One losing season doesn't mean failure if it is part of a larger goal.
What is the larger goal? I would think that the larger goal is winning a championship because I don't think there are any teams that try build a team so they can lose in the championship. It is not necessarily championship or bust every year but the ultimate goal is a championship so that should be what the judgements of better franchise are made on.
Yes, the larger goal is a winning a championship. All I am saying is that determining which franchise is most successful isn't so black and white. Championships certainly carry the most weight, but you need to factor in the other losing seasons.
Consider two teams A and B that have played 10 seasons:
-Team A has won 5 championships, but missed the playoffs during the other 5 seasons.
-Team B has won 3 championships, made the Finals 4 other
times and never missed the playoffs.
Which team is more successful over those 10 seasons? I don't know the answer, but I don't think it is as easy as saying that Team A has more championships, therefore Team A is the better team. That is all I am saying.