2003–04 NBA season: Difference between revisions

2003–04 NBA season
2003–04 NBA season
League	National Basketball Association
Sport	Basketball
TV partner(s)	ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV
Draft
Top draft pick	LeBron James
Picked by	Cleveland Cavaliers
Regular season
Season MVP	Kevin Garnett (Minnesota)
Top scorer	Tracy McGrady (Orlando)
Playoffs
Eastern champions	Detroit Pistons
Eastern runners-up	Indiana Pacers
Western champions	Los Angeles Lakers
Western runners-up	Minnesota Timberwolves
Finals
Champions	Detroit Pistons
Runners-up	Los Angeles Lakers
Finals MVP	Chauncey Billups (Detroit)
NBA seasons
	← 2002–03 2004–05 →

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Revision as of 23:36, 12 February 2010

The 2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Detroit Pistons defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the 2004 NBA Finals.

Notable occurrences

This was the final season for the original two-division format in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, before each of the conferences added a third division the following season. As a result, this would also be the final season for the NBA Midwest Division, as the Minnesota Timberwolves were that division's last champion.
The Houston Rockets play their first game at the Toyota Center.
The All-Star Game was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The West won 136-132; Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal is named Most Valuable Player.
For the first time in 21 years the Portland Trail Blazers did not make the playoffs. Ending the second longest streak in NBA history.
For the first time in 20 years the Utah Jazz did not make the playoffs. Ending the third longest streak in NBA history.
The Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic introduced new team uniforms.
Prior to the start of the season, Karl Malone and Gary Payton took major paycuts to leave their teams and join Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal on the Lakers for a chance at a possible NBA title; that title chase came to an end in the NBA Finals, as the Detroit Pistons won 4-1.
Behind their "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, and Sam Cassell, the Minnesota Timberwolves amassed the best record in the Western Conference, and were expected to finally win a first round playoff series. They won two and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, which they lost to the Lakers.
Scoring in the league reached an all-time low. Many teams recorded their franchise lows in several scoring categories.
LeBron James (1st overall to Cleveland), Darko Miličić (2nd overall from Detroit) Carmelo Anthony (3rd overall to Denver), Chris Bosh (4th overall to Toronto), and Dwyane Wade (5th overall to Miami), among others, form one of the strongest drafts in NBA history. Among the highly touted rookies, Anthony and Wade led their teams to the playoffs, and Wade's play pushed the Heat into the second round. Miličić's Pistons won the NBA title despite his disappointing play. James went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year.
After eight losing seasons, the Memphis Grizzlies secure a 50-32 record to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. It was also their final season at the Pyramid, before moving to their new arena the following season.
All Texas teams make the playoffs in the same year for the first time in 14 years.
All Midwest Division teams finished over .500, but the Jazz missed the playoffs.
Scottie Pippen returned to play for the Chicago Bulls.
The Boston Celtics broke a long tradition by sporting white sneakers prior to their home opener against the Miami Heat. The white sneakers would become a norm on home games ever since.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

**Atlantic Division**
Team	W	L	PCT	GB
New Jersey Nets	47	35	.573	-
Miami Heat	42	40	.512	5
New York Knicks	39	43	.476	8
Boston Celtics	36	46	.439	11
Philadelphia 76ers	33	49	.402	14
Washington Wizards	25	57	.305	22
Orlando Magic	21	61	.256	26

**Central Division**
Team	W	L	PCT	GB
Indiana Pacers	61	21	.744	-
Detroit Pistons C	54	28	.659	7
New Orleans Hornets	41	41	.500	20
Milwaukee Bucks	41	41	.500	20
Cleveland Cavaliers	35	47	.427	26
Toronto Raptors	33	49	.402	28
Atlanta Hawks	28	54	.341	33
Chicago Bulls	23	59	.280	38

Western Conference

**Midwest Division**
Team	W	L	PCT	GB
Minnesota Timberwolves	58	24	.707	-
San Antonio Spurs	57	25	.695	1
Dallas Mavericks	52	30	.634	6
Memphis Grizzlies	50	32	.610	8
Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	13
Denver Nuggets	43	39	.524	15
Utah Jazz	42	40	.512	16

**Pacific Division**
Team	W	L	PCT	GB
Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	-
Sacramento Kings	55	27	.671	1
Portland Trail Blazers	41	41	.500	15
Golden State Warriors	37	45	.451	19
Seattle SuperSonics	37	45	.451	19
Phoenix Suns	29	53	.354	27
Los Angeles Clippers	28	54	.341	28

C NBA Champions

Statistics leaders


Category	Player	Team	Stat
Points per game	Tracy McGrady	Orlando Magic	28.0
Rebounds per game	Kevin Garnett	Minnesota Timberwolves	13.9
Assists per game	Jason Kidd	New Jersey Nets	9.2
Steals per game	Baron Davis	New Orleans Hornets	2.4
Blocks per game	Theo Ratliff	Portland Trail Blazers	3.6
FG%	Shaquille O'Neal	Los Angeles Lakers	58.4
FT%	Peja Stojaković	Sacramento Kings	92.7
3FG%	Anthony Peeler	Sacramento Kings	48.2

NBA awards

Most Valuable Player: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
Rookie of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Defensive Player of the Year: Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers
Sixth Man of the Year: Antawn Jamison, Dallas Mavericks
Most Improved Player: Zach Randolph, Portland Trail Blazers
Coach of the Year: Hubie Brown, Memphis Grizzlies
Executive of the Year: Jerry West, Memphis Grizzlies
Sportsmanship Award: P. J. Brown, New Orleans Hornets
All-NBA First Team:
- F - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
- F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- C - Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
- G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
- G - Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
All-NBA Second Team:
- G - Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic
- F - Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings
- C - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
- G - Sam Cassell, Minnesota Timberwolves
- F - Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers
All-NBA Third Team
- F - Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers
- F - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
- C - Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
- G - Baron Davis, New Orleans Hornets
- G - Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks
NBA All-Defensive First Team
- F - Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers
- F - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
- C - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
- G - Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Spurs
- G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- F - Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz
- F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- C - Theo Ratliff, Portland Trail Blazers
- G - Doug Christie, Sacramento Kings
- G - Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
All-Rookie First Team:
All-Rookie Second Team:

References

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695268141,00.html

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 *After eight losing seasons, the [[Memphis Grizzlies]] secure a 50-32 record to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.  It was also their final season at the Pyramid, before moving to their [[FedEx Forum|new arena]] the following season.
 *All [[Texas]] teams make the playoffs in the same year for the first time [[1990 NBA Playoffs|in 14 years]].
-*All Midwest Division teams finished over .500, but the Jazz miss the playoffs.
+*All Midwest Division teams finished over .500, but the Jazz missed the playoffs.
 *[[Scottie Pippen]] returned to play for the [[Chicago Bulls]].
 *The [[Boston Celtics]] broke a long tradition by sporting white sneakers prior to their home opener against the [[Miami Heat]]. The white sneakers would become a norm on home games ever since.