Like
@360Waves said, parity hasn't existed since the 70's. Los Angeles won the west 8 times in the 80's and they combined with Boston to win 8 of the 10 titles that decade. Chicago and Houston won 8 of 10 in the 90's. From 1999 through 2010, Los Angeles and San Antonio reached the finals 11 combined times in 12 years while winning 9 of those trips. There's always a small number of real contenders. 2008-09 through 2010-11 when there were 4+ real contenders per year arguably was rare. 2010-11 we had Miami, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and arguably Memphis too that were all really good and compelling.
I'd be skeptical of the hornets. They never even made the conference finals once. The 2008 playoffs had 2 contenders in the east (Boston and Detroit). Cleveland was 45-37 and I'm pretty sure Orlando won less than 50 games too. Nobody winning a title with Jameer Nelson as the second best player on the team. It's usually a short list of real contenders, but I do agree with the lakers and Spurs and Mavericks and Suns.
at the awful luck that hit the Suns every postseason.
Thought they won a bit less 
. Still no team with Jameer Nelson as its #2 is winning shyt. Those Magic teams way overachieved. If Garnett doesn't get hurt, Boston is in the finals again.
