Not just the two super teams: “It will be the most balanced post-season in recent years”, guarantees coach Messina. The statistics confirm that the fluctuating path of Olimpia and Virtus leaves room for suggestions: from former league leaders Brescia to newly promoted Pistoia. A guide
Everyone is chasing Milan, the reigning champion. And from Bologna, first place in regular season. The last three championship finals have established the Olimpia-Virtus duopoly, redesigning the hierarchies of Serie A basketball. But this year, according to coach Ettore Messina, “there are many more teams that can aspire to the tricolor: there will be playoffs fought right from the quarterfinals”. We start on Saturday and Sunday with game 1 on all parquet floors. A direct elimination marathon that could last until June 16th: if nothing else, this time after 17 seasons the last act of the best of 5 challenges will be reinstated instead of the exhausting 7. This is a bet on the intensity of the tour de force. Let’s see how the 8 protagonists in the running get there.
The statistics say that all the strongest are present. Bologna has the best attack of the tournament (88.9 points on average), Milan the best defense (74.5 conceded). Venezia is the most solid in rebounding (38.4 per game), while Tortona blocks the most shots of all (3.4). Brescia has the lowest number of turnovers (10.6), Reggio Emilia the highest number of recoveries (7.6). Pistoia instead records the highest three-point shooting percentage (38.5). The picture would be complete if Trento were number one for assists distributed, and it’s close: only Virtus does better (22 to 19.6). To each their own weapons.
The top part of the scoreboard is that of Belinelli and his teammates. In an all-black-and-white matchup, Bologna (number 1 seed) will face Tortona (8) for the third time in the playoffs out of as many appearances in Serie A. However, it was the most difficult for the Piedmontese, who had to sack in the middle of the season a symbol of technical ascent like Marco Ramondino: a painful but apt choice. Because Walter De Raffaele arrived in his place – the last coach capable of winning the scudetto outside of the two big teams, with Reyer – and the team recovered by finding a convinced playing identity. Eliminating Virtus smacks of a sporting miracle, forcing them to at least extend the series is an objective within reach: Tortona defends well and has made PalaFerraris a notable fortress (8 successes in the last 9 races, even if the only knockout was against the black vu ). Those who pass will find the winner between Venice (4) and Reggio Emilia: on paper the most balanced intersection. In fact, the orogranata come from a reconstruction season which for a few weeks even saw them at the top of the rankings, they have full-blown playoff experience – ninth participation in a row – and an athleticism – especially with Tucker and Kabengele – which was not seen in the Taliercio area time ago. Dimitris Priftis’ Reggiana is equally renewed, counts on an offensive end like Langston Galloway – season high with 38 points – but does not have an equally deep roster. He heads towards Venice, in four or five races.
On the other side there is Olimpia (2), who will face L’Aquila Trento (7) in an evocative re-edition of the 2018 final. Apart from the timeless Toto Forray, little remains of that L’Aquila: coach Galbiati has already accomplished half a feat by qualifying for the playoffs without Andrejs Grazulis, the team’s star (knee injury and season over). Having achieved the objective, Trento crashed, losing with an average of 35 points in the last two games. Given the technical and physical form gap – for Milan 7 victories in the 7 final matches – this risks being the only series capable of finishing so little. If they respect the prediction, the boys from Messina will wait for a match between Brescia (3) and Pistoia (6). Theoretically the first, for a long time leaders of the regular season until a mini-crisis in the spring. Under the direction of Della Valle, with a close-knit roster from the conquest of the Italian Cup in the last edition, the Leonessa is a potential outsider for the scudetto: coach Magro, however, will have to take all the necessary precautions so as not to underestimate Pistoia. Magnificent newly promoted team, yet already a reality in this championship. Nicola Brienza on the bench has concocted a masterpiece and on the parquet the Willis-Moore duo, with a valid supporting cast, is getting used to great goals. Don’t be fooled by the field factor: the Tuscans have won more games away than at home (8 to 7). The puzzle is how much fuel he has left in his body. But if they are able to force the series until game 5, we wouldn’t want to be in Brescia’s shoes.
And in prospect of the championship? Having established the usual super-favourites, their moment of form must be distinguished. Bologna was off to a great start this year, lifting the Italian Super Cup and going wild in the Euroleague. Then the winter deflated Banchi’s boys, who imploded in the Italian Cup and were out of the best eight in Europe: the mock play-off against Baskonia still leaves the scars. Diametrically opposite situation for Milan: nightmare start, Euroleague thrown away from the start, roster redesigned in a hurry. Then a slow but steady rise in 2024: the Italian Cup escaped at the last shot and the European play-in – unthinkable, at a certain point – only at the last match. Without the championship it will be a disastrous year, but inertia is on the side of the red shoes. Without Datome anymore, but with an equally decisive Nikola Mirotic. What is certain is that Messina is right: neither of the two – 8 defeats each – has dominated Serie A as in recent history. And in case of stumbles, there are those who are ready to take advantage of them. From Brescia to Venice, practically throughout the north of basketball.
