"It started with a flippant remark from Amar'e Stoudemire about going hunting in South Florida.

"We're hunting D-Wade and LeBron," the Knicks' forward joked to rookie teammate Josh Harrellson.

The response from the prey came quickly via Twitter, with Dwyane Wade telling Stoudemire to call him because "I got those 'hunting' tips for you."

The exchange hardly rates as classic trash talk but it does say something about the overall confidence of the Knicks that they are at least talking about themselves in the same breath with the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat.

Of course, the players are merely taking their cue from their coach, who last week went on two local radio stations and said that the Knicks were good enough to compete for a title.

"We do have the ability, I think, to win it all," Mike D'Antoni said."