Championship, then be awful for 10 years, or years of relevancy but no ring?

[LooseCannon]

The Florida/Miami Marlins have had six winning seasons in their 21-year history, but have the won the World Series the two times they have won 90+ games.

The Red Sox had a winning record in 15 out of 21 seasons from 1983 to 2003 (just before they won the World Series in 2004) with seven playoff appearances and five 90+ win seasons.

Would you rather be a Marlins fan from 1993 to the present or a Red Sox fan from 1983 to 2003?

[fitzhickey]

put us as far away from LA as possible, and chips are special

[get_banners]

winning a title involves a lot of pieces, including luck. being a contender for a prolonged period of time is much more "predictable". i'd much rather prefer going into every season thinking we have a shot at the title than winning it once and then not being good.

[Kane3387]

Title

[SparzWizard]

It's been six years since we last won Number 17. Of course, we would be working on banner #21 right now had KG didn't go down in 08-09, Perkins/refs didn't screw up in 09-10, and stopping LeBron James in Game 6 of 2012 Playoffs.

I'd love me some championships!

[CelticD]

if by playoff battles u mean at least a loss in the finals then id choose entertaining playoff battles as opposed to gettin a ring and then bein whack for 10 yrs. theres pride in saying u've been the best team in ur conference for 10 years straight. plus, i think it'd be good for the fans.

[D.o.s.]

It's been six years since we last won Number 17. Of course, we would be working on banner #21 right now had KG didn't go down in 08-09, Perkins/refs didn't screw up in 09-10, and stopping LeBron James in Game 6 of 2012 Playoffs.

I'd love me some championships!

The best kind of logic.

What about 2013? If Rondo doesn't go down with the torn ACL, we're chasing Banner 22 this year, right?

[sunnyd656]

Nobody remembers second place.  As close as the Spurs were last season, who's remembering them. But people sure remembers Miami Heat.  Championship beats anything.  Just saying...

As much as I agree with this point, and it does make sense for the 2011-2012 finals (OKC in case you forgot h0 h0 h0), but for the spur's last year, and the heat in 2011, everybody remembers.

Heat honestly should have won in 2011 (will always be remembered, especially when it comes to Jordan never lost blah blah) and Spurs should have won last year. In my mind I'll always remember it as the Finals the Heat lost, and the Finals the Spurs lost.

On a semi-related note, I'll still watch the full game of that Game 6 last year, and every time just get blown away the Spurs blew it.

[ManUp]

A Championship.

Nobody really cares about the also rans and runner ups.

The question is basically do you run the race to win, or just to run it?

[Mazingerz]

Title.

Being in contention doesnt mean being able to make the playoffs annually only (hello Atlanta); Being in contention is giving it all, and going on a deep playoff run, hoping to raise the title after the end of it all;

Although its a very steep mountain to climb.