The totally redesigned Idaho Stampede opened Training Camp this Tuesday ushering in a new coaching staff and a slew of new players.  Gone are the high volume gun slingers and matador defenders of last season, and in their place comes a new crop of athletic freakazoids with a new attitude and approach to winning. 

While last year's team could be catagorized as a fun-loving bunch of guys that could put more points on the board than the thing could handle, they were also notorious wet noodle defenders on the defensive side of the court.  Points in the paint came quickly and often for Stampede oppenents last season and you could just see the dunkers and three point shooters licking their lips during warm-ups, just chomping at the bit ready to hit the court to pad their scoring averages.  But with Randy Livingston ((known as "Coach Liv" ) at the helm Stampede oppenents might be doing a little less three point lane walzting this season.  The Stamps have a whole new bag and they aren't just thinking about this being a rebuilding year, they're thinking championship.

But how you might ask can Idaho possibly compete for a championship in 2010-2011? Didn't the Stampede pick last in this year's draft?  And aren't the Stampede number 14 in the Power Ranking for the upcoming season?  And didn't they lose everyone from last season other than one reserve player?  Well, it's true they picked last in the draft and they're 14th in the Power Rankings and it's true that the high powered offensive jugernaut from last year that lead the league in possessions per game and put up the highest point total in one game in D-League history is off to greener pastures we must remember that with all that firepower came a 25-win season and a team that staggered off to an early vacation while missing the playoffs for the first time in eons.  And while the Stamps didn't get to choose early in the draft they got the type of players that fit well within Coach Liv's system.  These are solid guys and tough competitors.  Last season was fun and entertaining but it was tough not making the playoffs. Coach Liv is determined not to let that happen again. 

The Stamps are putting heavy emphasis on defense this season and they've got the talent to shut down many would be gunners.  They've got strong athletic players on the wings, quickness at the top and length near the basket.  Take in point Seth Tarver, former Pac-10 defensive player of the year, super quick guards in Lance Allred and number one draft pick (and lightening bolt ) Salim Stoudamire and big 6'11" Eric Boateng with the sideline-to-sideline wing span ready to swat anything in range-range being anything within the three point arch.  There's just a ton of athleticism on this team and they're going to make stops-lots and lots of stops.  Some say defense wins championships and this is something Coach Liv knows alot about.  By Coach Liv's side are two fine basketball minds, Associate Coach of Mastery Joel Abelson and former Boston Celtic (who guarded the likes of Michael Jordan) Assistant Coach Greg Minor.

Tuesday was the first day of Training Camp but you wouln't know it by how sharp and in shape the players look. Therefore do not count the Idaho Stampede out this season, in fact you can plan on buying your playoff tickets early if you'd like because by the looks of things the Stamps are going to surprise a lot of people in 2010-2011.  And let this be fair warning to the rest of the league to bring extra ice, oxygen masks, trainers and maybe even a portable hot tub or two because the Stamps are ready to go to work and they're going to D people up.

Pre-draft camps, off season trade rumors, free agency, coach firings and hirings, the lottery and the draft.  Oh man, it's so exciting for those bball crazies (and I'm certainly one) that can't get enough.

I guess I'm most pumped for the draft itself.  Remember when Omri Casspi, sitting on his old sofa, watching the draft on tv, barely able to watch because he was so anxious, got jumped on by all his friends in his home in Israel after the Kings drafted him?  Remember him crying happy tears?  I get choked up over that stuff.  It was kind of the same when Sundiata Gaines was told after practice one fine day that he was being called up by the Jazz, and then he phoned his mom!  Goose bump stuff baby.  Yup, that's up there with the movie Rudy, who while an incredible long shot makes the Notre Dame football team and the movie Invincible, the movie based on Vince Papale the bartender from South Philly who makes it as a walk on with the Eagles.

Maybe it's a great time because although I know the day is past and that my name will not be called by David Stern I still dream (often) of being drafted by the Knicks, hearing my name called, putting on the cap and shaking Stern's hand.  Yeah, living vicariously through the players, but also being very happy for them.  I guess when you coach bball your mindset changes from yourself to the players.  But to hear your name called must be magic.  And Miss Universe is...I would guess it's like that because the universe in that one moment is yours.

I happened to receive a phone call from the NBA yesterday morning.  I didn't have goose bumps or get teary-eyed, but when the NBA calls-man it's something.  I can only imagine the joy that a player feels just when his name is announced by the commish.  Good luck fellas, you may not know me but I'll be sportin' goose bumps for ya.

