Dynasties or Randomness?

Dominance or Parity?

Predictable or Unpredictable?

It’s an inexhaustible debate throughout professional sports, but it’s always worth the time to discuss and analyze.

Some sports fans, die-hard or casual, prefer to watch sports when the competition is equal. Others, on the other hand, favor ascendancy amongst the ranks.

While the NFL prides itself on competitive balance and with MLB proving the most talented teams don’t necessarily win the championship all the time, the NBA entertains through the thrill of supremacy and surprise.

Each year in the NBA, there are only a handful of teams that experts suggest have a legitimate chance of capturing the NBA title. Some fans root for the favorites – the franchises with the best, most celebrated luminaries – while others cheer for the underdogs – the clubs hoping to shock the world by defeating the favorites.

There is a justifiable reason why so many basketball supporters adored Michael Jordan during his reign as the game’s most complete and electrifying player. There is a justifiable reason why so many basketball supporters have thoroughly enjoyed talking about the star-studded constituent in Miami this season. There is a justifiable reason why NBA players are among the most renowned athletes in the world.

Although it embraces fans from all cities, parity tends to water down the hype for the big games. When I was a kid, for example, there was nothing that pumped me up more than a Sunday afternoon showdown between Jordan’s Bulls and Patrick Ewing’s Knicks. They were the two premier teams in the Eastern Conference in the early 90’s and it allowed for the league to promote it that way.

Similarly, there was so much anticipation for the first meeting of the newly formed but rapidly evolving Sunshine State rivalry. It’s exactly what fans, some consciously and others subconsciously, want in pro sports. And this is one of the reasons why I think the NBA is a greatest professional sports league in the world.

I was asked today while working out at the gym if there was any chance the Lakers would not reach the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year this season.

I hesitated for a moment before responding – allowing the other person to retort.

He, subsequently, asked me if anyone does shock the Lakers in the West, who would it be?

I was relieved I didn’t have to answer the original question because I’m honestly not sure. While most NBA experts have already booked L.A. a trip to The Finals again, I still want to see if Andrew Bynum returns healthy and if Kobe Bryant’s recent knee problems prove to be a problem.

Thus, I felt a little more comfortable answering the succeeding question.

A few years ago after the Portland Trail Blazers drafted Greg Oden with the No. 1 pick, I almost immediately proposed that between 2010-2015, the Blazers and Magic would meet in the NBA Finals at least twice during that time span.

After a couple of season ending knee injuries, Oden’s arrival (or lack their of) has put this theory in doubt. However, I still believe that Portland, especially if Oden can return and be a somewhat intimidating defensive presence, has the talent to upset the Lakers.

If 100 percent healthy, the Blazers feature All-Star sensation Brandon Roy, a gutty leader in Andre Miller, an athletic and defensive-oriented Nicolas Batum, a consistent post threat in LaMarcus Aldridge and all sorts of big men, including Marcus Camby, Oden, Joel Przybilla and Fabricio Oberto.

Is it a long shot? Probably. But I won’t disregard my original belief that Orlando and Portland will eventually play each other in the NBA Finals.

Other teams out West that may have a chance include the Mavericks and Thunder, but I believe the Blazers are a bigger threat to the Lakers.

When I worked at the NBA.com Newsdesk from 2006-2009, my colleagues and I would engage in many intense and animated basketball debates. We would argue about, for example, who the greatest NBA team of all time is and whether Scottie Pippen deserved to be regarded as one of the best small forwards of all time.

But perhaps the most impassioned dispute was about Michael Jordan and whether he is definitely, undisputedly, positively, categorically the greatest player in NBA history. Some Jordan enthusiasts argued that there is no doubt he is above everyone else, including other renowned legends Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Julius Erving.

I, on the other hand, claimed and still fervently believe there is absolutely no way to undeniably conclude that MJ is the greatest. He is, incontrovertibly, ONE of the best all time. But, it just isn’t reasonable to terminate the conversation and say Jordan is clearly No. 1.

What if Jordan was in his prime during the 1980’s when he would have had to contend with Bird’s Celtics and Johnson’s Lakers?

