2014–15 Lega Basket Serie A

Lega Basket Serie A
Lega Basket Serie A
Season	2014–15
Duration	12 October 2014 – 26 June 2015
Number of teams	16
Regular season
Top seed	EA7 Emporio Armani Milano
Season MVP	Tony Mitchell
Relegated	Pasta Reggia Caserta
Finals
Champions	Banco di Sardegna Sassari; 1st title
Runners-up	Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia
Semifinalists	EA7 Emporio Armani Milano; Umana Reyer Venezia
Finals MVP	Rakim Sanders
Awards
Best Young Player	Simone Fontecchio
Best Coach	Maurizio Buscaglia
Statistical leaders
Points
Points	Tony Mitchell
Rebounds	O. D. Anosike
Assists	Andrea Cinciarini
Index Rating	Luca Vitali
	← 2013–14 2015–16 →

The 2014–15 Lega Basket Serie A was the 93rd season of the Lega Basket Serie A, the highest professional basketball league in Italy.

The regular season started on 12 October 2014 and finished on 10 May 2015,^[1] after all teams had played 30 games each.The eight best ranked teams advanced to the play-off phase whilst Pasta Reggia Caserta was relegated to the Serie A2 after finishing last in the league table.

The play-offs started on 18 May 2015 and finished on 26 June 2015, Banco di Sardegna Sassari won their first title by beating Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia in game 7 of the finals.

Teams

Lega Basket 2014–15 – Club Locations

Team	City	Arena	Capacity
Acea Roma	Rome	Palazzetto dello Sport	3,500
Acqua Vitasnella Cantù	Cantù	Palasport Pianella	3,910
Banco di Sardegna Sassari	Sassari	Palasport Roberta Serradimigni	5,000
Consultinvest Pesaro	Pesaro	Adriatic Arena	6,119
Dolomiti Energia Trento	Trento	PalaTrento	4,360
EA7 Emporio Armani Milano	Milan	Mediolanum Forum	11,210
Enel Brindisi	Brindisi	PalaPentassuglia	3,534
Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia	Pistoia	PallaCarrara	4,000
Granarolo Bologna	Bologna	Unipol Arena	9,200
Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	Reggio Emilia	PalaBigi	3,500
Openjobmetis Varese	Varese	PalaWhirlpool	5,100
Pasta Reggia Caserta	Caserta	PalaMaggiò	6,387
Sidigas Avellino	Avellino	Palasport Del Mauro	5,195
Umana Reyer Venezia	Venezia	Palasport Taliercio	3,509
Upea Capo d'Orlando	Capo d'Orlando	PalaFantozzi	3,613
Vanoli Cremona	Cremona	Palasport Mario Radi	3,527

Season narrative

Supercup

The Italian Supercup opened the season on October 4 and 5 at Sassari's PalaSerradimigni, in a final four format. The previous year's League and cup runners-up Montepaschi Siena (also defending champions) did not participate after declaring bankruptcy over the summer. League champions EA7 Emporio Armani Milano comfortably dispatched Enel Brindisi (third in the 2014 cup) 71–59 in the first semifinal on the back of Linas Kleiza's and Joe Ragland's long-distance shooting (17 and 16 points respectively) in a mistake-strewn game.The other semifinal saw cup-holders Banco di Sardegna Sassari have an easy 89–73 win over Acea Roma (league semifinalist), with the hosts always leading and coach Romeo Sacchetti rotating his squad.^[2]

The final saw Sassari add a second title to their prior cup win, downing Milano 96–88.The Sardinians started the game on the front foot, leading the first quarter 29-14 while Milano struggled to score (0-for-6 from three).They continued to drive the game at the start of the second quarter but Milano found a way back into the game thanks to stronger defense and a stellar MarShon Brooks to answer with a 15–0 run from 36-18 down, with Sassari then finding their scoring shoes to finish the half 50–40. Three's from Ragland and Kleiza helped Milano claw back at the lead but Brooks missed the shot to equalise, with the quarter ending on 72–68.Sassari would stay in front for the rest of the game, with Supercup MVP Jerome Dyson entertaining the fans.Brooks led all scorers with 26 points, followed for Milano by Ragland (17) and Kleizia (16) whilst Dyson paced the winners with 25 and three other players had 14 points.^[3]