If you were fortunate enough to observe Coach Mac conducting practices over the course of this past season your impressions would probably be that he really knew his X's and O's on the offensive end and he went out and got the kind of players that fit well into his system.  This was certainly the case if you watched the Stampede play.  We scored big time. Anyone remember the night the Stamps put up 165 - in ONE Game?

Okay, so the Stampede didn't stop many people around the rim.  Offensive players from other teams salivated when they came into Boise knowing they had a good chance bolster their scoring averages a few ticks.  So while the home team ran and gunned their way to over one hundred points on over one hundred possessions, the visitors got to do a little of the same.  However, Stampede opponents usually burned out somewhere in the fourth quarter and the Stamps won.  Then the NBA came a callin' and the revolving door that is the D-League reared its ugly head.

At the beginning of the season the Stamps were wearing teams out, but that's when the Stamps had Tolliver, Gaines, Gansey, Smith, etc.  Tolliver and Gaines went to The League while Mike Gansey got traded and Lanny Smith tore up a knee.  For a time the Stamps had a shock blocker and low post scorer in Cedric Simmons.  He gave us a real inside presence and played well before heading off to China.  Lots of changes to be sure.  Patty Mills had a couple cups of coffee in Boise before sticking with the Blazers too.  But give credit to MacKinnon.  No matter who came in or went out the offense continued to put up impressive numbers.

What the Stampede ended up with were very good perimeter players like Taylor, Karl, Barrett and most improved player of the year Mildon Ambres.  Even Lance Allred chucked them up from outside.  But without a consistent low post man and more than anything an inability to stop anyone driving to the hoop The Stamps started dropping games and ended the season at 25-25 and just missed the playoffs.

Mackinnon knows his stuff, no doubt.  It would have been interesting to see how the season would have gone under Coach Mac if guys like Tolliver and Simmons had been around to protect the basket all season, but that's not how the D-League rolls and when players are moving from one place to another know one knows what will happen by the end of the season. It's crazy, but it's crazy fun trying to figure what will happen next too.

Thanks to Coach Mac for bringing his offensive style to Boise and we wish him well.  Maybe the next Stampede coach can build on the improved play of guys like Ambres, Bergersen, Hurdle, Yemi (no one can spell his last name), McKenzie and Dabbert.  Can't wait for the season to start and see what happens next in the flux we can the NBADL.

-lee tao

Umm, this is our new theme song. Thanks, Lee Tao Dana! -- Scott

Ridiculous Upside always with the latest, bout guys under the radar and the D-league's greatest
The NBA here is known as "The League," but the D-L's got passion, dreams and intrigue 
From Idaho to Texas, from LA to Maine, some little dinky towns, cats with big game 
Back to back nights, connecting flights, small cramped hotels we know so well
It all ain't easy, it all ain't fun, got 99 problems, but a broke J ain't one
Coach be screamin' then be blamin' but I catch him smilin' on the 3's I be drainin' 
They say I got hops, my rocker step drops defenders on backsides, smoothly as I glide by 
And head for the rack, you can crack back but when I'm on the attack and you got no choice but to take that 
Cause we got scouts in the house gotta post up this mouse with not an ounce of compassion 
displayin' all of the action of an NBA vet on money well spent
Just don't show the League no fatigue, keep provin'em' wrong, to show I belong no way can be wrong 
Like Sundiata and the others, i'll be soon callin' a mother at home on the phone she's gonna be cryin' cause she knows bout' all a my tryin' 
Always first in the gym and last to leave, I'll tell all who ask, it's the way to succeed 
I'm gonna make it, I got what it takes, tellin' NBA-TV it wasn't just fate I love the D-league 
though I got to say, free three striped gear we wear all day, taped up logos, corny pre-game promos, local radio blasts and futurecast, 
slippery balls and freezin' stalls in the locker room, no room to move, but players be tight and and get on all right 
It's all a part of the charm of the D-L for those here employed we know so well
When will I sign my first 10-day? a contract that is, so I can play? hey, got to be patient it's part of the biz  But that's how it's done, it is what it is  And like George and Weezie who made it up that hill I'll be movin' on up, you know I will And when I make it I won't be lazy, cause' me return to the D-league? You must be crazy!

by Lee Tao Dana

Go Idaho Stampede