Sports betting is an industry that can often feel as large as that of sport itself. Similarly, you can be into sports betting and yet only experience a narrow slice of it due to the fact that all of your attention is focused on one sport. This might be a sport that you prefer or find yourself more familiar with, but the point still stands – there are new horizons to conquer, if you feel inclined to do so.

While football and horse racing often find themselves to be at the top of sports betting popularity lists, basketball is never far behind. It’s a sport that is more popular in the USA than the UK, where the former two might be preferred, so taking the time to acquaint yourself could be a good first step.

Getting Some Tips

The idea of betting on a sport that you’re completely unfamiliar with is something that comes with its fair share of hurdles, chief among these might simply be that you don’t have a sense of what’s a good bet and what’s completely clueless. If your level of knowledge regarding basketball is that low, brushing up on some basic statistics and fixtures could begin to give you an idea of what the landscape is looking like, but beyond that, you might need more specialist advice.

Knowing where to go for the best sports picks can mean that you begin to incorporate this advice into your own knowledge, allowing you to go to the best online sportsbooks with more confidence, and the more you practice, the stronger you’ll feel in this regard.

Watch Some Games

If betting is your priority as you try to get into basketball, it’s understandable that you would be eager to get the preliminary research out of the way as quickly as possible so you can get back to what you find most interesting about this whole experience. However, while you can read up all you want about the statistics and advised direction of bets, it might not mean all that much to you if you don’t have much familiarity with the game itself. For that reason, you might find that it’s a good idea to actually watch some games for yourself. If you’re in the UK, doing some research into which channel to head for here can be a good place to start.

Look Outside of the Game

How any given sport functions can vary greatly from one to another, so you might find that simply taking your knowledge from something like football and trying to apply it here won’t work. With basketball, for example, you might find that it benefits you to look outside of the one game that you’re betting on, to get an idea of how fatigued each player will be when it comes to that game in particular. With multiple games being played in a short span of time, factors such as this can make a big impact, and it could be something that you’re entirely unaware of if you’re unfamiliar with the sport. 

Basketball lost a great one as it was announced that Bob Lanier passed away at the age of 73.  It was not announced how he died, but that it followed a short illness.

A superstar at St. Bonaventure, Lanier took the school to the Final Four in 1970, and was taken with the First Overall Pick by the Detroit Pistons in the following draft.  Lanier was an All-Rookie despite recovering from a knee injury that by his own admission, he should not have played on, but he got healthy and was an All-Star in seven of the next eight years, with the Center averaging a double-double in all but the last of those aforementioned seasons.

Lanier was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1979/80 Season, and while he only had one more All-Star in him, his veteran presence brought the Bucks to two Eastern Conference Championships.  He retired in 1984, averaging 20.1 Points and 10.1 Rebounds over a 14-year career.

Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 and was part of the inaugural College Basketball Hall of Fame Class in 2006.

His number 16 was retired by both the Pistons and Bucks and his #31 by the Bonnies.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Bob Lanier. 

Though new casino games and variations pop up now and then, the most popular games of all time never change. When it comes to popular casino games, nothing beats the classics!

From blackjack to slots, casinos offer a wide range of games to keep players entertained. Keep on reading to discover the most popular options of all time; maybe your favorite will be on this list too.

Top casino games

Whether you’re new to casinos or a seasoned player, we’ve rounded up the top casino games to help you decide on your next game. Try all of these to get your skills up to scratch!

Blackjack

Did you know blackjack is one of the most enjoyed casino games in the world? This casino classic uses a 52-card deck, and players face off against a dealer while playing. The aim is to beat the dealer, but this isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

While this is a popular game in land-based casinos, it’s also popular in online gambling. Many websites offer live dealers to make the game even more exciting. You can even find live blackjack in Canada — perfect for an evening of fun.

Poker

Some casino fans think poker is the greatest game of all time, and it certainly is a classic game. This casino staple involves players wagering which hand is the best according to specific game rules. Did you know that poker was initially played with 20 cards? Today this popular game is played with a full 52-card deck.

Roulette

Roulette comes from a French word that means little wheel, but this casino game was developed by Biribi, making it an Italian game. You need a wheel with slots and a marble-like ball when you play roulette. This game requires a dealer to spin the roulette wheel too. While you can find this game in online casinos, it’s also a popular land-based casino option.

Baccarat

Baccarat is another top-rated casino game. This game was even popular among French nobles during the 19^th century and in theNapoleonic era. Baccarat used to be played in private gaming rooms, but after casino legislation in 1907, it became a staple of public casinos. This is a comparing card game and has players compete against the banker.

Craps

Have you ever played craps? Also referred to as seven-eleven, this casino game involves betting on the outcome of dice. Players often wager money against a bank or each other, and the closest bet wins. Some think this game originated with Roman soldiers, and others believe it came from an Arabic dice game, but no one is 100% sure where it came from.

Slots

Finally, slots aren’t necessarily tabletop casino games, but they’re definitely one of the most popular casino games available. Slots involve pulling a lever on a slot machine with the goal of getting three matching symbols or specific bonus symbols. Traditionally, slots have three reels, but five, six and seven reels are available too.

This game is frequently found online and in land casinos, proving its popularity. Online casinos also offer themed slots, progressive slots and extra spins to make the games even more exciting.

Final thoughts

Are you a casino player? The most popular online casino games of all time are well-known and played worldwide. If you’ve never tried these unique games before, give them a try and see what the fuss is about for yourself!

Today, the five men who have all the lights on them, who are they? What team do they belong to? Pay close attention to these names below and their teams' MLB odds, the Rookies of the Year will surely come from here. 

Top 5 MLB Prospects 2022

1. Bobby Witt Jr. (3B/Royals)

The second pick in the 2019 draft. Bobby Witt Jr., 21, also plays for SS, but in 14 games this year, he has only been in the hot corner.

In Spring Training, he hit .406, with 3 home runs, 8 RBIs, and just 3 strikeouts. Plus, he slugged .781 in 32 at-bats.

So far this season, he has a .203 avg, 5 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. He just had 12 hits in 59 opportunities.

The Kansas infielder is projecting a .264 batting average, 18 home runs, 67 runs scored, and 67 RBIs.

2. Adley Rutschman (W/Orioles)

The Portland native catcher was the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, but he's not a big leaguer yet. He didn't even see action in Spring Training, but his decent offense and above all, the guarantee he gives with the glove, are the most outstanding aspects of this 24-year-old player.

In 2021, between AA and AAA games, he batted .285 avg, with 25 doubles, 23 home runs, and 75 RBIs.

He is projecting .255 on offense, with 13 home runs, 15 doubles, and 43 RBIs. Of course, it remains to be seen; he is not even on the major roster yet. Rutschman is expected to make his MLB debut in late April.

3. Julio Rodriguez (OF/Mariners)

The No. 3 prospect on the circuit signed as a free agent in 2017 for a $1.75 million bonus, and so far, this season he's batting .200 with just 12 hits in 60 at-bats. He is 21 years old.

He hasn't knocked it out of the park yet and has 25 strikeouts to his name, the most this year for an American League player.

He had a .412 offensive average in the warm-up games, with 3 home runs and a .794 slugging percentage. His projections of him with the stick? .273 avg, 17 homers, 63 home runs, and a .442 slugging percentage.

4. Spencer Torkelson (1B/Tigers)

The pick 1 of the 2020 draft succeeded Miguel Cabrera in the initial of the Detroit team. Even in Spring Training, Torkelson got off to a slow start: he hit .258 with a .484 slugging percentage, 1 home run, and 4 RBIs in 15 games.

The 22-year-old 1B's projections for this year are a .260 avg, 25 home runs, 52 runs scored, and another 61 RBIs.

The one from California is emerging as a hitter capable of taking some balls out of the park and with a defense that is possibly better than his performance with the wood.

This season, he has a .224 avg, 3 home runs, 8 RBIs, 6 runs scored, and a .429 slugging percentage.

5. Riley Greene (OF/Tigers)

The Tigers have in Greene and Torkelson two pieces of great value that can give Detroit fans joy for years to come. The Cats own none other than prospects 4 and 5 of the entire big top.

Greene, 1.91 meters tall, and was the fifth selection in the 2019 draft, is a fast, agile player, with a good job both offensively and defensively.

Unfortunately, he has not been able to debut in the big leagues due to a fracture in his right foot that he suffered in an at-bat in Spring Training.

The pitcher in that game was Gerrit Cole. Greene swung and managed to hit the ball, and that 'the dog bit him’. Luckily, he didn't need surgery, but he doesn't have a return date yet.

In the warm-up games, he had 9 hits in 21 at-bats (.429), took out two balls, scored 6 runs, and drove in four.

The Rest Of The Top 10

• Grayson Rodriguez (RHP/Orioles)
• Gabriel Moreno (W/Blue Jays)
• Anthony Volpe (SS/Yankees)
• CJ Abrams (SS/Parents)
• Francisco Alvarez (C/Mets)

The 10 names on this list have the talent to achieve great things, and they can all surprise us. Let's see which prospects end up stealing the show.