Originally published Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Notebook | D-League coach praises work of Mickael Gelebale, Mouhamed Sene
Sometimes winning isn't enough. Not when you're Bryan Gates. He has coached the Idaho Stampede to the best record in the NBA Developmental...
Seattle Times staff
Wednesday's game at a glance
Player of the game: Utah forward Carlos Boozer had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to record his first NBA triple-double. He also had five steals and didn't commit a turnover in almost 38 minutes.
Play of the game: A Durant steal ignited a first-quarter fast break. He passed to Ridnour, who passed back for a Durant dunk.
Key statistic: The Jazz converted 63.6 percent of its field goals (21 of 33) in the second half and scored 63 points.
Up next: Memphis, 7 p.m. Tuesday at KeyArena.
Sometimes winning isn't enough. Not when you're Bryan Gates.
He has coached the Idaho Stampede to the best record in the NBA Developmental League and guided the team to an 18-game winning streak, which is the best in league history.
In addition to juggling minutes to players in the NBA's minor league, he has the overriding responsibility of developing Sonics center Mouhamed Sene, and swingman Mickael Gelebale, who spent six games with the Stampede before returning to Seattle on Tuesday.
"We haven't had any problems because the players have been so talented," Gates said. "Right now, Mouhamed is sixth in rebounding and fourth in blocks. You're going to play somebody like that. ... Mo and Mickeal are a big part of what we're doing."
Sene has played 18 games for the Stampede, and he's averaging 11.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.06 blocks. In six games, Gelebale had a team-leading 17.8 scoring average and he sank a game-winning shot to beat Anaheim.
"Opportunity and minutes are the currency for development, and both Mo and Gelly have had the opportunity to play through their setbacks and manage their successes," Sonics general manager Sam Presti said. "They've shown us some growth."
Gelebale and Sene may have the NBA cache, but Gates hasn't disrupted team chemistry to cater to them. Sene has been a reserve in every game and Gelebale garnered one start because of an injury.
Idaho (23-7) is led by 2006-07 league MVP Randy Livingston, Lance Allred and Corey Violette. The trio will play in the D-League All-Star game that's being coached by Gates and assistant Ray Lopes.
"You have to win games, but the most important thing is you have to show progress in your players," Gates said. "Last year, we had two guys get called up [Livingston and Luke Jackson], and both finished in the NBA. That stuff gets recognized."
Note
• Coach P.J. Carlesimo intends to use the second half of the season to evaluate players such as C Robert Swift, C Johan Petro, G Luke Ridnour, swingman Delonte West and Gelebale at the expense of others, including starters.
"I don't think that's an easy sell," Carlesimo said. "That's a reality. This is the way we're going to do it. That's been one of our dilemmas from day one. We don't have a real clear-cut hierarchy on this team."
| UTAH | |||||||
| min | fgm-a | ftm-a | or-t | a | pf | pts | |
| Kirilenko | 26:55 | 2-6 | 4-6 | 0-3 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Boozer | 37:38 | 9-16 | 4-6 | 3-11 | 10 | 4 | 22 |
| Okur | 39:01 | 8-17 | 4-4 | 4-10 | 2 | 3 | 20 |
| Williams | 35:07 | 5-9 | 6-6 | 2-3 | 10 | 1 | 17 |
| Brewer | 25:20 | 7-11 | 2-2 | 1-2 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
| Millsap | 18:31 | 3-7 | 4-4 | 3-6 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Price | 12:53 | 2-4 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| Harpring | 21:05 | 4-7 | 1-5 | 1-3 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Korver | 21:50 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Collins | 0:50 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miles | 0:50 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 41-80 | 28-36 | 14-41 | 28 | 20 | 112 | |
| SEATTLE | |||||||
| min | fgm-a | ftm-a | or-t | a | pf | pts | |
| Green | 20:10 | 4-5 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Wilcox | 32:56 | 3-9 | 5-6 | 0-3 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| Thomas | 29:51 | 4-9 | 2-2 | 6-13 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Watson | 30:18 | 3-8 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 14 | 3 | 7 |
| Durant | 34:40 | 7-17 | 5-6 | 0-3 | 0 | 2 | 19 |
| Petro | 13:53 | 4-6 | 0-2 | 3-6 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Collison | 19:20 | 4-6 | 1-2 | 1-4 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Ridnour | 17:42 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Szczerbiak | 16:17 | 2-8 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Wilkins | 24:53 | 6-11 | 2-2 | 4-5 | 4 | 1 | 14 |
| Totals | 38-84 | 15-20 | 15-39 | 27 | 24 | 93 | |
Percentages: FG .452, FT .750. Three-point goals: 2-11, .182 (Szczerbiak 1-2, Watson 1-3, Green 0-1, Ridnour 0-1, Wilkins 0-1, Durant 0-3). Team rebounds: 8. Team turnovers: 20 (24 PTS). Blocked shots: 3 (Collison, Thomas, Wilkins). Turnovers: 18 (Durant 3, Szczerbiak 3, Thomas 3, Watson 3, Ridnour 2, Wilcox 2, Green, Wilkins). Steals: 9 (Wilcox 4, Durant 2, Watson 2, Wilkins). Technical fouls: Defensive three second, 11:50 second.
| Utah | 27 | 22 | 32 | 31 — 112 |
| Seattle | 24 | 23 | 26 | 20 — 93 |
Attendance: 10,618 (17,072). Time: 2:10. Officials: Jack Nies, Bennie Adams, Eli Roe.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
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