When did having the best record become so irrelevant?

[StillSwinging]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ets/index.html

My first article for SI. A lot to go over, but the main story is this:

• From 1983 to 1999, the teams with the best regular season record in the four leagues won 27 of the 67 championships (40.3 percent). They went one-and-done 10 times (14.9 percent).

• Since 2000, the teams with the best regular season record in the four leagues have won eight of the 47 championships (17.0 percent). They've gone one-and-done 17 times (36.2 percent).

• From 1983 to 1999, the most common result for a top seed was to win the Stanley Cup, win the Super Bowl, win the NBA Finals and lose in the World Series.

• Since 2000, the most common result for a top seed was to lose in the first round of the NHL playoffs, lose in the divisional round of the NFL, lose in the conference finals of the NBA and lose in baseball's LDS.

Bulls complete first year ever when the top seeds all went one and done, joining Phillies, Packers and Canucks.

[ItIsWhatItIs]

Salary caps have leveled the playing field, particularly in hockey and it has even helped a bit in basketball. Football's massive dollars and hard cap clearly result in less "dominant" teams - even bottom-feeders can convince big time FAs to sign with them, and the one-and-done structure of the playoffs makes it easier to topple a higher-seeded team.

[CrazyCoughlin]

Any reason you use 1983 as the first year?

[StillSwinging]

Any reason you use 1983 as the first year?

NBA started using 16 teams for playoffs in 1983-84 season.
MLB had strike in 1981 that negated having the best record, because the season was split in halves.
NFL had strike in 1982 that led to 9-game season and 16/28 teams making the playoffs.

[MKHawk]

Nice article, Still

[Cheeseland Vike]

Bulls did have quite a few injury problems in that series.

[StillSwinging]

Made the front page. This is like a bucket list moment.

[StillSwinging]

Salary caps have leveled the playing field, particularly in hockey and it has even helped a bit in basketball. Football's massive dollars and hard cap clearly result in less "dominant" teams - even bottom-feeders can convince big time FAs to sign with them, and the one-and-done structure of the playoffs makes it easier to topple a higher-seeded team.

All true, except the one-and-done has always been a part of football.

From 1975-2004, 5 top seeds went one-and-done in the NFL.
Since 2005, 5 of the last 7 top seeds went one-and-done in the NFL.

[MKHawk]

All true, except the one-and-done has always been a part of football.

From 1975-2004, 5 top seeds went one-and-done in the NFL.
Since 2005, 5 of the last 7 top seeds went one-and-done in the NFL.

That makes sense, given that it's the only single game round of the four

[CalgaryHawkFan]

Congrats on the article Scott. Very cool.

[Breed]

Nice article, Still

Indeed. Informative, well written, unbiased (though a couple Pats fans might not think so, heh)

[StillSwinging]

Indeed. Informative, well written, unbiased (though a couple Pats fans might not think so, heh)

Sentence that didn't make the final cut:

"Out of 46 Super Bowl champions, the 2001 Patriots (4.3 PPG) and 2003 Patriots (5.3 PPG) rank first and third in terms of postseason margin of victory."

[MKHawk]

Sentence that didn't make the final cut:

"Out of 46 Super Bowl champions, the 2001 Patriots (4.3 PPG) and 2003 Patriots (5.3 PPG) rank first and third in terms of postseason margin of victory."

You mean lowest margin of victory?

[StillSwinging]

Yeah that's the lowest.

2007 Giants come in between. I had something on SB 42, Kings/Lakers Game 6 of WCF, and Boston's 2004 WS run, but I guess they were shooting for 2 pages. I'll save the SB 42 and other NFL stuff for January, when another regular season champion is ready to start their run on Divisional weekend.

[StillSwinging]

This is for NFL:
From 1983-99, No. 1 seed was on average 9.6 PPG better than Divisional opponent (.592 record). Since 2000, just 4.5 PPG better (.674 record)