The Nuggets didn't quite hit the mark that head coach David Adelman set as a target for the lineup to finally be whole again. Of course, the injury bug has re-infected the team. But at least there's been a report from Sam Amick that Aaron Gordon could at least rejoin the Nuggets with 19 games to go, against the Knicks in the second game of a back-to-back at home.
However, it doesn't change the reality that the Nuggets have the most difficult remaining schedule, and they're currently on the outside looking in to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, in fifth position.
Gordon's defense is expected to provide the boost the Nuggets have been waiting for. They've gone from a top-tier defensive team with him on the court, down to the bottom tier without him.
If Gordon is cleared to play, his first game back would be the second in a stretch of seven in a row that the Nuggets play against teams currently seeded sixth or higher in either conference. For the Nuggets, it feels like the playoffs start now.
The injuries finally caught up to the Nuggets
It seems almost unfathomable that the Nuggets could enter the playoffs as anything but a four-seed or higher, but this is the reality of it. The injuries and lack of chemistry from all the missed games that piled up seem to have finally gotten the best of them.
The Nuggets have been playing terribly in the clutch, and their only two wins in their last eight clutch games were against teams that are in a race to the bottom for a chance at a higher lottery pick.
Even Nikola Jokic wasn't immune to the clutch problems, uncharacteristically committing turnovers at the worst possible moments. He just hasn't been himself since the nagging wrist thing popped up and acted like his kryptonite.
The Nuggets' road success bodes well for playoff hopes
The Nuggets have actually been worse at home this year, and by a fair margin, too. They're just 16-12 at home and 22-12 on the road. In fact, they even won 11-straight games on the road earlier this year while Gordon and Christian Braun were out of the lineup.
It's still not the setup the Nuggets want. They want to be in Ball Arena. They don't want to be fighting crowd noise on the road in crunch time. Not with the clutch woes they've been having.
For now, all we can do is wait until Gordon's return is official. Hopefully, we're not waiting too much longer.