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Greatest Risers and Fallers in the NBA Playoffs
Greatest Risers and Fallers in the NBA Playoffs
Using Data Analytics to gain insights into NBA players’ performance in high-pressure situations.
MIAMI, FLORIDA — MAY 27 2023 (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Summary
Summary
The inspiration for this project came from observing Jimmy Butler's exceptional performance in the 2023 NBA playoffs, where he showcased a 64% increase in scoring, leading the 8th seed Miami Heat in a series win over the 1st seed Milwaukee Bucks. My project questions the "Playoff Jimmy" narrative and compares it with other NBA players' playoff performances.
The inspiration for this project came from observing Jimmy Butler's exceptional performance in the 2023 NBA playoffs, where he showcased a 64% increase in scoring, leading the 8th seed Miami Heat in a series win over the 1st seed Milwaukee Bucks. My project questions the "Playoff Jimmy" narrative and compares it with other NBA players' playoff performances.
To analyze the data, I had to decide on a single metric for performance comparison, select players for analysis, and account for factors like injuries and increased competition. The chosen metric was PER (player efficiency rating). The analysis was restricted to players who had played over 2000 playoff minutes, were drafted post-1979, and had an average playoff PER of 15 or higher.
To analyze the data, I had to decide on a single metric for performance comparison, select players for analysis, and account for factors like injuries and increased competition. The chosen metric was PER (player efficiency rating). The analysis was restricted to players who had played over 2000 playoff minutes, were drafted post-1979, and had an average playoff PER of 15 or higher.
Data was collected using Python, primarily through the nba_api package and web scraping techniques (full code can be found here: Github). After cleaning the data with Pandas, the next step was visualizing the data using Tableau. One of the visualizations was a scatter plots comparing playoff impact to change in playoff performance, the next being a histogram showcasing the distribution of playoff performance differentials. The last visualization is a dashboard that displays all 101 players' playoff performance relative to thier regular season performance. All Tableau visulizations can be found here: Tableau.
Data was collected using Python, primarily through the nba_api package and web scraping techniques (full code can be found here: Github). After cleaning the data with Pandas, the next step was visualizing the data using Tableau. One of the visualizations was a scatter plots comparing playoff impact to change in playoff performance, the next being a histogram showcasing the distribution of playoff performance differentials. The last visualization is a dashboard that displays all 101 players' playoff performance relative to thier regular season performance. All Tableau visulizations can be found here: Tableau.
The results revealed that Jimmy Butler's playoff performance was exactly average (50th percentile) when compared to the other 100 players in the dataset. In conclusion, the data can guide teams in making informed decisions regarding player contracts and extensions. It can also help fans and players set expectations for future playoffs and navigate media narratives.
The results revealed that Jimmy Butler's playoff performance was exactly average (50th percentile) when compared to the other 100 players in the dataset. In conclusion, the data can guide teams in making informed decisions regarding player contracts and extensions. It can also help fans and players set expectations for future playoffs and navigate media narratives.
As a bonus, I also addressed the narrative of LeBron James being a "Finals Choker." The analysis showed that LeBron's performance in the finals decreased by 7% compared to the first three playoff rounds. All visulizations for the bonus can be found here: Tableau.
As a bonus, I also addressed the narrative of LeBron James being a "Finals Choker." The analysis showed that LeBron's performance in the finals decreased by 7% compared to the first three playoff rounds. All visulizations for the bonus can be found here: Tableau.
The video walkthrough of this project can be found here: Youtube
The Full Project Analysis can be found here: Full Analysis
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