Friday Faceoff: After another perplexing loss, this one at Memphis, is the Nuggets’ championship window already closed?

Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: Yes

That’s a wall, buddy.

Freak out! Before the final buzzer sounded on the Nuggets’ bad loss in Memphis, the outrage was being scrawled all over social media. Fire coach David Adelman! Trade everybody! Blow it up!

While I’ve sometimes been accused of lighting the match for a hot take, kindly allow me to say: Have all you Chicken Littles not been paying attention? Long before the sleep-deprived Nuggets went walking like zombies in Memphis, the sky was falling on this team. Since Feb. 1, the record is 9-12, and Adelman has adopted bad choices at crunch time as his default coaching position.

The big tell as to how much trouble these Nuggets are courting? When Nikola Jokic wastes large chunks of the game clock exchanging glares and gripes with the refs, it’s actually a symptom of his frustration with the team.

With nine of their remaining 12 regular-season games at Ball Arena, and only three contests against foes ranked above them in the standings, the Nuggets still have the opportunity to grab the No. 4 seed in the West and open the playoffs at home.

But something hasn’t clicked with this group for over a year. Firing Michael Malone wasn’t the answer; it was a gimmick. Trading Michael Porter Jr. was the right idea, but Cam Johnson needs to be replaced in the starting lineup as soon as Peyton Watson is healthy.

Life happens fast in the NBA. The Nuggets’ championship from 2023 carries zero relevance these days. The West is now run by young guns in Oklahoma City and San Antonio.

The Nuggets need to completely rethink how to maximize what remains of Joker’s prime.

That’s not a window. It’s a wall.

Vinny Benedetto, Nuggets writer: No

With a little help, Nikola Jokic is strong enough to keep a window open in the face of the fiercest winds.

Recent results have left a lot to be desired. Denver is in sixth place in the Western Conference heading into Friday’s game against the Raptors, but more muscle is on the way.

Christian Braun has figured out how to be productive while his explosiveness slowly returns after a serious ankle sprain. Cam Johnson finally looks comfortable playing alongside Jokic after injuries limited their ability to establish on-court chemistry. Aaron Gordon’s absence was painfully obvious in the loss to the Grizzlies and just about every other game he’s missed, but back-to-backs don’t exist in the playoffs. Peyton Watson could return to the rotation this weekend, and Jamal Murray is still enjoying his best season.

If that’s the case, it would be the first time the Nuggets have had every player in the playoff rotation available since Nov. 12. The Nuggets started the season 9-2 and looked a lot like a contender before Braun’s injury started a string of unfortunate events. The remainder of the season sets up favorably for the Nuggets to regain a similar rhythm.

Fewer injuries would’ve made David Adelman’s first full season more straightforward, but the Nuggets have been forced to be creative while facing a lot of different questions. That can come in handy when the playoffs roll around. Speaking of playoffs, Denver’s path is more important than the number next to the Nuggets’ name.

Through it all, Denver still has the league’s best offense. If Jokic gets some defensive help, the Nuggets can still score more points than any other team four out of seven times.