It’d been years since I’d seen the Washington Wizards in action. But Saturday night’s victory over the Portland Trailblazers confirmed everything I’d read about them. You know, they’re better, faster, and flashier than the various versions I’d seen in the pre-9/11 era.

The famed Wizards Dance Team, on the other hand, is looking a bit raggedy. Start with the uniforms, which attempt a cross between the classic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ get-ups and Jimmy Chitwood’s on-court look. And then the dancing, which isn’t nearly as sizzling as in the old days. Perhaps a bit more conditioning will do the trick, as the ‘zards’ dancers appear to be complying with the nationwide trend toward heftiness. Here’s a look at the squad in action: