In just three weeks, the Wizards have gone from the end of the world to the top of the world, according to Thomas Boswell in the Washington Post. After a stretch of nine losses in 10 games, Michael Jordan said, "We stink." After six straight wins, all that has changed.

"I bring the attention. They bring the wins," said Jordan after yesterday's practice, delighting in his new Wizard role as Yoda. Come to see Jordan. But stay to watch Rip Hamilton, Brendan Haywood, Kwame Brown and the other Wizards of the future.

"I'm going to go back upstairs [as an executive]. These guys are going to have to know how to win amongst themselves. What I wanted to do by coming down here was kick-start the whole process," said Jordan, who has radically decreased his shooting but increased his passing and defense during an 8-2 turnaround.

The Wizards' new go-to guy is 23-year-old Richard Hamilton, the 6-foot-7 guard who gets off the floor with such sudden explosion that his shot is long gone before defenses can react. Right now, he's Option 1.

The key to the Wizards' rise has been 7-foot rookie Brendan Haywood. When his season began -- 12 games late after a thumb injury -- so did the Wizards' season.

One tall shot-blocking center with a nice low-post game has been the catalyst for all sorts of Wizard serendipity. Now Jahidi White doesn't have to worry about fouls and can tenderize foes until Haywood comes off the bench. Tyronn Lue, accustomed to Shaq behind him, can play his gambling defense at guard.