The Denver Nuggets' loss to the Thunder on Monday dropped them closer to reaching dreaded play-in tournament territory, as they sit just 1.5 games ahead of the Suns. They've lost four of their last six games, and if you think it possibly can't get any worse, don't look at the upcoming schedule (no, seriously, don't do it).
Even with the injuries that Denver has dealt with this season (and Peyton Watson is still out), this isn't a team that's supposed to climb its way out of the play-in to advance to the first round of the playoffs. Not after the front office retooled the offseason over the summer in hopes of pushing the Nuggets closer to contention.
We're past the point of giving Denver too much grace, saying there is plenty of time to turn things around (there isn't). That isn't to say the Nuggets can't go on a run and finish in the top three, as they're just 1.5 games back from the No. 3 Timberwolves, but the time is now. Literally.
Nuggets are dangerously close to play-in tournament territory
With a month left in the regular season, Denver doesn't have time to waste. Understandably, fans aren't feeling confident, with many believing this is a lost year. It would feel on par for the season to end in the play-in, given how the past few months have gone.
The Kroenkes can't pull another rabbit out of a hat by firing Ben Tenzer, Jon Wallace, and David Adelman in an effort to turn the season around. Why? Because none of those three deserve to be let go, regardless of what you think about Adelman.
No, the Nuggets need to find the motivation within themselves to vault out of the scenario where the season could end without a playoff appearance. You'd think the recent string of demoralizing losses would be enough to do so. Denver did show far more fight on Monday in OKC than it did on Friday against New York, but it still wasn't enough to knock off a Thunder team without several key players.
Anything less than a championship will be disappointing for the Nuggets this season, and that hasn't changed, although it'd feel like somewhat of a miracle if this team made it to the NBA Finals. That says a lot about the product they've been putting on the court.
Contrary to what you're seeing when you open social media, or what you're hearing from that voice in the back of your head that's growing louder, this season isn't over. Not yet, but it could be very, very soon, unless Denver cares to prove otherwise.