Splitter’s Debut: Billups’ Impact & Expectations

Just hours after the arrest of Chauncey Billups, implicated in an FBI investigation into rigged poker games allegedly linked to the Mafia, the Blazers were on the floor to challenge the Warriors. At their head now, Tiago Splitter, the former coach of Paris Basketball.

“Frankly, it’s a complicated moment”admitted Splitter after the meeting. “We all think of Chauncey and his family. But we have a job to do. We must move forward. I had to be ready. I was, I am. »

On the game side, the former Spurs interior warned that it would be like in Paris. “There are already things that I have put in place since I arrived here two months ago. The pace at which we play is the same as the one we had last year with Paris. The rotations are similar… It’s not like I’m going to change everything now. It’s something we built collectively several months ago, and we’re just going to follow the plan. »

Dubbed by Steve Kerr

The Brazilian learned the news on Thursday morning, after spending the night watching the video of the defeat against Wolves. Woke up around 6 a.m., he was summoned a few hours later by GM Joe Cronin, who asked him to take the reins of the team. The latest addition to Billups’ staff, he overtook Nate Bjorkgren, who was more experienced and who had already acted as interim in the past. But it was the latter who himself recommended Splitter for the position of interim coach, believing he could help better by focusing on defense.

For his debut as an NBA coach, Splitter was therefore opposed to one of the references of the profession, Steve Kerr. The two know each other very well, and the Warriors coach praised the qualities of his counterpart. “I met him in Paris during the Olympics. He made an excellent impression on me.”says the Warriors coach. “Dave Kahn (the boss of Paris Basketball) told me that he would one day become an NBA coach. No one wanted it to happen in this context, but he’s clearly talented. »

In passing, Kerr felt that the Blazers had deserved their victory, and that the back-to-back excuse should be forgotten. “It would be a ridiculous excuse to talk about fatigue. They dominated us. This team has a real identity, they play hard, and the fans will enjoy watching them. After the Terry Stotts, Dame and CJ years, they have rebuilt well. »