Photo: Portland Trail Blazers/X

A new defensive incentive has taken shape inside the Portland Trail Blazers locker room under interim head coach Tiago Splitter.

According to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian, Splitter and his staff have introduced a postgame tradition designed to spotlight and reward defensive impact.

After each Blazers victory, the coaching staff identifies the player they believe made the biggest contribution on the defensive end.

That player then writes his name down and places it into a small wooden box, creating a running tally over the course of the season.

Once the year wraps up, the players who appear most frequently will receive a prize that has yet to be finalized.

Splitter explained the idea as a way to reinforce habits and mindset, saying he wanted to give the team something tangible that acknowledges strong defensive performances and encourages consistent effort on that side of the floor.

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