Despite the opinion that there should be a gray area open to interpretation within the rule of players leaving the bench area if an alternation breaks out, NBA commissioner David Stern said there never will be because it has been ?consistently announced and persistently enforced.?

?My determination at that time not to make a special exception for the Suns was something that I can?t apologize for, but I can understand how people would feel,? said Stern, making his first appearance in the Valley since Game 4.

?I?m sorry it happened. I think games should be decided on their merits . . . with teams at full force if they can, but part of playing in the NBA is knowing what the rules are.?

When it was suggested that his decision cost the Suns the series, Stern responded, ?People seem to forget what actually happened after this. There were two more games right? And the Suns lost both of them? Right??