.439

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
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.000 40.758   16  0.083   16  0.069    6  0.393   16 0.5059   21  3.946    8  0.245    7  0.541
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.036 44.733   12  0.158   11  0.141   13  0.108   13 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.069
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.013 41.244   17  0.053   17  0.044   14  0.087   17 0.5034    2  4.061    4  0.540   20 -0.367
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.049 46.882   13  0.150   12  0.137   17  0.052   12 0.5121   19  3.955   17 -0.048   13  0.151
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.087 41.177   30 -0.789   30 -0.819   30 -0.825   30 0.4271    4  4.040   27 -0.483   30 -1.168

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  0.033 45.525    4  0.446    4  0.414    3  0.647    4 0.5398   23  3.940    5  0.469    3  0.826
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.014 42.995    5  0.411    5  0.384    5  0.478    5 0.5380   29  3.899   12  0.095    2  0.861
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.028 44.654   11  0.159   13  0.137   10  0.216   11 0.5130   25  3.936   13  0.019    8  0.412
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.037 48.530   14  0.136   14  0.129   19 -0.079   14 0.5101   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.065
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.078 41.125   28 -0.672   28 -0.692   29 -0.807   28 0.4361   28  3.901   30 -1.180   21 -0.434

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 249 193 0.563    1  0.151
ATLANTIC DIVISION  240 207 0.537    2  0.104
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.038
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 201 227 0.470    4 -0.057
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.104
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 229 0.477    6 -0.145

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.148 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.015 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 18 05:30:09 2026
games through: Sun May 17 2026

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