Dispatches from the sports desk

By: Burke De Boer
Sports Editor

The Washington Wizards opened the year terribly, going 2-8 but turned things around and have the best record in the east over the last two months.

Just last week, they dressed in all-black to put their rivalry with the Celtics to rest. And it was a funeral, beating the third-ranked Celtics 123-108. They followed it by thrashing the fourth-ranked Hawks 112-86.

Meanwhile, at the top of the Eastern Conference, the Cavs lost to the Blazers, the Pelicans, the Kings. LeBron made headlines saying his team is too top-heavy.

Cleveland will get back on track; LeBron teams always do. But if this Washington team stays on form I’m seeing a new candidate for sheriff in the east.

John Wall has scored right around 30 points a game for two months. He’s averaging 23 points and 10 assists this season. That’s an average of a double-double.

Otto Porter and Bradley Beal have also found themselves. The young core that Washington spent a few years developing is now paying off.

Coming off the bench, Kelly Oubre is a defensive machine and Trey Burke sometimes shows flashes of lightning. If the Cavs are worried about depth, the Wiz may be the stuff of nightmares.

Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu