"Now that Quentin Richardson and Zach Randolph are yapping again about the world-champion Celtics, it is time the Knicks' two tough talkers put up or shut up for the rematch Dec. 21 at the new Boston Garden.

Richardson and Randolph have again rattled the Celtics' cages. They have placed a bee in Boston's bonnet. The two Knickerbockers New York Knicks would be wise to do better at the next tango than the 8-for-25 they combined to brick in Tuesday night's 110-101 defeat in Boston.

When they battle again, Kevin Garnett will not be suspended. And I'm sure KG didn't appreciate the fighting words emanating from the Knicks' locker room late Tuesday night with him locked out of the building.

As one NBA player said, "Talking does nothing after a game."

Richardson and Randolph claim the world champs trash-talk too much, particularly Paul Pierce. Richardson said the Celtics never would dare chatter like that in a street game in his old South Side Chicago neighborhood - if they know what's good for them.

It is good for the NBA that bad blood exists again in the Knicks-Celtics rivalry. But it would be better if the Knicks could accomplish something besides a 6-5 record. Then this hatred would be more meaningful.

"They are the world champions, rah, rah, rah, but the tough talk I don't buy," Richardson said. "I'd be curious to see what a lot of those guys would say if we weren't in a basketball arena where there [are] no referees and the NBA officials are going to stop certain things."

The last time Richardson mouthed off about the Celtics, the results weren't kind for the Knicks. Before their first meeting last November, with the newly formed Big Three off to a 11-2 start, Richardson said: "It's not that big a deal to us. We're not in awe of them. They [haven't] won no championships."

The comments were hung on the Celtics' bulletin board by coach Doc Rivers. The next night, on national TV, it was Celtics 104, Knicks 59. All of Beantown should have sent Richardson a Thanksgiving card.

And here we go again. "