Matt Barnes on Derek Fisher: "Violence Is Never the Answer, But Sometimes It Is"

On Saturday, Matt Barnes will find himself on the same court as Derek Fisher when the New York Knicks take on the Memphis Grizzlies. This will be the first time that both guys are somewhat close to each other since Barnes allegedly drove 95 miles in early October to try and “beat the shit” out of Fisher for dating his ex-wife Gloria Govan.

Since the incident, Fisher has remained silent. Barnes has been a completely different story. From attacking the Knicks head coach because "he wanted to run and tell the cops and NBA" to ripping Derek because he didn't take "that ass whoopin like a man & kept it moving," the Grizzlies forward has consistently been on the attack, taking one shot at Fish after another. However, in the days leading up to their teams squaring off against one another, Barnes seemed to change his tune. “So we’re focused on playing that team [the Knicks]," he said. "And when I’m retired, him and I will cross paths again.”

That different approach didn't last so long. "I just don’t like him. Plain and simple. He knows I don’t like him," Barnes told Scott Cacciola of the New York Times on Saturday. “Every man who looks at the situation knows what’s right and wrong. Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is.” When asked if he would confront Fisher tonight, Barnes said the Knicks head coach "already took one L. So what's the point?"

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[via @ScottCacciola]