The Kevin O'Connor Show West contender power rankings, hot Spurs & wasted Warriors with Tom Haberstroh + the state of Luka Doncic & how fandom changes with Jason Gallagher
6 snips
Feb 26, 2026 
Tom Haberstroh, NBA analyst known for data-driven power rankings, and Jason Gallagher, basketball writer who breaks down Luka Dončić and fandom, join the conversation. They debate Western Conference contender rankings, Warriors and Spurs trajectories, Harden and other injury news. They also dig into Luka’s role in Los Angeles and how modern fandom has shifted.
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Avoid Heavyhanded Injury Policing
- The NBA's independent injury reviews risk creating adversarial relationships with teams and owners.
- Tom Haberstroh advises the league should be cautious, as league-office imaging checks can inflame tensions with franchises like Utah.
Why Pick Protection Tweaks Won't End Tanking
- Teams are tanking this year because the 2026 draft is especially valuable, so minor protection tweaks won't stop the behavior.
- Kevin O’Connor argues changing pick protections is a band-aid compared to overhauling the draft.
Give Fringe Teams A Playoff Or Pick Choice
- Calvin Booth's play-in choice idea gives fringe teams a tradeoff: playoff pursuit or draft capital.
- Tom and Kevin discuss that players dislike tournament-for-picks formats because playing for draft position feels like risking jobs.