The Brooklyn Nets made headlines in the offseason with its big-name acquisitions. Nets forward Paul Pierce thinks his team is now good enough to be the dominant team in New York, but Knicks guard Raymond Felton said it will "never" happen, ESPN reports.
"Everybody knows how much I disliked the Knicks when I was with the Celtics, but I think it's grown to another level," Pierce told ESPN Radio's "The Michael Kay Show" earlier in August. "I think it's time for the Nets to start running this city."
Felton thinks Pierce is all talk and doesn't believe the Nets will ever run the Big Apple.
"They will never take over the city. Because we've got 'New York' on our chest," Felton told ESPN on Sunday. "They've got 'Brooklyn' on their chest, and we've got 'New York.' They'll never take over the city.
"[Pierce] saying that is just him talking. At the end of the day, it's all about rivalries. We understand that - he knows that, I know that. He's just trying to fuel it."
While Felton doesn't foresee the Nets ever taking over, he did admit Pierce's remarks add excitement to the Knicks-Nets rivalry.
"(Pierce is) just trying to talk, talk, talk, to fuel the rivalry, which is good. I love it," Felton said. "I think it's good for us, it's good for the whole state, it's good. So, whatever - I love it.
"I don't really pay no attention to what Paul is saying. I hear about it, but I don't pay it no attention. It's all fun and games to me."
On paper, the rivalry has been close. The Knicks have an 87-84 all-time regular season record against Brooklyn, according to NBAUniverse.com. Last season, the two teams split the four games they played.
The inter-state rivalry should be even more competitive this season with Brooklyn's offseason signings of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry. Pierce and Garnett join Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez in the team's starting rotation, coached by Jason Kidd.
The Knicks and Nets' first meeting of the season is on Thursday, Dec. 5 in Brooklyn.
