2003–04 Lega Basket Serie A Explained

Prevseason:2002–03
Nextseason:2004–05
Lega Basket Serie A
T Bg:
  1. 0079B9
T Color:white
Season:2003–04
Champions:Montepaschi Siena
1st title
Runners Up:Skipper Bologna
Semifinalists:Benetton Treviso
Scavolini Pesaro
Relegated:Coop Nordest Trieste
Sicilia Messina
Teams:18
Games:34
Duration:October 4, 2003 – June 5, 2004
Top Seed:Montepaschi Siena
Mvp: Gianluca Basile
Finals Mvp: David Andersen
Ppg:25.5
Rpg:9.5
Apg:4.9

The 2003–04 Lega Basket Serie A, known as the Serie A TIM for sponsorship reasons, was the 82nd season of the Lega Basket Serie A, the highest professional basketball league in Italy.

The regular season ran from October 4, 2003 to May 9, 2004, 18 teams played 34 games each. The top 8 teams made the play-offs whilst the two lowest ranked teams, Coop Nordest Trieste and Sicilia Messina, were relegated to the Legadue.

Montepaschi Siena won their first ever title by winning the playoff finals series against Skipper Bologna.

Teams

TeamCityArenaCapacity
Air AvellinoAvellinoPalasport Del Mauro5,195
Benetton TrevisoTrevisoPalaVerde5,344
Breil MilanoMilanMediolanum Forum12,331
Coop Nordest TriesteTriestePalaTrieste6,943
Euro RosetoRoseto degli AbruzziPalaMaggetti4,000
Lauretana BiellaBiellaLauretana Biella Forum5,007
Lottomatica RomaRomePalazzetto dello Sport3,500
Mabo LivornoLivornoPalaLivorno Algida8,033
Metis VareseVaresePalaWhirlpool5,100
Montepaschi SienaSienaPalaEstra5,070
Oregon Scientific CantùCantùMapooro Arena3,910
Pompea NapoliNaplesPalaBarbuto5,000
Scavolini PesaroPesaroAdriatic Arena6,119
Sicilia MessinaMessinaPalaSanFilippo5,500
Skipper BolognaBolognaPalaDozza5,700
Snaidero Cucine UdineUdinePalaCarnera3,850
Teramo BasketTeramoPalaScapriano3,559
Tris Reggio CalabriaReggio CalabriaPalaCalafiore7,000

Season narrative

Preseason

The league signed a three-year sponsorship contract with mobile phone company TIM in September 2003, award the naming rights for the competition.[1]

Prior to the start of play, in August 2003, Virtus Bologna were excluded from the league due to financial irregularities (namely unpaid wages), they were replaced by Sicilia Messina, the losing finalist of the preceding year's Legadue, a proposal to expand the league to 20 clubs and thus include both clubs was not approved.[2] [3] Reigning champions Benetton Treviso were seen as the favourites to retain their title, teams Lottomatica Roma, Scavolini Pesaro, Montepaschi Siena and Skipper Bologna were seen as the main challengers, with Air Avellino, Coop Nordest Trieste, Mabo Livorno and above all Sicilia Messina seen as the clubs fighting to avoid relegation.[4]

Regular season

Montepaschi Sienna finished first in the league for the first time of their history, Skipper Bologna and Benetton Treviso finished equal on points in second place but Skipper was 2-0 in their direct confrontations and hence superseded Treviso. The title was strongly expected to be disputed between these three teams.[5]

At the other end of the standings, late promotee Sicilia Messina predictably struggled on the court - a relegation confirmed in the penultimate round seen as an achievement - and off the court, with financial problems and a perceived disinterest by the public.[6] The other relegated team Coop Nordest Trieste also struggled financially (along with some other Serie A teams),[7] both would declare bankruptcy in the course of the following year.

Playoffs

After reaching the finals for a historic first time, Montepaschi Sienna won its first championship after winning all of its playoff games.[8] Losing finalist Skipper Bologna's prior defeat of Benetton Treviso meant that Benetton, who had won the last two editions, did not compete in the final for only the second time in six years.[9]

Regular season

width=20 !width=200Teams !width=20 !width=20 !width=20 !width=35 !width=35 !Qualification or relegation
134 26 8 3014 2746Playoffs
234 25 9 2941 2730
334 25 9 2943 2640
434 23 11 2918 2761
534 22 12 2858 2808
634 20 14 2835 2816
734 19 15 2712 2653
834 18 16 2906 2905
934 16 18 2733 2734
1034 15 19 2744 2737
1134 15 19 2756 2759
1234 15 19 2850 2881
1334 14 20 2841 2944
1434 11 23 2765 2984
1534 11 23 2360 2623
1634 11 23 2834 2919
1734 10 24 2518 2842
1834 8 26 2768 3024

Individual statistics, regular season

Points

Rankwidth=180Namewidth=180Teamwidth=40
1. Charlie BellMabo Livorno25.5
2. Mario BoniTeramo Basket23.8
3. Alphonso FordScavolini Pesaro23.5
4. Mike PenberthyPompea Napoli21.3
5. Carlton MyersLottomatica Roma20.2

