THE LAKERS:
-68 years in the league
-60 playoff appearances
-3,227 wins
-2,101 losses
-.606 winning%
-32 division titles
-18 conference titles
-16 championships
THE CELTICS:
-70 years in the league
-51 playoff appearances
-3,193 wins
-2,242 losses
-.587 winning%
-30 division titles
-9 conference titles
-17 championships
SUMMARY: Even Though The Lakers have 2 less years in the league, They have won more games, have had more playoff appearances, have a higher winning percentage, have more division titles, more conference titles. All the while having less losses. Yes The Celtics have 1 more championship but The Celtics have also missed the playoffs 17 TIMES!!! (compared to The Lakers 8). Not to mentions that The Lakers have won most of their titles in the "modern era" Since 1970 The Lakers have won 11 Championships to The Celtics 6. And since 1980 The Lakers have won 10 Championships to The Celtics 4. With The Lakers winning 3 out the 5 head to head Finals matchups since then. The bottom line is that The Lakers have been the most consistent franchise throughout the existence of The NBA. The Lakers are the ONLY team that has been to a NBA Final in EVERY decade since the 1940's!!
P.s. A little unknown Laker trivia: The Lakers actually have a "17th" Championship. They won The 1948 NBL Championship a year before joining The NBA.
THE NBL: Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League (NBL) was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later dissolve and some of its teams would be absorbed into the Basketball Association of America (BAA) to form the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949.