First off I don't think this team is intentionally trying to lose. But based on the effort over the past few games it doesn't seem like they are trying to win either. Now if it is championship of bust for this team, you know you have to go through the heat right? Well when would be the best time to play them? I would argue the first round, assuming their streak continues. The heat will continue to play their starters for as long as their historic streak continues, which means they won't rest for the playoffs. So instead of letting them play two crap teams and sweeping them and then meeting them in the ECF after we have two tough series (assuming we get that far), I would choose to play them when we are freshest and they are battling every night to keep their run going. Plus, if we lose we can end this awful year quickly and rest up for next year.
I say as long as the heat keep on winning, lets aim for the 8th seed and either make history or become history.