Assists

Rankwidth=180Namewidth=180Teamwidth=40
1.Sicilia Messina4.9
2.Skipper Bologna4.2
3. Tyus EdneyBenetton Treviso3.8
4. Robert FultzSkipper Bologna3.6
5. Fabio Di BellaLauretana Biella3.5

Rebounds

Rankwidth=180Namewidth=180Teamwidth=40
1. K'zell WessonEuro Roseto9.5
2. Matt BonnerSicilia Messina9.3
3. Tyrone GrantTeramo Basket8.2
4. Marquis EstillSicilia Messina7.8
5. Brooks SalesTeramo Basket7.5

Steals

Rankwidth=180Namewidth=180Teamwidth=40
1.Air Avellino3.9
2.Coop Nordest Trieste3.5
3. Jerry McCulloughMetis Varese3.0
4. Hugo SconochiniBreil Milano3.0
5. Fabio Di BellaLauretana Biella2.7

Blocks

Rankwidth=180Namewidth=180Teamwidth=40
1. Benjamin EzeTris Reggio Calabria1.5
2. Bud EleyScavolini Pesaro1.3
3. Alessandro TonolliLottomatica Roma1.1
4. Michele MaggioliAir Avellino1.0
5. Marquis EstillSicilia Messina1.0

Valuation

Rankwidth=180Namewidth=180Teamwidth=40
1. Tyrone GrantTeramo Basket24.5
2. Matt BonnerSicilia Messina22.8
3. Tyus EdneyBenetton Treviso22.5
4. Alphonso FordScavolini Pesaro21.8
5. Jorge GarbajosaBenetton Treviso19.9

Play-offs

Skipper Bologna vs. Lottomatica Roma

Semifinals

Skipper Bologna vs. Benetton Treviso

Finals

Montepaschi Siena vs. Skipper Bologna

Supercup

The Italian Basketball Supercup opened the season on September 27, 2003 in the PalaVerde in Treviso, it pitted reigning champions and 2002-03 cup holders Benetton Treviso against Oregon Scientific Cantù, finalists in the previous year's cup.[10] Cantù upset Benetton 85-79 to win its first trophy in 12 years, with Nate Johnson named MVP for his first game in Italy.[11]

All Star Game

The All Star Game was played in Genoa on December 13, 2004 in the newly opened PalaFiumara. The foreign All Stars beat Italy, bronze medalists at EuroBasket 2003, 106-99 after coming back from behind 55-26 down to force an overtime. Maurice Evans was designated MVP whilst Michele Mian won the three point shootout.[12] [13]

Cup

The Cup was contested between 25 February and 28 February in the PalaFiera in Forlì between the 8 best ranked teams of the first phase of the league. Benetton Treviso won the cup for the second successive season, beating Scavolini Pesaro 85-76, Jorge Garbajosa was named as the Final Eight MVP.[14] [15]

Awards

Gianluca Basile (Skipper Bologna)

Carlo Recalcati (Montepaschi Siena)[16]

David Andersen (Montepaschi Siena)[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.legabasket.it/news/20247/presentata_la_nuova_stagione "Presentation of the new season."
  2. http://www.gazzetta.it/primi_piani/2003/pp_1.0.110011366.shtml "Virtus Bologna is no more."
  3. http://www.legabasket.it/news/19284/fuori_la_virtus__ripescata_messina "Virtus is out, Messina retaken."
  4. http://www.legabasket.it/news/19600/ramagli_e_le_avversarie "Ramagli and the opponents."
  5. Fuochi, Walter. "Basketball decides its playoffs.", la Repubblica via Lega Basket, 10 May 2004. Retrieved on 5 June 2015.
  6. Tartamella, Fabio. "Sicilia Basket's dream finished in debts and defeats..", la Repubblica via Lega Basket, 7 May 2004. Retrieved on 5 June 2015.
  7. http://www.legabasket.it/news/31907/a_trieste_si_taglia "Trieste is trimming."
  8. Franco, Simone. "Great Siena the Italian champion." La Gazzetta dello Sport via Lega Basket, 5 June 2004. Retrieved on 6 June 2015.
  9. Maffei, Luigi. "Basile sends Benetton on holiday: Siena-Bologna final.", Il Gazzettino via Lega Basket, 30 May 2004. Retrieved on 6 June 2015.
  10. http://www.legabasket.it/news/20209/le_ultime_sulla_supercoppa "The latest on the Supercup."
  11. http://www.legabasket.it/news/20246/cant__vince_davanti_a_800_tifosi "Cantù wins in front of 800 fans."
  12. http://www.legabasket.it/news/23729/l_italia_cede_di_un_punto_nell_overtime "Italy falls by a point in overtime."
  13. http://195.56.77.208/other/allstar.phtml "All Star Game – all the results."
  14. http://www.legabasket.it/news/27185/da_domani_a_forl___otto_buoni_motivi_per_vincere "From tomorrow in Forlì: eight good reasons to win."
  15. Vatrella, Davide. "Benetton is the true queen of the Cup.", La Tribuna di Treviso via Lega Basket, 29 February 2004. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.
  16. http://www.legabasket.it/news/31663/basile_e_recalcati_votati_atleta_e_coach_dell_anno "Basile and Recalcati voted athlete and coach of the year."
  17. http://www.legabasket.it/news/31885/andersen_mvp_della_montepaschi_campione "Andersen MVP of the champion Montepaschi."