Don’t look now, but the Washington Wizards are only a half-game out of first in the East. They’re ten games over .500 for the first time in almost eight years, they’re off to the best home start in franchise history, and they just finished off completely outclassing the Los Angeles Clippers in every phase of the game.

Friday was probably the Wizards’ biggest win of the year, but their other two wins this week deserve honorable mentions. On Monday, Wall dragged the Wizards to a thrilling double-OT win over the Celtics in which DC trailed by seven in each extra frame, and on Wednesday the Wizards capped off a late comeback with a brilliant Beal tip-in game-winner. It’s an almost foreign feeling, but it’s actually fun to be a Wizards fan.

Let’s grade.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

John Wall: 18.5 PPG (50.9 FG%), 5.5 RPG, 13.3 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG

So… John Wall, MVP?

I mean, honestly, which point guard in the league is playing better than Wall? It’s not just the assists. It’s not just the scoring. It’s not just the great defense. Wall has become the leader of this team, a player with a razor-sharp competitive edge, always confident that he’s the best man on the floor. He’s taking control of games when the Wizards need it most.

Wall carves up defenses so easily – and most importantly, he doesn’t seem to be forcing it at all anymore. He’s letting the game just come naturally, and he is absolutely dominating. Wall is becoming the player, the leader and the man we always hoped he could be when he first came into the league. If that’s not MVP quality, I don’t know what is.

Grade: A+

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Bradley Beal: 15.5 PPG (40.0 FG%), 2.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG

It hasn’t always been easy for the Big Panda since his return from injury. He was largely anonymous for most of the first three games of this week, shooting an un-Bealian 36% from three – but then he scored the game-winner in Orlando and then stomped the life out of the Clippers with a season-high 29 points.

Beal has only topped 20 points three times in his 13 games this season, but his shooting percentage from 3 is nearing 50% and his percentage around the rim has also risen. It’s just a matter of Beal continuing to get the ball in the right spots. As we move further into the season, Beal is gonna have a lot more nights like he did Friday against the Clippers.

Always bet on Bao Bao.

Grade: B

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Pierce: 15.8 PPG (53.7 FG%), 5.3 RPG, 3.5 APG

Like a scorned ex, Paul Pierce went and slaughtered his old team, the Celtics, on back-to-back nights, and he did it in a way we haven’t seen a whole lot from the Truth this year: from distance. Pierce’s three-point shooting has been spotty this year, but he hit 10 of his 19 three-pointers attempted this week, seven of those coming against Boston.

Pierce’s assassinous tendencies have not dulled with age, and he always seems to be the go-to guy to end an opponent’s run – and most of all, Pierce is bringing some grime to this team. In past years, this team has lacked grime. Paul Pierce is grime personified. When he said before the year that the Wizards were going to be the new Bad Boys, he meant it. I love this guy. Don’t mess with the Truth.

Grade: A

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Kris Humphries: 11.8 PPG (42.9 FG%), 8.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG

Kris Humphries, the Sophocles of the midrange, has stuck in the starting lineup and he continues to turn in solid performances every night. The shooting was a little bit down this week, but he’s been one of DC’s most consistent rebounders and he even swatted a Jamal Crawford layup into the Netherworld.

Nene’s back, but I really hope the Washington Wizards keep Humphries in the starting lineup – this formula is really working, and the ball movement on the second unit is a lot better with Nene out there.

Grade: B+

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Marcin Gortat: 14.0 PPG (51.7 FG%), 6.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.8 BPG

Marcin “Black Soul” Gortat had gotten double-digit rebounds in five of seven games going into this week, but only achieved that mark once in the past seven days and only grabbed two boards against the Clippers. The Wizards have quietly been one of the better rebounding teams in the league – they stood tenth as of Friday – and they’ll need better glass production out of Gortat if they’re going to keep that up.

On the plus side, Gortat has been really feeling it lately offensively, and when he’s scoring inside everything opens up for DC. Gortat’s jumper, when he’s set = straight cash, homie.

Grade: B