Using data and evidence to make better decisions is one of our foundational beliefs, yet some of the sports world is just finally catching on.

The May episode of 60 Minutes Sports on Showtime looks at the use of analytics in the NBA. The episode features the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and shows how data is helping teams make better decisions about players and players make better decisions on the court.

Much like when traditional investment wisdom was turned on its head, the NBA has learned that it’s not always the highest vertical jump, the fastest dribbler or the most slam dunks that indicate the best recruit or combination of players. As their understanding of the data continues to evolve, it helps coaches and owners make more informed decisions for the long run.

You can watch a trailer of “The Revolution of Sports Analytics” report or Showtime subscribers can watch the full episode (Episode 5) OnDemand or via Showtime. More information and links are available here.

Hill Investment Group’s penchant for boiling down complex issues into simple visual ideas is one of the many things I believe sets us apart. It’s a piece of what made Hill immediately comfortable to me, as over the past decade I’ve been applying these concepts to the communication of personal financial data.

Academic studies show that people only remember a tiny percentage of what they hear and only slightly more of what they read. But we retain a majority of what we see and actively experience—and the use of color can even further increase understanding.

Having clarity in financial infrastructure—particularly in complex situations—is critical to contextual financial decision-making. Visualization techniques have proven a highly effective manner for providing that clearly.

I look forward to further exploring how visualization impacts financial understanding and, ultimately, success.

With the buzz of the 2014 Major League Baseball Season in the air, this is a great time to revisit one of our favorite books, Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. For the unfamiliar, this book is to baseball as Taking the long view is to investing: a look at how data and evidence will allow you to make smarter decisions in evaluating baseball players—and investment choices.

Our colleague, friend, and director of investment strategy for the BAM ALLIANCE, Jared Kizer, wrote a great blog post where he talks about some of the similar applications in investing that predate Moneyball.

When you use the data and evidence, it allows you to ignore the noise and focus on factors that really matter. That’s how we approach investing for our clients.

If you haven’t read Moneyball or seen the movie, let us know and we would be happy to send you either version of this now classic Michael Lewis story.