The Kevin O'Connor Show NBA teams streaking, others skidding, Cade Cunningham's collapsed lung + is expansion really a good idea?
Mar 19, 2026
Tom Haberstroh, NBA analyst and writer known for sharp league analysis, joins to break down Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung and its fallout. They spotlight long win streaks from the Hawks, OKC and Lakers and whether those runs really matter. Conversation also covers Denver’s wobble, Giannis drama, and whether NBA expansion makes sense.
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Cade Cunningham Collapsed Lung Could Cost Award Eligibility
- Cade Cunningham's collapsed lung risks him missing the 65-game threshold and losing MVP and All-NBA eligibility.
- Past collapsed lung cases (CJ McCollum, Terrence Jones, Gerald Wallace) show returns of 2–6 weeks, suggesting hope but no guarantee for Cade before April 4th.
Replace The 65 Game Rule With Minutes Or Remove It
- Reconsider the rigid 65-game threshold and adopt a minutes-or-games hybrid or remove the threshold entirely.
- Kevin O'Connor and Tom Haberstroh suggested alternatives like a 1,900–2,000 minutes cutoff to avoid penalizing medically sidelined players.
Hawks 11 Game Streak Inflated By Weak Opposition
- The Atlanta Hawks' 11-game streak is statistically unimpressive because most opponents were sub-.500 or tanking teams.
- Over the stretch they posted a +17.2 net rating but many wins came versus weak or depleted squads.