Coach Tiago Splitter finds out setting Bulls culture has growing pains

LAS VEGAS Tiago Splitters intent coming in: Coach the first few Summer League games so the Bulls young players get a sense of team culture and whats going to be asked of them under a new regime.As Mondays embarrassing 80-63 loss showed, it sounded good on paper.Hired last month for the job Billy Donovan stepped down from in April, Splitter coached his second Summer League game Monday after a few days of running practices and film sessions and answering some of the most burning questions about the Bulls (0-2).The hottest one seems to be about the style of play hell implement on offense.

Having won an NBA title with the Spurs 12 years ago, and having taken the Trail Blazers into the playoffs unexpectedly as their interim coach last season, he insisted that he wanted a share-the-ball mindset.On the other hand, hes quickly established himself as a players coach, in the words of rookie Caleb Wilson.

So when he saw Wilson heat up from the outside in the Bulls first game Friday, Splitter pushed his usual philosophy to the side for a few quarters and let Wilson cook.

The No.

4 overall selection from last months draft scored 35 points, including seven three-pointers, in a narrow loss to the Grizzlies.It likely wont be the norm for Splitter and it wasnt against the undermanned Jazz, who without Darryn Peterson, but it shows his willingness to step away from the standard when it works.We dont want the ball to stick, Splitter said.

Sometimes it will when a player like Caleb is feeling good about himself, but thats not how we want to play.

We know if hes hot or another guy is, its part of the game.

Were not naive.I dont like iso ball.

I like the ball moving side to side.

[Wilson] got to a moment there where hes feeling good, hit three threes in a row, and [theres] nothing you can do just watch it.

[But] once it calmed down, I told the guys, Listen, weve got to move the ball side to side.

Thats how I want them to play.

And make quick decisions, dont hold the ball.

[Isolation] is not how were going to play.Wilson had 19 points in his follow-up game.I just couldnt get it going, Wilson said of his latest showing.

I dont know what was wrong.

Thats on me.The next question for Splitter concerned the disappointing performances by No.

15 overall pick Dailyn Swain, who finished with seven points and four rebounds in 22 minutes of action against the Grizzlies and followed that up with an 0-for-9, four-point game against Utah.Then theres Noa Essengue, the Bulls first-round pick last year, and the growing concerns around him being able to stay upright.

There remains serious concern about the Frenchmans apparent lack of physicality, which Splitter discussed without pulling punches.Asked if Essengues season-ending shoulder surgery in December may be the reason hes looking tentative now, Splitter responded, I dont know if its because the injury.

Hes got to maybe bring a little more force in everything he does.

Thats something were working on.What if thats just not in his nature? What if Essengue just is what he is? After all, in the loss to the Jazz he was benched to begin the second half.Just wanted more from him, Splitter said of Essengues benching.

A couple turnovers, too many turnovers, and just wanted a little more ball-handling.