Role players have plenty to prove during Warriors’ stretch run

OKLAHOMA CITY — Eight players — the five regular starters, Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala and Kevon Looney — have secured spots on the Warriors’ playoff roster, which raises a question: Who will occupy that final slot?

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has indicated that he’d like to have a nine-man rotation in the postseason. With rookie Jacob Evans III expected to spend the playoffs observing, Quinn Cook, Alfonzo McKinnie, Jonas Jerebko and Jordan Bell have 15 regular-season games to make their case for meaningful playing time.

Asked Saturday what he needs to see from those players to pencil them in the postseason rotation, Kerr said, "I don’t look at it that way. Whoever we play, we want everyone to be prepared and ready."

Still, Cook, McKinnie, Jerebko and Bell want to establish a better rhythm with the Warriors’ core. Though all of them have had memorable moments this season, they have been uneven in recent weeks.

Cook, whose shooting ability must overshadow his shaky defense for him to play meaningful minutes, is 30.6 percent from the field (28 percent from three-point range). McKinnie has provided a boost of energy in the past four games, but he was a non-factor much of the previous month.

A revelation in the first half of the season, Jerebko has had a tough time adjusting to a smaller role. Bell continues to oscillate between highlight-worthy plays and head-scratching ones.

If the Warriors aren’t happy with Cook, McKinnie, Jerebko or Bell, they could decide to waive one of them and give the final postseason roster spot to two-way-contract player Damion Lee. In 11.6 minutes per game this season, Lee is averaging 4.5 points on 42.7 percent shooting (38 percent from three-point range).

"Certain matchups make sense for some guys, and other...