"It used to be the game of the season. Now it's only for the seasoned few.

The Lakers and Boston Celtics play Thursday, so try not to confuse it with an old-timers' game. The advancing age of their rosters has left them both a handful of games above .500.

The teams that played for the NBA title less than two years ago are now 14-11 (Lakers) and 14-10 (Celtics).

It's difficult to handicap who has endured the worst season so far."