Blazers’ Splitter on Dundon reports: ‘Trying to be a pro’

San Antonio — portland trail blazers Interim head coach Tiago Splitter said he is “just trying to be a professional” and focused on the team’s first playoff appearance in five years as new owner Tom Dundon is reported to be talking to outside candidates to replace him.

“Just trying to be a professional,” Splitter said before the Blazers’ 106–103 win. San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. “[I] Try to focus on my locker room and my staff and think about basketball. “Like when I got the job and all that stuff was going on.”

Splitter was named Portland’s interim head coach after Chauncey Billups was arrested by the FBI as part of a federal investigation into a high-stakes poker scheme involving the Mafia. Billups pleaded innocent to money laundering and wire fraud charges.

Splitter took over the morning after Billups’ arrest and led the team to a 42–40 record, the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, and the development of an All-Star forward. deni avdijaWho was named a finalist for Most Improved Player this season.

Sources close to the situation told ESPN that Splitter was given an increase in his assistant coaching salary and a long-term contract was discussed during the season. Sources said the salary he was offered to remain as head coach was well below the standard NBA head coaching salary, and further discussions were postponed until after the season.

“He was stuck in a tough situation,” Avdija said after the Blazers tied the series on Tuesday night. “It wasn’t easy for him to suddenly take over the head job. But I think he’s done an amazing job. He’s getting the best out of everybody. He has confidence in every one of his players and we love playing for them. He’s a winner, he’s competitive. He knows what it’s like to win championships. He’s passionate and has all the tools to be a great coach and that’s what he’s doing.”

The Oregonian reported last week that Dundon wanted to pay a head coach $1 million a year. According to the report, his goal is to run the organization more efficiently, as he did when he purchased the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. On Sunday, the Rose Garden reported that as part of the franchise’s new cost-cutting measures, the Blazers did not bring any of their two-way players on the road for the playoffs, something that no other playoff team did.

NBA reporter Jake Fisher reported this week that Dundon had begun talking to 15 to 20 potential candidates, including college coaches and NBA assistant coaches.

One of the Blazers’ other recent cost-cutting moves was to cut complimentary tickets to home playoff games for support staff, sources told ESPN.

When asked before Tuesday night’s Game 2 if the strange situation was affecting the team as it prepares for the playoffs, Splitter said he spoke to players at the beginning of the play-in tournament and advised them that “right now is not the time to be on your social media and read everything that’s on there or even on TV. Some coaches gave me that advice. I know it’s hard. Social media is part of our lives, but I’m just focused on basketball.” “Trying to concentrate.”