I really think this is being looked at as a lose at all cost when a draft slot is at stake mentality and, I hate to break it to you, but lots if not most of NBA front offices and probably close to none of the coaching staffs have that mentality. The micromanaging of trying to lose as often as possible, heck even to the point of trying to sit players during a certain time of the game because the opposition is playing poorly and your team of choice of winning, just doesn't happen.
The Heat tried to win and make the playoffs. The players and coach and front office don't believe in losing on purpose. From Riley on down, they believe in experienced talented vets and winning and not rookies and losing.
The Knicks had two good games in a row. Derek Fisher isn't about to throw games late just to assure a slightly better shot at the #1 pick. His players were playing well so he let them play.
Boston.... Well really? This team is on full throttle win very game mode. There's no need to sit players to lose games for one playoff slot or two. They want to continue to roll into the playoffs with their killer winning instinct and vibe.
At this point in the season, I just don't understand the micromanaging of the wins and losses just for playoff slots.
As for any team that went on a losing streak and cost them an advantageous playoff seeding? That happens all the time. Not much you can do about it but make the best of it in the playoffs.
First: Are you completely ignoring the injury risk of this? Players can and do get injured all the time and all teams sit beat up or injured players when there is nothing to play for. Half the league is shut down right now with minor injuries they would play through in more meaningful games. Miami was the exception to that rather than the rule.
As for your point I bolded that is just flat out wrong. Here are a couple of examples I found in a few second cause it does happen and happens so frequently. (and you should know this as a Celtics fan)
"I remember one game in particular, when David Wesley was hitting jump shots and 3-pointers all over the floor," Carr said. "I had to get him out of the game.
"He came over to me and said, 'Coach, what are you doing? I just hit four shots in a row.' I said, 'I know, David, but I'm experimenting.'
"There was one game where I had like 30 points through three quarters," Fox recalled. "We got a lead and I was thinking, 'Finally, we're getting a win.' But then I had to sit down for seven minutes of the fourth quarter and watch it all slip away.http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/9434966/for-boston-celtics-tanking-likely-necessary-never-easyFrom Rickey Davis describing the season before the Cavs got Lebron
""It was tough on [Lucas]. They were forcing him to lose and I know it's nothing he wanted to do. It's just the position he was forced in. But it's tough. ... It worked, whatever they did [to get James] so it's hard to knock them. They got what they wanted. But it was hard on Luke."
From 2006 when the Suns through a late season game to ensure matchup with Lakers in playoffs
"The Suns believe that the Lakers' transition defense is close to nonexistent and will provide an open highway for the Nash-led fast break, so this was the matchup they wanted. [Suns coach Mike] D'Antoni couldn't precisely orchestrate it -- not in an eighty-two-game season -- but the coach had benched [Steve] Nash and Raja Bell for that late-season game, all but assuring a Laker win that would help them beat out the Sacramento Kings, who were in eighth place."
From when the wolves had a top ten protected pick they were at risk of losing (similar to heat this year)
"The NBA should take a look at this one in the interest of the game's integrity and paying customers. Minnesota needs to have one of the top 10 poorest records to keep its draft pick. Otherwise, it goes to the Clippers from the Sam Cassell-Marko Jaric deal.
In a 103-95 loss to the Jazz at home on Friday, [Kevin] Garnett sat out the fourth quarter after making all of his third-quarter shots. Garnett had 13 rebounds through three quarters, and Minnesota was outrebounded 18-6 in the fourth.
It's reminiscent of the game-throwing days before the draft lottery was started."
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-04-10/sports/0604100186_1_mvp-allen-iverson-difference-arena/2I haven't even discussed the Mark Madsen three pointer games, but pretty tough to argue with players coaches and executives on the record saying it does happen. So yea..
Edit:
Oh another more recent example from the Celtics before the Durant draft
Ryan Gomes had 13 through three quarters, but watched from the bench in the fourth as Boston clinched the worst record in the Eastern Conference and second worst in the league.
"I probably (would have played), but since we were in the hunt for a high draft pick, of course things are different," Gomes said. "I understand that. Hopefully things get better. Now that we clinched at least having the second-most balls in the lottery, the last three games we'll see what happens. We'll see if we can go out and finish some games."