For most of the summer, Tiago Splitter’s system for the Chicago Bulls existed only in the hypothetical. But after training camp and four preseason games, an image is coming into focus of how the Bulls will play in their first season under a new coach.
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Splitter isn’t trying to reinvent the sport. His system is designed to be simple and effective, particularly to aid the development of young players such as Caleb Wilson who still are adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NBA.
The Bulls ranked 23rd in the league last season in offensive rebounding with 10.4 per game. Splitter’s Portland Trail Blazers, meanwhile, ranked second with a 14.1 average — and led the league in second-chance scoring with 18.5 points per game.
Splitter intends to bring that same emphasis to the Bulls.
“It’s something that we weren’t really used to,” guard Tre Jones said. “We’re trying to get everyone on the same page there, just crashing on the boards.
“Now, everybody needs to crash. Instead of it just being a couple guys each possession or a couple spots on the court, it’s everybody trying to go in some way or shape.”
The effectiveness of this tactic has been somewhat limited in the preseason because of the absence of centers Nic Claxton, Zach Collins and Tobe Awaka. Awaka — who is expected to return in time for Wednesday’s regular-season opener after suffering knee soreness from a collision — is a particularly elite offensive rebounder who could carve out a niche for himself through that skill.
But offensive boards don’t belong to the bigs alone. Even guards like Jones will be asked to pursue shots and crash in their own way, rather than heading back toward the defensive end to guard against a potential fast break.
This is a slight gamble due to the opening it leaves opposing teams, but the Bulls are confident the risk is worth the reward.
“It’s something that analytics backs up as well,” Jones said. “We can steal more possessions throughout the game, get more shots up that way as well, and it leads to more points.
“It’s something little, but it wears on a team throughout the game. … If all guys are going, they’ve got to box out as well. They can’t really leak out as much. There’s ways to do it where you’re not just shooting yourself in the foot.”
This commitment to offensive rebounding is designed to annoy opponents — and that’s a common theme of Splitter’s vision for the Bulls, both this season and in the long term.
Jones described the Bulls’ defensive mindset as “trying to climb up into” opposing teams, applying pressure high and creating discomfort wherever possible. This translates into perimeter pressure, something the Bulls struggled with in the past because they lacked a rim protector on the block — which they hope to alleviate with Claxton.
The length and mobility of the Bulls’ deep frontcourt also will contribute to a layered approach toward switching at the point of attack. The Bulls feel comfortable asking players such as Claxton and Matas Buzelis to switch up and down positions, but that flexibility also can be a challenge for younger defenders.
Whether switching or staying, players such as Wilson face a steep learning curve to perfect this style of defense.
“I mean, when it comes to screen navigation, I’m humongous,” Wilson said. “So it’s hard to get through screens. I’m working on being more physical before it, being in the right place on the court.
“That’s the biggest adjustment for me. I don’t feel like I have trouble guarding someone one-on-one. Somebody just blowing past me on the perimeter, I don’t feel like that happens as much as me just not being in the right spot. It’s stuff that you learn as a rookie.”
Splitter talks often about playing by “small rules” that shape a team’s approach to any individual play. These rules exist on offense and defense, creating a simplified framework by which Splitter hopes his young team can navigate games on its own rather than requiring possession-by-possession guidance.
At times, it will be important to step in and reset for Wilson and his young teammates. But Splitter doesn’t want the offense to feel overly structured, especially for a developing group that’s more focused on learning good habits than installing a complicated playbook.
“It’s a balance,” Splitter said. “When you have random basketball, when you’re running in transition, when you’re just playing out of small rules that we have — running to the corners, playing fast, quick pick-and-rolls, flair — that’s a little bit like playing a position and it’s random. It’s hard to call a specific play.
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“When you call a play, it’s a little different. That’s slower, that’s after a free throw, after a dead ball. This is when you get to give the ball to the guys you want and try different things.”
That experimentation won’t stop when the regular season starts. Although Splitter’s system is taking shape, it can be expected to adapt and grow throughout this season as the new coach learns his team’s strengths — and its limitations.