Young Wizards Showing Signs of Life

What will I see?

Even the wisest cannot tell.  For the mirror shows many things.  Things that were, things that are, and some things, that have not yet come to pass.

Can it tell me if Dwight Howard is staying in Orlando?

It's magic, not a magic 8 ball, dewd.

You better tell me.  I'm a level 50 Vatican assassin warlock.

Look, just don't cut me.

If you tuned in last week, you saw Andray Blatche give us a glimpse of last year's post-trade performance, Trevor Booker earn more court time, and Jordan Crawford play mad scientist at point guard.  There are more stories there, of course, but it comes down to a.) the future just got a little bit brighter and b.) Flip has finally given up on the 'we have to play for the playoffs' motivational gambit.  Welcome, Bullets Fans, to the season you expected to see.

The more insane among us confidently asserted the eighth seed was within reach as we kicked off the season, while the level heads predicted mid to low 30's as a reasonable amount of wins.  Of course, we all knew the Wiz would need another high lottery pick (at least one) to form the foundation of a contender, but with John Wall on board, Andray Blatche looking like the prodigal son, and Javale McGee threatening to turn the corner after an electric summer league we got a little ahead of ourselves.

There have been some traumatic losses, that homegame against the Heat for one, but I'm leaning more toward the listless blowouts against middling teams.  In my estimation of the aftermath, maybe that's just part of the price when you chant down Babylon.  For the first time since the beginning of the 2009/10 season, I'm reasonably sure that the guys on the roster are our guys, and if their play is any indication, the players feel that way themselves.  For the first time this year, it feels like this team is getting ready to make some meaningful strides toward the contender we're anticipating as a team, and not a moment too soon.