2003–04 Lega Basket Serie A

Teams

|Italy

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.

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.

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.

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Benetton Treviso finished equal on points in second place but Skipper was 2-0 in their direct confrontations and hence superseded Treviso.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.

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. The other relegated team Coop Nordest Trieste also struggled financially (along with some other Serie A teams), 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. 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.

Regular season

Individual statistics, regular season

Points

Assists

Rebounds

Steals

Blocks

Valuation

Play-offs

| seed-width = 20 | team-width = 200 | score-width = 20

| RD1-seed1 = 1 | RD1-team1 = Montepaschi Siena | RD1-score1 = 3 | RD1-seed2 = 8 | RD1-team2 = Metis Varese | RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 = 4 | RD1-team3 = Scavolini Pesaro | RD1-score3 = 3 | RD1-seed4 = 5 | RD1-team4 = Pompea Napoli | RD1-score4 = 2

| RD1-seed5 = 3 | RD1-team5 = Benetton Treviso | RD1-score5 = 3 | RD1-seed6 = 6 | RD1-team6 = Oregon Scientific Cantù | RD1-score6 = 0

| RD1-seed7 = 2 | RD1-team7 = Skipper Bologna | RD1-score7 = 3 | RD1-seed8 = 7 | RD1-team8 = Lottomatica Roma | RD1-score8 = 0

| RD2-seed1 = 1 | RD2-team1 = Montepaschi Siena | RD2-score1 = 3 | RD2-seed2 = 4 | RD2-team2 = Scavolini Pesaro | RD2-score2 = 0

| RD2-seed3 = 2 | RD2-team3 = Skipper Bologna | RD2-score3 = 3 | RD2-seed4 = 3 | RD2-team4 = Benetton Treviso | RD2-score4 = 0

| RD3-seed1 = 1 | RD3-team1 = Montepaschi Siena | RD3-score1 = 3 | RD3-seed2 = 2 | RD3-team2 = Skipper Bologna | RD3-score2 = 0

Montepaschi Siena vs. Metis Varese

Scavolini Pesaro vs. Pompea Napoli

Benetton Treviso vs. Oregon Scientific Cantù

Skipper Bologna vs. Lottomatica Roma

Semifinals

Montepaschi Siena vs. Scavolini Pesaro

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. Cantù upset Benetton 85-79 to win its first trophy in 12 years, with Nate Johnson named MVP for his first game in Italy.

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.

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.

Awards

• Most Valuable Player: :Italy Gianluca Basile (Skipper Bologna)
• Coach of the year: :Italy Carlo Recalcati (Montepaschi Siena)
• Finals MVP: :AUS David Andersen (Montepaschi Siena)

Notes

References

References

1. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/20247/presentata_la_nuova_stagione "Presentation of the new season."] {{Webarchive. link. (2015-10-05 , ''La Provincia via [[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 28 September 2003. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
2. [http://www.gazzetta.it/primi_piani/2003/pp_1.0.110011366.shtml "Virtus Bologna is no more."]''[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]'', Roma, 4 August 2003. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
3. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/19284/fuori_la_virtus__ripescata_messina "Virtus is out, Messina retaken."] {{Webarchive. link. (2018-09-29 , ''[[Messaggero Veneto – Giornale del Friuli]] via [[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 1 September 2003. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
4. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/19600/ramagli_e_le_avversarie "Ramagli and the opponents."] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-03-04 , ''[[la Repubblica]] via [[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 9 September 2003. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
5. Fuochi, Walter. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/30791/il_basket_disegna_i_suoi_play_off "Basketball decides its playoffs."] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-03-04 , ''[[la Repubblica]] via [[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 10 May 2004. Retrieved on 5 June 2015.{{in lang. it
6. Tartamella, Fabio. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/30669/il_sogno_della_sicilia_basket_finisce_tra_debiti_e_sconfitte "Sicilia Basket's dream finished in debts and defeats.."] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-03-04 , ''[[la Repubblica]] via [[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 7 May 2004. Retrieved on 5 June 2015.{{in lang. it
7. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/31907/a_trieste_si_taglia "Trieste is trimming."]{{Dead link. (August 2021). Lega Basket]]'', 7 June 2004. Retrieved on 5 June 2015.{{in lang. it
8. Franco, Simone. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/31834/grande_siena__campione_d_italia "Great Siena the Italian champion."] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-11-12 ''[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]] via [[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 5 June 2004. Retrieved on 6 June 2015.{{in lang. it
9. Maffei, Luigi. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/31588/basile_manda_in_vacanza_la_benetton__finale_siena-bologna "Basile sends Benetton on holiday: Siena-Bologna final."] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-03-04 , ''[[Il Gazzettino]] via [[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 30 May 2004. Retrieved on 6 June 2015.{{in lang. it
10. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/20209/le_ultime_sulla_supercoppa "The latest on the Supercup."]{{Dead link. (May 2022). Lega Basket]]'', 26 September 2003. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
11. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/20246/cant__vince_davanti_a_800_tifosi "Cantù wins in front of 800 fans."] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-03-04 , ''La Provincia via [[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 28 September 2003. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
12. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/23729/l_italia_cede_di_un_punto_nell_overtime "Italy falls by a point in overtime."]{{Dead link. (May 2022). Lega Basket]]'', 14 December 2003. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
13. [http://195.56.77.208/other/allstar.phtml "All Star Game – all the results."] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-03-28 , ''[[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]''. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
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."]{{Dead link. (May 2022). Lega Basket]]'', 24 February 2004. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
15. Vatrella, Davide. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/23729/l_italia_cede_di_un_punto_nell_overtime "Benetton is the true queen of the Cup."]{{Dead link. (May 2022). La Tribuna di Treviso]] via [[Lega Basket Serie A. Lega Basket]]'', 29 February 2004. Retrieved on 3 June 2015.{{in lang. it
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."] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-03-04 , ''[[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 1 June 2004. Retrieved on 6 June 2015.{{in lang. it
17. [http://www.legabasket.it/news/31885/andersen_mvp_della_montepaschi_campione "Andersen MVP of the champion Montepaschi."] {{Webarchive. link. (2019-12-15 , ''[[Lega Basket Serie A). Lega Basket]]'', 6 June 2004. Retrieved on 6 June 2015.{{in lang. it