2003–04 NBA season

2003–04 NBA season
League National Basketball Association
Sport Basketball
Duration October 28, 2003 – April 14, 2004
April 17 – June 1, 2004 (Playoffs)
June 6 – 15, 2004 (Finals)
Number of teams 29
TV partner(s) ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV
Draft
Top draft pick LeBron James
Picked by Cleveland Cavaliers
Regular season
Top seed Indiana Pacers
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)
The San Antonio Spurs hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals at the SBC Center.

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.

Events

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 All-Star Game was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. 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.

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. However, 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. It would be their last playoff appearance, beginning a playoff drought that as of 2016 has lasted for twelve years.

LeBron James (1st overall to Cleveland), Carmelo Anthony (3rd overall to Denver), Chris Bosh (4th overall to Toronto), and Dwyane Wade (5th overall to Miami), among others, formed 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. James went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year. Anthony became the first NBA rookie to lead a playoff team in scoring since David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs during the 1989–90 season.

Tracy McGrady was the first scoring leader since Bernard King in 1984–85 whose team did not make the playoffs.

Coaching

Coaching changes
Offseason
Team 2002–03 coach 2003–04 coach
Cleveland Cavaliers Keith Smart Paul Silas
Detroit Pistons Rick Carlisle Larry Brown
Houston Rockets Rudy Tomjanovich Jeff Van Gundy
Indiana Pacers Isiah Thomas Rick Carlisle
Los Angeles Clippers Dennis Johnson Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Miami Heat Pat Riley Stan Van Gundy
Milwaukee Bucks George Karl Terry Porter
New Orleans Pelicans Paul Silas Tim Floyd
Philadelphia 76ers Larry Brown Randy Ayers
Toronto Raptors Lenny Wilkens Kevin O'Neill
Washington Wizards Doug Collins Eddie Jordan
In-season
Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach
Boston Celtics Jim O'Brien John Carroll
Chicago Bulls Bill Cartwright Pete Myers
Pete Myers Scott Skiles
New Jersey Nets Byron Scott Lawrence Frank
New York Knicks Don Chaney Herb Williams
Herb Williams Lenny Wilkens
Orlando Magic Doc Rivers Johnny Davis
Philadelphia 76ers Randy Ayers Chris Ford
Phoenix Suns Frank Johnson Mike D'Antoni

Final standings

By record

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-New Jersey Nets 47 35 .573 – 28–13 19–22 18–7
x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 5 29–12 13–28 15–10
x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 8 23–18 16–25 15–7
x-Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 11 19–22 17–24 14–10
Philadelphia 76ers 33 49 .402 14 21–20 12–29 10–14
Washington Wizards 25 57 .305 22 17–24 8–33 3–21
Orlando Magic 21 61 .256 26 11–30 10–31 8–16
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744 – 34–7 27–14 20–8
x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 7 31–10 23–18 17–11
x-New Orleans Hornets 41 41 .500 20 25–16 16–25 14–14
x-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 20 27–14 14–27 15–13
Cleveland Cavaliers 35 47 .427 26 23–18 12–29 14–14
Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 28 18–23 15–26 11–17
Atlanta Hawks 28 54 .341 33 18–23 10–31 10–18
Chicago Bulls 23 59 .280 38 14–27 9–32 11–17
Midwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Minnesota Timberwolves 58 24 .707 – 31–10 27–14 14–10
x-San Antonio Spurs 57 25 .695 1 33–8 24–17 15–9
x-Dallas Mavericks 52 30 .634 6 36–5 16–25 14–10
x-Memphis Grizzlies 50 32 .610 8 31–10 19–22 12–12
x-Houston Rockets 45 37 .549 13 27–14 18–23 8–16
x-Denver Nuggets 43 39 .524 15 29–12 14–27 11–13
Utah Jazz 42 40 .512 16 28–13 14–27 10–14
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 56 26 .683 – 34–7 22–19 15–9
x-Sacramento Kings 55 27 .671 1 34–7 21–20 16–8
Portland Trail Blazers 41 41 .500 15 25–16 16–25 13–11
Seattle SuperSonics 37 45 .451 19 21–20 16–25 11–13
Golden State Warriors 37 45 .451 19 27–14 10–31 12–12
Phoenix Suns 29 53 .354 27 18–23 11–30 9–15
Los Angeles Clippers 28 54 .341 28 18–23 10–31 8–16

