Mon
52|31
Tue
55|36
Wed
61|41
It's 'do-or-die' time for Stampede
Idaho is in Texas for a one-game playoff series.
BY CHRIS LANGRILL - clangrill@idahostatesman.com
Published: 04/15/09
The Stampede ended the regular season with a loss - a painful loss.
A 108-102 setback to the Utah Flash in Orem, Utah, on Saturday prevented the Stampede from winning the NBA Development League's West Division.
A division title would have come with a home game in the first round of the playoffs. Instead, Idaho dropped to a No. 5 seed and will begin the postseason at the No. 4-seeded Austin Toros on Wednesday night.
Stampede guard Lanny Smith said the team spent some time in their last practice in Idaho on Monday talking about putting the Utah loss in their rearview mirror.
"We're kind of disappointed and upset with ourselves that we let that one go in Utah," he said. "But that's behind us now and everybody is focused. We're ready."
They better be.
After playing 50 regular season games, Idaho's season can end after one playoff game. The first two rounds of the D-League playoffs are single elimination.
"We can't come out flat," Stampede forward Brent Petway said.
Added Smith: "It's do-or-die now. You lose, you go home."
Despite the results of their final game, Stampede coach Bryan Gates likes the way his team performed down the stretch. Idaho won 10 of its final 15 games.
"I'm really happy with the way we're playing right now," he said. "The one thing we do is we play hard, and there's a lot of trust going on."
Gates hoped that guard/forward Luke Jackson would return for the playoffs, but he won't be available. Jackson injured his ankle March 13 and hasn't played since.
Also, Nate Jawai, who is on assignment from the Toronto Raptors of the NBA, suffered an ankle sprain last weekend and didn't travel to Austin. He could be available if the team advances past Wednesday.
"We're going to war with what we've got," Gates said. "We're the Mighty Nine."
Chris Langrill: 377-6424
Story Comments
We welcome comments but ask that you remain on topic. Some comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. Comments that are profane, personal attacks or otherwise inappropriate or are off topic are subject to removal. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Do not flag comments merely because you disagree with the comment.
- Owner of Boise firm XpressFlex used flex-spending money to fund legal battles of sister firm
- Ask Tim: Why is the Greenbelt closed at night?
- Obama, Democrats show command of health care votes
- Spotlight grows for Fiesta Bowl standouts
- Idaho's meth war is shifting from homes to highways now that the drug can be made more cheaply in Mexico or border states
- Abortion compromise doesn't satisfy critics
- Letters to the editor
- Early mistake dooms Kirk Smith in national wrestling title match
- Idaho junkyard owner faces stolen vehicle charges
- Zimo: (Almost) gone with the wind: Fierce storm shakes things up
IdahoStatesman.com
- CUSTOMER SERVICE:
- Terms of Service |
- Privacy Policy |
- About our ads |
- Copyright |
- work for us |
- contact us |
- Newspapers in Education |
- Buy Photos
- SECTIONS:
- home |
- news |
- sports |
- business |
- politics |
- opinion |
- entertainment |
- lifestyles |
- outdoors |
- special content |
- classifieds |
- shopping
