Fred Kerber of the New York Post reports that the Nets took advantage of a nationwide television audience to exact some revenge against the Celtics. New Jersey dominated Boston in every conceivable way to demolish the Celtics 117-81 in ABC?s first NBA telecast in 30 years.

The Nets used the win to help heal the wounds of a 96-79 beating they took in Boston on Nov. 20. It was also a way of sending a message to anyone who may have thought that Boston was the better team in last year?s conference finals.

"I do think they're in denial," Nets? coach Byron Scott said before the game. "Last year, they felt we weren't the better team when we beat them. Obviously, we felt we were. I think that there are a bunch of guys over there, especially Pierce and Walker, who feel that we weren't really worthy of being in the Finals."

Boston coach Jim O'Brien waved off the notion, noting, "They beat us, they went to the Finals, that is all that needs to be said."

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Bulls are trying to keep it together. After losing to the Nets in East Rutheford, team captains Jalen Rose and Fred Hoiberg took time out to council Jay Williams and Jamal Crawford.

After a heated exchange between Jamal Crawford and coach Bill Cartwright during the game, Rose and Hoiberg gathered Crawford and fellow point guard Jay Williams for a post-shower meeting to air frustrations and boost confidences.

"It was just a meeting of the minds, making sure we're pulling in the same direction at the same time," Rose said.

Crawford took exception to being pulled in favor of Williams after committing a turnover midway through the second quarter. Crawford yelleed at Cartwright as he left the floor, Cartwright fired back. Crawford only played one minute in the third quarter, but played all of the fourth as the Nets had build a 24-point lead.

"It's frustrating," Crawford said. "I want to play."

"It wasn't a big deal for me," Cartwright said. "We'll see if it is for him."

Fred Kerber of the New York Post reports that the Nets? Richard Jefferson took a verbal jab at the Knicks after last night?s game in the garden. Before the game, some of the Nets were commenting that the Knicks weren?t good enough to be considered a rival. Some of the Knicks retaliated by commenting that the Knicks have a better fan base and a better arena.

Jefferson?s commented before the game by saying , "(The Knicks) might play in the Garden, but they don't win in the Garden. Right now, they're not doing it. So, if that's the thing they want to hold on to, the fact that they play in the Garden, let them do that. I'd rather win in the Meadowlands."

After the 101-99 win by the Knicks, Jefferson was at it again.

"If they look like that all year long, then they might make the playoffs but if they don't, then I guess we don't have to worry about them," Jefferson said. "They played great. Allan Houston caught fire and looked like the player I think they believe he can be. If he does that on a consistent basis, they'll be a tough team to beat."

Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News reports that Nets coach Byron Scott should avoid providing bulletin board material for his opponents. Scott inferred that the Nets/Knicks matchup is not a rivalry because his team is so much more talented than the Knicks.

According to Scott, the games are more of a formality than a rivalry.

Bondi writes, "Those weren't his words, exactly, but Scott discarded 25 years of Knick dominance when he said, ?Normally, the rivalry takes two strong teams. ... We've won the last six games against them.?"

Bondi reminds the Nets that this summer will decide whether they continue to be a top-tier team or not. With Jason Kidd becoming a free agent, there is a chance that he will fly the coop and leave the Nets to continue without him.

Meanwhile, Frank Isola of the Daily News agrees that there is no rivalry between the Nets and Knicks. He believes that there is no rivalry until the fans care. He points out that the Knicks continue to beat the Nets attendance numbers.

Isola writes, "Despite their respective records and entertainment value, more people still pay to watch the Knicks lose than pay to see the Nets win. So Byron Scott is right about one thing: Knicks-Nets is not a rivalry."

"The Knicks are still New York's team," Allan Houston said yesterday. "It's always been like that. One or two years isn't going to change that. It will always be that way. It's New York."

Said Latrell Sprewell: "No matter what they say, we play in the Garden. That's the place to play. I know a lot of players who would love to play for our organization. We have a lot of history here. It's one of the reasons I love being a part of this team. You guys always ask me the question, 'Do I want to leave?' No. Because being a Knick is special. The fan support we have here and being able to play in the Garden every night is special."

Steve Popper of the New York Times reports that Dikembe Mutombo spoke to reporters yesterday. He expressed optimism that he will return from his wrist injury earlier than expected. He also had a few words for those that think he hasn?t gelled with the Nets? offense.

"When you go to a new place you learn how to adjust," Mutombo said. "You learn how to play with the people. But I felt like the critics, talking about my not knowing the offense, had kind of crossed the line. I've been playing basketball for 12 years and I've played for so many coaches and I did so well on all the teams I play and I never have problems with any coach. Why would I struggle here? Because I'm new? Because I'm with new teammates? Why don't they give me a chance to enjoy my new teammates?"

In the six games that Mutombo has missed, the team is 5-1 and has averaged 101.2 points per game, compared to 96.9 with Mutombo on the floor. But Mutombo didn?t take kindly to accusations that he hasn?t learned the offense.

If I didn't know offense, what was going through the mind of all the coaches I played for, to play me the way they played me?" he said. "Even Larry Brown, he played me all the way through to the N.B.A. finals. That means I was doing something right."

Mutombo also said that he should be back in time to be fully acclimated before the playoffs start. After surgery to repair torn ligaments in his wrist, it was expected that he would be out for 12-16 weeks. Mutombo thinks his time off will be closer to 12 weeks than 16.

