There is some bad blood with the way that the 08 series ended, with everyone saying that the Celtics beat up the Lakers, said Kevin McHale, who helped Boston to titles in 1981, 1984 and 1986, and is now an analyst for NBA TV. That really bothers you as a player. Kobe wants another shot at them, I think all the Lakers do.The Lakers and Celtics have had one of sports most celebrated rivalries, combining to win 32 of a possible 63 NBA titles. Theyve met in the Finals 11 times, with Boston winning the first seven matchups from 1959 through 1969.The Lakers won two of three championship series in the 1980s, when Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for Los Angeles and Larry Bird led the Celtics. The rivalry was renewed two years ago, when Boston ended a 22-year title drought that stretched back to the days of Bird and McHale.Theres things that we have carried with us from that series -- how to play as a unit at both ends of the floor and the tenacity that you need to play with, said Bryant, who this postseason passed Jerry West as the Lakers career playoff scoring leader.
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