PHILADELPHIA – Pat Spencer took a rather circuitous route to the Warriors’ bench after burying a 3-pointer that put the team up 98-94 with 1:12 left in the game.
He banged his chest several times before unleashing some un-family friendly trash talk upon the stunned Philadelphia crowd while he made his way back to the Warriors’ huddle.
Who could blame him for such a show of emotion?
Yes, Golden State ended up losing a heartbreaker for the second game in a row, this time 99-98 to the Sixers. But the Warriors were in position to be competitive because of Spencer’s high-energy play for the second game in a row.
It has not gone unnoticed by coach Steve Kerr, who praised Spencer for setting the tone the last two games.
“It’s just who I am, it’s innate to go out there and compete and lay it on the line no matter who I’m playing against,” Spencer said. “I’m thankful that he follows that, and sees that.”
He scored a team-high 16 points and dished out four assists in 24 minutes. This came on the heels of a 17-point night in a valiant performance against the 21-1 defending champion Thunder.
He is averaging 5.6 points and 2.7 assists per game this season while shooting a career-high 35.7% from 3-point land as Kerr gives him more opportunities to handle the ball.
“You get a little bit more comfortable when you can go out there and have the freedom to miss a couple and know you’re not going to get yanked,” Spencer said.
Along the way, he provided something the Warriors have been bereft of, sans injured Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. Yes, the Warriors have plenty of shooting guards — Seth Curry, Buddy Hield, Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton and Will Richard all fit the mold of an off-the-ball shooter.
But a bona fide off-the-dribble threat who can get to the rim? None of them brings that dimension quite like Spencer.
“Without Steph, for sure, he’s got to be out there,” Kerr said. “It would be great to find a way to get him on the roster, because he’d be the perfect guy to have as a backup. He can win you games, like he almost did tonight.”
In his third NBA season, Spencer is enjoying his breakout moment, and he can count his coach among those who would love to see him play a bigger role even after Curry and Butler return. But actually giving Spencer more of a runway? That will not be easy, for collectively bargained reasons written in ink.
The Northwestern product is on a two-way deal, which means he is only allowed to suit up for 50 games for the Warriors.
It is a contract generally designed for developmental prospects who can split time between the G League and the NBA. Spencer, who is 29 and clearly NBA-ready, has already used up 24 of those games, having played in 15 of them.
The easiest way around this would be to sign Spencer to a standard contract. But that would require the Warriors to cut a player on a non-two-way deal. And considering Golden State’s injury woes, the team needs every player it can get.
“It would be great if we could find a way, but it’s a little tricky,” Kerr said.
But should Spencer continue to put up prolific performances off the bench, tough decisions may lie ahead for the Warriors.
