Spencer revives Warriors as the surprise cult hero vs. Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – His shoulders, and almost all of his biceps and triceps, are covered by the sleeves of the shirt he’s wearing under his jersey. The number 61 on his chest looks more like a reliever in the back of the bullpen making his major league debut than an NBA player injecting life into a team without Steph Curry.
Still, Pat Spencer was the perfect response Warriors coach Steve Kerr called on at the end of the bench to start the second quarter, with his team trailing Oklahoma by 16 points through the first 12 minutes of Wednesday’s game City Thunder, 39-23.
The Warriors ultimately lost 105-101 and came up short in their valiant attempt to stage a comeback against the top-seeded Thunder, but Spencer prevailed against the Chase Center crowd – something he has long since taught among his coaches and teammates done.
“Fantastic,” Kerr said of Spencer’s nearly 15 minutes in the heavy defeat. “You love to see a guy come in and play with power and a lot of energy, push the ball and find shooters. He just plays the game. I thought Pat changed the game.
“As soon as he got there, the game finally opened up for us and we started moving the ball.”
With Curry dealing with bilateral patellofemoral soreness, Brandin Podziemski has served as Golden State’s starting point guard. Point forward Kyle Anderson also stepped into the ball-handling role, but it was clear that once Spencer hit the floor, he had the extra strength and power the Warriors have been looking for over the past few games.
Trailing 18 minutes into the second quarter, after the ball hit his hands, Spencer immediately gave it to Buddy Hield right into his shooting pocket for a 3-pointer that sparked an 11-0 Warriors run, with Spencer and Hield twice hit. three.
Kerr knew the cards he was dealt without Curry. He felt Spencer, a 28-year-old two-way player in his second NBA season who had played a total of four minutes and 35 seconds on the night this year, might be needed. What he couldn’t have predicted was how much.
But knowing the attitude and behavior of the former college lacrosse star who didn’t play college basketball until he used his senior year to suit up for Northwestern and wasn’t the top pick in the 2019 Premier Lacrosse League draft, Kerr had already a lot of faith in the a man who seems more suited to contradicting washed uncles in the park than NBA players.
“Those guys are a gamer,” Kerr said. “I mean, he’s one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time. He’s a competitor, he’s an athlete, he’s done his best to get to this point. An incredible teammate and a damn good player.”
Spencer spent three long days training with the Santa Cruz Warriors at Chase Center and even had a full lift prior to Golden State’s game against Oklahoma. Once he was up and running, he felt his number could be called and jumped at the opportunity.
Kerr knew he could trust Spencer as much as anyone late in the third quarter and early in the fourth.
Spencer’s view of the game was most evident when the Warriors took the lead, 86-84, in the opening minute of the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Kyle Anderson, giving them their first lead since going 9-6. While showing Hield, Spencer darted to the paint and caught a bounce pass from Draymond Green. Spencer could have tried a two on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but instead he rose and found an open Moses Moody on the right wing beyond the arc.
The pass forced Dillon Jones to leave Anderson wide open in the right corner. Swiss. Three points and an eruption from Warriors fans.
Nowhere in the box score does Spencer get credit for the huge play. And he’s doing just fine.
“I’m just trying to play good basketball,” Spencer told NBC Sports Bay Area in the locker room. “There is an open man and if that man reads it correctly and passes one more time, I am not after numbers and my impact will not be reflected in numbers.
“That never happened. Just try to play the game the right way at a high level and I feel like I have a feeling for the other guys too.”
The numbers show that Spencer played 14 minutes and 31 seconds, his most minutes of real action ever in the NBA. Spencer finished with six points, four rebounds and three assists, none of which jumped off the page. He also hadn’t even come off the bench in more than three weeks when Spencer played the final 30 seconds of a blowout win against the Washington Wizards.
And yet his plus-9 was the best plus/minus of any player on either team.
Fear is not in Spencer’s blood, heart or mind. He gave fellow two-way players Reece Beekman and Quinten Post ample credit for their ultimate sacrifice to keep him ready, and stars like Curry and Green spoke to him on the bench as if he were a fellow four-time champion.
Why? Because his fearless actions and words have together earned their admiration.
“He’s just solid, man,” Green said. “He’s very stubborn in a good way. He will share things he sees. Extremely smart, both on and off the field. He’s just always stable. Gets his work done, doesn’t bother anyone, but isn’t afraid to speak up, and I respect that.”
The fire-breathing Warriors intimidator used examples of Spencer telling him and Curry what he sees and what he thinks they can do better. Some stars may not be happy about that. Spencer’s opinions and observations are earned.
“When guys are like that, you respect it,” Green continued. “That’s what Pat has meant to this team and it’s good to see him get an opportunity tonight and take advantage of it.”
Curry and green jerseys flooded the Chase Center stands. Old friends like Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole were represented and there was even a Sleepy Floyd jersey on display.
There may never come a day when Spencer’s No. 61 is a bestseller or even a thrift store find. So what. Respect from those in the trenches with you always trumps manufactured love.
Every second Spencer sprinted across the floor was justified. What’s next for him is unknown, although no one is wondering if he’ll be ready at this point.
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