Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has come to rely on an old basketball chestnut as a catch-all explainer for why he made the now-infamous Luka Dončić trade. “Defense wins championships,” Harrison said Monday. “And we’re going to hang our hat on defense.” It’s a often-used expression around basketball. But is it right anymore?

As the playoffs have begun without the Dallas Mavericks in attendance, the vitriol towards general manager Nico Harrison continues to expand. “Fire Nico” chants have been exclaimed in every Dallas home game since trading away Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers,