Champs up for test

Despite their recent struggles, the Celtics [team stats] are still very much on the Lakers’ radar.

Los Angeles (36-11) brings the Western Conference’s best record into today’s matchup at the Garden, but the Celtics, who have lost 5-of-7, are still looked at as a measuring stick.

“These are just touchstone games,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “You come and see how everybody is doing and play a little style and try to catch up with what they’re doing on this side of the country and then go back and meet them at home in another month or so.”

Though the Lakers won the title last season, it’s apparent the perception they were out-toughed by the Celts in the 2008 Finals still gnaws at them.

Kobe Bryant said the biggest challenge for his team will be meeting the Celtics’ level of play.

“It’s just matching up with their energy and intensity and things like that,” Bryant said. “Especially playing in Boston, you got to really step up to that challenge and meet their physicality and meet the energy of the building.”

The Lakers haven’t kept particularly close tabs on the C’s, but they are well aware that their rivals haven’t been playing to their full potential. A big reason for that is the injuries the Celts have battled, most notably the hyperextended right knee that sidelined Kevin Garnett for 10 games.

“My understanding is that leg is not completely healthy,” Lakers center Pau Gasol said. “I’ve seen him play and I don’t know much how he’s struggling and hurting with it because his injury was never (made) clear to the public. I’m just going to try to be aggressive with him. It doesn’t matter how his leg is feeling. He’s playing and he’s competing.”

LA has had its own health woes, with Bryant hampered with finger, back, knee and ankle injuries. But the All-Star shooting guard hasn’t missed a game and is averaging 28.2 points, fourth-best in the NBA.

When asked if he felt the Lakers are the best team in the league when fully healthy, Bryant answered succinctly.

“Yeah, I’d say so,” he said. “I’d definitely say so.”

The Lakers will get a chance to prove Bryant’s claim today against a hungry Celtics squad.

“I think teams like Cleveland and Boston test you at a different level than other teams do,” Gasol said. “They understand what it takes to win in this league - to win at the playoff level - and not many teams do.”