Rudeezy

I would say YES. They have just proved that they can play against the NBA Elite by beating the Lakers and Kings in back to back games.

The only problem the Warriors have faced this young season is inconsistency on the road. A team like this should not be losing to the Heat and Magic, especially back to back. Hopefully this recent homestand can get them over the hump.

KokoTheMonkey

I would say they have a legit shot, only if they can get healthy, and stay healthy. This season, their depth is so good that I think they will be able to sneak in at the 8th spot. The only thing that may hurt them is that there is no legit superstar on the team yet who can take over games, but like I mentioned, their depth should be able to make up for that.

Rudeezy

NVE isn't a legitimate superstar who can take a game over? Tell that to the Kings after what he did in that fourth quarter. He took Doug Christie, a premier Defensive player, to the wrack and scored to seal the game for the Warriors. He has done it his whole career and will continue.

Rashidi

Any player can have a big night. Frank Williams and Keith Van Horn have been taking over games for the Knicks recently, that doesn't make them superstars.

Nick Van Exel is far from a superstar. He doesn't compare to KG, Duncan, Kobe, T-Mac, Kidd, etc. Try David Wesley.

Rudeezy

Are you kidding me? NVE has been doing this his whole career. Did you watch last years playoffs when NVE literally carried that team to the Conference finals?

What makes a superstar? Being the most popular player in the league?

Rashidi

Yep, I did. One series does not put him on the same level as Allen Iverson. NVE was able to exploit a bad matchup, that's it.

And by his "whole career" are you referring to his perennially poor shooting?

Snicka

As long as they keep losing huge first quarter leads by halftime, they won't make the playoffs, sure they had a few big wins before that, but come on, there was a 40 point swing in that game

Dragnsmke1

NVE is a SUPERSTAR!!!!


He just doesnt get the promotion that other superstars get because "he has a bad attitude". Not to mention being sealed in Denver all those years so that everyone forgot about him.

Jason Kidd himself said something like, "When I came to New Jersey all of a sudden I was a superstar. But what people dont realise is I was making the same plays in Phoenix. The diffrence was we were losing so we werent getting promoted."

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All Or Nothing

KokoTheMonkey

Nick Van Exel isn't a superstar. He makes big shots over and over and over, but he is not a dominant player, who can CONSISTENTLY take over games. He took over some games in the playoffs last year, but I have yet to see him lead a team by himself to wins. He is a great point guard, but not a Superstar. Would you put NVE on the same level with Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury, and Gary Payton? Not me.

FanOfAll8472

Compromise guys, compromise . NVE is a borderline star-superstar.

Rudeezy

First it was one game...now its one series doesn't make a super star?

Anyways, I never said it does, I said he has done it his whole career. Yes, he is a streaky shooter, but he makes them when they count.

ssmokinjoe

Nick Van Exel was once featured on Fox Sport's "Beyond the Glory" TV show. Other NBA personalities that have been featured on that show include Alonzo Mourning, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant. That's pretty good company to me. In fact, check out this list of past athletes that have been featured on that show:

Beyond The Glory Archive

Go ahead and interpret this bit of info however you want, but IMO it's pretty good evidence that Nick is a highly regarded NBA player.

RebelSun

He is a great scorer, but is not a leader, IMO.

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Teezy's GM Draft:
Lineup: Chris Paul/Manu Ginobili/Loul Deng/Dirk Nowitzki/Pau Gasol
Bench: Shaun Livingston/Gerald Green/Marvin Williams/Al Jefferson/Sam Dalembert

Rudeezy

Fair enough.