Tiago Splitter isn’t asking for perfection when the Bulls open preseason play Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns at the United Center. He’s looking for something a lot more basic - and a lot more revealing.
For Chicago’s new head coach, Game 1 is about seeing how a young roster handles the moment once the lights come on. Training camp can only tell him so much. Real game action, even in October, gives him a better read on what this group can do when things stop being scripted.
“Just reading the game,” Splitter said. “How are they going to attack?
How are they going to be physically? One-on-one situations.
Closeouts. How are rotations going?
All those little things that in practice, sometimes it's easier because you know what's coming, but in a game, you got to react to the game.”
That has been the tone from Splitter since camp opened: serious, patient, and focused on development rather than shortcuts. He’s made it clear the Bulls are still at the start of the process, and Wednesday is really about getting their feet wet.
Defense and physicality are at the center of that. Splitter’s vision for the team starts on that end, and the preseason opener should offer the first real look at how quickly the group can absorb that standard.
He also wants more assertiveness from Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson, especially when it comes to creating offense.
“I want them being a little more aggressive dictating the offense instead of just waiting to attack,” Splitter said of Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson.
Norman Powell echoed that message from the veteran side, saying, “I'm telling them to shoot the ball ... just reinforce them to give them the confidence to attack or take the open shot and play their game,” Norman Powell said of his veteran role. “I like it.
I like them being aggressive. I think our playing style and how we want to play fits what their strengths are.
So this preseason just being on them each and every single team they have the ball, look to be aggressive, look to attack, create offense.
The Bulls won’t be limiting the night to those two wings, though. Splitter said he plans to use a deep rotation and test out different combinations, something that often happens early in the preseason. That could even mean spending time small at the five.
With Nic Claxton out for the next couple of weeks and Zach Collins still awaiting clearance, Tobe Awaka is set to see plenty of minutes next to Jalen Smith. The team may also use Caleb Wilson and Noa Essengue in looks near the rim.
For Splitter, that variety is part of the point. Practice can only go so far in showing what a player or a lineup can do under real pressure.
“It's really hard to just evaluate guys from practice,” Splitter said. “Games are a totally different thing.
The lights are on. We got to see them play together.”
The Bulls will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday after Wednesday’s opener, then play two road games before closing preseason at home against the Timberwolves. After that comes the season opener in Toronto on October 21.
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