1996 NBA FINALS / Finals Watch : Stern Takes Middle Ground on Clippers

Clearly dejected after his hopes had been raised that the Clippers would finally be leaving the Sports Arena, Commissioner David Stern said Friday night that the NBA will stand behind Donald Sterling’s decision to end negotiations with the Pond of Anaheim--mostly because it doesn’t have a choice.

“In the final analysis, it was the Clippers’ choice,” Stern said at the United Center before Game 2 of the NBA finals. “Of course we will continue to be very supportive of them in Los Angeles.”

Privately, the commissioner has long pushed for them to get out of the Sports Arena, the oldest building in the league and one of its most unattractive. League officials had even become active participants in the latest round of negotiations, hoping to nudge the Clippers toward a new home, whether in Orange County, which they believe could be a lucrative pro basketball market, or the current site in Exposition Park.

So when asked if he was disappointed by the Clippers’ decision, Stern said: “I want to withhold judgment until the end of the season. I don’t want to insult anyone’s intelligence by suggesting that the Sports Arena has the same amenities as the Pond. But the Clippers have the right to make the decision that they feel is in their best interest, and their decision is to continue to play in the Sports Arena while looking for other arena opportunities in L.A. We fully support that.”

*

He faked him into the maquina de palomitas: Laker Coach Del Harris is working the finals as a commentator for ESPN’s Spanish-language broadcast, being heard coast-to-coast and in many countries in South America.

“I wouldn’t want to do the play-by-play. That’s a whole different ball game,” he said. “My Spanish is pretty good, but I wouldn’t want to have to defend myself in a court of law. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to do that in English either.”

Harris learned the language during seven summers of coaching in Puerto Rico. He gives clinics and interviews in Spanish and often listens to tapes in the car as he drives to the Forum for games.

*

After struggling through the previous three games, including the end of the Western Conference finals, Nate McMillan was finally forced out by his ongoing back problems, costing the SuperSonics a reserve at two positions and one of their calming influences. His status for Game 3 on Sunday at Seattle is not known.