The Kevin O'Connor Show NBA Ex Files: Glowups, mistakes and Tatum’s back with David Jacoby + Darius Acuff breakdown with Rashad Phillips
Mar 9, 2026
David Jacoby, NBA analyst known for sharp film work, joins to dissect Tatum’s return, team fits, and trade chatter. Rashad Phillips, draft scout and Prestige Management owner, breaks down Darius Acuff Jr. and the deep 2026 class. They discuss glow-ups, mistakes, surprising chemistry, and who could move at the deadline.
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Defense Proved Tatum Was Truly Back
- Tatum's defense was the clearest evidence he'd recovered, with multiple possessions containing elite scorers.
- O’Connor highlighted specific plays vs. Cleveland where Tatum dropped, helped the rim, switched to Donovan Mitchell and altered shots.
Avoid Overthinking When Roles Shift
- Teams and players must guard against overthinking when a role changes, as Cam Johnson appears to be doing in Denver.
- O’Connor cited Johnson shooting 35.7% on Jokic passes versus 43.4% on other passes as evidence of a mental hurdle.
Pistons Deadline Move Didn’t Fix Core Flaws
- The Pistons' trade for Kevin Huerter looked like a poor rebound because it didn't address their core needs: creation and shooting.
- David Jacoby argued Detroit kept picks and youth but failed to add an impactful shooter/creator to support Cade Cunningham.