Lakers Rumors: Andrew Bynum and LA Smart to Target "Celtics' Head" on Sunday

The NBA's greatest rivalry will be renewed Sunday afternoon when Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers host the Boston Celtics (3:30 PM ET, ABC). This time, it's war.

Lakers center Andrew Bynum ratcheted up the intensity after L.A.'s Friday win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"We're going at the Celtics' head. We're going at their rack, why? We don't like those boys." said Bynum, via the Associated Press and Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

On the surface, it may seem that Bynum is out of line to suggest that the Lakers' hatred for the Celtics will fuel their performance on Sunday at Staples Center, but in fact this admission could not be more appropriate. 

Not only will his comments wake up Boston for their afternoon battle, but they are exactly what his Lakers teammates were thinking immediately upon topping the T-Wolves on Friday night. If not, the Lakers are in more trouble than we previously thought.

Back in 2008, the Celtics broke the hearts of the Lakers in the NBA Finals, and L.A. returned the favor in 2010. This rivalry arrived decades ago, never left and likely never will.

If it was a can't-miss matchup before Bynum's trash talk, then it's must-see TV now. 

Both squads are desperate for something positive to hang their hats on heading into the stretch run of the lockout-shortened 66-game season. A win over their rival to end the weekend would provide just that.

Bynum's comments suggest that he is motivated and willing to throw the first punch against Boston if it means he and the Lakers are one step ahead mentally.

Not to mention, Bynum is averaging 17 points and 12.6 rebounds per game this season with L.A. As arguably the best center in the league aside from Dwight Howard, Bynum has a legitimate place to challenge rivals and draw the best from his opponents.

The Celtics have lost their last two meetings to the Lakers, both in Boston. Bynum wants to start a winning streak over the C's in L.A., though, where the Lakers are 17-2 this season. He has made that very clear.