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       24  1 3091 2654 -0.082 10.506    1  0.913    1  0.963    1  0.948    1 0.5966   28  3.935    2  0.684    1  1.213
PISTONS       20  5 2991 2833 -0.058 11.435    2  0.566    2  0.578    7  0.297    2 0.5644   14  3.987    7  0.302    7  0.293
ROCKETS       16  6 2654 2429  0.101 10.872    3  0.487    3  0.481    2  0.578    3 0.5580   22  3.959    5  0.436    2  0.720
SPURS         17  7 2882 2770  0.029 11.865    4  0.438    4  0.440    8  0.263    4 0.5513    9  4.009    6  0.379   10  0.147
NUGGETS       18  6 3012 2781 -0.044 10.804    5  0.432    5  0.427    4  0.471    6 0.5499    2  4.058    1  0.852   11  0.090
LAKERS        17  7 2840 2803 -0.017 11.705    6  0.416    6  0.412   14  0.054    5 0.5500    8  4.010   11  0.176   18 -0.069
KNICKS        17  7 2893 2686 -0.013 11.187    7  0.397    7  0.391    3  0.485    7 0.5384   13  3.987    4  0.490    5  0.481
MAGIC         15 10 2945 2834  0.139 13.340    8  0.292    8  0.286    5  0.377    8 0.5310   18  3.971    8  0.296    6  0.458
TIMBERWOLVES  16  9 2998 2874 -0.067 11.376    9  0.232    9  0.222    9  0.220    9 0.5272   12  3.989    9  0.235    9  0.205
CELTICS       15 10 2915 2770  0.056 12.451   10  0.220   10  0.208    6  0.352   10 0.5257   25  3.951   13  0.169    3  0.536
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          14 11 2870 2861  0.077 13.065   11  0.189   11  0.178   13  0.094   11 0.5223   23  3.956   16 -0.060    8  0.247
HEAT          14 11 3043 2955  0.088 13.005   12  0.179   12  0.167   10  0.220   12 0.5166    4  4.047    3  0.538   20 -0.099
CAVALIERS     15 11 3094 3010 -0.054 12.189   13  0.120   13  0.112   12  0.108   14 0.5103   10  4.004   10  0.198   17  0.018
76ERS         14 10 2804 2776 -0.098 11.032   14  0.100   14  0.099   17 -0.031   15 0.5091   20  3.966   18 -0.138   14  0.077
RAPTORS       15 11 3010 2961 -0.083 12.035   15  0.095   15  0.089   15 -0.009   17 0.5065   19  3.968   17 -0.106   12  0.087
WARRIORS      13 13 2957 2920  0.101 13.700   16  0.067   16  0.064   11  0.183   16 0.5082   30  3.923   19 -0.139    4  0.505
HAWKS         14 12 3066 3054 -0.027 12.678   17  0.056   17  0.051   16 -0.016   13 0.5115   11  3.998   14  0.042   19 -0.075
GRIZZLIES     11 14 2852 2897  0.006 12.689   18 -0.111   18 -0.117   18 -0.057   19 0.4865   21  3.965   21 -0.167   15  0.052
TRAIL BLAZERS  9 16 2937 3038  0.179 14.393   19 -0.129   19 -0.130   19 -0.108   18 0.4870    5  4.039   12  0.170   25 -0.386
BULLS         10 14 2827 2945 -0.090 11.684   20 -0.199   20 -0.197   24 -0.393   22 0.4746    6  4.033   20 -0.150   28 -0.636
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAZZ           9 15 2835 3020  0.014 12.801   21 -0.203   21 -0.200   25 -0.395   20 0.4793    1  4.067   15  0.029   29 -0.820
BUCKS         11 15 2993 3050 -0.085 12.420   22 -0.213   22 -0.214   22 -0.202   21 0.4761   17  3.977   22 -0.250   21 -0.153
MAVERICKS     10 16 2915 3014 -0.057 12.970   23 -0.269   23 -0.263   21 -0.195   23 0.4675   29  3.932   26 -0.473   13  0.082
KINGS          6 19 2779 3065  0.140 14.732   24 -0.392   24 -0.386   29 -0.505   24 0.4623   15  3.986   27 -0.509   26 -0.501
CLIPPERS       6 19 2791 2917  0.099 13.760   25 -0.465   25 -0.464   20 -0.186   25 0.4477   27  3.946   25 -0.395   16  0.022
HORNETS        7 18 2867 2968 -0.096 11.965   26 -0.525   26 -0.523   23 -0.286   26 0.4394   16  3.977   23 -0.333   22 -0.239
NETS           6 18 2628 2815 -0.081 11.918   27 -0.561   27 -0.545   26 -0.451   28 0.4360   26  3.947   30 -0.654   23 -0.247
PACERS         6 19 2775 2967 -0.097 12.327   28 -0.615   28 -0.599   27 -0.456   27 0.4365   24  3.952   29 -0.632   24 -0.279
PELICANS       4 22 2969 3212  0.028 13.949   29 -0.727   29 -0.717   28 -0.476   29 0.4244    7  4.014   24 -0.333   27 -0.618
WIZARDS        3 20 2598 2952 -0.076 12.024   30 -0.792   30 -0.790   30 -0.864   30 0.4131    3  4.053   28 -0.511   30 -1.218

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        17  7 2840 2803 -0.017 11.705    6  0.416    6  0.412   14  0.054    5 0.5500    8  4.010   11  0.176   18 -0.069
SUNS          14 11 2870 2861  0.077 13.065   11  0.189   11  0.178   13  0.094   11 0.5223   23  3.956   16 -0.060    8  0.247
WARRIORS      13 13 2957 2920  0.101 13.700   16  0.067   16  0.064   11  0.183   16 0.5082   30  3.923   19 -0.139    4  0.505
KINGS          6 19 2779 3065  0.140 14.732   24 -0.392   24 -0.386   29 -0.505   24 0.4623   15  3.986   27 -0.509   26 -0.501
CLIPPERS       6 19 2791 2917  0.099 13.760   25 -0.465   25 -0.464   20 -0.186   25 0.4477   27  3.946   25 -0.395   16  0.022

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       24  1 3091 2654 -0.082 10.506    1  0.913    1  0.963    1  0.948    1 0.5966   28  3.935    2  0.684    1  1.213
NUGGETS       18  6 3012 2781 -0.044 10.804    5  0.432    5  0.427    4  0.471    6 0.5499    2  4.058    1  0.852   11  0.090
TIMBERWOLVES  16  9 2998 2874 -0.067 11.376    9  0.232    9  0.222    9  0.220    9 0.5272   12  3.989    9  0.235    9  0.205
TRAIL BLAZERS  9 16 2937 3038  0.179 14.393   19 -0.129   19 -0.130   19 -0.108   18 0.4870    5  4.039   12  0.170   25 -0.386
JAZZ           9 15 2835 3020  0.014 12.801   21 -0.203   21 -0.200   25 -0.395   20 0.4793    1  4.067   15  0.029   29 -0.820

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       16  6 2654 2429  0.101 10.872    3  0.487    3  0.481    2  0.578    3 0.5580   22  3.959    5  0.436    2  0.720
SPURS         17  7 2882 2770  0.029 11.865    4  0.438    4  0.440    8  0.263    4 0.5513    9  4.009    6  0.379   10  0.147
GRIZZLIES     11 14 2852 2897  0.006 12.689   18 -0.111   18 -0.117   18 -0.057   19 0.4865   21  3.965   21 -0.167   15  0.052
MAVERICKS     10 16 2915 3014 -0.057 12.970   23 -0.269   23 -0.263   21 -0.195   23 0.4675   29  3.932   26 -0.473   13  0.082
PELICANS       4 22 2969 3212  0.028 13.949   29 -0.727   29 -0.717   28 -0.476   29 0.4244    7  4.014   24 -0.333   27 -0.618

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       20  5 2991 2833 -0.058 11.435    2  0.566    2  0.578    7  0.297    2 0.5644   14  3.987    7  0.302    7  0.293
CAVALIERS     15 11 3094 3010 -0.054 12.189   13  0.120   13  0.112   12  0.108   14 0.5103   10  4.004   10  0.198   17  0.018
BULLS         10 14 2827 2945 -0.090 11.684   20 -0.199   20 -0.197   24 -0.393   22 0.4746    6  4.033   20 -0.150   28 -0.636
BUCKS         11 15 2993 3050 -0.085 12.420   22 -0.213   22 -0.214   22 -0.202   21 0.4761   17  3.977   22 -0.250   21 -0.153
PACERS         6 19 2775 2967 -0.097 12.327   28 -0.615   28 -0.599   27 -0.456   27 0.4365   24  3.952   29 -0.632   24 -0.279

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         15 10 2945 2834  0.139 13.340    8  0.292    8  0.286    5  0.377    8 0.5310   18  3.971    8  0.296    6  0.458
HEAT          14 11 3043 2955  0.088 13.005   12  0.179   12  0.167   10  0.220   12 0.5166    4  4.047    3  0.538   20 -0.099
HAWKS         14 12 3066 3054 -0.027 12.678   17  0.056   17  0.051   16 -0.016   13 0.5115   11  3.998   14  0.042   19 -0.075
HORNETS        7 18 2867 2968 -0.096 11.965   26 -0.525   26 -0.523   23 -0.286   26 0.4394   16  3.977   23 -0.333   22 -0.239
WIZARDS        3 20 2598 2952 -0.076 12.024   30 -0.792   30 -0.790   30 -0.864   30 0.4131    3  4.053   28 -0.511   30 -1.218

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        17  7 2893 2686 -0.013 11.187    7  0.397    7  0.391    3  0.485    7 0.5384   13  3.987    4  0.490    5  0.481
CELTICS       15 10 2915 2770  0.056 12.451   10  0.220   10  0.208    6  0.352   10 0.5257   25  3.951   13  0.169    3  0.536
76ERS         14 10 2804 2776 -0.098 11.032   14  0.100   14  0.099   17 -0.031   15 0.5091   20  3.966   18 -0.138   14  0.077
RAPTORS       15 11 3010 2961 -0.083 12.035   15  0.095   15  0.089   15 -0.009   17 0.5065   19  3.968   17 -0.106   12  0.087
NETS           6 18 2628 2815 -0.081 11.918   27 -0.561   27 -0.545   26 -0.451   28 0.4360   26  3.947   30 -0.654   23 -0.247

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 76 47 0.618    1  0.283
ATLANTIC DIVISION  67 56 0.545    2  0.088
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 58 65 0.472    3  0.013
PACIFIC DIVISION   56 69 0.448    4 -0.088
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 53 71 0.427    5 -0.120
CENTRAL DIVISION   62 64 0.492    6 -0.153

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sat Dec 13 05:30:15 2025
games through: Fri Dec 12 2025

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