Kerr making sure Iguodala paces self

At age 34 with an achy back, hamstring and knee, Warriors forward Andre Iguodala is well aware that the most important part of the regular season is making sure he’s ready for the postseason.

That’s why he didn’t protest last week when head coach Steve Kerr suggested Iguodala take Monday night off. Iguodala was again experiencing nagging knee pain. By resting while his teammates played the Grizzlies, he ensured he’d have five days off before Thursday’s game against Milwaukee.

“It just made a lot of sense,” Kerr said during his pregame news conference Monday. “I don’t have a number (of rest games) that I want (for Iguodala). It’s more just how he’s feeling.”

Iguodala has become a master at self-preservation. Acupuncture appointments are staples of his monthly routine. When he feels soreness, he isn’t shy about telling a team trainer. Iguodala also makes sure he is smart about how he exerts energy, especially in the regular season.

There is little reason to question his approach. After an underwhelming 2017-18 regular season, Iguodala was a steadying force on both ends of the court through Golden State’s first 13 postseason games.

His value was only more apparent when he missed six playoff games with a left lateral leg contusion/bone bruise.

Without Iguodala, the Warriors lost to Houston in Games 4 and 5 of the Western Conference finals to dig a 3-2 series hole. Before Iguodala came back for Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals against Cleveland, Golden State had little answer for LeBron James, who totaled 80 points, 17 rebounds, 21 assists and three steals in Games 1 and 2.

With that in mind, Kerr is apt to rest Iguodala in the regular season if the 2015 NBA Finals MVP experiences even minor discomfort. Kerr touches base daily with Iguodala, who averaged 69 games through his first five regular seasons with the Warriors.

“We communicate all the time,” Kerr said Monday. “He agreed that tonight made perfect sense” to rest. Injury update: In addition to Iguodala, point guard Shaun Livingston (right foot soreness) was ruled out for Monday’s game.

It was the fifth straight game Golden State was without Livingston, who has dealt with soreness in his right foot since the preseason finale Oct. 12 against the Lakers in San Jose. His absence has freed up time for Alfonzo McKinnie and rookie Jacob Evans.

“He needs to practice before we’ll put him out there,” Kerr said Sunday of Livingston. “We’re hoping by the end of the week, but we’ll take it slow.”

With Livingston and Iguodala out, the Warriors recalled two-way-contract player Damion Lee from the team’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.