LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 16, 2021

Bojan Bogdanovic

Postgame Press Conference

Los Angeles Clippers - 119, Utah Jazz - 111

Q. After the terrific early start that you had to the game you didn't get as many shots up in the second half and obviously as a team the three-point shots started not to fall. Why was that, that they couldn't find you more easily, I guess, in the second half and just kind of from a shot-making point of view what was happening?

BOJAN BOGDANOVIC: I mean, they're a smart team. They adjusted. So they were not helping that much of me in the second half. In the first half, they were, we had a couple, I had a couple in the fast break. We had also a lot of shots of Donovan's that they were trying to double him and blitz him, but I think that that was not the key or not the point why we maybe lost the game today.

Q. Despite the loss, what do you think is going to be the key to step up, move forward, and get ready to get that win in L.A. and have the chance of tying the series?

BOJAN BOGDANOVIC: I mean, it's our defense and also our offense. We didn't start well the last three games offensively, a couple turnovers and bad shots. We are allowing them to get in the game with easy buckets, and then it's tough to guard them.

So like I said, our defense has got to be key. Our defense get us to into the playoffs and the No. 1 spot in the league. So we got to kind of be more focused and be more aggressive defensively.

Q. We know that Donovan is playing through a lot of pain right now and he's told us that he's having to play the game a little bit differently because he's used to being able to explode over guys and have a little bit more burst. Have you guys been maybe setting up plays a little bit differently and have you guys had to adjust to him playing differently?

BOJAN BOGDANOVIC: I mean, they were doubling him for whole game, so he was trying to find us for easy shot. We had, again, 54 threes, which is good for us. This is who we are. But, I mean, big credit to Donovan as well that's playing with the pain. He's trying to do and help us. I mean, it's not easy. It's not easy to play on that way. But, like I say, we all need to step up next game.

Q. You were talking about your defense, how you feel like there's some things that you guys can clean up there, and one of the things that we were hearing from coach was that he felt like you guys needed more communication. Did you feel like that that was a fair assessment and if communication-wise you guys weren't talking as much as you typically do and what we usually see when you guys are playing on a string, what needs to change there, in your mind?

BOJAN BOGDANOVIC: I mean, of course they play small ball almost whole game, so of course that is, it's big time for us to communicate better. Like I say, we allowed a lot of guys to get easy in the game, and then it's tough to help double, double PG or whatever. He had a terrific night again. But, yeah, coach is right. We got to communicate better, but also we got to be better on the ball and contain the guys, force them for tough shots.

Q. How different were the Clippers tonight without Kawhi Leonard on the floor? And about you, how important is it to be ready mentally-wise about Game 6?

BOJAN BOGDANOVIC: I mean, we knew that they were going to have a couple other guys that were going to step up, that were going to have a bigger role, more shots, but I think that it's all on us. We got to be better no matter who is on opposite side. We show a lot of times how good we are. I mean, there's no back. Next game it's the biggest game this season. I think that the way we played whole season we deserve a chance to have Game 7 on our court and, like I said, it's time to play defense and step up.