Today’s All-Star Game May Lack the Usual Magic : Without Johnson and Bird, NBA Showcase Just Won’t Be the Same

Even without Larry Bird and Magic Johnson among the participants, the National Basketball Assn. still is calling this its All -Star game. However, a more apt title might be the Not-Quite-All-The-Stars game.

For the first time in the 1980s, when the NBA’s rejuvenation coincided with their arrival, Bird and Johnson both will not be taking part in the league’s midseason celebration today at the Houston Astrodome.

Bird has been grounded most of the season after surgery to remove bone spurs from both feet. Johnson was a late scratch, partially tearing his left hamstring on Wednesday night. Add the fact that Michael Jordan pulled out of Saturday’s slam-dunk competition, and the usually festive weekend does not seem the same.

Other well-known names will adorn the marquee, but . . .

“It definitely feels like something’s missing without Bird and Magic,” Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas said. “They are maybe the two greatest players ever. For the East, Bird always did the dirty work, getting the rebounds, setting up the other guys. And Magic used to set the pace of the game, pushing it to a new level.

“I’ve thought that I’ve got to do something early to make (the game) entertaining. That used to be Magic’s job. I think there are plenty of great players. It may not be as good a game, but we can make it as entertaining.”

There still are reasons to believe that today’s All-Star game (noon, PST) will be as memorable as past games, if not more.

An obvious one: It will be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 18th and final All-Star appearance in his 20th professional season. He was added after Johnson’s injury opened a roster spot, and his inclusion was applauded by many of the other participants.

The exception was outspoken Philadelphia 76ers forward Charles Barkley, who danced around the issue for a spell before saying that Commissioner David Stern should have replaced Johnson with another guard and not Abdul-Jabbar.

“They should have taken a point guard when Magic got hurt,” Barkley said. “But they wanted to honor Kareem, and I can understand that. I think it’s great that they are going to honor him, since it’s his last year and all. But . . . “

Barkley paused, then smiled and added: “You know, I’m supposed to be the new and improved, more mature Charles Barkley. I shouldn’t say anything more about this.”

Other players came to Abdul-Jabbar’s defense.

Said Thomas: “Kareem deserves to be here more than any other player. When you think about all Kareem has done for basketball, none of us might have been here today if it wasn’t for Kareem.”

Said Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone: “It’s just my opinion, and it doesn’t mean anything. But I think he deserves it. Athletes such as (Abdul-Jabbar) shouldn’t just be pushed aside and forgotten.”

Said Laker forward James Worthy: “I thought he should have been voted on (by Western Conference coaches) from the beginning. In the last few weeks, the way he’s played shows that he belongs. No question about it.”

Abdul-Jabbar, the guest of honor at a banquet Saturday night, will be making his first appearance at the Astrodome since 1968, when he was called Lew Alcindor and UCLA’s 47-game winning streak was stopped by Houston, led by Elvin Hayes. Playing with a scratched eye that night, Alcindor made just four of 18 shots.

No doubt, Abdul-Jabbar is hoping for a better performance today. But he figures to play merely a cameo role, considering that he is the fourth center on the Western Conference team.

Much of the focus figures to be on Houston Rockets center Akeem Olajuwon. The trend in recent All-Star games is that a player in the host city is the leading most-valuable-player candidate even before he steps onto the court.

Two seasons ago when the game was played at the Seattle Kingdome, Tom Chambers, then a member of the Seattle SuperSonics, won the MVP award. Last season in Chicago, Jordan won the MVP award.

Olajuwon, however, said he is not rearranging his shelves to find space for the trophy just yet.

“That’s just added pressure,” Olajuwon said. “I don’t think that way at all. I’m very happy just to be on the team.”

Olajuwon said his MVP chances would have been heightened had Johnson played. It was Johnson’s ballhandling and passing that helped Chambers win the award in 1986 and Ralph Sampson win it in 1984.

“But I think John Stockton is a good player, too,” Olajuwon said. “He’ll pass the ball.”

Because Stern added Abdul-Jabbar, West Coach Pat Riley of the Lakers is left with only Stockton, who will start in Johnson’s place, as a true point guard. However, Riley is expected to use Portland’s Clyde Drexler, Seattle’s Dale Ellis and even Golden State forward Chris Mullin at that position.

The most interesting matchup could be at power forward between Barkley and Karl Malone. Known as two of the toughest players in the league, Barkley and Malone play the same aggressive style even though Malone is a well-sculpted 6-feet-9, 250 pounds, and Barkley is a compact 6-6, 263.

“Malone is tough, because he’s just so physically strong,” Barkley said. “Yeah, I think he’s a little too strong for me. But I’m quicker, and I can beat him with my mind.”

Countered Malone: “He’s definitely got a bigger head than me, so, sure, he can say that.”

Barkley said the absence of Bird and Johnson won’t make any difference to him.

“I think it’s just ridiculous to say that the game won’t be the same,” Barkley said. “Look who we have here. Jordan, Malone (Moses and Karl), Dominique (Wilkins), me. It’s going to be a great game, regardless.”

All-Star Notes

NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the Denver Nuggets will represent the league in next fall’s McDonald’s Open tournament in Rome. Last fall, the Boston Celtics played in Italy. . . . Stern also said that in April, the league’s board of governors will consider a rule change concerning the 24-second clock. As the rule stands now, the shot clock is re-set to 5 seconds anytime there is an inbounds play with less than 5 seconds on the clock. “The competition committee unanimously passed the rule change,” Stern said. “The thinking was that, if the defensive team worked that hard, they shouldn’t be penalized with the clock being re-set.” . . . Laker Coach Pat Riley on not having Magic Johnson playing for him on the West All-Star team: “I feel like I don’t have my right arm.”

More opinions from the irrepressible Charles Barkley: Not only does he want to eliminate the fans’ balloting, he also wants an end to the coaches’ voting for the reserves. “I think the players should pick the teams,” Barkley said. “We play against each other. We know best who deserves to be here.” . . . Barkley also advocated expanding the All-Star game from 12- to 15-minute quarters to ensure that each player gets significant playing time. “It’s not fair when guys get selected to the All-Star team and then don’t play much,” Barkley said. “Last year, I was really upset that I didn’t play much. Everybody should play (at least) 20 minutes.”

THE ROSTERS EASTERN CONFERENCE

Player Team Po Ht Wt Charles Barkley Phila. F 6-6 260 Terry Cummings Milw. F 6-9 235 Brad Daugherty Cleveland C 7-0 245 Patrick Ewing New York C 7-0 240 Mark Jackson New York G 6-3 205 Michael Jordan Chicago G 6-6 195 Moses Malone Atlanta C 6-10 255 Kevin McHale Boston F 6-10 225 Larry Nance Cleveland F 6-10 215 Mark Price Cleveland G 6-1 175 Isiah Thomas Detroit G 6-1 185 Dominique Wilkins Atlanta F 6-8 200

Coach: Lenny Wilkens (Cleveland). WESTERN CONFERENCE

Player Team Po Ht Wt K.Abdul-Jabbar Lakers C 7-2 267 Tom Chambers Phoenix F 6-10 230 Clyde Drexler Portland G 6-7 215 Kevin Duckworth Portland C 7-0 280 Mark Eaton Utah C 7-4 290 Dale Ellis Seattle G 6-7 215 Alex English Denver F 6-7 190 Karl Malone Utah F 6-9 255 Chris Mullin Golden St. G 6-7 220 Akeem Olajuwon Houston C 7-0 250 John Stockton Utah G 6-1 175 James Worthy Lakers F 6-9 235

Coach: Pat Riley (Lakers)