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

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

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: