NBA ALL-STAR GAME : Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost

MIAMI —  This is no dream, Akeem. It’s the truth, so help us, Karl Malone.

The Lakers’ Magic Johnson, James Worthy and A.C. Green will be in the starting lineup and Coach Pat Riley will be on the sideline for the Western Conference today against the Eastern squad at Miami Arena in the 40th NBA All-Star game.

“I’ll probably think I’m playing with the Lakers,” said Akeem Olajuwon, the Houston Rockets’ center.

He is, in a way. The Detroit Pistons are represented by three players--Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman--and Coach Chuck Daly, but only Thomas is in the starting lineup. And none of those picks caused the controversy stirred by Green’s selection by fans over Malone.

Green, while acknowledging that he would have voted for the Utah Jazz’s Malone, refuses to be cast as the unwanted gate crasher.

“When A.C. was named a starter, it upset me the way the whole thing was handled,” Riley said.

“It was an aberration that the fans didn’t select Karl Malone as a starter. He’s the prototype power forward in the game. But when you look at A.C., you’re talking about a guy who puts up some good numbers. He scores 15 points a game, shoots 50% from the field and plays an important role on a team that wins.”

Along those lines, his play undoubtedly will be scrutinized today. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Patrick Ewing will be loved, Green will be analyzed.

“I have my coaches here, I have my teammates here, and I have my parents and family and friends here,” said Green, whose 160,788 votes at forward beat Malone by about 1,200 and trailed Worthy as the No. 1 selection at the position by only 2,265. “This is a fun time for me.”

And for others, particularly Johnson. His ninth all-star appearance is extra special; he had to sit out the 1988 game at Houston because of a hamstring injury.

“I was hurt not being there,” he said of watching the game on television.

Johnson is one of six guards on the West. Rolando Blackman of the Dallas Mavericks became the sixth when he replaced Malone, who suffered a twisted ankle Thursday.

Three of the guards--Johnson, Kevin Johnson and John Stockton, the other starter--play the point, so Riley has options.

One is to give Johnson some time at forward, where Tom Chambers and Chris Mullin will back up Worthy and Green. Another is to wait and see what happens.

“I’ll probably play it more close to the vest and not go too crazy with that,” said Riley, coaching his sixth consecutive All-Star game and eighth overall.

This also marks the return of the Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird after a one-year absence because of injury. Bird was the second-leading vote-getter behind the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan. Jordan is glad to see Bird and Johnson back.

“We’ve got the family back together again,” Jordan said.

Indeed, Malone isn’t here, but everyone else is. Magic, Bird, Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley and A.C. Green.

The East starters will be Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas at guard, Patrick Ewing at center and Charles Barkley and Larry Bird at forward.

The West has won only three of the previous 10 games, including last season. The East leads the series, 25-14.

The game is expected to be broadcast in 72 countries.

NBA ALL-STAR ROSTERS EASTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS

F Charles Barkley Philadelphia F Larry Bird Boston C Patrick Ewing New York G Michael Jordan Chicago G Isiah Thomas Detroit

RESERVES

F Kevin McHale Boston F Dennis Rodman Detroit F Dominique Wilkins Atlanta F Scottie Pippen Chicago C Robert Parish Boston G Joe Dumars Detroit G Reggie Miller Indiana

WESTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS

F A.C. Green Lakers F James Worthy Lakers C Akeem Olajuwon Houston G Magic Johnson Lakers G John Stockton Utah

RESERVES

F Tom Chambers Phoenix F Clyde Drexler Portland F Chris Mullin Golden State C David Robinson San Antonio G Rolando Blackman Dallas G Kevin Johnson Phoenix G Fat Lever Denver