MVPs of the 2018 NBA Conference Semifinals
Data visualization, 2018
This poster series tells the story about how the best NBA players impacted the 2018 NBA conference semifinals. I parsed through data on nbastats.com to figure out who performed the best for each team. I then used Adobe Illustrator to present the player alongside their raw stats as well as those stats ranked against other players. I paired each player with their opponents during this round of the playoffs, with the higher seeded team on the left column. It was important to me that both the casual and hardcore fans could understand the impact of these players with one glance of the posters.
Initial Poster
When I began, I wanted to make the it pop, so I used the colors of the team. I then manipulated the photo of the player to make it two-toned. To showcase the player’s performance, I placed their average statistics over the course of the semifinal series. I also included the EFG%- effective field goal percentage- and PIE- player impact estimate- that would appeal to both the casual and hardcore fans. Finally, I placed the record the team.
The Poster Set
For the finalized version of the poster, I brought in more data. I added offensive and defensive ratings since different players have different strengths. I also contextualized standout statistics to make it easier for a person to understand the impact of a player.
