# 2014–15 Lega Basket Serie A

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, 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

| 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.
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.

### 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. 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.

### 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.

#### Finals

Having won the decisive game 6 after three overtimes, 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.

## 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 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 3 | Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia | 30 | 21 | 9 | 2317 | 2219 | 1.044 | 42 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 4 | Dolomiti Energia Trento | 30 | 19 | 11 | 2440 | 2402 | 1.016 | 38 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 5 | Banco di Sardegna Sassari | 30 | 19 | 11 | 2549 | 2435 | 1.047 | 38 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 6 | Enel Brindisi | 30 | 16 | 14 | 2280 | 2231 | 1.022 | 32 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 7 | Acqua Vitasnella Cantù | 30 | 15 | 15 | 2389 | 2354 | 1.015 | 30 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 8 | Granarolo Bologna | 30 | 15 | 15 | 2331 | 2416 | 0.965 | 28 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 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 | 30 | 8 | 22 | 2253 | 2394 | 0.941 | 15 | Relegation to Serie A2 Gold |
* ↑ 2 points deducted to Bologna for tax and social security contributions payment arrears.
* ↑ 1 point deducted to Caserta for income tax payment arrears.

### 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 | |

### 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 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | EA7 Emporio Armani Milano | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Granarolo Bologna | 0 | | | | | | |
| 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 | 4 | | | |
| 5 | Banco di Sardegna Sassari | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Banco di Sardegna Sassari | 3 | | | | 5 | Banco di Sardegna Sassari | 4 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia | 3 |
| 2 | Umana Reyer Venezia | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia | 3 |
| 7 | Acqua Vitasnella Cantu | 2 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Acqua Vitasnella Cantu | 2 | 2 | Umana Reyer Venezia | 3 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia | 4 | | | |
| 3 | Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia | 3 | 3 | Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia | 4 | | | |
| 6 | Enel Brindisi | 2 | | | | | | |

## Awards

* Most Valuable Player:
    Tony Mitchell (Dolomiti Energia Trento)
* Coach of the year:
    Maurizio Buscaglia (Dolomiti Energia Trento)
* Best player under 22:
    Simone Fontecchio (Granarolo Bologna)
* Executive of the year:
    Salvatore Trainotti (Dolomiti Energia Trento)
* Finals MVP:
    Rakim Sanders (Banco di Sardegna Sassari)