All Star Game

The All Star Game was played on 17 January 2015 in Verona's PalaOlimpia, players from EA7 Emporio Armani Milano were absent as the club was involved in Euroleague games at the same period.^[4]An entertaining defense-free game between Dolomiti Energia and Named Sport sponsored squads finished 146-143 for the latter, with a token appearance by former star player and Named Sport coach Gianmarco Pozzecco at the end of the game. Christian Eyenga was named game MVP whilst Andy Rautins won the three-point contest and the pair of Tony Mitchell and Kader Kam (from freestyle group Da Move) won the dunk contest.^[5]

Cup

The Italian Cup was held from 20 to 22 February at the PalaDesio in Desio. Banco di Sardegna Sassari won its second successive title by beating EA7 Emporio Armani Milano 101–94 in the final. David Logan was named the Cup final MVP.

Playoffs

Banco di Sardegna Sassari surprised regular season leaders and competition favourites EA7 Emporio Armani Milano in a semifinal game 7 overtime victory to reach the finals for a historic first time.^[6]

Finals

Having won the decisive game 6 after three overtimes,^[7] Banco di Sardegna Sassari overcame hosts Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia 73-75 during game 7 at the PalaBigi to win their first ever Serie A title. Sassari's Jerome Dyson's was named Finals MVP.^[8]^[9]

Regular season

Standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PR	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	EA7 Emporio Armani Milano	30	26	4	2584	2202	1.173	52	Qualification to playoffs
2	Umana Reyer Venezia	30	22	8	2400	2221	1.081	44
3	Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	30	21	9	2317	2219	1.044	42
4	Dolomiti Energia Trento	30	19	11	2440	2402	1.016	38
5	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	30	19	11	2549	2435	1.047	38
6	Enel Brindisi	30	16	14	2280	2231	1.022	32
7	Acqua Vitasnella Cantù	30	15	15	2389	2354	1.015	30
8	Granarolo Bologna^[a]	30	15	15	2331	2416	0.965	28
9	Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia	30	13	17	2307	2332	0.989	26
10	Acea Roma	30	12	18	2143	2210	0.970	24
11	Openjobmetis Varese	30	12	18	2418	2475	0.977	24
12	Vanoli Cremona	30	12	18	2308	2348	0.983	24
13	Sidigas Avellino	30	12	18	2283	2341	0.975	24
14	Upea Capo d'Orlando	30	10	20	2094	2222	0.942	20
15	Consultinvest Pesaro	30	8	22	2169	2463	0.881	16
16	Pasta Reggia Caserta^[b]	30	8	22	2253	2394	0.941	15	Relegation to Serie A2 Gold

Updated to match(es) played on 10 May 2015. Source: Legabasket
Notes:

^ 2 points deducted to Bologna for tax and social security contributions payment arrears.^[10]
^ 1 point deducted to Caserta for income tax payment arrears.^[11]

