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Bogdanovic’s Unexpected Start a Flop, Raises Questions for Clippers’ Lue

LOS ANGELES, CA – After being a surprising DNP (Did Not Play) for the first three games of the season, guard Bogdan Bogdanovic’s presence was made in a surprising way against the Portland Trail Blazers. Due to Bradley Beal’s absence with back soreness, Bogdanovic unexpectedly found himself thrust into the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Clippers against the Portland Trail Blazers, a move that ultimately backfired. Head Coach Tyronn Lue’s decision to start Bogdanovic, who had barely seen preseason action, was a gamble that failed to ignite the Intuit Dome crowd as intended.

Bogdanovic, after missing the first three games completely, played 24 minutes. He appeared out of sync and uncomfortable, culminating in a scoreless performance on 0-4 shooting, along with 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and a concerning 5 turnovers.

“He looked rusty, plain and simple,” said one analyst. “He didn’t get the reps in training camp and preseason that he needed, and it showed.”

The performance raises questions about Lue’s rotation and decision-making, particularly with Kris Dunn demonstrating strong play on both ends of the court. While Bogdanovic’s international play during the EuroBasket was lauded, his lack of preseason and regular season run with the Clippers clearly impacted his readiness.

Looking ahead to tonight’s contest against the Golden State Warriors, the starting five remains unknown. However, Bogdanovic’s lackluster debut against Portland should give Lue pause. While Bogdanovic is expected to contribute later in the season, particularly when Beal is sidelined, inserting him into the starting lineup so early appears premature.

While improvement is expected as Bogdanovic gains rhythm, Clippers fans should temper expectations in the short term. Ultimately, finding a consistent role for him will be key for Lue as he navigates a deep roster with championship aspirations, without shrinking the lineups for the playoffs.

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