Tiago Splitter has turned a turbulent stretch into a real breakthrough for the Portland Trail Blazers, and that makes his case to stay as head coach hard to ignore. After Wednesday’s comeback play-in win over the Phoenix Suns, Portland is back in the playoffs for the first time in five years, and Splitter has become the clearest answer for the job beyond this run.
The victory in Phoenix mattered for several people inside the Blazers’ locker room. Deni Avdija powered the comeback with 41 points, while Scoot Henderson delivered important two-way plays despite early foul trouble in a game that carried real postseason pressure.
Splitter’s key moment came when Portland needed direction
The turning point for Splitter arrived in the fourth quarter, when Phoenix led by 11 and Portland looked close to folding. He called timeout and told his players that the game was about momentum and runs, then urged them to stay patient and keep pushing.
That message fit what happened next. Portland steadied itself, kept defending, and found enough offense to flip the game, which gave the Blazers a comeback win and sent a clear signal about the team’s resilience.
Splitter credited the group’s response after the timeout and pointed to their ability to keep fighting under pressure. He said the players stayed with the scouting plan, kept believing, and “found ways to score” while also finding ways to defend.
A short run on the sideline has already produced a major result
This is Splitter’s first head-coaching role, and his playoff debut will now come against San Antonio, the team he won a championship with as a player in 2014. That matchup adds another layer to a postseason start that already has more weight than most expected.
Portland’s climb to this point was not simple, and the reference point is not just one win. The Blazers dealt with a long stretch since October, yet Splitter still guided them into the playoffs and gave the franchise a much-needed lift when the team faced elimination pressure.
Why the organization’s next decision looks straightforward
For new owner Tom Dundon, the logic now appears clear. Even if Portland’s first-round series ends quickly, Splitter has already shown enough reason to remain in charge after getting the team into the postseason.
The Blazers are headed to San Antonio as the seventh seed, and the first-round series begins on Sunday. Whatever happens in those four-to-seven games, Splitter has already made a strong case that his work in Portland should not stop there.
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