While football season is in full swing, the basketball season has just begun, with new expectations for all.

The National Basketball Association, or NBA, is expected to bring a lot of excitement to the school this year. With last year’s lockout lasting 160 days, canceling a total of 240 games from July 1, 2011 to December 8, 2011 (according to ESPN), the start of an on-time season has students thrilled.

“I’m excited for games and rivalries. There are a lot of players on different teams this year,” says senior Quincey Dean.

The big move that is getting students talking is the trade of James Harden to the Houston Rockets from the Oklahoma City Thunder. He scored 37 points and racked up 12 assists to defeat Detroit 105-96 on the first day of the season, October 31^st, according to ESPN.

Another topic of conversation among students is that a number of teams have started off strong, and the usual teams filled with stars are expected to succeed.

“There are a lot of decent teams. The Heat and the Lakers are really good,” says sophomore Khalil Long.

Students nationwide root for certain players, sometimes switching teams accordingly. Consequently, there are various students who are fans of the most popular teams such as the Heat, Spurs, Lakers, and Celtics.

Some teams, however, did not have a very good first few weeks. The Lakers started off with a record of 1-4 under the coaching of Mike Brown. He was fired, and the coaching spot was overtaken by Mike D’Antoni. Students who support great basketball and popular teams such as the Lakers anticipate a more successful comeback.

But some WS students have stayed loyal to the local team.

“The Wizards aren’t going to be as bad this year, they’re going to get better,” says Long.

With the resolute faith that Northern Virginia fans show to their teams, no one will leave the season disappointed with their effort. The Washington Wizards have not had a winning season since the 2007-2008 season, yet Northern Virginia fans are still happy to support.

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in America, and with the NHL lockout discouraging some, basketball along with football is an outlet of countless sports fans. Suspense fills the final minutes of the fast-paced game, keeping the audience interested.

“I just love the sport because of the excitement with not knowing who’s going to win,” says Dean.