since 1980, only once did a team that wasnt a top 3 seed win a championship, which was the rockets. anyone with a brain knew 1) they coasted and 2) were bit by injury bug in the season
and of the few #3 seeds that did win, most of them had a top 2 record, but were #3 because of the division winner technicality, or were tied with the #2 seed record wise but bumped down by tie breaker
87% of the winners were #1 or #2 seeds