Blazers are the runaway leaders in first-round exits
The goal for most NBA teams every season is to make the playoffs. Some have higher aspirations, like winning a title, but most franchises have to be more realistic and accept that just qualifying for the postseason is a respectable annual accomplishment.
Of course, once in the playoffs, teams would like to make it as far as possible and – preferably – not get bounced in the first round. Being eliminated that early on in the postseason process leaves a sour taste in the mouths of players, teams and fans alike.
No team has experienced being first-round fodder more than Portland. The Blazers, with 26 first-round defeats, lead the way in futility, with the Atlanta Hawks (23), Detroit Pistons (20) and Philadelphia 76ers (20) trailing them.
For the full list of how many times each NBA team has been eliminated in the first round of the postseason, just check out the list below.
Trail Blazers: 26 times
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 37 (70.2 percent)
Hawks: 23 times
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 49 (46.93 percent)
Pistons: 20 times
Duane Burleson/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 42 (47.61 percent)
Sixers: 20 times
Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 53 (37.73 percent)
Nets: 19 times
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 24 (79.16 percent)
Pacers: 19 times
Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 27 (70.37 percent)
Kings: 19 times
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 30 (63.3 percent)
Wizards: 19 times
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Playoff appearances: 30 (63.33 percent)
Bucks: 19 times
Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 35 (54.28 percent)
Spurs: 19 times
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 39 (48.71 percent)
Nuggets: 18 times
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 29 (62.06 percent)
Bulls: 18 times
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 36 (50.0 percent)
Rockets: 17 times
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 34 (50.0 percent)
Knicks: 15 times
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 43 (34.88 percent)
Celtics: 15 times
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 60 (25.0 percent)
Jazz: 14 times
Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 31 (45.16 percent)
Thunder: 14 times
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 32 (43.75 percent)
Mavericks: 13 times
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 24 (54.16 percent)
Suns: 13 times
Harry How/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 32 (40.62 percent)
Warriors: 12 times
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 37 (32.43 percent)
Lakers: 12 times
Harry How/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 63 (19.04 percent)
Magic: 11 times
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 16 (68.75 percent)
Cavaliers: 11 times
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 23 (47.82 percent)
Heat: 11 times
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 24 (45.83 percent)
Timberwolves: 10 times
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 11 (90.90 percent)
Clippers: 10 times
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 17 (58.82 percent)
Grizzlies: Nine times
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff appearances: 13 (69.23 percent)
Raptors: Seven times
Cole Burston/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 13 (53.84 percent)
Pelicans: Six times
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: Eight (75.0 percent)
Hornets: Six times
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Playoff appearances: 10 (60.0 percent)
