In a season full of surprises, Bojan Bogdanovic may be Pacers' biggest

INDIANAPOLIS – Bojan Bogdanovic had three priorities when he went into free agency last summer: a starting role with a team, a bigger salary and get better on the defensive end.

Almost through his first full season with the Indiana Pacers, he’s 3-for-3. In Thursday’s 126-106 blowout of the Golden State Warriors the sharpshooting 6-8 forward keyed efforts on both ends of the floor while Victor Oladipo was being bottled up.

Though Bogdanovic downplays the financial goals of his offseason mission, a starting job usually will translate into a heftier payday. In leaving the Wizards he has proven to be an even better fit here and is playing for a more successful team, too.

Doyel: Victor Oladipo isn't only Pacer having a career year

It's the shoes: How Reggie Miller figures into Pacers' playoff future

The Pacers, not the Warriors, looked like the well-oiled championship machine as they shot 54 percent from the field, including 52 percent from 3-point range, dominated in paint scoring (56-40) and scoring in transition (29-10) en route to a season sweep (2-0) of last year’s NBA champions.

“I was not looking for the money. I was looking for the opportunity that I was going to be a starter and play a decent amount of minutes,” said Bogdanovic, who signed a two-year deal worth $21 million with Indiana. “Talking to the coaching staff during the summer in free agency they told me exactly it was going to be this way I didn’t have any doubts (about) signing with the Pacers.”

Bogdanovic made 6-of-7 shots in the first half as Indiana (47-32) led by as many as 14 points, stretched the advantage to 22 in the third quarter and had it trimmed to 10 just 65 seconds into the fourth before pushing it to 25 with five minutes remaining.

He finished with a game-high 28 on 11-for-13 shooting, including 6-for-7 on 3-pointers, as the Warriors focused more of their attention on containing Oladipo with an extra defender or zoning from the backline to clog the middle to prevent his dribble penetration.

Bogdanovic, however, made Golden State pay for that strategy by coming off curls for open mid-range pull-ups before delivering the knockout punch from long-range. His last two 3s came during a 17-1 run when Bogdanovic spotted up in the corner in transition for a 109-88 lead and then another from the same location.

That effectiveness cleared the way for Oladipo who scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half to go with seven assists and six rebounds.

Offensive outbursts such as these have been common for Bogdanovic in his stops with the Brooklyn Nets and Wizards, but where he has made the most progress with the Pacers has been on the defensive end.

He doesn’t have the fastest feet and teams try to isolate him on switches, like the Boston Celtics did last season in eliminating the Wizards from the playoffs and how Kevin Durant attempted Thursday without much success. It’s not just the IQ but the effort that has gone to the next level.

“I improved a lot this summer on my footwork,” Bogdanovic said. “I’m being trusted by my coaching staff. I’m being put on a good offensive player. I’m just trying to be focused. Before the season I said to myself I really need to do better defensively especially because I’m a starter right now and I’m playing big-time minutes.”

Durant had 27 points but shot just 8-for-23. Bogdanovic made him play through contact and extended his defense to challenge one of the league’s most prolific scorers. Durant only shot 2-for-10 from 3-point range and looked out of sorts.

“It’s gotten a lot better, huh?” Oladipo said of Bogdanovic’s defense. “I just knew he was a good shooter. He’s done a great job defensively on some of the toughest wings in the world. We ask a lot of him on both ends.”

Thad Young was Bogdanovic’s teammate when both played for the Nets for two seasons. They lacked the supporting cast that he sees in this locker room.

“It’s just a matter of the players that’s around him. In Brooklyn we didn’t have these same type of players who were as dynamic as we’ve shown on the defensive end,” said Young, alluding to Oladipo, Lance Stephenson, Myles Turner and likely himself. “I think it really helps Bogey out. Bogey has done a hell of a job guarding certain guys. It’s his belief and the trust in the guys behind him also. In Brooklyn we didn’t have that trust in one another. If Bogey messes up he knows we have his back. We’re going to figure it out for him. … The way our defensive structure has been, its made for Bogey to make it tough on guys.”

While Washington had better talent than Brooklyn, it still lacked this kind of chemistry that has aided Bogdanovic’s growth.

“The team got his back. He knows what he needs to do,” Stephenson said. “When he pressures, guys in the unit got his back. He knows he can pressure, attack the ball because he’s got help. … The (small forwards) in the league are the scorers now. He’s got a tough job every night. He’s being doing a great job all season. With the help of the team defense, it’s easy for him.”

And Bogdanovic is quick to recognize Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis for what they do, too. Both have been solid in their calls and decision-making when it comes to defending the pick-and-roll which is required for any successful NBA defense today.

“I can switch some,” Bogdanovic said. “It’s really easy this year to play defense. Vic is one of the best two-way players. He’s always into the guy and leading us to be more and more aggressive.”

That contagiousness has rubbed off.

Follow IndyStar Pacers Insider J. Michael on Twitter at @ThisIsJMichael.