By Lauren Brill

What is the Lenovo Stat?
The Lenovo Stat shows the power of teamwork. It's a way of showing the best-engineered/best combination of players on the court. The Lenovo Stat is a plus/minus statistic that looks at the point differential when players are both in and out of the game, to see how the team performs with various combinations. The Lenovo Stat can look at a variety of combinations – including the best two-player, three-player and even five-player combinations for each game.

Here is a look at the top Lenovo performers through Mar. 13, 2008:

	+ 336	K. Garnett, R. Allen, P. Pierce, K. Perkins, R. Rondo
	+ 220	A. McDyess, R. Wallace, C. Billups, R. Hamilton, T. Prince
	+ 174	P. Stojakovic, M. Peterson, T. Chandler, D. West, C. Paul

New Orleans' starters have managed to hang on to the third spot in the Five-Player Combo category. While the Hornets became another victim in the Rockets' 20- game win streak, they did defeat the Nets and the Spurs this past week. In both wins the boys from the Big Easy reached the century mark and were led by point guard Chris Paul. Against the former NBA champs, Paul logged a game-high 26 points and 17 dimes and and versus the Nets he registered 25 points and 16 dimes. CP3 is a special player, in part, because of his ability to motivate and enhance the play of his teammates. With Paul at the helm it is no wonder that the starting five have a +174 Lenovo Stat.

	+ 376	K. Garnett, P. Pierce, K. Perkins, R. Rondo
	+ 366	K. Garnett, R. Allen, P. Pierce, K. Perkins
	+ 344	R. Allen, P. Pierce, K. Perkins, R. Rondo

For the second consecutive week Celtics combos have monopolized the top three spots in the Four-Player Combo category. As a team they have won all four games this past week. Kendrick Perkins and captain Paul Pierce both appear in the all three Celtics combos. Why? Well it couldn't have hurt that Pierce has scored in double-digits in all four games since last Thursday, while Perkins was in double figures in rebounding in three of Boston's four victories this past week.

	+ 414	K. Garnett, P. Pierce, K. Perkins
	+ 410	K. Garnett, R. Allen, P. Pierce
	+ 391	P. Pierce, K. Perkins R. Rondo

I don’t think any other team will be challenging Celtics combos for a top three seed in the Three-Player Combo section as various Boston combos own the first eight slots. Their ability to dominate the Lenovo Stat is likely attributed to the fact that they have the most wins and fewest loses of any team in the league. Currently in first place in the East, Boston owns a 51-12 record.

	+ 496	K. Garnett, P. Pierce
	+ 468	R. Allen, P. Pierce
	+ 454	P. Pierce, R. Rondo

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, according to the Lenovo Stat, are the most lethal combination in the league. At +496, the dynamic duo comfortably rest ahead of other NBA twosomes with a +28 edge on the Pierce/Allen combo. While some worried the two seasoned vets would clash, clearly with the common goal of winning a championship, the two have found a way to excel together.

	+ 601	P. Pierce
	+ 544	K. Garnett
	+ 522	K. Bryant

Kevin Garnett has climbed above Kobe Bryant, who finished at the second seed last week. Scoring just six points in the second half of the Lakers' 114-113 loss to the Kings could not have helped Kobe's cause. But even without the poor second half performance, The Big Ticket likely would have claimed his spot anyway. As the Celtics won all four of their matchups this week, they also never fell behind at any point in three of those four matchups. While KG registered in double-digits in all the games he played this past week, his team's ability to maintain the lead largely helped the 6-11 power forward move up the ranks.