Results

Home \ Away	AVE	BOL	BRI	CAN	CAP	CAS	CRE	MIL	PES	PIS	REG	ROM	SAS	TRE	VAR	VEN
Sidigas Avellino		96–79	77–80	76–79	65–75	70–74	84–79	73–69	69–60	73–69	88–94	74–70	70–83	84–72	67–91	71–76
Granarolo Bologna	77–78		75–68	108–76	74–69	79–73	70–83	58–81	89–85	90–67	78–66	90–77	80–75	88–78	86–78	79–83
Enel Brindisi	81–67	75–64		76–75	78–73	60–72	81–65	73–85	92–56	89–77	56–79	84–54	76–74	82–74	69–71	74–81
Acqua Vitasnella Cantù	74–65	89–67	63–73		93–67	83–72	79–76	83–64	83–67	76–80	64–63	60–70	79–75	110–84	91–83	73–77
Upea Capo d'Orlando	67–81	63–72	66–65	79–71		68–64	57–74	71–57	69–70	71–74	67–73	70–73	72–71	67–68	84–71	67–54
Pasta Reggia Caserta	91–105	81–76	69–78	95–107	70–83		66–81	78–82	80–73	59–63	75–65	54–53	94–87	88–90	78–82	84–73
Vanoli Cremona	88–81	81–76	87–72	71–63	76–78	81–77		61–67	73–80	75–81	87–88	71–74	87–99	77–82	64–53	84–91
EA7 Emporio Armani Milano	95–78	117–92	77–68	83–64	98–69	78–71	94–61		96–61	78–77	118–68	77–56	97–80	90–75	79–69	80–71
Consultinvest Pesaro	62–77	67–70	93–101	83–103	62–60	80–70	74–89	61–84		82–86	75–74	89–87	71–75	57–76	85–96	89–90
Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia	61–68	72–73	70–83	88–87	94–73	87–76	76–83	73–79	84–53		92–78	94–84	81–84	86–69	87–103	82–90
Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	96–72	66–56	67–63	86–74	77–65	95–74	69–70	77–76	91–73	71–59		87–83	74–66	63–58	86–70	70–67
Acea Roma	81–72	90–84	80–58	75–78	67–63	75–62	63–50	68–79	76–80	70–63	66–56		75–84	68–75	87–78	62–72
Banco di Sardegna Sassari	81–75	89–76	87–78	86–69	70–68	95–84	88–82	111–112	92–64	96–78	87–74	72–61		84–92	71–79	88–80
Dolomiti Energia Trento	92–85	96–81	95–83	83–71	90–73	73–66	116–114	84–102	77–65	86–72	69–78	82–68	104–82		78–65	66–93
Openjobmetis Varese	66–73	83–73	82–93	93–84	80–73	84–80	86–82	97–105	70–80	67–71	112–118	78–73	113–117	70–76		53–67
Umana Reyer Venezia	79–71	96–71	76–71	80–68	90–67	88–76	82–56	74–84	84–72	66–63	59–68	74–57	90–100	90–80	98–95

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistical leaders

Points

Rank	Name	Team	PPG
1.	Tony Mitchell	Dolomiti Energia Trento	20.7
2.	Allan Ray	Granarolo Bologna	17.2
3.	LaQuinton Ross	Consultinvest Pesaro	17.1
4.	David Logan	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	16.8
5.	Jerome Dyson	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	16.2

Assists

Rank	Name	Team	APG
1.	Andrea Cinciarini	Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	6.2
2.	Luca Vitali	Vanoli Cremona	5.7
3.	Ronald Moore	Pasta Reggia Caserta	5.2
4.	Langston Hall	Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia	5.1
5.	Jerome Dyson	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	4.3

Steals

Rank	Name	Team	SPG
1.	Jerome Dyson	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	2.0
2.	Ádám Hanga	Sidigas Avellino	1.9
3.	Ronald Moore	Pasta Reggia Caserta	1.7
4.	David Logan	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	1.6
5.	Bobby Jones	Acea Virtus Roma	1.5

Rebounds

Rank	Name	Team	RPG
1.	O. D. Anosike	Sidigas Avellino	10.9
2.	James Mays	Enel Brindisi	9.4
3.	Shane Lawal	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	9.2
4.	Dario Hunt	Upea Capo d'Orlando	8.5
5.	Achille Polonara	Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	8.4

Blocks

Rank	Name	Team	BPG
1.	Shane Lawal	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	2.0
2.	Riccardo Cervi	Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	1.8
3.	Marco Cusin	Vanoli Cremona	1.2
4.	Delroy James	Enel Brindisi	1.1
5.	Dario Hunt	Upea Capo d'Orlando	1.1

Valuation

Rank	Name	Team	VPG
1.	Luca Vitali	Vanoli Cremona	19.4
2.	Shane Lawal	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	18.7
3.	Dejan Ivanov	Pasta Reggia Caserta	18.3
4.	James Mays	Enel Brindisi	18.2
5.	Achille Polonara	Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	18.1

