10 Serious Injuries That Could Derail Their Team's NBA Season

With the NBA playing a shortened schedule featuring as many as eight games in 10 days for most teams more than once throughout the season, several factors could come in to play during the season.

One of those is injuries.

Without a full schedule and time to wait for a player to get healthy, there is even a greater importance for teams to stay healthy for the course of the season.

Here are 10 injuries that could have an impact on their respective team's season.

Chicago Bulls, Richard Hamilton

Injury Status: Groin Strain; Day-to-Day

While Hamilton's injury doesn't appear to be serious, it did force him out of the lineup.

The Bulls are just playing it safe with Hamilton, but if it turns into something that lingers, Chicago is very thin at the 2-guard spot.

Ronnie Brewer stepped into Hamilton's spot in the lineup.

Denver Nuggets, Nene

Injury Status: Bruised Foot; Day-to-Day

Again, nothing too serious here but Nene and the Nuggets were off to a very good start through five games and a bruised foot has sidelined Nene for the time being.

This is also something that could linger on and have an impact on his effectiveness this season.

Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley

Injury Status: Sprained left ankle; Day-to Day

Here's a more serious injury that's having a direct impact to the Grizzlies already.

Without their starting point guard, Memphis is struggling; including a 104-64 beat down at the hands of the Chicago Bulls.

Rookie Jeremy Pargo gets the start in Conley's absence, but the Grizzlies need their man back quickly.

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph

Injury Status: Right Knee Contusion; Status Unknown

Another game for the Grizzlies and another injury, as Randolph played only 11 minutes in the loss to the Bulls. After a collision with teammate O.J. Mayo, Randolph had to be helped from the court in the second quarter and didn't return.

Randolph is a guy Memphis can't afford to be without, even for a short period of time.

New Jersey Nets, Brook Lopez

Injury Status: Stress Fracture, Right-Foot; 8-10 Weeks

Lopez had surgery in the early part of the season and it was apparent his injury would be felt by the Nets. It has, as New Jersey has lost five straight games, beginning the season 1-5.

The injury to Lopez may have also crushed New Jersey's chances at acquiring Orlando center Dwight Howard.

New Jersey Nets, Kris Humphries

Injury Status: Left Shoulder; Status Unknown

If the Nets weren't already without Lopez, by losing Humphries, they now have no low-post threat at all.

The injury to Humphries doesn't appear to be very serious but it has him out of the lineup for now.

New Orleans Hornets, Eric Gordon

Injury Status: Right-Knee Soreness; Day-to-Day

Gordon has missed four straight games and has played in only one game for his new team.

New Orleans is a very thin team to begin with and losing Gordon for any amount of time is a killer.

New York Knick, Iman Shumpert

Injury Status:Sprained MCL; Day-to-Day

The Knicks need guard play badly and it has shown through their 2-3 beginning to the season.

Already without Baron Davis (who didn't make the list due to already being injured before the season), New York needs someone to step in and perform.

That guy could have been Shumpert, who the Knicks were very excited about coming into the season, but he suffered an injury on Christmas Day.

The rookie has missed four straight games and could be ready to return to the lineup soon.

New York Knicks, Amar'e Stoudemire

Injury Status: Sprained Ankle; Day-to-Day

We know how sprained ankles linger, especially in the NBA. This is something the Knicks can't afford considering how much they rely on the star power forward.

With the slow start and no guard play, New York has already been without Stoudemire for a pair of games.

They came into the season worried about his knees, now they have to worry about his ankle.

Stoudemire could be back in the Knicks' lineup by January 5, but will he feel any effects?

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili

Injury Status: Broken Left Hand; Out Indefinitely

Definitely the biggest injury to date, Ginobili is almost impossible to replace for the Spurs.

It's going to be hard for James Anderson to not only replace the 17.8 points per game Ginobili has averaged to start the season, but everything else he brings to the San Antonio team.

It's the type of injury that could sideline the star for some time and the Spurs season could get away from them in a hurry.