Gelabale Returns from Idaho

Terrence Vaccaro/NBAE/Getty

The Sonics recalled Mickael Gelabale from the Idaho Stampede Tuesday and will have him available Wednesday, when they host the Utah Jazz in their pre-All-Star finale. The recall was on schedule, as the Sonics planned all along to have Gelabale play six games in Idaho and return before the D-League's All-Star break.

In six games, Gelabale averaged 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He shot an impressive 59.7% from the field and 7-of-20 (35.0%) from three-point range.

"Gelly was way more good than bad, just kind of stuck out - which he should, somebody who's better than the players in that league," said Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo. "That's good. He had a couple of games where he had a really good half and a fair half. You'd like to see him go down and put two halves together all six times, but particularly the first game that's probably hard to do. I think in general he went down and acquitted himself very well."

While the Sonics already have a crowded rotation, Carlesimo said the Sonics want to make sure they get Gelabale in the mix at some point during the second half of the season to get a better look at him at the NBA level.

Mouhamed Sene is also on his way back to Seattle, but just for the All-Star break. The Sonics are pleased with the progress Sene is making playing for the Stampede. Sene has averaged 11.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 18 games, shooting 55.3%.

As for the Stampede, the team saw its D-League-record 18-game winning streak snapped by Los Angeles on Saturday and then lost against Monday at Utah. Still, Idaho goes into the All-Star break as the league's top team by three games at 23-7. Stampede Head Coach Bryan Gates, who worked as an assistant for the Sonics during summer-league play, will coach in Saturday's D-League All-Star Game in New Orleans.

In other news from Sonics practice, Carlesimo indicated it was possible center Robert Swift might move into the rotation at some point after the All-Star break, which could be a natural break in the schedule.

"When we come back," said Carlesimo, "maybe start over and say we've got to make some changes."

Carlesimo was generally pleased with the way his team responded to comming back to practice this week after taking the weekend off.

"We actually had two pretty good practices considering the days off," he said. "It was a little slow starting, but I think today was good."

D-League Update: 1/17/08

With your humble blogger back in Seattle, the D-League Showcase wrapped up this evening and the host Idaho Stampede closed things out with a 117-93 blowout victory over the "home" team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. That's the 11th straight win for the Stampede, who have not lost since the Sonics assigned center Mouhamed Sene to Idaho.

Sene played a big role in tonight's win. In 28 minutes of action, Sene made all six of his shot attempts, scoring 14 points. He grabbed 13 rebounds, blocked three shots and even picked up an assist and a steal before fouling out.

Here's what Matt Wurst had to say about Sene in the "Scouting the Showcase" blog on the D-League's Web site:

"One of the eight remaining NBA assignees, Sene is a second-year forward with the Sonics and one of the best raw athletes we have seen here in four days. He spent some time in the D-League last season, but has really improved since then. Very powerful around the rim, Sene also rebounds and blocks shots like an NBA player.

"After three quarters, he has 14 points and 13 rebounds and is a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor. I also think he just pulled a rebound off the top of the backboard. Not sure if he left change up there, though."

Thanks for the scouting report, Matt, though I think Todd Gallagher has some thoughts on making change off the backboard for you.

Live From Boise ...

Hello from Boise, Idaho, where I spent the afternoon and evening at the D-League Showcase. All 14 D-League teams have come together here in Boise to play two games apiece starting Monday and ending Thursday. I popped my head back in Qwest Arena well after tonight's action was over and saw a neat sight - all 14 teams gathering on the court for a group picture.

I overheard another writer describe the Showcase as "summer league in the winter," and that's not a bad way to explain it - albeit without the allure of top draft picks and other young NBA players. (And without the warmth - it is cold here.) The arena is crawling with scouts and members of NBA front offices. Former Sonics Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff is here, and I swear I saw an incognito Gregg Popovich. I also spotted Sonics Director of Player Personnel Bill Branch.

