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       64 18  9760  8846  0.074 39.990    1  0.754    1  0.757    1  0.741    1 0.5698   26  3.931    4  0.501    1  0.981
SPURS         62 21  9939  9269  0.076 40.972    2  0.661    2  0.668    2  0.660    2 0.5619   14  3.987    1  0.705    6  0.616
PISTONS       60 22  9657  8988  0.023 38.889    3  0.554    3  0.562    3  0.593    3 0.5541   23  3.943    7  0.413    3  0.773
CELTICS       56 26  9418  8787  0.040 39.552    4  0.458    4  0.457    4  0.572    4 0.5437   29  3.904   12  0.194    2  0.949
KNICKS        54 29  9673  9143  0.041 40.352    6  0.382    6  0.381    5  0.458    6 0.5362   21  3.944    8  0.281    5  0.635
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364  0.017 40.589   16  0.095   16  0.085    6  0.422   16 0.5076   22  3.943   10  0.242    7  0.602
NUGGETS       54 28 10010  9588  0.031 39.835    5  0.394    5  0.396    7  0.384    5 0.5382    5  4.031    2  0.658   14  0.110
ROCKETS       52 30  9449  9021  0.017 39.373    8  0.327    9  0.326    8  0.321    8 0.5311   28  3.912   16 -0.015    4  0.658
HAWKS         46 36  9714  9516  0.022 40.251   11  0.165   11  0.160    9  0.267   11 0.5149    9  4.013    5  0.447   15  0.088
CAVALIERS     52 30  9801  9463  0.010 39.515    9  0.325    8  0.326   10  0.259    9 0.5310    8  4.014    6  0.443   16  0.074
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       46 36  9400  9168  0.020 40.125   12  0.162   12  0.154   11  0.244   12 0.5144   24  3.940   14  0.049    8  0.438
TIMBERWOLVES  49 33  9676  9401  0.006 39.576   10  0.232   10  0.227   12  0.184   10 0.5221   12  3.990    9  0.244   12  0.124
LAKERS        53 29  9540  9396  0.010 40.083    7  0.365    7  0.373   13  0.174    7 0.5349   15  3.985   11  0.208   11  0.141
SUNS          46 38  9453  9322  0.031 41.728   13  0.148   13  0.142   14  0.119   13 0.5135   27  3.916   22 -0.198    9  0.436
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.031 41.090   17  0.064   17  0.062   15  0.110   17 0.5051    2  4.058    3  0.530   20 -0.309
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.005 40.278   19  0.012   19  0.005   16  0.105   19 0.5003   25  3.940   20 -0.092   10  0.302
MAGIC         46 38  9709  9638  0.027 41.802   14  0.141   15  0.137   17  0.062   15 0.5123   18  3.968   15  0.009   13  0.115
TRAIL BLAZERS 43 40  9583  9603  0.003 40.856   18  0.051   18  0.052   18  0.060   18 0.5043   16  3.980   13  0.071   17  0.049
76ERS         46 37  9611  9614 -0.005 40.593   15  0.138   14  0.137   19 -0.027   14 0.5124   17  3.976   17 -0.040   18 -0.014
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.019 41.954   20 -0.085   20 -0.092   20 -0.144   20 0.4908   19  3.964   23 -0.216   19 -0.072
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 -0.017 40.792   23 -0.462   24 -0.463   21 -0.235   23 0.4566    7  4.014   18 -0.050   23 -0.420
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.033 40.575   22 -0.299   22 -0.301   22 -0.420   22 0.4697    3  4.040   21 -0.094   27 -0.745
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.031 40.688   24 -0.465   23 -0.461   23 -0.421   24 0.4557   11  3.993   24 -0.346   24 -0.495
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.036 41.145   29 -0.682   29 -0.684   24 -0.500   29 0.4358   10  3.997   26 -0.401   25 -0.599
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.044 40.586   21 -0.280   21 -0.276   25 -0.546   21 0.4725   20  3.950   29 -0.691   21 -0.401
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.032 40.717   25 -0.503   25 -0.503   26 -0.582   25 0.4527    6  4.018   25 -0.375   28 -0.790
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.037 41.124   26 -0.586   26 -0.585   27 -0.583   26 0.4448    1  4.078   19 -0.052   29 -1.113
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.044 41.219   27 -0.596   27 -0.589   28 -0.668   27 0.4447   13  3.987   28 -0.623   26 -0.713
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.058 41.006   28 -0.675   28 -0.669   29 -0.810   28 0.4379   30  3.898   30 -1.215   22 -0.406
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.066 41.074   30 -0.794   30 -0.795   30 -0.830   30 0.4289    4  4.037   27 -0.521   30 -1.138

