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Power Rankings: Monster Mavs have 7-foot-6 wild card

Presented by Epson

What we did know is the Dallas Mavericks can score points.

Shawn Bradley has made a sizeable contribution to the Mavs' success. 
Shawn Bradley has made a sizeable contribution to the Mavs' success.(AP) 
With All-Stars Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash handling the 94 feet from baseline to baseline like it has been their own personal raceway the past three seasons, there is little doubt they belong among the NBA's elite.

But what we didn't know is if they could ever stop anyone else from scoring.

Monday night we found out as the Mavs extended their franchise-best start to 7-0 and remained the only unbeaten team. Overcoming a 13-point deficit, the Mavs rolled past the Portland Trail Blazers in an uncommon 82-73 victory.

The sluggish start was overcome by a grind-it-out mentality in the second half, perhaps an indication of the team's maturity.

"I told the team that happens sometimes when you are playing well and things come easy and you take things for granted," coach Don Nelson said.

"And all of a sudden you start playing against a good defensive team or you take the same chances and you don't come out with the same results. We really set ourselves up for a loss early. We had to fight back the whole way. We did that. We fought back and were able to overcome. Certainly we wouldn't have been able to do that a few years ago. Now we have the capacity to do that."

Why?

There are a number of reasons, not the least of which is experience. But there is a wild card factor going on besides the incredible play of Nowitzki and consistently sterling games from Nash and Finley.

As the stakes have risen for the Mavs from becoming a playoff contender to battling San Antonio for the Midwest Division title and everybody else for the Western Conference championship, the Mavs have a new, old wild card.

Shawn Bradley.

Yeah, laugh if you will. But with starting center Raef LaFrentz sidelined probably for another month with an ankle sprain (plus key scorer Nick Van Exel likely out for six weeks after knee surgery), the Mavs needed to add another component. And after a horrible season a year ago, the 7-6, 265-pound Bradley came into this season bigger, stronger and more aggressive than ever.

"We all worked hard this summer and we're trying to do the things necessary to get wins this year," Bradley said. "I don't like to talk about myself a whole lot, but I'm happy I'm contributing in a positive way and that's my goal."

Since LaFrentz got hurt two games into the season, Bradley has averaged 10.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks over the past five. The former second pick overall in the 1993 draft by Philadelphia, Bradley, 30, played in only 53 games last season and was a virtual non-factor.

What the Mavs want -- make that need -- is for him to be once again competing for the shot-blocking title he won in 1997 and making a difference on the offensive and defensive boards.

"I thought he was a pretty good player two years (ago)," Nelson said. "He had one bad year, which nobody likes, including him. The year before I thought he had his best year as a pro. I was just hoping that if you could get him back to that level -- you would never know if you can get a guy back -- that would be good enough. He has surpassed that level because of his conditioning and work this summer."

On the second year of a seven-year, $42.2 million contract, it would be an exaggeration to say Bradley is the key to their success. But he might just be the key to them getting to another level as a team. With 18 rebounds Tuesday night and eight blocks in last week's win over Chicago, he is becoming a major impact player.

"Shawn is really making great progress," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said. "It's a long season, and if he can keep his confidence up and contribute like he has so far, he is a leading candidate for most improved player."

Which would also improve the previously porous Mavs defense. And that could change the entire landscape of the Western Conference. Yes ... Shawn Bradley could do all that.

Here are the rankings for Nov. 12:

