Setting the bar

The Lakers are two behind the Boston Celtics for most NBA titles. A look at the teams with the most titles in the four major sports:

NBA

Boston Celtics, 17. The Celtics have appeared in the NBA Finals 20 times, giving them a remarkable .850 winning percentage. Compare that to the Lakers, who have won 15 titles, but also lost in the Finals 15 times, leaving them at .500. Only two teams have appeared in at least two Finals and have perfect records, the Chicago Bulls (6-0) and the San Antonio Spurs (4-0).

NHL

Montreal Canadiens, 24. The Canadiens are 24-9 in Stanley Cup finals, .727 winning percentage. They have appeared only three times in the last 25 years however, winning twice. The runners-up for most titles are Detroit and Toronto, with 11 each. With their loss to Pittsburgh this season, the Red Wings have the record for most times losing in the Stanley Cup finals, with 13.

MLB

New York Yankees, 26. Not only do the Yankees have the most World Series titles, they’ve lost more World Series (13) than the next closest has won (St. Louis Cardinals, 10). The Giants and Dodgers have each lost in the World Series 12 times.

NFL

Green Bay Packers, 12. The Packers won nine NFL titles before the Super Bowl era began, and three since. For those of you who only count Super Bowl titles, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the most, with six. Although San Francisco 49ers fans will be quick to point out that they are 5-0 in the Super Bowl. And Minnesota (0-4) and Buffalo (0-4) fans would like to move on to another topic altogether.

-- Houston Mitchell