John Wall swats Stephen Curry on the break (GIF)

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Washington Wizards have to be considered a pleasant surprise to the 2013-2014 season. At 21-22, they stand a good chance to make the playoffs in a decidedly weak Eastern Conference.

At the top of the list of reasons for their success is the play of John Wall. Playing in all 43 games, Wall is averaging 19.4 PPG and 8.3 APG. His player efficiency rating (PER) is 20.0, and listen to anybody who knows about the Wizards and you will hear tales of how hard he is playing, how he is setting the tone for the rest of the team, and how he looks like a star.

Wall had some crazy athleticism on display early in the game Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors, as he chased down a coasting Stephen Curry and swatted his breakaway layup off the backboard.

Wall-swats-Curry
Wall-swats-Curry /

The Wizards have been solid on the road this season, going 11-11. Snagging a win in Golden State would be a nice get for them as an emerging team.