After Finals loss, Warriors understand the need for more rest

Steve Kerr’s emphasis on rest traces back to the 1998 NBA Finals. Then a reserve guard on a Chicago team eyeing its third straight title, he experienced the physical toll overshadowed by Michael Jordan’s iconic shot over Utah forward Bryon Russell in Game 6.

“People remember that shot,” Kerr said recently. “But you look back at that game, Scottie (Pippen) had a back injury, missed 10 minutes in the first half. We were down 15, didn’t have home court. We were up 3-1, lost at home to go back to Salt Lake. We were running on fumes.”

Nearly two decades later, that memory has helped fuel Kerr’s plan to rest his core Warriors players at times this season. The focus will be on preserving his team’s…