Stern Wants to See a Good Team

NBA Commissioner David Stern, on hand to present the most-valuable-player trophy to Shaquille O’Neal before the start of Game 2 against Phoenix, said he recognizes that there is an extra buzz when a team as popular as the Lakers makes a move deep into the playoffs.

“It is important for the league to have teams that people want to see play,” Stern said before the game. “And any team that has won 67 games, you expect the fans would want to see them.

“I think in the case of certain stories, there’s always an extra [interest] . . . whether it’s the Celtics or the Lakers or the Knicks. The Suns carried that, as well.

“Certain teams have had great followings, that when they really do very well, they get sort of an extra amount of attention.”

Laker Coach Phil Jackson gently stepped around the notion.

“That’s not my domain,” Jackson said. “It’s good for me for the Lakers to be good. It’s good for L.A. for the Lakers to be good, and that’s as far as I’d like to go.”

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Without hesitation, Stern debunked the movement led by Laker owner Jerry Buss to consider “grandfathering” certain large contracts, such as O’Neal’s from the Lakers, when tabulating a team’s salary figures for the potential upcoming luxury tax.

“Not a possibility,” Stern said. “Actually, if he’d like to do that, there are other teams that would be happy to relieve him of those contracts, if they’re causing a burden.

“I was there when the offer was made. Strange as it seems, he said no.”

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Guard Derek Fisher, suffering from a stomach virus, was sent home from the team’s morning shoot-around and did not suit up for the game.