Portland Trail Blazers

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Team of Note

1976-1977 Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 49-33
Overall ranking: 112th, 5.383 points above average
    NBA legend holds up the 1976-1977 Portland Trail Blazers as the epitome of team play. As an example of how teamwork can allow a squad of overachievers to reach the greatest heights.
    As Portland star center Bill Walton might say in his current role as a television analyst, “Gag me with a spoon.”
    Portland and Walton did display brilliant team play in their run to the 1976-1977 NBA title. But they didn’t overachieve.
    The Trail Blazers produced the NBA’s best average point differential (+5.5 points per game) and the highest POST rating of the 1976-1977 season.
    Portland entered the playoffs as an underdog because of its 49-33 record (tied for fourth-best in the league) and because it never had reached the postseason before.
    The Trail Blazers defeated a pair of division champions to reach the NBA Finals. Portland took out the Denver Nuggets in six games. The Trail Blazers then swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Walton outdueled Kareem Adbul-Jabbar in a matchup of legendary former UCLA centers.
    Portland sustained its underdog status when it fell behind the Philadelphia 76ers and star forward Julius Erving 2-0 in the NBA Finals. The Trail Blazers then roared back to win the next four games to claim the franchise’s first – and only – NBA title.
    Portland became the first team to win an NBA championship in its first postseason appearance. The Trail Blazers also became the first team to win four straight NBA Finals games after falling behind 2-0.

Portland Trail Blazers From Top to Bottom

All-time RankingW-LPlayoffs
121990-91Portland Trail Blazers63-19West finals
551991-92Portland Trail Blazers57-25NBA finalist
741989-90Portland Trail Blazers59-23NBA finalist
781999-00Portland Trail Blazers59-23West finals
911998-99Portland Trail Blazers35-15West finals
951977-78Portland Trail Blazers58-24West semifinals
1191976-77Portland Trail Blazers49-33NBA champion
1672000-01Portland Trail Blazers50-32West first round
2031987-88Portland Trail Blazers53-29West first round
2131994-95Portland Trail Blazers44-38West first round
2211996-97Portland Trail Blazers49-33West first round
2591983-84Portland Trail Blazers48-34West first round
2692001-02Portland Trail Blazers49-33West first round
2771992-93Portland Trail Blazers51-31West first round
2851984-85Portland Trail Blazers42-40West semifinals
2942002-03Portland Trail Blazers50-32West first round
3071986-87Portland Trail Blazers49-33West first round
3251993-94Portland Trail Blazers47-35West first round
3671995-96Portland Trail Blazers44-38West first round
3851982-83Portland Trail Blazers46-36West semifinals
4751978-79Portland Trail Blazers45-37West first round
4821988-89Portland Trail Blazers39-43West first round
4901997-98Portland Trail Blazers46-36West first round
5161985-86Portland Trail Blazers40-42West first round
5241980-81Portland Trail Blazers45-37West first round
5411981-82Portland Trail Blazers42-40
5651974-75Portland Trail Blazers38-44
6722003-04Portland Trail Blazers41-41
6781979-80Portland Trail Blazers38-44West first round
7061975-76Portland Trail Blazers37-45
9232004-05Portland Trail Blazers27-55
9422006-07Portland Trail Blazers32-50
9681973-74Portland Trail Blazers27-55
10411972-73Portland Trail Blazers21-61
10601970-71Portland Trail Blazers29-53
11261971-72Portland Trail Blazers18-64
11292005-06Portland Trail Blazers21-61