Streetball is also called street basketball, and its main differences from traditional basketball can be considered two factors: 3 people play in a streetball team, and the size of the playing field is half the size of a basketball one. In recent years, this “3v3 basketball” has gone beyond the scope of entertainment for active youth and turned into an independent sport: the number of professional streetball clubs is growing, more and more often long-term contracts are concluded with players, and some Russian online bookmakers are opening betting lines for this kind of sports.
The growing popularity is evidenced by the fact that streetball is classified as an Olympic sport: for the first time in history, the 2020 Summer Olympic Games will also include streetball competitions in their program.
About history and rules
Street basketball originated in the 1950s in impoverished neighborhoods in New York City, and was one of the few hobbies of young African Americans who dreamed of getting out of the ghetto. From the streets of the United States, streetball has reached the international level. The game is developing, and today more than 150 countries are taking part in competitions under the auspices of FIBA 3×3.
Today this sport is also popular in the post-Soviet space. By the way, in 2019, the Russian men’s team ranks second in the FIBA 3×3 rating, and the women’s team leads it altogether.
Streetball rules are much simpler than classic basketball rules. As already mentioned, the field occupies half of the standard area: 3 players on one side, 3 on the other. One half lasts 10 minutes. If someone scores 21 points, the game is over. A hit from behind a three-point arc counts for two points, any other for one. If after regular time the score is equal, overtime is assigned. Overtime is played up to two points. In streetball, there is room for power fighting. The referees turn a blind eye to most game collisions.
The benefits of streetball betting
Competition schedule. Streetball competitions are held all year round. Those wishing to place bets in the summer can pay attention to the PRO League 3×3 (Russian tournament League PRO), and in the autumn-winter period, as a rule, qualifications for international tournaments are held.
Quick calculation of rates. Unlike ordinary basketball, the playing time here is several times less: one game takes no more than 10 minutes of “pure” time. This is not football and tennis, where sometimes you have to wait for the outcome for several hours. In basketball 3×3, you can quickly make a bet and get a win in the shortest possible time. Live bettors will love this approach .
Disadvantages of streetball betting
Narrow painting. This is undoubtedly the main disadvantage of streetball betting. Usually everything is limited to standard P1 / P2, TB / TM and F1 / F2. No variety. If you are a fan of betting on statistics, then this sports discipline will not be easy for you. A relatively wide lineup is only available at major tournaments such as the World Cup or the BIG3 league.
High margin. At the moment, 3×3 basketball is not very popular and is much inferior in attention to the leading sports. The bookmaker’s logic on margin is clear.
In a prematch, the margin can be up to 10%. This hits the players’ pockets a lot, so if you are afraid of such numbers, and you are used to betting on events with a margin of 2-3%, then it is better to pass by the streetball section.
Unpopularity with Russian bookmakers. In most bookmakers in Russia, you can bet on the 3×3 World Basketball Championship, and BIG3 bets will already be more popular in Western bookmakers. It is not a fact that the office in which you play will give a line for the next round of the Russian championship 3×3. This problem becomes especially acute for players who prefer to play in the same bookmaker. So, if you love streetball betting, it makes sense to register with various Russian online bookmakers in order not to miss offers for betting on the tournament of interest.
How to choose streetball bets?
There are no guaranteed winning strategies for streetball betting, nor do they exist in any other sport. For bets to be more successful, it is important to have a certain store of knowledge and be able to use up-to-date information. To do this, it is necessary to watch the teams’ matches more often, analyze their game form and make bets based on their own observations.
First of all, you cannot ignore the list of injured players: in streetball, a lot depends on one player, and the loss of a key performer can greatly affect the outcome of the meeting. You also need to understand what kind of tournament is being played. In regional league matches, it is often very difficult to predict the result, so experienced players in such battles recommend betting on statistical indicators.
If you have chosen an international level meeting for your bet, then a detailed report on the game of each team can be found on the official FIBA website.
Types of streetball bets
If you are familiar with ordinary basketball betting, you will have no difficulty with streetball listings.
Bets on the outcome of an event. These are the most common P1 / X / P2. That is, the victory of one of the teams or a draw.
Total bets. Total bets are very popular in basketball and other sports (football, hockey). This option is liked by players who are able to analyze not only the form of the teams, but also its past results. In streetball, you can bet on the total points of the teams in the match or on the total of the productive points of a particular player.
Handicap betting. This type of bet implies a certain advantage or lag of one of the teams. For example, a player is confident that Malta in a match against the United States will avoid losing dry or with a crushing score: in this case, he can take a bet on Malta with a handicap (+7.5) points. If the result of the match is 17:10 (conditionally) in favor of the US national team, such a bet wins.