We all knew it was coming and indeed the salary cap crunch has come for the Denver Nuggets. As a result, the team has maintained its top-line talent, but they’ve seen multiple role players leave in free agency in each of the past two offseasons with no real replacements coming in the door.
The Nuggets still have a very good team and their starting lineup is among the league’s best. But the team is inarguably very thin and low on depth. They have four core players, a few young guys who have stepped up and filled roles, and Russell Westbrook flying around like a madman.
Michael Malone and company have done a solid job of making it work, but the margin for error is virtually nonexistent. Thus, when any one of the key players is out of the lineup, it’s extremely noticeable and the team suffers.
Unfortunately, that has been the case lately since Aaron Gordon suffered a calf strain on Christmas Day in Phoenix. Gordon missed 10 games earlier in the season with a calf injury and is now hampered by the same issue.
The Nuggets can’t tread water without Gordon for much longer
Gordon has missed the Nuggets’ last three games and has already been ruled out for Wednesday’s tilt with the Hawks. As of now, there has been no update and Gordon is still without a timeline to return.
On the one hand, the Nuggets need to be extra cautious with their veteran stars. If Gordon were to rush back and re-injure himself that would be devastating. If this team doesn’t enter the playoffs at full strength, they have no shot.
On the other hand, if Gordon can’t return soon, a playoff run may be a pipe dream anyway. Gordon is the Nuggets’ best defensive player and arguably their second-best player overall. The team needs him desperately on both ends and they simply don’t look the same without him.
The schedule has been kind to the Nuggets as they’ve been able to beat the Pistons and Jazz so far without Gordon, but things are about to get a hell of a lot tougher. The January schedule is brutal and almost every team Denver faces is vying for a playoff spot.
There will be very few gimmes along the way, and entering these games without a key starter is a recipe for disaster. Things are super tight in the Western Conference; the Nuggets are currently 18-13, tied for 6th place.
But teams are nipping at their heels and the Nuggets are just 3 games ahead of the 11th-seeded Suns currently. One bad stretch and Denver could quickly find themselves on the outside looking in. In other words, the Nuggets need to get some good news on Aaron Gordon sooner than later or the season could be beyond saving.