It’s hard to know if the Nuggets can stay in contention as currently constructed. And now, they’ll get to learn even more the hard way as Aaron Gordon is expected to miss “multiple weeks” with a right calf strain, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
Even with Gordon, Denver hasn’t exactly set the basketball world on fire. Quite the opposite — as the Nuggets’ lack of depth has been showing in the first seven games. Yes, they sit at 4-3 as the league pauses for Election Day. But it’s hardly been pretty. Some of the losses have been brutal.
They also are already without standout guard Jamal Murray, who’s in the league’s concussion protocol. Russell Westbrook, who’s clearly on the back nine of his career, has been starting in place of Murray.
That pretty much removes the Nuggets’ best reserve from the bench. Now, that bench will get even thinner with Gordon out, because coach Michael Malone will have to replace him in the starting lineup, too.
Most people around the NBA felt that the Nuggets would emerge from the West and defend their 2023 title last season. That didn’t happen. They look worse than last season’s team today.
Granted, they still have Nikola Jokic and as long as that’s the case, they’ll still have a chance. And there are still 75 games to go, as we’ll be doing this (the regular season) all the way until the middle of April.
Plenty can and will happen between now and then. But the last thing Denver can afford is another injury. Unfortunately, it appears that’s precisely what they’ve been dealt.
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