Does it really matter where the Jazz finish next year? The end result is going to be the same - they'll either get knocked out in the first round or the second. So, we get an additional five games if they climb the ladder and finish in the top-five. Wow!
The NBA should do a tiered system. You've got four teams capable of competing for the NBA Title. So, a semifinals and a finals. Basically, it's the top-four teams, stacked based on overall standing, by season's end. Then the next level down, you'll have a playoff, maybe similar to the NIT, where the other 12 or so teams compete for a championship, as well. That way, you can have a playoff with the teams (possibly only two right now - GS or Houston) that we know will win the championship, and a second playoff for everyone else. Gives us peasants something to cheer for.