Spencer brings life to Warriors as a surprise cult hero vs. The 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 wears under his jersey. The number 61 on his chest looks more like a back-of-the-bullpen reliever making his major league debut than an NBA player breathing life into a team without Steph Curry.
Still, Pat Spencer was the perfect answer Warriors coach Steve Kerr called off the bench to start the second quarter when his team trailed the Oklahoma City Thunder by 16 points, 39-23, through the first 12 minutes of Wednesday’s game.
The Warriors ended up falling 105-101 after falling short in their valiant comeback effort against the top-seeded Thunder, but Spencer won over the Chase Center crowd — something he’s done long ago among his coaches and teammates.
“Fantastic,” Kerr said of Spencer’s nearly 15-minute loss. “You like to see a guy come in and play with power and a lot of energy, push the ball and look for shooters. He’s just playing the game. I thought Pat was a game changer.
“As soon as he got out, the game finally opened up for us and we started moving the ball.”
When Curry went down with bilateral patellofemoral pain, Brandin Podziemski served as Golden State’s starting point guard. Point guard Kyle Anderson also took on the ball-handling duties, but it was clear that when Spencer hit the floor, he had the extra oomph and juice the Warriors have been looking for the last few games.
18 minutes into the second quarter, Spencer, when the ball hit his hands, immediately fed it to Buddy Hield right into his shooting pocket for a 3-pointer that sparked an 11-0 Warriors run, where Spencer and Hield connected twice. three.
Kerr knew the cards he was dealt without Curry. He had an idea that Spencer, a 28-year-old two-way player in his second NBA season who had played a total of four minutes and 35 seconds this year, might be needed coming into the night. He couldn’t predict how much.
But knowing the attitude and demeanor of the former college lacrosse star, who didn’t play college basketball until she used her senior year to suit up at Northwestern because she wasn’t the top pick in the 2019 Premier Lacrosse League draft, Kerr already believed. a man who looks more suited to crossing washed-up uncles in the park than NBA players.
“Guys are players,” 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 worked his tail off to get to this point. An incredible teammate and he’s a damn good player.”
Spencer completed three long days of practice with the Santa Cruz Warriors at the Chase Center and even had a full performance ahead of Golden State’s game against Oklahoma. When he was active, he thought that his number could be called, and took advantage of 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 an 86-84 lead in the first minute of the fourth quarter on Kyle Anderson’s 3-pointer for their first lead since 9-6. Spencer scored on Hield and caught a deflected pass from Draymond Green. Spencer could have tried a two on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but instead got two feet up and found an open Moses Moody on the right wing behind the arc.
The pass forced Dillon Jones to leave Anderson wide open in the right corner. Swish. Three points and an eruption of Warriors fans.
Nowhere in the box score does Spencer get credit for a huge game. And that’s just fine with him.
“I’m just trying to play good basketball,” Spencer told NBC Sports Bay Area in the locker room. “There’s an open man and if the guy makes the right reads and makes one more attempt — I’m not there for the numbers and my impact isn’t going to show in the numbers.
“It never was. Just try to play the game the right way at a high level and I feel like I have a feel for the other guys as well.”
The numbers show that Spencer played 14 minutes, 31 seconds, his most minutes of actual action in NBA history. Spencer finished with six points, four rebounds and three assists, none of which jumped off the page. He didn’t even come off the bench for more than three weeks when Spencer played the final 30 seconds of a game-winning drive against the Washington Wizards.
And still, his plus-9 was the best plus/minus of any player for either team.
Fear is not in Spencer’s blood, heart or head. He gave fellow two-way players Reece Beekman and Quinten Post plenty of credit for their ultimate sacrifice in keeping him ready, and stars like Curry and Green talked to him on the bench as if he were with the four-time champion.
why? Because his fearless actions and words together earned their admiration.
“He’s just solid, man,” Green said. “He’s very stubborn in a good way.” He will share the things he sees. Extremely intelligent, on and off the field. He is simply always constant. He gets his work done, he doesn’t bother anyone, but he’s not afraid to say something, and I respect that.”
The Warriors’ fire-breathing intimidator used examples as Spencer told him and Curry what he saw and what he thought they could do better. Some stars may not be able to handle it. Spencer’s opinions and insights were well deserved.
“When guys are like that, you respect that,” Green continued. “That’s what Pat had for 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 even a Sleepy Floyd jersey was on display.
There may never be a day when Spencer’s no. 61 best-selling or even cheap stores. So what. Respect from those in the trenches with you will always trump manufactured love.
Every second Spencer sprinted across the floor was guaranteed. What comes next is unknown, although no one will question whether he will be ready for this moment.
Download and listen to Dubs Talk Podcast
This embedded content is not available in your region.