The losses absolutely don't make anyone feel better, at this point, each one makes it feel more and more like a lost cause. It's not ownership because the four men's pro sports teams have four very different kinds of ownership.
I'm not going to make a definitive statement as to what the issue is (hence my request for a comprehensive study) but my guess is the fans and the media here aren't as aggressively vocal and don't demand as much from the players and the teams that the coastal, southern and rust-belt teams get. I'd guess the players get accustomed to a cozy, locally-focused regular season environment and when they get into the hostile, nationally-scrutinized post season environment it's like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads.
But again, I'd like something researched.