Qwest Arena is a neat venue, and a unique one at that. There is no concourse per se; the walkway is inside the arena, so fans never are away from being able to see the action. There's just one row of courtside seats on each side of the court, and the rest of the space is taken up by tables surrounded by chairs where groups of fans can get together to chat and take in the game. The most unconventional feature is that the arena is built into the neighboring Grove Hotel. Some of the rooms open up into the arena, a la the Skydome in Toronto. How closely connected are the hotel and the arena? Well, I was able to make it from my seat on press row to my room and back in less than two minutes of game action.

There's a Sonics slant to the presentation of these games, with former co-worker Pat Walker producing the Showcase. Sonics basketballs are being used in some of the in-game contests, and the Dunking Ushers showed off for the crowd at halftime of tonight's final game.

The headline story in the Idaho Statesman today about the Showcase was titled "Everyone has a story," and plenty of those stories include, at least tangentally, the Sonics. There are names I recognize from ties to the Sonics, whether it was playing for a summer-league squad (Will Blalock, Tony Bobbitt, Elton Brown and Kaniel Dickens) or making an appearance in training camp (Eddie Gill, Darryl Watkins). Jelani McCoy is playing for the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Idaho's Randy Livingston has spent two stints in Seattle, including last April. Desmon Farmer also spent time with the Sonics last year. It's actually probably surprising there aren't more Seattle guys here, but Roosevelt High's Marcus Williams is playing for the Austin Toros.

The marquee game of the night was, naturally, the hometown Idaho Stampede facing the visiting Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The Stampede got a scare in the end, but held on for a 93-89 victory, their 10th in a row. Idaho is 11-0 at Qwest Arena this season, and at 15-5 second in the D-League overall.

Sonics center Mouhamed Sene put together a strong performance off the bench for the Stampede, helping them take the lead in the second quarter and build it after halftime. In 21 minutes of play, Sene had 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked four shots. His size really changed the game.

D-League Update: 1/10/08

It's been a while since we checked in on young Sonics center Mouhamed Sene in Boise, where he is playing for the Idaho Stampede. The Stampede hosted games last Friday and Saturday, winning both to extend their winning streak to seven games. Idaho is 5-0 with Sene in the lineup.

Last Friday's game was Sonics Affiliate Night. Once a year, each NBA team is celebrated by their D-League affiliate, which wears the NBA team's jerseys and has promotions tied to the Sonics. As you can see below, Squatch made the trek to Boise to dazzle Stampede fans with his acrobatics. (All photos by Otto Kitsinger/Idaho Stampede.)

Sene had six points and 10 rebounds on Sonics Affiliate Night. The next evening, he posted 15 points and nine boards in 30 minutes of action.

Sene's averages: 11.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 53.8% shooting

Squatch leaps high in the air to dunk.

Idaho Head Coach Bryan Gates leads a team huddle. Former Sonics guard Randy Livingston is at left, one-time Gonzaga star Cory Violette at right.

D-League Update: 12/30/07

Time to check in on Mouhamed Sene in the D-League, where he is playing for the Idaho Stampede.

Assigned to Idaho a week ago, Sene has played three games - all of them Stampede victories. Idaho has won five straight games to improve to 10-5, which leads the Western Division and ranks second in the D-League overall.

Against Bakersfield on Wednesday, Sene scored eight points and had four rebounds. On Friday, he played a season-high 31 minutes and blocked seven shots, scoring nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Last night, in the second straight matchup with Anaheim, Sene had his best offensive game - 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-6 from the free-throw line - and added eight boards.

Sene's averages: 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game on 63.2% shooting.

UPDATE: This is great. Listen to the call of Sene blocking not one, not two but three shots on one possession on Saturday. Thanks to Mark Snider, the Stampede's play-by-play broadcaster, for passing that along.

Also, it's worth noting that you can watch Stampede home games live or on-demand through the team's Web site.