http://www.nypost.com/sports/nets/30289.htm
October 14, 2004 -- The Knicks had three games to retaliate for Jason Collins' Game 1 hard foul of Tim Thomas. They didn't hunt for vengeance then, so don't think they'll do it during tonight's Knicks-Nets preseason game in Wilkes Barre, Pa.
That's if you believe Richard Jefferson.

"They had plenty of chances for retribution," Jefferson said. "If they wait four months, gosh. It must've been a boring summer."

True, but that only means Thomas has had four months to stew over the incident. And stew he has.

In July, Thomas was quoted as saying, "There was no real reason for that. If [Collins] would've [gone] for the ball, it was something different. And that's just motivation for me throughout this summer to get right."

And last week, Thomas was still talking about squaring off in a boxing ring with Kenyon Martin. So this isn't over, not by a long shot.

Jefferson may have added some heat to the rivalry yesterday with a subtle jab at Thomas and his public outcry for revenge.

"I think good players hold grudges," Jefferson said. "But they don't necessarily make it known . . . I'm not saying Tim Thomas is not a good player. But look at [Jason] Kidd. There's no need to talk and talk and talk. If you have a grudge, you can say a little something about it, but wait and let it come out on the court. [Otherwise] everybody's watching, everybody's waiting. That's not how you want to get back at somebody."

Collins, for his part, kept low-key as usual. He contended that the situation was over and that he'd rather grab rebounds than throats.

"I'm expecting a game," Collins said. "It's a preseason game. Anyone that knows anything about basketball knows that I made a good basketball play [in Game 1]."



As for their first preseason contest, Nets coach Lawrence Frank said he'll play his regulars no more than 30 minutes and he has yet to make a decision about starters.