8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

Indiana Pacers Love/Hate series: Bojan Bogdanovic

By Jonathan Matthes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 22: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 22: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Bojan Bogdanovic Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 22: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2018, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Bojan Bogdanovic is back for a second tour with the Indiana Pacers, which is impressive since many thought he was little more than a bit piece this time a year ago. Bogdanovic shows everyone just how much can change in a year.

Bojan Bogdanovic guarding LeBron James. You remember that? This wasn’t a one-shining-moment thing. Nor was it a terrifying accident. Like, a Cavalier screen forced the Indiana Pacers to switch defensively and, oh crap, Bogey is about to be the skunk to LeBron’s Jeep Wrangler getting roadkilled while James speeds unencumbered to the basket.

No, Bogdanovic was the primary defender on the best active player in the world for an entire series. Not steady defender Thad Young or first-team all-defender Victor Oladipo, it wasn’t them. It was Bogdanovic, and he didn’t look half bad.

Don’t get me wrong, he didn’t look great either – James did average 34 points per game in the series, thrice scoring in the 40’s – but, he did better than most anyone thought possible. He moved his feet well and kept James mostly in front of him. Lebron’s shooting percentage fell – outside the restricted circle and inside the three-point arc – while guarded by Bogdanovic in the playoffs. A jester pestering the king.

That story sums up Bojan Bogdanovic’s 2017-18 and should shed light on 2018-19. Bogdanovic began last season under the assumption that he couldn’t guard a portrait of an incinerated chair. He ended the year defending James one-on-one. While he was no Ron Artest on defense, just getting to the point where he could draw the James assignment was a leap of intergalactic proportions. Not only did he not have to be hidden on defense, he could be an integral cog that allowed Oladipo to gleefully pounce on steals.

Bogdanovic is an integral piece of the Indiana Pacers now, but maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. This is the Love/Hate series, and Bogdanovic isn’t a perfect player, he has strengths and weaknesses. And, like his defensive performance, he does things that are in between. We’ll save the in between for later, let’s move on to the extremes.

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