Notebook: Carlesimo on Sene's Progress

I didn't get to this last night, but Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo talked before the game with Houston about the progress of center Mouhamed Sene in the D-League with the Idaho Stampede.

"He's doing very, very well," said Carlesimo. "I talked to him when he was in Bakersfield or going to Bakersfield the other day. I think in the beginning he understood, but he probably didn't embrace it. I think being there now and getting the regular minutes, he really likes it. We've had a lot of guys on Sam (Presti)'s side go down - (Director of Pro Player Personnel) Billy Branch has been down, (Director of Basketball Technology) Paul (Rivers) has been down, (Assistant GM) Rich (Cho) has been down. I think we've got to get one of our guys (coaching staff) down right now (during the homestand) so we can see him."

Carlesimo said the Sonics have not discussed when to bring Sene back to the NBA.

"I think he's doing way more good there and it's doing way more good for him than it would be here," he said. I guess we've got to balance - we don't want him to forget everybody's name and stuff like that. It's really a good thing."

- Sonics center Robert Swift went through the entire practice with the team as he works his way back into action after lingering aftereffects of his ACL surgery sidelined him in mid-November. Swift has been doing some 1-on-0 drills, but this was the most extensively he has worked with the team since then. Swift went through the entire practice of just under an hour, including a shell drill and a live transition defense drill.

"He looked OK," said Carlesimo. "He showed a little bit of rust, but I think it's good news he didn't feel anything during it. It will also be interesting to see what he's like tomorrow and the next day."

The Sonics will continue to be cautious with Swift's rehabilitation as he progresses toward a return to game action.

- With the team healthy besides Swift, Carlesimo has had to make decisions on his rotation to leave it at a manageable number.

"I'm trying to play nine guys for the most part," he explained, "depending on foul trouble and depending on matchups."

At this point, Luke Ridnour has stepped into the role of backup point guard, with Wally Szczerbiak and Damien Wilkins coming off the bench on the wings and Chris Wilcox up front. However, that can be subject to change depending on matchups and foul trouble. Johan Petro played extended minutes in both matchups against Houston as Sonics big men got into foul trouble defending Yao Ming. Meanwhile, guard Delonte West matched up with Dallas' smaller backcourt on Saturday.

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.