I always thought that teams that clinched their playoff position should use those meaningless games much differently. Rather than play the first quarter or half, they should play the last quarter or half. If the subs put the first teamers at a big deficit, that could be both a fun challenge for the regulars, and some experience playing from behind, which the kind of team that locks up their seed before the end of the year probably hasn't had to do often.
We'll see if it happens this year. Atlanta is almost certain to have a meaningless week 17 game against Carolina. Odds are the starters will not play much.