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        53 29  9540  9396  0.010 40.083    7  0.365    7  0.373   13  0.174    7 0.5349   15  3.985   11  0.208   11  0.141
SUNS          46 38  9453  9322  0.031 41.728   13  0.148   13  0.142   14  0.119   13 0.5135   27  3.916   22 -0.198    9  0.436
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.005 40.278   19  0.012   19  0.005   16  0.105   19 0.5003   25  3.940   20 -0.092   10  0.302
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676  0.019 41.954   20 -0.085   20 -0.092   20 -0.144   20 0.4908   19  3.964   23 -0.216   19 -0.072
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.044 41.219   27 -0.596   27 -0.589   28 -0.668   27 0.4447   13  3.987   28 -0.623   26 -0.713

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       64 18  9760  8846  0.074 39.990    1  0.754    1  0.757    1  0.741    1 0.5698   26  3.931    4  0.501    1  0.981
NUGGETS       54 28 10010  9588  0.031 39.835    5  0.394    5  0.396    7  0.384    5 0.5382    5  4.031    2  0.658   14  0.110
TIMBERWOLVES  49 33  9676  9401  0.006 39.576   10  0.232   10  0.227   12  0.184   10 0.5221   12  3.990    9  0.244   12  0.124
TRAIL BLAZERS 43 40  9583  9603  0.003 40.856   18  0.051   18  0.052   18  0.060   18 0.5043   16  3.980   13  0.071   17  0.049
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.037 41.124   26 -0.586   26 -0.585   27 -0.583   26 0.4448    1  4.078   19 -0.052   29 -1.113

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         62 21  9939  9269  0.076 40.972    2  0.661    2  0.668    2  0.660    2 0.5619   14  3.987    1  0.705    6  0.616
ROCKETS       52 30  9449  9021  0.017 39.373    8  0.327    9  0.326    8  0.321    8 0.5311   28  3.912   16 -0.015    4  0.658
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.017 40.792   23 -0.462   24 -0.463   21 -0.235   23 0.4566    7  4.014   18 -0.050   23 -0.420
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.031 40.688   24 -0.465   23 -0.461   23 -0.421   24 0.4557   11  3.993   24 -0.346   24 -0.495
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.032 40.717   25 -0.503   25 -0.503   26 -0.582   25 0.4527    6  4.018   25 -0.375   28 -0.790

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       60 22  9657  8988  0.023 38.889    3  0.554    3  0.562    3  0.593    3 0.5541   23  3.943    7  0.413    3  0.773
CAVALIERS     52 30  9801  9463  0.010 39.515    9  0.325    8  0.326   10  0.259    9 0.5310    8  4.014    6  0.443   16  0.074
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.033 40.575   22 -0.299   22 -0.301   22 -0.420   22 0.4697    3  4.040   21 -0.094   27 -0.745
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.036 41.145   29 -0.682   29 -0.684   24 -0.500   29 0.4358   10  3.997   26 -0.401   25 -0.599
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.044 40.586   21 -0.280   21 -0.276   25 -0.546   21 0.4725   20  3.950   29 -0.691   21 -0.401

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  0.017 40.589   16  0.095   16  0.085    6  0.422   16 0.5076   22  3.943   10  0.242    7  0.602
HAWKS         46 36  9714  9516  0.022 40.251   11  0.165   11  0.160    9  0.267   11 0.5149    9  4.013    5  0.447   15  0.088
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.031 41.090   17  0.064   17  0.062   15  0.110   17 0.5051    2  4.058    3  0.530   20 -0.309
MAGIC         46 38  9709  9638  0.027 41.802   14  0.141   15  0.137   17  0.062   15 0.5123   18  3.968   15  0.009   13  0.115
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.066 41.074   30 -0.794   30 -0.795   30 -0.830   30 0.4289    4  4.037   27 -0.521   30 -1.138

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       56 26  9418  8787  0.040 39.552    4  0.458    4  0.457    4  0.572    4 0.5437   29  3.904   12  0.194    2  0.949
KNICKS        54 29  9673  9143  0.041 40.352    6  0.382    6  0.381    5  0.458    6 0.5362   21  3.944    8  0.281    5  0.635
RAPTORS       46 36  9400  9168  0.020 40.125   12  0.162   12  0.154   11  0.244   12 0.5144   24  3.940   14  0.049    8  0.438
76ERS         46 37  9611  9614 -0.005 40.593   15  0.138   14  0.137   19 -0.027   14 0.5124   17  3.976   17 -0.040   18 -0.014
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.058 41.006   28 -0.675   28 -0.669   29 -0.810   28 0.4379   30  3.898   30 -1.215   22 -0.406

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 232 179 0.564    1  0.175
ATLANTIC DIVISION  222 190 0.539    2  0.109
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 197 218 0.475    3 -0.008
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 191 220 0.465    4 -0.045
PACIFIC DIVISION   201 214 0.484    5 -0.082
CENTRAL DIVISION   194 216 0.473    6 -0.126

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: Sat Apr 18 05:30:13 2026
games through: Fri Apr 17 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.