Power Rankings
CurrentTeamPrevious
1Lakers · Trends1
Knicks, Warriors, Nets -- it's been a while since Lakers faced a real team. ... Best passing big man in game? Pau Gasol averaging 4.2 assists.
2Magic · Trends2
Battle of Florida, Round 1, ends in controversy; no Magic in referee's non-call. ... Last road loss: Nov. 8 at Oklahoma City.
3Suns · Trends5
Tweet: NBA blows whistle on multitasking Amare Stoudemire, but he says he's innocent (and $7,500 poorer). ... Average score in four-game win streak: 119-98.
4Cavaliers · Trends3
LeBron in the NFL? Might be great tight end, but why take paycut?. ... No consistency: Inexcusable losses at Toronto, Washington, Charlotte.
5Celtics · Trends7
Truth has $30,000 price: Rasheed Wallace labels "Turkododo" a flopper. ... Time to get serious: Kevin Garnett ties season-high with 35 minutes in win at Miami.
6Hawks · Trends4
First crack: Joe Johnson shoots 23 for 66, club loses three of four. ... Easy to figure out these guys: 9-1 when scoring 100 or more, 3-4 when held to double digits.
7Mavericks · Trends8
Wrong side of history: Warriors play just six players, win at Dallas. ... Blowout loss to Cavs nothing new: That's four straight by average of 17.5 points.
8Nuggets · Trends6
M-V-P? Fans shout it out as Carmelo Anthony scorches Knicks for 50. ... Shocking end to 17-game home streak; club had beaten Timberwolves 10 straight.
9Jazz · Trends11
Carlos Boozer averaging 23.7-11.1 double-double in club's six-of-seven march up standings. ... Jazz have 36 assists, Blazers 34 hoops in 16-point drubbing.
10Spurs · Trends14
Room for improvement: Richard Jefferson has nine field goals last four games. ... Softies devoured, three heavyweights (Celtics, Nuggets, Jazz) await in five-day stretch.
11Trail Blazers · Trends9
Last quality win (at home vs. Spurs) now almost month away. ... Zach Randolph (remember him?) enjoys homecoming at Blazers' expense.
12Heat · Trends13
Too much stuffing? Heat among seven home losers (to Wizards) on day after Thanksgiving. ... Hope to avoid you in April: Club has lost nine of 10 to Celtics.
13Rockets · Trends10
Honeymoon's over: Early surprise team hasn't won back-to-back in a month. ... Where's Tracy McGrady? Club shoots 71 of 175 in home losses to Mavericks, Spurs.
14Thunder · Trends15
Giant-killing continues: Add Jazz to list that includes Magic, Spurs, Heat. ... He can pass, too: Kevin Durant has at least a handful of assists in five of last seven.
15Bobcats · Trends19
Trade paying dividends: Stephen Jackson averaging 40 minutes for club that's won four straight. ... Gerald Wallace takes Michael Jordan's advice, outplays LeBron James in win over Cavaliers.
16Bucks · Trends12
Four-game losing streak includes two-, three-point losses. ... What's problem? Brandon Jennings since 55-point explosion: 59 of 160 (369).
17Bulls · Trends17
Time to move up: After 10 of first 15 on road, nine of next 11 at home. ... No laughing matter: Club now 10-61 last 10 "Circus Trips."
18Kings · Trends24
Bring on New England: Club sweeps three against New York, New Jersey, New Orleans. ... Another surprise for surprising team: Sergio Rodriguez impresses at point guard.
19Hornets · Trends18
Last four road games: 0-4, 15.0 average margin of defeat. Next visit: Lakers. ... Good time for Chris Paul to rest: Club follows two-game week with two-game week.
20Raptors · Trends16
Blown-out club glad Canadian Steve Nash (20 points, 16 assists) comes north just once a year. ... Only Warriors (112.4 ppg) worse defensively than Raptors (109.3).
21Wizards · Trends21
Antawn Jamison doubles up on double-doubles in two wins, goes double-single in loss to Bobcats. ... Time to make move: Celtics, Suns only elite foes in December.
22Clippers · Trends25
Marcus Camby climbing rebound list: 62 in last four games. ... Is .500 in their future? The 8-10 club gets next five at home.
23Warriors · Trends26
Short-handed travelers make total of seven substitutions in shocker at Dallas. ... Scorching Monta Ellis goes for 34, 37, 42, 45 in five-game stretch.
24Pistons · Trends22
Bloody Charlie Villanueva helps in win over Hawks, then has surgery on broken nose. ... TV truck catches fire, Pistons don't in viewer-less home loss to Clippers.
25Pacers · Trends20
League leader in free throws allowed puts Monta Ellis on line 16 times in loss to Warriors. ... Mike Dunleavy hits first 11 foul shots after nearly 10-month absence.
2676ers · Trends23
A.I. II: Ay yi yi. ... Knew it wouldn't be easy: Seven-game losing streak includes Cavaliers, Celtics, Hawks, Spurs, Mavericks.
27Grizzlies · Trends27
Improvement noted: Club is 5-4 after 1-8 start. ... Jamaal Tinsley puts PT over W's, signs with Grizzlies.
28Knicks · Trends28
Double your pleasure: Sunday duel with lowly Nets one of two this month. ... Anthony adds to infamy: Four of last 10 to score 50 have faced Knicks.
29Timberwolves · Trends29
Don't want to make them mad: Club avenges home loss to Nuggets with stunner at Denver. ... Improving Ramon Sessions cutting into Jonny Flynn's playing time.
30Nets · Trends30
Frank-ly speaking, change needed after noncompetitive Western swing. ... Good news for new coach Kiki Vandeweghe: Bobcats, Knicks, Bulls, Warriors, Pacers in eight-day stretch
 
 

 
 
 
 
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