Playoffs

Quarterfinals			Semifinals			Finals

1	EA7 Emporio Armani Milano	3

8	Granarolo Bologna	0
			1	EA7 Emporio Armani Milano	3

			5	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	4
4	Dolomiti Energia Trento	1

5	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	3
						5	Banco di Sardegna Sassari	4

						3	Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	3
2	Umana Reyer Venezia	3

7	Acqua Vitasnella Cantu	2
			2	Umana Reyer Venezia	3

			3	Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	4
3	Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia	3

6	Enel Brindisi	2

Awards

References

^ "Calendario Serie A Beko 2014-15" [2014-15 Serie A Beko calendar] (PDF). Lega Basket Serie A (in Italian). 24 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
^ "Basket, Supercoppa Italiana: Milano batte Brindisi, in finale contro Sassari" [Basketball, Italian Supercup: Milano beats Brindisi, [is] in final against Sassari]. Repubblica.it (in Italian). 4 October 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
^ Canfora, Mario (5 October 2014). "Basket, Supercoppa. Finale: Sassari-Milano 96-88" [Basketball, Supercup: finals: Sassari-Milano 96-88]. Gazzetta.it (in Italian). Sassari. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
^ "Basket, All Star Game senza i milanesi impegnati in Eurolega" [Basketball, All Star Game without the Milanese caught up in the Euroleague]. Gazzetta.it (in Italian). 5 January 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
^ Oriani, Massimo (17 January 2015). "Basket, All Star Game, che festa: e alla fine gioca pure il Poz" [Basketball, All Star Game, what a party: and at the end the Poz also played]. Gazzetta.it (in Italian). Verona. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
^ Di Schiavi, Vincenzo (10 June 2015). "Basket, semifinale gara-7, storica Sassari, Milano abdica all'overtime" [Basketball, semifinals game 7, historic Sassari, Milan abdicates in overtime]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
^ Di Schiavi, Vincenzo (24 June 2015). "Basket, finale gara-6: Sassari-Reggio Emilia 115-108 dopo 3 supplementari" [Basketball, finals game 6: Sassari-Reggio Emilia 115-108 after 3 overtimes]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Sassari. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
^ "Domestic roundup: June 26". Euroleague. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
^ Di Schiavi, Vincenzo (26 June 2015). "Basket, finale scudetto, gara-7: Reggio Emilia-Sassari 73-75" [Basketball, championship finals, game 7: Reggio Emilia-Sassari 73-75]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Reggio Emilia. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
^ "Italiani in serie A: solo il 47 per cento eleggibili per la Nazionale, i premi alle società, le penalizzazione di Virtus Bologna e Sutor Montegranaro, l'Istant Replay" [Italians in Serie A: only 47 per cent are eligible for the national team, prizes to societies, the penalties for Virtus Bologna and Sutor Montegranato, Instant Replay]. Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro (in Italian). 18 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
^ "Consiglio federale a Milano. Lega di Serie A e diritti televisivi, Serie A2 campionato unico, JuveCaserta penalizzata di un punto" [Federal council in Milan. Serie A league and television rights, single Serie A2 championship, JuveCaserta penalised of a point]. Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro (in Italian). 21 February 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Basket, Lega Awars 2015: pioggia di premi su Trento, Mitchell MVP di serie A1, Trainotti dirigente dell'anno, Buscaglia coach of the year" [Basketball, Lega Awards 2015: heap of awards for Trento, Mitchell Serie A MVP, Trainotti executive of the year, Buscaglia coach of the year]. GazzettadelleValli.it (in Italian). 8 May 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
^ Aquino, Luca (8 May 2015). "Virtus, Fontecchio nominato miglior giovane dell'anno" [Virtus, Fontecchio named best young player of the year]. Corriere di Bologna (in Italian). RCS MediaGroup. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
^ "Banco di Sardegna, Sanders MVP e top scorer della finale" [Rakim Sanders is the MVP and top scorer of the finals]. Lega Basket Serie A (in Italian). 27 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.

[table_note_BOL0.13826806430624-11] 2 points deducted to Bologna for tax and social security contributions payment arrears.^[10]

[table_note_CAS0.13826806430624-13] 1 point deducted to Caserta for income tax payment arrears.^[11]

[1] "Calendario Serie A Beko 2014-15" [2014-15 Serie A Beko calendar] (PDF). Lega Basket Serie A (in Italian). 24 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.

[2] "Basket, Supercoppa Italiana: Milano batte Brindisi, in finale contro Sassari" [Basketball, Italian Supercup: Milano beats Brindisi, [is] in final against Sassari]. Repubblica.it (in Italian). 4 October 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2015.

[3] Canfora, Mario (5 October 2014). "Basket, Supercoppa. Finale: Sassari-Milano 96-88" [Basketball, Supercup: finals: Sassari-Milano 96-88]. Gazzetta.it (in Italian). Sassari. Retrieved 14 September 2015.

[4] "Basket, All Star Game senza i milanesi impegnati in Eurolega" [Basketball, All Star Game without the Milanese caught up in the Euroleague]. Gazzetta.it (in Italian). 5 January 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.

[5] Oriani, Massimo (17 January 2015). "Basket, All Star Game, che festa: e alla fine gioca pure il Poz" [Basketball, All Star Game, what a party: and at the end the Poz also played]. Gazzetta.it (in Italian). Verona. Retrieved 14 September 2015.

[6] Di Schiavi, Vincenzo (10 June 2015). "Basket, semifinale gara-7, storica Sassari, Milano abdica all'overtime" [Basketball, semifinals game 7, historic Sassari, Milan abdicates in overtime]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan. Retrieved 27 June 2015.

[7] Di Schiavi, Vincenzo (24 June 2015). "Basket, finale gara-6: Sassari-Reggio Emilia 115-108 dopo 3 supplementari" [Basketball, finals game 6: Sassari-Reggio Emilia 115-108 after 3 overtimes]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Sassari. Retrieved 27 June 2015.

[8] "Domestic roundup: June 26". Euroleague. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.

[9] Di Schiavi, Vincenzo (26 June 2015). "Basket, finale scudetto, gara-7: Reggio Emilia-Sassari 73-75" [Basketball, championship finals, game 7: Reggio Emilia-Sassari 73-75]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Reggio Emilia. Retrieved 27 June 2015.

[10] "Italiani in serie A: solo il 47 per cento eleggibili per la Nazionale, i premi alle società, le penalizzazione di Virtus Bologna e Sutor Montegranaro, l'Istant Replay" [Italians in Serie A: only 47 per cent are eligible for the national team, prizes to societies, the penalties for Virtus Bologna and Sutor Montegranato, Instant Replay]. Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro (in Italian). 18 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.

[12] "Consiglio federale a Milano. Lega di Serie A e diritti televisivi, Serie A2 campionato unico, JuveCaserta penalizzata di un punto" [Federal council in Milan. Serie A league and television rights, single Serie A2 championship, JuveCaserta penalised of a point]. Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro (in Italian). 21 February 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.

[Pioggia-14] "Basket, Lega Awars 2015: pioggia di premi su Trento, Mitchell MVP di serie A1, Trainotti dirigente dell'anno, Buscaglia coach of the year" [Basketball, Lega Awards 2015: heap of awards for Trento, Mitchell Serie A MVP, Trainotti executive of the year, Buscaglia coach of the year]. GazzettadelleValli.it (in Italian). 8 May 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.

[15] Aquino, Luca (8 May 2015). "Virtus, Fontecchio nominato miglior giovane dell'anno" [Virtus, Fontecchio named best young player of the year]. Corriere di Bologna (in Italian). RCS MediaGroup. Retrieved 17 June 2015.

[16] "Banco di Sardegna, Sanders MVP e top scorer della finale" [Rakim Sanders is the MVP and top scorer of the finals]. Lega Basket Serie A (in Italian). 27 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.

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