"I should be ready, if I'm lucky, by the end of February, after the All-Star break," Mutombo said. "I want to get a chance to do a good therapy, make sure I'm strong enough. Being in a cast like this," he added, pointing to the cast that runs from his hand to his elbow, "you lose all your strength in your right hand, so I have to make sure I have a good recovery. It depends on how my body is responding to the things they are going to make me do during my therapy."

Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports that the Nets will be without Dikembe Mutombo for the next 3-4 months. An MRI and consultation with a hand specialist confirmed that Mutombo needs surgery on his right wrist.

"The specialist said that the gap in the tendon was so wide there was no other alternative," Nets coach Byron Scott said. "I know he is disappointed ? he wanted to rest it and see what would happen. But now it is better to have it as soon as possible and hopefully he will be back for the playoffs."

Mutombo is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning. Scott estimated that he will need eight weeks in a cast followed by another four to eight weeks to get back into playing form. Mutombo wanted to wait and see if the wrist would heal on it?s own.

"I don't like surgery," Mutombo said before seeing the doctor. "I am uncomfortable with the idea of surgery."

That?s not the only bad news for the Nets following their homecoming from a lackluster west coast road trip. After the morning workout, the Nets put guard Kerry Kittles on the injured list. He sprained his right knee and will miss at least five games under NBArules. Kittles averaged 12.6 points, 3.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds in the 99 consecutive games he played before sitting down with the injury Sunday.

"We have to pull together," said JasonCollins, who has filled in for Mutombo the past three games. "He has taught me a lot this season ? just talking to him ? and I know he will come back. As a team we are just going to have to pull together more and get through this."

Barely three minutes into the game, Jason Terry was on his back, covering his eye.

He had just collided with teammate Ira Newble, who accidentally poked Terry in the left eye.

Terry got up, and Hawks coach Lon Kruger asked if he was fine. Terry nodded and said, "I'm OK."

But following a 87-72 loss in the Continental Airlines Arena on Tuesday, everyone in a Hawks uniform probably wanted to cover their eyes.

Frank Hughes of the News Tribune reports that the Nets aren?t commenting about Jason Kidd?s future. The all-star guard will be a free agent next summer and more than a few teams will have the money to offer him a considerable contract.

Seattle will have a decision to make this summer as well. Gary Payton will be a free agent as well. If Seattle decides not to re-sign Payton, they would love to see Jason Kidd in a Sonics uniform. Considering the Sonics are a rebuilding team, Kidd is unlikely to put himself in that position. But Sonics owner Howard Schultz has a good relationship with Kidd.

When asked about the situation, Nets GM Rod Thorn said that it?s not a lock that Kidd will return to the Nets next year. "From the time he got with us, he has steadfastly maintained that he is going to become a free agent," Thorn said. "I think that because of the success we had last year ... if he feels we have a chance to do well, our chances are better that he will be with us."

Hughes writes that three teams will likely be able to offer maximum contracts to try and lure Kidd from New Jersey. Utah could have more than $20 million available if Karl Malone and John Stockton retire. Denver could have about $16 million, and San Antonio could have about $15 million with the retirement of David Robinson and is the team most likely to land him. Seattle could have about $9 million if it does not re-sign Payton.

Thorn did mention the possibility of a sign-and-trade deal for Kidd, but said it?s not in the Net?s plans right now. "At this time, we are not interested in a sign-and-trade," Thorn said. "But you never know what is going to happen. We have only played 17 games, we have a long ways to go this year, and strange things happen."

Mark Monteith of the Indianapolis Star chimes in on the Mutombo trade. He claims that some people spoke too soon. After a 6-0 preseason and a 4-0 start in the regular season (which included an impressive win over the Pacers) many had tagged New Jersey the runaway winners of the East. The Addition of Mutombo had pushed them over the top.

Since the 4-0 start, they are just 7-6 and they are threatening to be undermined by what may become known as the Mutombo fiasco.

When the Nets traded Keith Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch to the Sixers for Dikembe Mutombo, the expectations were that Richard Jefferson would fill in for Van Horn and Mutombo would give them the defense and rebounding that they lacked last season and allow them to compete against Shaquile O?Neal and the Lakers.

Monteith writes, "It was a nice theory. But Mutombo, whose age is listed as 36 but often seems closer to 63 as he creaks around the court, isn't playing up to expectations and finds himself at the center of the discontent surrounding the Nets."

He?s averaging career lows of 7.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 25 minutes per game. He is also complaining about his role on the team. He says he would play better with more minutes. Nets coach Byron Scott says he?ll get more minutes if he played better.

Scott has said all along he'll limit Mutombo's minutes until late in the season so that he'll be fresher for the playoffs. Mutombo, however, has aggravated the situation by showing poor hands as the Nets try to run their offense through him -- an offense he's been slow to pick up. "All of us are trying our best to get Deke to come along a little bit quicker offensively," Scott said. "We are going to have to put more time into it."

The Sixer meanwhile are very happy with the results of the trade. They are leading the Atlantic Division with a 13-4 record and Van Horn and MacCulloch are producing quality minutes for their new team.

"Honestly, I think we're a better team than we were when we went to the Finals (in 2000-01)," Sixers star Allen Iverson said. "It's like we're 10 strong. On the Finals team, we relied so much on Dikembe, put so much pressure on him to bail us out (defensively). Now we don't have that luxury inside any more; we just have to rely on each other, just do better as a unit. It helps us, because we just don't put pressure on one guy."