The Rockets had losing records against those teams BEFORE we got McGrady, especially against the Spurs or Jazz. I would bet the Rockets have a better record vs those teams since getting McGrady.
They wouldn't. People who think so are more enamored with their own imagination than reality. No one is tanking games and trying to control their seeding. All you can control is your games and the higher seed and record you have the more teams you will have HCA over in the playoffs. History says that is important. The Spurs, winners of four NBA titles, are the last team that would lower themselves to such nonsense.