Is parity possible during Warriors era?

What will it take for the NBA to be more competitive?

Increasing competitive balance is something the league and the players' association are discussing while negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. The NBA, especially, is pushing to set parameters that provide every team - regardless of market size - with a chance to compete for the championship.

It's a puzzle the NBA's been trying to solve for a while, as it's known to have the lowest level of parity among North America's four major sports leagues. With smaller rosters, individual stars shine, while the best-of-seven playoff format typically ensures the more talented teams advance.

Every year, there are usually about four teams (out of 30) that are legitimate title contenders. While that may sound unfair, the distribution of contenders has been far more equitable recently than historically.

There's more parity now than in the '80s, when it was a two-horse race between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, and the '90s, when Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls reigned supreme. Seven franchises combined to win every title from 1980-2005.

In the decade since, seven franchises have won it all. In fact, as commissioner Adam Silver pointed out ahead of the 2016 finals, 10 teams have made the conference finals over the past four years, with a different champion crowned each time.

* Series winners in bold

It's a small sample size, but those numbers suggest more teams are getting a shot for the first time since the golden age of parity - the '70s, when there were eight different champs. That was a different time, though, as there was no salary cap, fewer teams, and less player movement.

It's been more difficult for the average team to win a title now - especially the non-superteams - as there are more of them to compete against. Plus, per the CBA established in 2011, the higher salary cap and limitations on max contracts give players little incentive to stay put, leading to more stars leaving in free agency to play with friends. It's become less about money, and more about opportunities.

So, after coming to the realization that parity - in the sense of equality - isn't realistic, Silver declared in June that the NBA's goal is instead to achieve "equality of opportunity" through teams establishing a culture around players - whether they're from the draft, trade, or free agency - and coaching them well. While luck comes into play, good management is key.

That's how the Golden State Warriors have done it, drafting the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, and hiring head coach Steve Kerr. They've risen to the top, winning the championship in 2015 and posting a league-record 73 regular-season wins last season before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals in seven games.

Then they added a megastar in Kevin Durant over the summer to all but punch their ticket to the finals again for the third straight campaign - and likely years to come - while the Cavs are expected to meet them there.

Related: Silver says NBA should 're-examine' system after Durant signing

Here's a look at the state of each conference over the past decade:

East

West

There was initially considerable parity in the Western Conference following the lockout, but Golden State's ascension widened the separation between the best and worst team.

The West as a whole has been stronger; all eight playoff teams notched 50-plus victories in 2008 and 2010, and oftentimes, clubs missed the postseason despite having superior records than their counterparts in the Eastern conference.

The chart also shows the variety of teams that have done well and not-so-well over the years, with the Lakers finishing atop the West for three straight years before eventually coming dead last in 2015-16. The same is true for the bottom-dwelling 2006-07 Celtics, who formed a Big Three and won a title the following campaign. The Miami Heat and Cavs also experienced a similar fate, thanks to the LeBron James effect.

All in all, the chances are slim we'll ever see a season end with all 30 clubs tied at 41-41, but the competition committee is working toward further equalizing the playing field so it's possible for every team to contend.

The greatest obstacle standing in the way may be the draft lottery system, which incentivizes tanking. It's the aspect of the league that most needs changing, as voted by 30 percent of general managers.

By Silver's definition, the league appears to be heading in a direction of more competitive equity. Entering 2016-17, there are 13 teams in the East and 11 in the West that could conceivably make the playoffs. However, the fact remains there's a clear-cut favorite in both conferences, and at least twice as many teams that might as well be prepping for June's draft.

If the commissioner has it his way, someday that will change.