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