The Warriors' head coach Mike Malone changed the team's defensive strategy in the fifth game.

Utilizing Qin Yue's rim protection ability and the height and defensive skills of Brown and Artest, the Warriors, no longer relying solely on zone defense, caused significant disruption to the Nuggets' attempts to gamble their fate with three-point shots from the outside.

George Karl's frantic experimentation suffered a severe blow this night.

In the current era, given the defensive scale and the tacit approval of more aggressive defensive tactics in this year's playoffs, unless the opponent consistently employs zone defense in the game...

Otherwise, the Nuggets will inevitably face a very real problem in the game—how can they take more than forty three-point shots under the opponent's high-pressure defense?

Perhaps to the spectators, Malone's adjustment in the series only by the fifth game seemed overly slow.

But given the Warriors' strong desire to win this series with minimal losses...

Their decision to consistently use zone defense to counter Carl's frantic experiments in the first four games was not without reason.

Moreover, it was only because of complacency that led to the Warriors' defeat in the third game, who could have foreseen the Nuggets going all out in the fourth game?

During the timeout, Billups hoped the Nuggets would actively speed up, with the main objective being to find openings for three-point shots in a faster-paced game.

This proactive adjustment helped Al Harrington find a trailing three-point opportunity on the outside after the timeout.

On the right side of the court, Harrington, receiving the pass from Billups, didn't hesitate, and made the three-point shot.

Harrington's three-pointer gave Carl hope to continue his experiment.

But when the Nuggets tried to make a similar shot, Qin Yue, who rotated to the outside at the first opportunity, almost forced Anthony, who just received a pass from his teammate, into a turnover.

On the court, seeing no space for a three-point shot, Anthony steadied the ball, feinted to shake off Qin Yue's balance, then drove towards the other side and confidently attempted a long two-pointer from the baseline.

This was Anthony's signature move and the premise for Carl's bold experiment—the vigorous attacks on the rim and the undefendable long two-point attempts by a youthful Sweet Melon often forced opponents to retract their defense.

However, at the moment Anthony made the shot, the giant figure suddenly sticking to his front...

Made Anthony instinctively shudder.

Qin Yue's "DPOY" title from last season was indeed somewhat compensatory in nature.

But this season, with a persistent obsession to become a top defender, Qin Yue was no longer the same as last season.

Anthony did shake off Qin Yue's balance earlier, but before Anthony shot, Qin Yue still used his astonishing speed and agility to greatly contest the shot.

Swish!

Anthony, who luckily sunk the jump shot, immediately frowned—the previous summer at the "Divine Selection Training Camp," Anthony had already experienced the terror of his good brother's earnest defense.

And, unfortunately for Anthony...

Qin Yue is probably the player who understands his playing habits the most in the league today.

Because while "Mr. Melo" was imparting all his offensive skills to Qin Yue without reservation, he indirectly also revealed his offensive logic, and even his weaknesses...

All to Qin Yue.

The Warriors' defensive possession this time, Qin Yue's rotation to defend Anthony was no accident.

It was through the previous four games that Qin Yue knew well that to contain Anthony, he had to step up personally.

This was another defensive arrangement the Warriors changed through offensive adjustments tonight.

By increasing the offensive role of the in-form Davis, allowing Qin Yue to focus more on defense.

With the Warriors in possession, Davis used Qin Yue's screen to aggressively penetrate the paint and scored a reverse layup against Big Ben's help defense.

Coming back, seeing Qin Yue once again voluntarily rotate to defend Anthony, Billups' expression became more grave.

Throughout his career, Billups has always been a point guard adept at observation.

In his eyes, rather than Qin Yue's well-known offensive influence...

The improvement displayed when he's fully committed to defense is the most troubling aspect.

More active defense will inevitably lead to a decrease in Qin Yue's offensive output.

But if Anthony can't provide a corresponding response to the Warriors offensively, it means the Nuggets will lose their main offensive firepower.

In the game, increasing the difficulty of the Nuggets' three-point shots as much as possible, reducing the frequency of their three-point attempts, and sacrificing part of Qin Yue's offensive ability for effective limitation of Anthony.

The adjustments made by the Warriors on both ends of the floor have pushed this Nuggets team to a dead end.

Certainly, basketball isn't a series of mathematical equations, and in reality, the Nuggets could still hit those improbable threes like they did in the fourth game.

But if low-probability events become a daily occurrence...

Then miracles wouldn't be called miracles.

On the court, Anthony's intention was seen through by Qin Yue, and he missed a forced pull-up shot, with Davis grabbing the rebound and immediately launching a fast break.

Qin Yue quickly followed up, receiving Davis' pass to finish with a single-hand dunk.

Immediately following...

In the ensuing matchups with Qin Yue, Anthony exposed yet another weakness.

Why, despite having such comprehensive offensive skills, which can even be considered as flamboyant, can't Anthony have the same court-wide influence as Qin Yue?

Because everyone knows, Anthony's triple-threat is actually only a double-threat.

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