It was a week that contained the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for the Washington Wizards, and although the lows were really, really low (a 30-point detonation by the Atlanta Hawks, a head-scratching home blowout loss to the scuffling Brooklyn Nets), they should be overshadowed by the highs.

Not only did the Wizards manage to knock off the San Antonio Spurs for the first time since the Bush Administration, they went on the road the next night and made a major statement on national television, topping the Bulls for the fifth straight time in the United Center.

The Nets loss put a huge damper on things, but over an 82-game season, things like this happen – let’s not forget the omnipotent Hawks losing by 30 to the Jabari Parker-less Bucks at home a couple weeks ago, or the Bulls losing by 20 to the Jazz in Chicago.

If the Washington Wizards can get the Nets back in Brooklyn, we should be more than willing to forgive and forget.

Let’s grade.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

John Wall: 18.5 PPG (52.8 FG%), 2.3 RPG, 7.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.0 BPG

John Wall came into the NBA as a raw athlete, a 19-year-old with incredible speed but little grasp of the subtleties of the game.

Over the years, it’s been a thrill to watch him develop and add to his game, and it seems like every year he’s turned up with a new dimension – last year it was the three-pointer, and this year it’s the floater. I’ve always considered a floater to be a necessary part of a top point guard’s arsenal, and Wall has really broken out a good one over the past couple weeks.

For many Washington Wizards fans, the word “floater” brings to mind panicked recollections of Eric Maynor destroying possessions, but Wall is beginning to mend the shattered psyches of Wizards fans still suffering from PTMSD (Post-Traumatic Maynor Stress Disorder).

Wall has finally conquered Derrick Rose and finally conquered the San Antonio Spurs. His next move? Taking the world by storm with his sweet yo-yo dribble.

Grade: B+

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Bradley Beal: 12.3 PPG (43.2 FG%), 4.0 RPG, 4.3 APG

All year I’ve been preaching patience regarding Bradley Beal, and I still am, but it’s getting a bit annoying.

This is a team that could really use a 20-point scorer, someone they can count on to fill it up every single night, and Bradley Beal can and should be that man. His lack of aggression is really hurting – Beal needs to be hoisting up threes off the dribble and attacking the rim, but he’s just got too much chill for his own good.

Bradley Beal seems to have taken the Randy Wittman mantra of “taking what the defense gives you” a little more seriously than he should. Let’s hope that the Big Panda finds his inner Klay Thompson before it’s too late.

Grade: B-

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Pierce: 13.5 PPG (51.4 FG%), 4.8 RPG, 2.0 APG

Paul Pierce is an assassin, he’s great, we all love him, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Let’s talk about something more important. The glasses, man. What is with these glasses? Paul Pierce is a Hall of Famer, a legend, one of the greatest players of his era – you’re too good for this hipster mess, Paul.

Plus, you’re 37 years old, we’ve all seen you thousands of times and you’ve never before had to wear glasses at all, let alone oversized Urkel glasses. Don’t do this to us, Paul. Please, Paul. For the good of humanity.

Grade: B+

Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Nene: 10.0 PPG (41.2 FG%), 6.3 RPG, 3.0 APG

Nene claimed another victory over Joakim Noah this week… as if we’re surprised. The level of Nene’s domination over Noah is shocking. He has completely broken the spirit of one of the most spirited players in the league.

Joakim Noah is an unsightly, idiosyncratic, loud, annoying basketball player, who also happens to be very good and not on the Washington Wizards, so he is perfect as a magnet for our hatred – so watching our immaculate Brazilian savior humble and embarrass this man is absolutely wonderful.

And while it came in perhaps the worst game of the Wizards season so far, Nene’s taking of Kevin Garnett to the cleaners is on the shortlist of best plays of the year.

Grade: A-

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Marcin Gortat: 9.3 PPG (64.0 FG%), 6.8 RPG

Marcin Gortat is still not getting the touches he needs, but what else is new?

The Polish Machine was a big part of Washington’s victories against San Antonio and Chicago, and he’s making just about everything he puts up, but he still hasn’t been a real focal point of the offense. Gortat didn’t really do himself a whole lot of favors either on Friday night, when he allowed himself to get totally demolished by Brook Lopez.

God, I wish they had just traded him to OKC. Stupid Billy King.

Grade: C+