Expansion/Re-Alignment

[Moranis]

Aren't teams going to be prone to continue to load manage the last 5 games of the season? Especially top tier teams. How many teams are really ramping up those last few games before the playoffs start?

I think depends on record.  I mean the Pistons at 56-21 and a 4 game lead on Boston who was 52-25 probably would be resting same with Boston who had a 3 game lead on the 49-28 Knicks (basically just beat Knicks and wrap it up). The Knicks though would have the Cavs at 48-29 right on their heels.  That would have been interesting given they'd now have the same schedule to separate that 1 game.  The Hawks and then Raptors or Sixers (whoever won the 3 game series- they split the 4 this year) would also be jostling for position with each other again with the same schedule.  It would be far more interesting to me at least to see how that played out.  Also, be curious to see if the teams tried to tank for playoff position.   Like would New York and Cleveland rather be the 3 or 4 seed.  How would they play those last 5 games?