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       42 14 6703 6050  0.033 26.946    1  0.560    1  0.571    1  0.678    1 0.5586   25  3.937    2  0.471    1  0.885
PISTONS       40 13 6214 5792 -0.033 24.570    2  0.511    2  0.518    2  0.507    2 0.5564   23  3.942    8  0.326    3  0.687
SPURS         38 17 6492 6181  0.072 27.709    3  0.465    3  0.470    3  0.417    3 0.5480   14  3.975    4  0.406    6  0.428
CELTICS       35 19 6224 5851 -0.026 25.281    5  0.284    5  0.283    4  0.394    4 0.5330   28  3.917   13  0.085    2  0.704
KNICKS        36 20 6615 6265 -0.008 26.693    4  0.288    4  0.287    5  0.393    5 0.5327   18  3.969    6  0.351    5  0.436
ROCKETS       33 20 6076 5810  0.028 26.002    6  0.273    6  0.274    8  0.239    6 0.5293   29  3.909   20 -0.108    4  0.586
CAVALIERS     34 21 6599 6374  0.006 26.780    8  0.253    8  0.256    6  0.286    7 0.5287    5  4.024    1  0.529   13  0.044
NUGGETS       35 20 6620 6399 -0.030 26.061    7  0.257    7  0.263   10  0.137    8 0.5274    7  4.017    7  0.344   17 -0.069
LAKERS        33 21 6265 6266 -0.008 26.569    9  0.233    9  0.240   16 -0.029    9 0.5259   11  3.997   14  0.071   18 -0.128
SUNS          32 23 6249 6151  0.038 27.675   10  0.214   10  0.211   12  0.130   10 0.5209   24  3.937   19 -0.076    8  0.336
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  34 22 6702 6426 -0.024 26.466   11  0.206   11  0.197    7  0.280   11 0.5204   10  4.000    5  0.398   12  0.161
RAPTORS       32 23 6258 6174 -0.018 26.644   12  0.168   12  0.164   15  0.050   12 0.5180   26  3.933   23 -0.177   10  0.276
76ERS         30 24 6273 6259 -0.020 26.292   13  0.111   13  0.109   17 -0.031   13 0.5126   13  3.977   17 -0.031   14 -0.031
WARRIORS      29 26 6354 6253  0.025 27.473   14  0.083   14  0.077   13  0.126   14 0.5081   20  3.963   15  0.054   11  0.198
MAGIC         28 25 6098 6108  0.014 26.536   15  0.076   15  0.075   19 -0.079   15 0.5077   17  3.970   21 -0.118   15 -0.041
HEAT          29 27 6697 6562  0.035 28.117   16  0.068   16  0.057   11  0.137   16 0.5063    3  4.032    3  0.421   19 -0.148
TRAIL BLAZERS 27 29 6514 6624  0.050 29.016   17  0.013   17  0.009   20 -0.080   17 0.5000    8  4.012   12  0.102   23 -0.262
CLIPPERS      26 28 6043 6066  0.038 27.506   18  0.005   18 -0.006   14  0.071   18 0.4990   27  3.919   24 -0.225    7  0.367
HAWKS         26 30 6569 6643  0.043 28.758   19 -0.030   19 -0.040   18 -0.060   19 0.4964    4  4.024    9  0.183   24 -0.303
HORNETS       26 29 6363 6259 -0.014 26.661   20 -0.049   20 -0.072    9  0.212   20 0.4932   21  3.961   10  0.128    9  0.297
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         23 30 5925 6105 -0.021 26.377   21 -0.145   21 -0.150   23 -0.222   21 0.4848   22  3.944   26 -0.394   16 -0.050
BULLS         24 31 6423 6634 -0.039 26.977   22 -0.157   22 -0.158   25 -0.293   22 0.4819    2  4.034   16  0.002   27 -0.588
GRIZZLIES     20 33 6109 6226 -0.009 26.388   23 -0.273   23 -0.278   21 -0.154   23 0.4700   12  3.995   18 -0.060   22 -0.248
MAVERICKS     19 35 6153 6340 -0.034 26.581   24 -0.341   24 -0.344   22 -0.216   24 0.4625   15  3.972   25 -0.243   21 -0.189
JAZZ          18 38 6623 7052  0.004 28.866   25 -0.377   25 -0.368   27 -0.442   25 0.4588    1  4.080   11  0.104   30 -0.987
PACERS        15 40 6113 6523 -0.007 28.246   26 -0.495   26 -0.491   26 -0.402   26 0.4474   19  3.968   28 -0.449   25 -0.354
NETS          15 38 5706 6091 -0.053 26.075   28 -0.513   28 -0.509   28 -0.527   27 0.4463   30  3.905   30 -0.891   20 -0.162
PELICANS      15 41 6417 6743  0.014 28.773   27 -0.502   27 -0.503   24 -0.270   28 0.4460    9  4.002   22 -0.142   26 -0.399
WIZARDS       14 39 5943 6526 -0.055 26.512   29 -0.564   29 -0.552   30 -0.666   29 0.4423    6  4.023   27 -0.429   29 -0.903
KINGS         12 44 6168 6755  0.017 29.486   30 -0.621   30 -0.617   29 -0.631   30 0.4364   16  3.970   29 -0.668   28 -0.594

