Having just watched Australia’s impressive 93–87 exhibition win against the University of Colorado Buffaloes on the Gold Coast, I’m reminded again why I love basketball so much—it’s a game of strategy, momentum, and those small, decisive moments that can completely flip a matchup. In that game, McVeigh’s 20-point performance and Galloway’s 16 points weren’t just numbers on a stat sheet; they were the result of smart positioning, disciplined execution, and what I’d call "battle-tested" basketball IQ. That’s exactly what I want to unpack today—how you, whether you're playing pickup games or competing seriously, can unlock victory with the kind of essential cheats and tips that often separate contenders from champions.
Let’s start with something I’ve always believed in: scouting and adapting on the fly. Watching Australia’s tuneup, it struck me how they adjusted after halftime. The Buffaloes came out strong early, but the Aussie squad didn’t panic. Instead, they tightened their defensive rotations and pushed the ball in transition—something I try to emphasize when I’m coaching younger players. See, one of my go-to cheats—and yes, I call them cheats because they feel almost like shortcuts to success—is studying your opponent’s first-quarter tendencies. In this case, Australia likely noticed gaps in Colorado’s perimeter defense and exploited them, leading to those high-percentage shots for McVeigh. If you’re playing a casual game tomorrow, take five minutes before tip-off to watch how the other team warms up. Are their big men slow getting back on defense? Do their guards overcommit on steals? Little observations like that can give you a 5–10 point edge right away, and honestly, I’ve won more than a few rec league games just by paying attention to details others ignore.
Another tip I swear by is focusing on efficiency, not just volume. McVeigh didn’t jack up 30 shots to get his 20 points; I’d estimate he took around 12–14 attempts, based on what I saw in the game footage. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way back in my playing days—sometimes, we get caught up in highlight-reel plays and forget that consistent, smart shot selection is the real cheat code. For example, I always encourage players to track their effective field goal percentage during practices. It doesn’t have to be exact—maybe you’re hitting 58% on corner threes in drills—but having that number in mind helps you make better decisions in games. And let’s be real, there’s nothing more satisfying than sinking a clutch shot because you knew, based on your own data, that it was a high-probability look.
Then there’s the mental side, which I think is wildly underrated. Galloway’s 16 points in that Australia game didn’t come from sheer talent alone; I’d bet he was locked in mentally, anticipating passes and reading defensive shifts before they happened. One trick I’ve shared with teammates over the years is using timeout breaks to reset not just physically, but psychologically. Close your eyes for a few seconds, visualize a successful play, and block out the noise—it sounds simple, but it works like a charm. I remember one tournament where our team was down by 8 with three minutes left, and we came back to win simply because we stayed composed and stuck to our game plan. That kind of mental toughness is, in my view, the ultimate battle cheat. It’s why I always keep a stats sheet handy during games, even if it’s just scribbled on a napkin. Tracking things like turnovers (I’d guess Australia had around 12 in that matchup) and second-chance points lets you spot patterns and adjust without relying solely on instinct.
Of course, none of this matters without conditioning and teamwork. What stood out to me in Australia’s win was how they maintained intensity down the stretch—the fourth quarter wasn’t a collapse but a controlled finish. That’s no accident; it’s the result of drilling situational plays over and over. I’m a huge advocate for short, high-intensity scrimmages in practice, maybe 10 minutes max, where every possession counts. It mimics those final minutes of a close game and builds the kind of endurance that feels like a secret weapon. Plus, let’s not forget chemistry. McVeigh and Galloway clearly had a rhythm going, and that’s something you can cultivate off the court too. Grab a coffee with your point guard, discuss reads and preferences—it might sound cheesy, but I’ve seen it turn mediocre teams into cohesive units almost overnight.
Wrapping this up, I’ll leave you with a personal take: the best basketball "cheats" aren’t about shortcuts at all, but about layering smart habits over raw skill. Australia’s 93–87 victory, with its balanced scoring and adaptive gameplay, is a perfect example. Whether you’re dropping 20 points like McVeigh or facilitating like Galloway, remember that victory often hinges on the little things—the extra film session, the mental reset, the efficient shot. So next time you hit the court, try blending one or two of these tips into your routine. Trust me, the results will speak for themselves, just like they did on the Gold Coast last week.
