"You can call it Celtics-Lakers if you want, but when these teams meet at TD Garden this evening, it may seem more like two aging boxers with championship belts in their wake.

They will step into the parquet ring each hoping to show itself more worthy of a title shot. WBO, WBC, IBF, NBA .?.?. after a while, they all run together.

The Celtics have 17 banners and are a modest 14-10 this season. The Lakers have 16 flags and are 14-11, coming off losses in Utah and Philadelphia on their "get out of town for the Grammys" trip."