By conference

# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744 –
2 y-New Jersey Nets 47 35 .573 14
3 x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 7
4 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 19
5 x-New Orleans Hornets 41 41 .500 20
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 20
7 x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
8 x-Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 25
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 35 47 .427 26
10 Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 28
10 Philadelphia 76ers 33 49 .402 28
12 Atlanta Hawks 28 54 .341 33
13 Washington Wizards 25 57 .305 36
14 Chicago Bulls 23 59 .280 37
15 Orlando Magic 21 61 .256 39
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Minnesota Timberwolves 58 24 .707 –
2 y-Los Angeles Lakers 56 26 .683 2
3 x-San Antonio Spurs 57 25 .695 1
4 x-Sacramento Kings 55 27 .671 3
5 x-Dallas Mavericks 52 30 .634 6
6 x-Memphis Grizzlies 50 32 .610 8
7 x-Houston Rockets 45 37 .549 13
8 x-Denver Nuggets 43 39 .524 15
9 Utah Jazz 42 40 .512 16
10 Portland Trail Blazers 41 41 .500 17
11 Seattle SuperSonics 37 45 .451 21
12 Golden State Warriors 37 45 .451 21
13 Phoenix Suns 29 53 .354 29
14 Los Angeles Clippers 28 54 .341 30

Notes

Playoffs

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.

Main article: 2004 NBA Playoffs
First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
            
1 Indiana 4
8 Boston 0
1 Indiana 4
4 Miami 2
4 Miami 4
5 New Orleans 3
1 Indiana 2
Eastern Conference
3 Detroit 4
3 Detroit 4
6 Milwaukee 1
3 Detroit 4
2 New Jersey 3
2 New Jersey 4
7 New York 0
E3 Detroit 4
W2 L.A. Lakers 1
1 Minnesota 4
8 Denver 1
1 Minnesota 4
4 Sacramento 3
4 Sacramento 4
5 Dallas 1
1 Minnesota 2
Western Conference
2 L.A. Lakers 4
3 San Antonio 4
6 Memphis 0
3 San Antonio 2
2 L.A. Lakers 4
2 L.A. Lakers 4
7 Houston 1

Statistics leaders

Category Player Team Stat
Points per game Tracy McGradyOrlando Magic28.0
Rebounds per gameKevin GarnettMinnesota Timberwolves 13.9
Assists per game Jason KiddNew Jersey Nets9.2
Steals per gameBaron DavisNew Orleans Hornets 2.36
Blocks per game Theo RatliffPortland Trail Blazers 3.61
FG% Shaquille O'NealLos Angeles Lakers.584
FT% Peja StojakovićSacramento Kings.927
3FG% Anthony PeelerSacramento Kings.482

Awards

Yearly awards

Players of the month

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.

Month Eastern Conference Western Conference
1October – November Davis, BaronBaron Davis (New Orleans Hornets) (1/1) Stojaković, PejaPeja Stojaković (Sacramento Kings) (1/1)
2December O'Neal, JermaineJermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers) (1/1) Garnett, KevinKevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/4)
3January Redd, MichaelMichael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks) (1/1) Garnett, KevinKevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) (2/4)
4February Martin, KenyonKenyon Martin (New Jersey Nets) (1/1) Garnett, KevinKevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) (3/4)
5March Odom, LamarLamar Odom (Miami Heat) (1/1) Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1)
6April Magloire, JamaalJamaal Magloire (New Orleans Hornets) (1/1) Garnett, KevinKevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) (4/4)

Rookies of the month

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.

Month Eastern Conference Western Conference
1October – November James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/6) Anthony, CarmeloCarmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (1/6)
2December James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/6) Anthony, CarmeloCarmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (2/6)
3January James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (3/6) Anthony, CarmeloCarmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (3/6)
4February James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (4/6) Anthony, CarmeloCarmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (4/6)
5March James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (5/6) Anthony, CarmeloCarmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (5/6)
6April James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (6/6) Anthony, CarmeloCarmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (6/6)

Coaches of the month

The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.

Month Eastern Conference Western Conference
1October – November Carlisle, RickRick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers) (1/1) Jackson, PhilPhil Jackson (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1)
2December Scott, ByronByron Scott (New Jersey Nets) (1/1) Popovich, GreggGregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs) (1/1)
3January Brown, LarryLarry Brown (Detroit Pistons) (1/2) Adelman, RickRick Adelman (Sacramento Kings) (1/1)
4February Frank, LawrenceLawrence Frank (New Jersey Nets) (1/1) Brown, HubieHubie Brown (Memphis Grizzlies) (1/2)
5March Van Gundy, StanStan Van Gundy (Miami Heat) (1/1) Brown, HubieHubie Brown (Memphis Grizzlies) (2/2)
5April Brown, LarryLarry Brown (Detroit Pistons) (2/2) Saunders, FlipFlip Saunders (Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1)

References

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