My enthusiasm is currently 8. I Normal'd last game to my opponent who TIEd it, so he has a bit more. We will meet in Conference finals. Until then both of us will play TIE.
With same enthusiasm and effort, my team is a bit better. Add his HCA and the game is probably 50/50. He doesn't manage minutes perfectly though so I may have a slight edge here.
He will play the last game of the season TIE, I'm 99% sure of that. He played Normal'd just two games against me and other 18 of the season he TIEd.
No, I don't have experience with blank lineup. Maybe I will try it and just train stamina or try rebounding if minutes will be in my favor. Didn't know blank lineup prevents garbage time on blowout, thanks! So I dress up players I want them to play, but leave them all on bench and choose "Let coach decide"?