Pat Spencer Addresses Adjustments Warriors Need on Road Trip

The Golden State Warriors were projected to be a contender in the Western Conference this season after adding Jimmy Butler III last season and adding some depth late into the offseason.

However, injuries have made it difficult for the team to find their rhythm. Heading into a tough three-game road trip without Stephen Curry, the Warriors will need to adjust on the fly.

Golden State fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 124-112 on Tuesday night, dropping their record to 11-11 on the season.

Despite the loss, backup guard Pat Spencer provided a spark off the bench and offered insight into what the Warriors need to do to stay competitive.

After the game, Spencer spoke about what adjustments the Warriors must make heading into the road trip against the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Chicago Bulls.

"Definitely can't turn the ball over. You know Jimmy's the lead at taking care of the rock," Spencer said. "For us, I think we're going to have to be an elite pace team. With Jimmy, we tend to slow down a bit. We won't have the luxury of playing through him in the half court."

Spencer went on to emphasize the importance of getting out in transition and playing with energy on the defensive end. "Like we talked about tonight in the second half we had to generate some easy looks for ourselves. That starts with getting the ball out, one, getting stops. I felt like we finally got some stops together, got rebounds. Just makes it a little bit easier on your offense when you're able to get stops, run, and generate some easy looks for yourself."

Even in defeat, Spencer was one of the bright spots for Golden State. The 29-year-old guard finished with 17 points and six assists off the bench, helping the Warriors rally from a 22-point deficit to briefly take the lead in the fourth quarter.

His energy and playmaking provided a glimpse of what the team will need without their star point guard.

Head coach Steve Kerr praised Spencer after the game, saying he belongs on a guaranteed contract. The two-way player has proven valuable throughout the early part of the season, playing in 14 of the team's first 22 games.

The Warriors will embark on a three-game East Coast road trip without Curry, who continues to recover from a quad contusion suffered against the Houston Rockets on November 26.

Kerr confirmed that Curry will not travel with the team and is hopeful the veteran guard will return for the December 12 home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With Butler also dealing with knee soreness after leaving Tuesday's game, the Warriors may need Spencer and others like Seth Curry, who made his debut with 14 points, to step up in a major way.

The 11-11 Warriors currently sit eighth in the Western Conference and will need to find ways to generate offense without their top playmakers if they want to stay in the playoff picture.