One Thing Kobe Can Do That Mike Never Did...Grab the East

Okay, so maybe MJ has done that already, but not in the way Kobe could...

Kobe Bryant has made it no secret, he wants to be (as the Gatorade ad would indicate...), "Like Mike." Come on, we all remember the jingle. "Like Mike, if I could be like Mike."

And come on, let's be honest, is there really a player in the NBA who doesn't want to be like his Airness? Kobe Bryant, however, has taken this desire and made it a craft of passion.

No one else in the NBA has patterned their entire game around MJ or their patterns of speech or mannerisms for that matter quite like Kobe has. Honestly the guy has done a great job at being as close to MJ as possible.

The most glaring difference is the championships—Mike with six and Kobe with three, currently just two games away from a forth.

But aside from the rings, what else is similar? Keep in mind Kobe still has a way to go in his career.

For all the comparisons that are made between Kobe and MJ, the difference between them is still worlds apart if you look at all the accolades. Then again, you'd be comparing a fully completed Pablo Picasso to unfinished Vincent Van Gogh.

Kobe may not ever catch MJ in the accolades department, but he has managed to carve out a place in NBA history for himself. However, there is one thing that Kobe can do that Mike never did, and will never be able to do now: play for New York.

Yes, under the bright lights of MSG, Madison Square Garden, the mecca of basketball as it's commonly referred to as. New York has little to offer Kobe, aside from its historic lure and a ton of cash. The two combined may be just enough.

You see, the Knicks have cleared all this cap space hoping that they can sign LeBron James in the 2010 offseason. But what if LeBron stays in Cleveland? The Cavs and James could get a deal in place by the time the kids are back in school...then what?

Then Kobe.

You make the play for the only player currently better than the one you want. Now this will be no easy task. Kobe has the opportunity to opt out after this year, but only at the expense of leaving $48 million in guaranteed money on the table.

If New York wants to be a serious player player in possibly luring Kobe to the Knicks it's going to take some serious jack.

Why would Kobe want to even leave La-La Land? He's loved and the West Coast is great. Well, the Western Conference is great to, not to mention stronger and getting younger.

Several Western Conference teams could have made a legit run at the title this year. Only a few from the East were even discussed. If Kobe were a Knick, they would only contend with James in Cleveland (if he re-signs) and Orlando.

The Celtics are aging and will not be a powerhouse, therefore they've been excluded from the conversation. Just imagine though, a LeBron and Kobe showdown in the Conference Finals every year.

David Stern loves the idea already. Especially after seeing just how difficult it is this year just to get the two together in the Finals when in separate conferences.

Seriously, this unlikely of happening. However, it would be a great way to restore Knick basketball, adjust the balance of power between the conferences, have a surefire way to see Kobe vs. LeBron and to have Kobe do something that MJ wanted to do but never did...

And besides, a snake like the Black Mamba belongs in the garden (MSG). Holla.