It would have been a nice golden anniversary present for NBA Commissioner David Stern, especially since Shaquille O'Neal, the league's biggest superstar, is out with a strained arch.

But it is the Eastern Conference which will need to overcome numerous injuries when it plays the Western Conference on Sunday night.

Jordan, a three-time All-Star Game MVP with the Chicago Bulls in 1988, 1996 and 1998, is the president of the host team Washington Wizards, who have no All-Stars. In 1998, Jordan led the East to its third straight win and fourth in five years against the West.

But the league's balance of power clearly has shifted to the West, which won, 137-126, in last year's game in Oakland, California. O'Neal, the 7-2 center of the Los Angeles Lakers, and co-MVP Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs dominated inside as the West scored a remarkable 86 points in the paint, including 20 dunks.

Even without O'Neal this time, the West appears well-equipped to overpower the East inside, boasting six players 6-10 or taller -- Duncan and David Robinson of the Spurs, Chris Webber and Vlade Divac of the Sacramento Kings, Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Rasheed Wallace of the Portland Trail Blazers -- along with conventional reserve power forwards Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz and Antonio McDyess of the Denver Nuggets.

Malone, who moved past Wilt Chamberlain into second place on the all-time scoring list earlier this season, has been selected for his 13th All-Star Game, the most of any active player and tied for the second-most in NBA history.

While West coach Rick Adelman of the Kings has plenty of options, East coach Larry Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers recognizes the formidable task his team faces on Sunday.

"If it was keep-away, I'd like our chances," said Brown, who is making his first All-Star coaching appearance since a win for the West in 1977 with Denver.

At least Brown will have Toronto Raptors swingman Vince Carter, who received the most votes in balloting by fans and will start at forward. But don't expect to see Carter's customary high-flying act. He has been playing despite a strained left knee that has forced him to skip Saturday's Slam Dunk Contest, which he won last year with a series of slams that was perhaps the best ever.

Guards Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Allen Iverson of the 76ers also were voted starters by the fans. But the NBA's top two scorers both are nursing multiple injuries and may not be their usual superlative selves.

Iverson's teammate, center Theo Ratliff, will not get the chance to play in his first All-Star Game due to an injured right wrist. Ratliff finished behind the East's top vote-getter at center, Alonzo Mourning, who has missed the entire season with a kidney ailment.

Instead, Toronto's Antonio Davis, who was averaging 13.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, will make his first trip to the All-Star Game as a replacement for Ratliff on the East team.

Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill, who played just four games due to an ankle injury and is out for the season, was also voted as a starter.

Orlando's Tracy McGrady will be making his All-Star debut and will join Iverson in the East's starting backcourt. Brown also must select a forward to replace Hill alongside Carter in the frontcourt.

The West counters with a backcourt of Bryant and Phoenix Suns guard Jason Kidd and Duncan and Webber at forward.

Adelman, who is coaching his second All-Star Game, could start 7-foot center David Robinson of San Antonio in the middle for O'Neal. Or he could go with Duncan at center and insert Wallace or Garnett at forward.

Behind Bryant and Kidd, the West's backcourt features Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics and Michael Finley of the Dallas Mavericks.

Brown's bench is loaded with shooting guards. Behind McGrady, he has Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell of the New York Knicks, Jerry Stackhouse of the Detroit Pistons and Ray Allen of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Center Dikembe Mutombo of the Atlanta Hawks, forwards Anthony Mason of Miami and Glenn Robinson of Milwaukee and guard Stephon Marbury of the New Jersey Nets fill out the East's reserves.

Sunday's game features six first-time All-Stars. On the West, Divac and McDyess are making their first appearances. On the East, McGrady, Marbury, Mason and Davis will be making their All-Star debuts.

The East holds a 31-18 all-time advantage.

The Wizards franchise has hosted the game twice before. In 1969 at the Baltimore Arena, Oscar Robertson of Cincinnati was named MVP as he led the East to a 123-112 victory. In 1980 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, San Antonio's George Gervin took MVP honors as he powered the East to a 144-136 overtime win.