Steve Popper of the New York Times reports that Dikembe Mutombo spoke to reporters yesterday. He expressed optimism that he will return from his wrist injury earlier than expected. He also had a few words for those that think he hasn?t gelled with the Nets? offense.

"When you go to a new place you learn how to adjust," Mutombo said. "You learn how to play with the people. But I felt like the critics, talking about my not knowing the offense, had kind of crossed the line. I've been playing basketball for 12 years and I've played for so many coaches and I did so well on all the teams I play and I never have problems with any coach. Why would I struggle here? Because I'm new? Because I'm with new teammates? Why don't they give me a chance to enjoy my new teammates?"

In the six games that Mutombo has missed, the team is 5-1 and has averaged 101.2 points per game, compared to 96.9 with Mutombo on the floor. But Mutombo didn?t take kindly to accusations that he hasn?t learned the offense.

If I didn't know offense, what was going through the mind of all the coaches I played for, to play me the way they played me?" he said. "Even Larry Brown, he played me all the way through to the N.B.A. finals. That means I was doing something right."

Mutombo also said that he should be back in time to be fully acclimated before the playoffs start. After surgery to repair torn ligaments in his wrist, it was expected that he would be out for 12-16 weeks. Mutombo thinks his time off will be closer to 12 weeks than 16.

"I should be ready, if I'm lucky, by the end of February, after the All-Star break," Mutombo said. "I want to get a chance to do a good therapy, make sure I'm strong enough. Being in a cast like this," he added, pointing to the cast that runs from his hand to his elbow, "you lose all your strength in your right hand, so I have to make sure I have a good recovery. It depends on how my body is responding to the things they are going to make me do during my therapy."