Even before Andrew Bynum's MRI provided a specific idea of how long he might be sidelined with an Achilles strain, it was widely assumed he'd end up missing some games. Because of this, I found two brief exchanges following the win over Minnesota fairly telling and important:

1) Josh Powell, exiting the locker room, and Phil Jackson, heading back towards it after his postgame media session, crossed paths in the hallway. PJ stopped Josh and shared a few words. I couldn't hear what was said, but judging by the encouraging hand on Josh's shoulder and Jackson's praise offered minutes earlier, I gathered the conversation to be something along the lines of, "We're gonna need you."

2) As D.J. Mbenga, who just expressed emotional thoughts to Brian about the horrible irony of Bynum's misfortune creating his own opportunities, was leaving the locker room, Lamar Odom intercepted him. An arm was quickly slung around the Mbenga's shoulders, then came the words of encouragement:

"You just keep coming with it. You can't help it, right? You just keep coming with it, D."

Team leaders were already anticipating life without Bynum and looking to pump up the two guys most likely to see their minutes bumped. Odom's shoulder injury, which occasionally leads to numbness that could force him to miss possessions at a time, only increases those odds. I caught up with Powell after Saturday's practice and discussed the concept of staying ready for these exact situations throughout a season where minutes are sparse and unpredictable. He raised what I thought were some very interesting points.

Andy Kamenetzky: What's that process like for you when your number gets called suddenly and unexpectedly? To remain ready for a situation like Friday's?

Josh Powell: It's just like you were watching us today (at practice). Whatever your routine is that you feel best fits you. For me, it's constantly making sure I lift weights and keep the body strong. Constant icing and doing those necessary things. Working hard in the weight room. Not just lifting, but actually working hard at it. Working hard when we practice. Doing the little things like we were doing; shooting and working on game situations. All those things keep you in the game.

And even during the games, paying attention. Having fun but paying attention. It's a good thing when you can go up to a player or mention something to the coach, because you're in the game and you see certain things that even the coaches may not see or may see or the players may not see or may see.
AK: And it keeps you ready if you do end up in the game.

JP: All those things. All of it.

AK: Is a situation like Andrew's injury ever difficult for you? I know how much you want those minutes, but do the circumstances ever make it tough to deal with why they're coming?

JP: It's unfortunate. Andrew's a really good friend of mine and I'm going to continue to pray for him. I hope that everything is okay with him. We're a unit and we're a family, so when one goes down, everyone else has to pick it up.

AK: Has Phil talked with you about what he's expecting from you?

(Powell shakes his head.)

AK: He knows you know?

JP: I don't know what he knows. I know I know. I'm gonna make sure I'm ready.

AK: Phil's mentioned many times how consistent your energy and effort stays. Does it feel appreciated? Can you feel them knowing you bring it?

JP: I guess, from the guys. And from the coaches. But the coaches, they'll say things sometimes to all of us about how they feel about everything and sometimes they don't. But I think they guys know and everybody knows, not just myself, but everybody, we all have the good intentions of doing well and playing really hard.

AK: Does it change anything for you to show up for Sunday's game against the Wizards knowing the odds favor playing more than normal?

JP: No. I gotta think that way either way. You'll notice some games lately, the bigs have been getting into foul trouble. So the opportunities for me and D.J. have been greater to come in and kind of play four or five minutes to get us through the half so those guys can finish the game.

AK: Is there a tightness that grows between you and D.J., because of the similarities of your situations?

JP: I think the tightness grows between all of us, because the guys that are playing understand how hard it is. And of course, the guys who don't play understand how hard it is. I think we all have that feel for one another, and that's what makes who are and the team who we are.

Along with the nugget about paying attention, I especially enjoyed Powell's "I know I know" sentiment. That mindset of no explanation required about his duties, because a professional knows what's expected of him.

Powell and Mbenga are no doubt limited players in terms of their overall skill sets, and the returns sometimes diminish the more time they're on the floor in extended minutes. But in limited burn, they can be quite effective, and either way, I've always been impressed with their ability to stay ready for these moments. To maintain a game-to-game focus, despite the odds often favoring it ultimately serving as an exercise in sideline concentration and little more. Both guys are true pros in this sense.

I don't know how many games Bynum will miss, nor do I know how much run Powell or Mbenga will get in his place. For that matter, I have no idea how effective that run will be. But I do feel confident in their mental preparation leading up to this point, which for deep reserves is a large part of the battle in and of itself. Even if both struggled with an increased role, I guarantee the issue wasn't being mentally unprepared for a call to duty.