Attention Wizards fans: Things could be looking up soon

Washington plays in Cleveland on Christmas (8 p.m. ET, TNT) in a game that's more lump of coal than perfect gift for Wizards fans. The Wizards face a Cleveland team that is one of the hottest in the league. And the Cavaliers, as Wizards fans well remember, have eliminated the boys from D.C. in each of the last three NBA Playoffs.

To say it's been a tough season for Washington is an understatement. After starting off 1-10, general manager Ernie Grunfeld replaced head coach Eddie Jordan with front office man Ed Tapscott. The move has resulted in a couple more wins -- the Wizards are 3-11 under Tapscott -- but there's still a long way to go before Washington can get back to its place among the Eastern Conference elite.

Injuries have taken their toll this season. Without Brendan Haywood on defense and Gilbert Arenas' scoring, the Wizards (43-39 in 2007-08) have just had too much to overcome.

Still, next season should be better. With the city welcoming the most hoops-crazed president in history into office, here are five reasons for Wizards fans to believe:

The eight-year veteran and three-time All-Star turns 27 in January. After three surgeries on his left knee in the span of 18 months, Arenas is back running full speed and should return soon after the New Year.

Don't expect to see the Arenas that averaged 25.5, 29.3 and 28.4 points over the '04-05, '05-06 and '06-07 seasons, though. You'll see flashes of swagger, but after becoming an unofficial assistant coach to the team in the last several months, expect a more team-oriented Arenas.

A steady improvement in center JaVale McGee could go a long way into the resurgence of the Wizards. Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

JaVale McGee, Washington's No. 18 selection in the Draft, was more of a project pick than someone to plug into the lineup immediately. With Haywood's injury, though, he's played a lot. The 7-foot, 237-pound center is averaging 6.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, averaging just 15.9 minutes of playing time. The Wizards will be better because of that when Haywood recovers from his broken wrist.

Another youngster, 6-foot-6 guard Nick Young, has been given playing time to try to realize what Arenas calls Young's "Kobe-like" skill set. He's averaging 9.5 points a game.

Two years ago the Wizards, with virtually the same roster, went 12-4 in the month of December and raced out to the best record in the Eastern Conference at the '06-07 All-Star break. The reason the Wizards were so good then is the same reason they can be good again: When healthy, they boast three All-Stars at 2-3-4 in Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.

Sometimes a team simply is dealt a bad hand. When pressed to find something positive in the Wizards season, Arenas said, "If this is one of those years where we don't make the playoffs or we finish in last place ... that's what happened to San Antonio and that's how they got Tim Duncan and look at them now ... and that's for the better."

Arenas took some flak for that comment, but the thought of Blake Griffin or Ricky Rubio helping to carry the load next season makes the outlook a lot brighter.

Part of the reason that Eddie Jordan was fired was the less-than inspiring play of fourth-year forward Andray Blatche. After he signed a new contract in the offseason, the front office had high expectations for the 6-foot-11, 248-pound Blatche. He's coming around under Tapscott, scoring at least 10 points six times in 11 games and upping his scoring, assists, steals, field goal percentage and free throw percentage from last year.