It may be a different sport, but the Red Sox know this situation very well.

Hampered by injuries after a championship season, then forced to defend a title against a Florida team led by one of the best young players in the game, the Red Sox can relate to the obstacles faced by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Orlando Magic.

The Red Sox, though, hope there is a different outcome for the Celtics.

Their World Series defending playoff run was cut short last season by the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series. Just as the Red Sox struggled with the injuries of Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett in the 2008 playoffs, the Celtics were dealt a blow by the injuries of Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe. Both teams lost more than talented players; they lost leaders.

“You’ve got key players injured,” said David Ortiz, “And key players are always going to be key players. Simple.”

Shorthanded and scrambling to fill holes in their rosters, the Celtics and Red Sox were presented with the same challenge of being a veteran team going up against a young, dominating athlete. For the Red Sox, it was Evan Longoria. Now, the Celtics are battling Dwight Howard.

“The thing that’s hard for the Celts is that they lost, I mean we’re talking, one of their great defenders, great players all around,” said Justin Masterson, who delivered a sermon prior to the Celtics prior to Game 2 of their series with the Bulls. “So that kind of makes it with them, especially going up against Dwight Howard who’s a big presence for Orlando, of course you’ve got some other guys who can step in who are great players, but that really hurts.”

The Celtics and Red Sox both found themselves tied at one after the first two games of their series. Then it got ugly in Game 3. The Celtics were blown out 117-96 by the Magic, who drained nine three-pointers. The Red Sox were steamrolled 9-1 by the Rays, who hit four home runs. Their reliable weapons were ineffective, too. Ray Allen shot 0-for-5 from long range; Ortiz went 0-for-4 at the plate.

The outcome of Game 4 was different for each team – a buzzer-beating victory for the Celtics and an offensive beatdown for the Red Sox. But when it came to Game 5, both clubs put on a spectacle.

The Red Sox trailed the Rays 7-0 with two outs in the seventh inning. The bullpen had been exhausted  and the bats had been quiet. In the bottom of the seventh, Ortiz, who had been struggling, hit a three-run homer to cut the lead. The Red Sox bats continued to swing in the eighth inning and tied the game at seven heading into the ninth. The young Rays team faltered, and a bad throw by Longoria eventually allowed the Red Sox to complete the rally for an 8-7 win.

On Tuesday night the Celtics trailed by as many as 14 to the Magic, who had dominated the game for the first three quarters of play. But just as the Rays did, the Magic collapsed. They stopped getting the ball to their young star, Howard, and watched as the Celtics slowly regained the lead with just over a minute to play on a three-pointer by the previously quiet Allen.

The Celtics victory in Game 5 gave them a 3-2 series lead. It was a luxury that was not afforded to the Red Sox last season – they lost the series in Game 7. Boston native and lifelong Celtics fan Manny Delcarmen hopes the Cs can clinch the series with their determination.

“I think KG and Powe are definitely big guys for the Celtics and you can tell they’re trying their hearts out out there,” said Delcarmen. “For us, we had key injuries and we still got to Game 7. So I’m hoping that they can win and then you never know what can happen.”

The Red Sox agree that experience and poise helped them reach the deciding game against the Rays. It is an advantage the Celtics have thanks to their veteran leadership and title-winning run.

“Even though you lose guys along the way, you continue to mold with those who are still there,” Masterson said. “I think it’s a part of the game you have to know because it’s going to happen no matter what. As guys continue to get better, you win a championship here and there and then it shows to how good guys really are when they can come together with whomever.”

The Celtics can clinch the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Thursday night. They know it’s not going to be in easy to close it out with so many obstacles stacked against them. The Red Sox know that, too. In these situations there is little to do but play ball.

“There aren’t too many choices,” said Ortiz. “Just hang with it.”