Mo Bamba

Mo Bamba's minutes aren't guaranteed even with Utah Jazz teammates out. He stays ready by leaning on the training staff to "get extra shots up, get extra cardio, do extra script," and calls out coverages from the bench when he sits.

Ace Bailey had never played drop coverage, where the defender sinks back toward the rim on screens, a job usually left to big men, until the Utah Jazz taught him at halftime of a recent game, Mo Bamba said: "he picked it up pretty fast."

Mo Bamba's role changed with two Utah Jazz players going down, and coach Will Hardy said he "was ready for the moment": four blocks, rim presence, lob finishes, screening. Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. did not return; Hardy gave no status before imaging on Oct. 27.