Knicks’ smothering of Hawks portends something much bigger

ATLANTA — I know. It’s a lazy cliche and engenders eye-rolling because you’ve heard it hundreds of times and it feels easier to refute in the 3-ball era.

But here you go, as first uttered by ’Bama pigskin coach Bear Bryant:

Defense wins championships.

Nico Harrison, the former Mavericks GM, disgraced the phrase recently by using it as justification to trade Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, a disastrous swap on several levels.