On Thursday, the Indiana Pacers stunned the NBA world once again. Yet again, Indiana overcame a double-digit second half deficit to stun their opponent, with the Pacers’ latest victim being the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
After watching the ending, I had a sudden realization: These Pacers are the complete antithesis of 2024 USC football.
This Indiana team continues to find new ways to win games. Regardless of how many points they are trailing by or how much time is left, you can never count them out of a contest. Time after time, they continue to pull a rabbit out of their hat and pull off yet another improbable victory.
Last season’s Trojans, on the other hand, were the complete opposite. No matter how many points they led by or how little time was left, a game never truly felt safe with them until the clock hit zero. Between bad penalties, untimely turnovers, special teams blunders, and clock management issues, USC found new ways to blow games each week.
Fortunately for USC fans, the 2024 season is now a thing of the past. The Trojans will have an opportunity to write a new story in 2025—ideally one that includes learning how to close out victories.
As for Indiana, the Pacers now sit three wins away from their first NBA title in franchise history. Until football season rolls around, USC fans can merely sit back and watch the Pacers do the exact opposite of what the Trojans did last fall.
