https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/Steve-Kerr-on-Warriors-playoff-rotation-No-17118400.php

DENVER — Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has made one thing clear in recent days to the team’s playoff newcomers: There’s no room this time of year for bruised egos.

In the regular season, Kerr can tinker with his lineups because the stakes are relatively low. But in a best-of-seven playoff series, the Warriors must find somehow, some way, to gain as many tactical advantages as possible over the opponent.

That’s why speculation circulated this week that Kerr might want to make some key rotation changes. With Stephen Curry nearly 100% recovered from his foot injury, he could return to the starting lineup as soon as Thursday night’s Game 3 against the Nuggets at Ball Arena.

But this would cause some complications: What does Kerr do with Jordan Poole? And if Kerr decides to keep Poole in the starting lineup, who is forced to the bench?

Plenty of factors go into this type of decision for Kerr. One thing he doesn’t worry about, however, is whether a player would be upset with a perceived demotion.

“I think in the regular season you really take everything into account, how each individual person would handle a certain role,” Kerr said. “In the playoffs, all that stuff goes out the window.

“You just do whatever you think is best to win the game, and you explain that. The older guys know that already, but it’s something we talked about the day our playoff prep started, the day after our last regular-season game. Whatever we need to do to win the game, we’re going to do that.”

If Poole is forced back to the bench, he would be careful not to complain. Forget the fact that he averaged a team-high 29.5 points through the Warriors’ first two playoff games. As Curry illustrated when he came off the bench to start the series, no one — even a future Hall of Famer — is immune to sacrifices.

“There’s no time for hurt feelings,” Kerr said. “It’s just win the game.”