Article: Bradley must disrupt Yao, Rockets, but can he rise to occasion?

Byline: Gerry Fraley

DALLAS _ The Mavericks' first-round playoff series has the usual cast of bright-light supernovas: Dirk Nowitzki for the Mavericks; Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming for Houston.

Then there is the player who can make the difference.

Shawn Bradley.

Stop laughing. This is serious forecasting stuff here.

Bradley really is important to the Mavericks' immediate future.

Against the Rockets, Bradley can complement starting center Erick Dampier against Yao better than any other NBA backup. Bradley has bothered Yao in matchups of the league's tallest (7-6) tallest players.

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