It's a fun format, but really a lot of luck compared to every other major American sport. Not sure it could be any other way with so many teams.
I'd never do this...but to actually crown a TRUE 100% best team or the true best final four you'd have to do something like this:
- Select the top 4 computer ranked regular season conference champions. Basically 18-20 game qualifier playoff.
- This year it would have been the 4 one seeds
- Play two five game series
- Winners play another five game series
Those teams are legit "best four" more than this format and that champion would 99% of the time be unquestionably the #1 team. The 1% being a close series where officiating blew it (Kings/Lakers in early 00s).
If you look at the Houston Phi Slamma Jamma teams, they were pretty clearly the best team two years straight but came up just short. No way they're losing a 5 game title series two years in a row.
I'd never want any of that...but that's what an actual totally true champion and Final Four would look like. SO WE HAVE MADNESS