Portland’s Tiago Splitter Shares Coaching Philosophy

Portland, Oregon – Tiago Splitter, who joined the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant coach in June, recently discussed his coaching philosophy in an interview with Patrick Carney and Dan Krikorian.

Splitter ascended to the acting head coach position faster than expected, leaving fans eager to learn about his approach to the game. He reflected on his time with the San Antonio Spurs, emphasizing the influence it had on his coaching style.

“If you remember that second unit I played for with Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, myself, Boris Diaw, and Danny Green,” Splitter said. “That second unit was all about 0.5. You have 0.5 seconds to make a decision.”

He explained the importance of quick decision-making in basketball: shooting, driving, or passing must be done swiftly. Splitter encourages his players to shoot if they are open and to drive or pass when they have coverage.

“That Spurs squad changed the NBA game forever,” he noted, adding that he has brought Coach Gregg Popovich‘s fundamentals to the Blazers’ practice sessions. “We don’t want to create bad habits. That’s why every drill is short and fast. Sometimes even with mistakes, we prioritize space, speed, and quick decisions.”

Splitter emphasized that his coaching philosophy favors fast and simple play over complex systems that require deep thinking. He believes that overthinking can slow down a player’s performance.

At just 40 years old, Splitter is taking on his first head coaching opportunity after winning the French Cup. Fans and analysts alike are curious to see how far he can lead the Blazers this season.