AROUND the NBA:

[michaeltex]

Sooooo.... now that there are only 2 games left for everybody and the playoff seeding is pretty much set, a lot of teams will "rest" their stars and starters before the playoffs start.

So these teams are willing to bench or scratch healthy, or at least playable, starters and accept the loss. But if a lower ranked team does similarly, in search of improved lottery odds, it risks getting a significant fine?

I thought that the anti-tanking movement's main goal was to insure that the best possible product was put on the court to maximize value for the fans. Isn't one as bad as the other? Your best possible players aren't playing, even though they are available, but one instance risks a penalty while the other is condoned as good management? Why is there a distinction now and not in January when SAN rests Webby and others on a B2B?

I'm trying to be agnostic with the question, but emotionally I want DAL to lose the last two and beat MEM to the #6 spot and if the team was set for their playoff series, I'd want to rest/protect them ahead of the post-season.

Edit: OKC/DEN game for 4/10 has 17 players on injury report. Case in point.