(Newswire.net — June 30, 2021) — With many stars pulling out of the Summer Games, there were major doubts about what team USA men’s basketball would look like at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Luckily, now that the full roster has been revealed, the final product is far better than most anticipated.
If there is one thing that can be said with certainty, it’s that the Olympics is a very amusing and competitive multi-sporting event that occurs every two years, switching between the winter season and the summer season. And, with the Olympics just around the corner, sports enthusiasts are eager to see how far their favorite teams will go.
Some of the nations qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics men’s basketball competition include:
- France
- Australia
- USA
Additionally, four teams will qualify through FIBA’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, which will take place from June 29- July 4, 2020, in Canada, Croatia, Lithuania, and Serbia. Winners of the tournaments will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Finally, with a bunch of people sitting in the stadiums or watching the Olympics in front of their televisions, it doesn’t come as a surprise that sports enthusiasts are more than happy to put bets on their favorite team.
But, even if sports betting isn’t for you and you want to feel both the thrill of the game and the thrill of wagering money, you can always play live casino games on sites like onlinecasinos2.com online in between the quarters.
A Brief History of Basketball at the Olympics
It goes without saying that the US has produced some of the finest moments in Olympic basketball history. Basketball was introduced in the Olympics back in 1904 in St. Louis as a demonstration event. And from the 1936 Olympics, it was contested as a medal event.
Undoubtedly, the United States of America is most definitely a highly successful team in the history of Olympics basketball. The USA Olympic men’s basketball team has won the gold medal 15 times with an incredible, unbeaten streak from 1936 all the way to 1968.
As for the women’s basketball team, they made their debut at the Munich 1976 Games. They have pocketed the gold medal on eight occasions with the unbeaten run that dates all the way back to Atlanta in 1996.
In a nutshell, a total of 12 teams, each in the women’s and the men’s competitions, qualify for the basketball event at the Olympics. For starters, newbies in the basketball world should learn some basics, like that seven teams can gain entry through the FIBA World Cup, while four slots are determined through the FIBA OQT. Finally, keep in mind that the last remaining slot is always reserved for the hosts.
How to Bet on Basketball during the Olympics?
If there’s one thing that can be said with certainty, it’s that, when it comes to betting on basketball events during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, there are a ton of options. You will find all kinds of odds and betting lines allowing you to take straight bets while simultaneously having the best time possible.
If you happen to be a sports enthusiast and want to make your Olymp-picks but still haven’t signed up to a sportsbook, it’s recommended to do so, sooner rather than later. The good news is that even if sports betting is not legal in your state, you have the legal ability to bet on the Olympics on various offshore sites.
Generally, signing up at a sportsbook is very simple, and at the same time, it doesn’t require you to register in person. The process is as easy as setting up an account on TikTok or Instagram.
First, you need to visit the online betting site of your choice. Ensure that the site is legal, has a license, and has a good reputation and reviews.
Second, you need to sign up for an account. This means that, in most cases, you’ll need to enter your name, phone number, email address, and more.
Next, you’ll need to make a deposit. This means that you need to fund your account via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, PayPal, Skrill, or eChecks. Keep in mind that most US-based sportsbooks do not accept cash.
Additionally, it’s good to know that online sportsbooks also accept altcoins, Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Tipple, Stellar, and Litecoin.
Differences between NBA and the Olympics that You Should Know About
Although basketball is just basketball, the rules undoubtedly matter. And, with the Olympics just around the corner, it’s good for you to see how big a difference even the slightest changes can make. From legal goaltending to the size of the court, there are some main peculiarities that will stand out as newbies tune in to watch the Olympics.
First and foremost, if the court seems a little off when you tune in, you are not crazy. Although the International and NBA courts are close, the NBA court is 50 feet long while the Olympic court is 49 feet by 92 feet.
Second, the length of each quarter in the Olympics is shorter than the quarters in a game in the NBA. For example, in the NBA, players are used to playing 12 minutes per quarter, but at the Olympics, it is 10 minutes a quarter.
Finally, the number of personal fouls allowed in the NBA is 6, but in the Olympics, it is 5. And even though the time taken post one foul doesn’t make a significant difference, this is because the game is eight minutes shorter than the NBA.