What if No. 23 had to contend with Shaq & Kobe’s Lakers or Russell & Cousy’s Celtics? While we are at it, what if MJ had to hope Luc Longley and Bill Wennington had an answer for Duncan & Robinson’s Spurs?

I hate to be the one to criticize the NBA of the 1990’s because it was absolutely an awesome time to watch pro basketball, but I am a believer that the talent of the 1980’s and the 2000’s was and is better. If Jordan played today, he would be competing against Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Go back a few years when Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady were in their prime and add them to the list.

During the 90’s, MJ’s fiercest competition at his position was arguably John Starks and Jeff Hornacek. That is a big difference.

It is just too difficult to compare players from different generations. Even though I respect the fact that most NBA players today will claim that Jordan is the greatest player of all time, it remains a mystery as to what his legacy would be like if he played during a different era.

Here are some of the top storylines after just one week of the NBA's regular season:

1) Besides all the frenzied free agency news, there was plenty of chit-chatter about the status of Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony this past summer. Although it remains a mystery what ultimately will happen with both of them, the two All-Stars have started the season with excellent performances to lead their respective teams to big victories.

2) It didn’t start particularly well for the revamped Miami Heat on opening night when they fell to the Boston Celtics. But a few games later, spectators have started raving again about the Heat’s potential. With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh demonstrating some exceptional cohesion, Miami earned three consecutive lopsided victories.

3) It wouldn’t surprise me if this seasons turns out to be the most competitive Race to the MVP in NBA history. With so many star players blossoming including Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose and Brandon Roy, it’s very possible we won’t even be able to guess who will win the MVP award at the end of the season.

4) Like the MVP race, the ultimate Rookie of the Year may turn out to be just as difficult to determine. John Wall looks like the real deal, Blake Griffin appears to have recovered from his knee injury a year ago, DeMarcus Cousins is a monster down low and Wesley Johnson is electrifying.

5) Is it possible to believe that Pau Gasol, and not Kobe Bryant, is the most "important" player on the L.A. Lakers? After four games and four wins, Gasol is averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and was named the first Western Conference Player of the Week this season. With Andrew Bynum out until at least Thanksgiving, it's imperative for Gasol to continue to display such dominance.

I want to do a research study at some point that reveals the veracity of what engrosses sports fans more: Their favorite teams on the field/court or their favorite teams in their Yahoo/ESPN/CBS Sportsline accounts?

Are their more New York Yankees fans or “IamFantasyKing” fans out there? Are their more Dallas Cowboys, “Frank’s Fury” or “Rover’s Racetrack Raiders” fans out there?

Sure, most sports fans care deeply about what their beloved authentic sports teams (hopefully, the Orlando Magic is in that category for you). But, do most care more about those teams or their fantasy teams?

There was a time when it seemed inappropriate to bring a laptop to the sports pub during game nights. Now, on the other hand, it seems many people show no shame in schlepping their computers to the dinner table while they gaze at all the sports action.

With this being the second week of the NBA season, you just know that hoops fantasy competitors are exchanging countless texts and phone calls for some smack talk.

There was a time when families would only gather together for special holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas or for birthdays and anniversaries. Now, however, family members assemble for all preseason fantasy drafts: One before the NBA season, one before the NFL season and another before the MLB season.

There is always controversy and gossip that circulates around each league too: Why did Uncle Pat trade his best two statistical players to Aunt Jenny? Is there a conspiracy going on? Why did my worst enemy Benjamin decide to pick up Player X off the waiver wire when he knew Grandma Sally planned on acquiring him?

Fantasy sports create captivating conversations and it keeps everyone involved in the action on the field/court no matter who your favorite teams are. But, are obsessing over your fantasy teams something that we should be concerned about in this country? Is it a cause of sleep deprivation (staying up late to set rosters for the week) or excess stress?

Who on the Magic have you been most impressed with after two games?

Dwight Howard

Vince Carter

Rashard Lewis

Jameer Nelson

Other

Which NBA storyline do you find most intriguing?

Chris Paul/Carmelo Anthony's hot starts

Miami Heat's turnaround after opening night

Pau Gasol's Dominance

Foreseeing a competitive MVP race

Do you think Michael Jordan is positively, unquestionably the greatest player of all time in NBA history?

Yes

No