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 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

Percentages: FG .513, FT .778. Three-point goals: 2-11, .182 (Korver 1-2, Williams 1-2, Brewer 0-1, Kirilenko 0-2, Okur 0-4). Team rebounds: 10. Team turnovers: 17 (14 PTS). Blocked shots: 3 (Millsap 2, Kirilenko). Turnovers: 15 (Williams 4, Kirilenko 3, Brewer 2, Harpring 2, Okur 2, Korver, Millsap). Steals: 14 (Boozer 5, Williams 4, Kirilenko 2, Brewer, Harpring, Price). Technical fouls: None.

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.