Seven games into the 2026-27 NBA regular season, the Portland Trail Blazers hold a 6-1 record under a first-year head coach. According to si.com, this start places the franchise in rare historical company as they sit atop the Western Conference standings.
Portland Enters Rare Franchise History
Preseason predictions cast doubt on Portland’s roster construction, citing a lack of size, perimeter defenders, and lack of perimeter shooting. Skeptics pointed to three high-usage players and a questionable bench scoring depth as recipes for mediocrity. Yet, the team dispelled those early concerns by securing six wins in their first seven outings.
StatHead data cited by si.com shows that Portland has started a season 6-1 or better only eight times across its 56-year history. Six of those prior fast starts yielded playoff berths, including a division title. One notable instance culminated in the franchise’s lone NBA championship during the 1976-77 campaign. The lone exception among those eight starts occurred in 1981-82, when a 6-1 opening failed to secure a postseason spot as the team finished 42-40.
Offensive Efficiency Drives Early Success
Seven games into the 2026-27 season, Portland ranks second in the NBA in offensive rating with 121.0. The defense holds up at eighth overall with a 108.1 defensive rating, producing a net rating of +12.9.
Despite these metrics, si.com notes an important caveat regarding the quality of competition. The Blazers’ first seven opponents accumulated a combined 21-26 record. While victories over Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets carry weight, wins against the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns came against struggling squads.
A Brutal November Schedule Awaits
The level of competition shifts dramatically for the remainder of November. HoopsJunkie data cited by si.com ranks Portland’s remaining schedule as the fourth hardest remaining schedule.
The upcoming slate features a matchup against Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Cup action, followed by a home game against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Consecutive games against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder follow immediately after.
Excluding a brief contest against the Sacramento Kings and a game against the Milwaukie Bucks, the remaining November opponents boast a combined 46-19 record. This demanding stretch includes a six-game road trip featuring stops against Lamelo Ball and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, and Lebron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. Portland must get through these upcoming fixtures likely without the services of Ja Morant.
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