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?

Nico Harrison finally spoke in public to reporters for the first time since the day after the Luka Doncic trade on Feb. 2, and some of his comments drew the ire of the Inside the NBA crew on TNT. Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith offered advice to the Mavericks GM on what he should do moving forward.

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,