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        33 21 6265 6266 -0.008 26.569    9  0.233    9  0.240   16 -0.029    9 0.5259   11  3.997   14  0.071   18 -0.128
SUNS          32 23 6249 6151  0.038 27.675   10  0.214   10  0.211   12  0.130   10 0.5209   24  3.937   19 -0.076    8  0.336
WARRIORS      29 26 6354 6253  0.025 27.473   14  0.083   14  0.077   13  0.126   14 0.5081   20  3.963   15  0.054   11  0.198
CLIPPERS      26 28 6043 6066  0.038 27.506   18  0.005   18 -0.006   14  0.071   18 0.4990   27  3.919   24 -0.225    7  0.367
KINGS         12 44 6168 6755  0.017 29.486   30 -0.621   30 -0.617   29 -0.631   30 0.4364   16  3.970   29 -0.668   28 -0.594

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       42 14 6703 6050  0.033 26.946    1  0.560    1  0.571    1  0.678    1 0.5586   25  3.937    2  0.471    1  0.885
NUGGETS       35 20 6620 6399 -0.030 26.061    7  0.257    7  0.263   10  0.137    8 0.5274    7  4.017    7  0.344   17 -0.069
TIMBERWOLVES  34 22 6702 6426 -0.024 26.466   11  0.206   11  0.197    7  0.280   11 0.5204   10  4.000    5  0.398   12  0.161
TRAIL BLAZERS 27 29 6514 6624  0.050 29.016   17  0.013   17  0.009   20 -0.080   17 0.5000    8  4.012   12  0.102   23 -0.262
JAZZ          18 38 6623 7052  0.004 28.866   25 -0.377   25 -0.368   27 -0.442   25 0.4588    1  4.080   11  0.104   30 -0.987

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         38 17 6492 6181  0.072 27.709    3  0.465    3  0.470    3  0.417    3 0.5480   14  3.975    4  0.406    6  0.428
ROCKETS       33 20 6076 5810  0.028 26.002    6  0.273    6  0.274    8  0.239    6 0.5293   29  3.909   20 -0.108    4  0.586
GRIZZLIES     20 33 6109 6226 -0.009 26.388   23 -0.273   23 -0.278   21 -0.154   23 0.4700   12  3.995   18 -0.060   22 -0.248
MAVERICKS     19 35 6153 6340 -0.034 26.581   24 -0.341   24 -0.344   22 -0.216   24 0.4625   15  3.972   25 -0.243   21 -0.189
PELICANS      15 41 6417 6743  0.014 28.773   27 -0.502   27 -0.503   24 -0.270   28 0.4460    9  4.002   22 -0.142   26 -0.399

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       40 13 6214 5792 -0.033 24.570    2  0.511    2  0.518    2  0.507    2 0.5564   23  3.942    8  0.326    3  0.687
CAVALIERS     34 21 6599 6374  0.006 26.780    8  0.253    8  0.256    6  0.286    7 0.5287    5  4.024    1  0.529   13  0.044
BUCKS         23 30 5925 6105 -0.021 26.377   21 -0.145   21 -0.150   23 -0.222   21 0.4848   22  3.944   26 -0.394   16 -0.050
BULLS         24 31 6423 6634 -0.039 26.977   22 -0.157   22 -0.158   25 -0.293   22 0.4819    2  4.034   16  0.002   27 -0.588
PACERS        15 40 6113 6523 -0.007 28.246   26 -0.495   26 -0.491   26 -0.402   26 0.4474   19  3.968   28 -0.449   25 -0.354

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         28 25 6098 6108  0.014 26.536   15  0.076   15  0.075   19 -0.079   15 0.5077   17  3.970   21 -0.118   15 -0.041
HEAT          29 27 6697 6562  0.035 28.117   16  0.068   16  0.057   11  0.137   16 0.5063    3  4.032    3  0.421   19 -0.148
HAWKS         26 30 6569 6643  0.043 28.758   19 -0.030   19 -0.040   18 -0.060   19 0.4964    4  4.024    9  0.183   24 -0.303
HORNETS       26 29 6363 6259 -0.014 26.661   20 -0.049   20 -0.072    9  0.212   20 0.4932   21  3.961   10  0.128    9  0.297
WIZARDS       14 39 5943 6526 -0.055 26.512   29 -0.564   29 -0.552   30 -0.666   29 0.4423    6  4.023   27 -0.429   29 -0.903

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       35 19 6224 5851 -0.026 25.281    5  0.284    5  0.283    4  0.394    4 0.5330   28  3.917   13  0.085    2  0.704
KNICKS        36 20 6615 6265 -0.008 26.693    4  0.288    4  0.287    5  0.393    5 0.5327   18  3.969    6  0.351    5  0.436
RAPTORS       32 23 6258 6174 -0.018 26.644   12  0.168   12  0.164   15  0.050   12 0.5180   26  3.933   23 -0.177   10  0.276
76ERS         30 24 6273 6259 -0.020 26.292   13  0.111   13  0.109   17 -0.031   13 0.5126   13  3.977   17 -0.031   14 -0.031
NETS          15 38 5706 6091 -0.053 26.075   28 -0.513   28 -0.509   28 -0.527   27 0.4463   30  3.905   30 -0.891   20 -0.162

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 156 123 0.559    1  0.162
ATLANTIC DIVISION  148 124 0.544    2  0.085
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 125 146 0.461    3 -0.002
CENTRAL DIVISION   136 135 0.502    4 -0.062
PACIFIC DIVISION   132 142 0.482    5 -0.074
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 123 150 0.451    6 -0.101

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.138 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: Fri Feb 13 05:30:08 2026
games through: Thu Feb 12 2026

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