The Nuggets got hit with some tough news on Sunday morning, learning that Aaron Gordon suffered a grade 2 hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks. AG went down with the injury on Friday night while driving to the basket in the opening minutes of their win over the Rockets.
Gordon has battled soft tissue injuries to his calves and hamstrings for what feels like forever. He played through a grade 2 strain to his left hamstring during last year’s playoff series against the Thunder.
He has also been managing bilateral hamstring issues this season and had already sat out a game. Now, we know the Nuggets won’t have him for at least a month and quite possibly more. It also means this is likely a concern that’s going to exist for the rest of the season, and realistically, the rest of Gordon’s career.
Gordon was on fire to start season
The real shame is that it seemed like Gordon was finally healthy to start the season and was playing some of the best basketball of his career. We saw him put up 50 points on opening night, and he has kept up the hot shooting while anchoring one of the NBA’s best defenses.
His three-point shooting has also been consistent enough that he has become a true floor spacer who tilts a defense. It has opened up new doors for David Adelman and his staff, and they’ve been able to play lineups with more defense and less shooting without sacrificing, thanks to AG’s newfound stroke from outside.
The issue is compounded even further with the injury suffered by Christian Braun last week. CB is also out for an extended period and will be re-evaluated in 6 weeks. That means the Nuggets are going to have to survive a month or two without two key starters, possibly their two best defensive players, and two leaders who bring invaluable energy on a nightly basis.
Denver has the depth to withstand these losses, but it’s not going to be easy, and it’s going to require a lot of players to step up. That means the new additions from the offseason may have to ramp up their acclimation process, and it means the young players may be called upon for more than they’re ready for.
Either way, the Nuggets need to tread water atop a loaded Western Conference, and they need to stay in the hunt without a couple of very important players.