Have teams ever given any indication that this is something they care about? The only instance in which I can imagine that happening (and outweighing the need to rest up for round 1) would be if both teams were strong favorites to win their respective conferences, and that isn't the case at all here (Miami is tied for the 3rd best odds out of the East and the GS is a very distant 2nd in the West).
Yeah, I doubt it’s weighing on either of their minds at all, nor should it be, given a Miami/GS final is probably like a 1% or 2% scenario. Just noting that that’s slightly different from “nothing” to play for.
I’d like the Warriors to win today for potential HCA v Dallas, Miami, or Milwaukee, even if they’re highly unlikely to face any of those teams. That list has the Warriors under “something to play for;” and I actually consider those potential homecourt advantages a more relevant prize than the dubious “advantage” of getting in the Denver/Memphis side of the bracket as opposed to the Utah/Phoenix side.
