How many teams finishing third in the championship win the play offs?

Historically, teams that finish third in the regular season standings have had a varied success rate in playoff competitions. While it is not the most common scenario, there have been instances where third-place teams have gone on to win the playoffs. The exact number can fluctuate depending on the league and season, but generally, they face tougher competition as higher-seeded teams often have home advantage and better momentum.