RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – April 23, 2007 – The Houston Rockets featured the most effective five man player combination during the 2006-07 NBA season according to the Lenovo Stat, a new plus minus statistic unveiled at the start of the season by Lenovo and the NBA to demonstrate the power of teamwork. In addition, Lenovo is launching NBA playoff promotions on NBA.com and ESPN.com to bring awareness to the Lenovo Stat.
The Rockets line-up of Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Rafer Alston, Shane Battier and Chuck Hayes led the Lenovo Stat rankings (+269). Coming in second was the Dallas Mavericks five man unit of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Erick Dampier and Devin Harris (+215), with the Phoenix Suns combination of Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa finishing third (+165).
The Lenovo Stat, featured throughout the season on NBA.com, is a plus/minus statistic that calculates the point differential when a player, or combination of players, is in the game to see what effect they have on the team. The statistic identifies the best individual through five player combinations for each game, and over the course of an entire season.
The Washington Wizards had the best five man combination Lenovo Stat in the Eastern Conference with Gilbert Arenas, DeShawn Stevenson, Brendan Haywood, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler (+101). The Philadelphia 76ers had the second best in the east with their revamped starting lineup featuring Andre Miller, Kyle Korver, Samuel Dalembert, Joe Smith and Andre Iguadala (+100).
Top Lenovo Stat Combinations for 2006-07 NBA Season Five-man combination: Houston Rockets – Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Rafer Alston, Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes (+269) Four-man combination: Phoenix Suns – Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Raja Bell (+341) Three-man combination: Phoenix Suns – Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire (+497) Two-man combination: San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen (+643) Individual: San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan (+760)
Lenovo Stat Fan Contests Begin “The Lenovo Stat Best NBA Teammates” promotion launches on April 23 and will honor the greatest players of the decade. Fans can visit NBA.com and vote on which of the famed teams and players they think have had the best 2, 3, 4 and 5-player Lenovo Stat of this decade. Participants who answer at least one category correctly are eligible to win the Grand Prize, which is a trip to The Finals to sit at the Stats Table and a new Lenovo 3000 V100 notebook PC.
“The NBA Lenovo Stat Challenge Powered by Windows Vista” promotion launched on April 20 on ESPN.com. Fans can enter and try to pick the winning Lenovo Stat five player combinations for each 2007 playoff match-up. Six Grand Prize trips to the 2007 NBA Finals will be awarded. Fans can also go to www.Lenovo.com/T60ultimate to earn 100 entries towards winning the Grand Prize when they purchase select ThinkPad® T60 notebooks with Windows® Vista™ Ultimate or Business. These participants will save up to $400 on one of Lenovo’s most powerful, secure and reliable notebook PCs.
Fans can enter the contests by visiting www.nba.com/lenovostat , www.ESPN.com – keyword “Lenovo,” and www.Lenovo.com/T60ultimate .
“The Lenovo Stat and Lenovo PC technology have taken basketball statistics to new levels this season,” said Michael Gliedman, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, NBA. “Integrating Lenovo technology into the NBA’s operations has enhanced the game for coaches and fans — both in the arenas and at home.”
The Lenovo Stat was introduced as part of the multi-year global marketing partnership between Lenovo and the NBA announced in October. This season Lenovo computers were used in all 29 NBA arenas by coaches, referees and statisticians, and successfully supported more than 1,300 games without any glitches.
About Lenovo Lenovo (HKSE:0992) (ADR:LNVGY) is dedicated to building the world’s best engineered personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com .
Contact Nicole Fachet, Text 100, for Lenovo212 871 3950 nicolef@text100.com