‘The integrity police need a reality check. Teams have often seized the opportunity to protect or rest their better players in advance of the playoffs. The initial 16 games constitute Phase One of a two-part series. Once a team has accomplished all it can in Phase One, its focus shifts to Phase Two, the postseason. It is under no obligation to strive to play well on behalf of teams who’ve performed to a lower level. As always, it’s every team for itself.’