Orlando Magic coach DJ Bakker pointed to defense, tempo control and role-player habits as the backbone of the team’s strong start, while singling out Jace Richardson and Noah Penda as two young pieces driving the momentum.
Bakker said the opening stretch set the tone, with Orlando coming out sharp after a light practice day and refusing to ease into the game. The starters, he said, were ready from the jump. The Magic’s ball pressure and focus on the ball produced just 17 points allowed in the first quarter, and that defense quickly turned into offense as Orlando put up 30 in the period.
"Just the start of the game. You're playing at 1:00 after a light practice day yesterday, and just what's the edge that we came out with-not letting the game start and then ease our way into it.
I thought the starters did an incredible job of being ready to go. I thought our ball pressure and our defensive focus-they only scored 17 points in the first quarter.
I thought the ball pressure, the individual pride on the ball, was very, very good. And then that allowed us to score 30 in the first quarter.
Our defense created our offense, and that's what you're looking for. So, I thought the first five guys did an excellent job of starting the game off."
Richardson’s value, Bakker said, goes beyond scoring. He praised the young guard for keeping the group organized and managing the game’s rhythm, especially in stretches when the opposition made a run. Bakker said he still wanted the ball in Richardson’s hands late, because he trusts him to steer the offense, push in transition when the opportunity is there, and get teammates into the right spots when it isn’t.
"Controlling the tempo of the game-I told him even in the late game, even when they caught up to us, I want the ball in his hands. Get us organized.
If we can run and we can score easy in transition, let's do it. If not, he knows his plays to get them going.
But he also knows-Colin had a stretch there where he was really good, okay, let's get the ball to him. Noah had a stretch where he was going.
So, he has a great feel for his teammates and putting them in the best positions they could be in."
Bakker was just as direct about what makes Penda such a valuable defender. For him, it starts with the competitive fire.
The physical tools matter, but Bakker said the real separator is the edge Penda brings every possession. That mindset, paired with his ability to handle multiple matchups, gives Orlando real flexibility.
Bakker pointed to a stretch where the Magic went small and trusted Penda to guard the five, the one and the wings, depending on the possession.
"Well, first of all, the want-to-the competitive edge. No great defender has that without it.
There's a lot of physical tools that individuals might have, but first of all, it's his edge and his competitiveness. Number two, it's his versatility.
As you've seen, we went small right there. We played with no center, trusting that he can guard their five, he could guard their one, obviously can guard the wings.
Just when you can put him on different matchups-whether it's a pick-and-roll player, whether it's a guy that plays off the ball, or whether it's switching them onto a big-that's a great weapon to have. He's taken the challenge and he's improved game by game.
But like I said, the foundation is the competitive edge that you have to have to be a great defender."
Bakker also highlighted Alex Morales as the kind of player who helps winning even when the offense isn’t built around him. He said he knows Morales well from the last two years and has seen firsthand how much he contributes without needing plays called for him. Bakker credited Morales for cutting, rebounding, chasing loose balls, defending and communicating, while noting that his catch-and-shoot three remains part of the package.
"Unfortunately, after having to play against him the last two years, I've seen how he can impact winning. I don't draw up any plays for him, and he's still going to cut, he's going to rebound, he's going to get loose balls, he's going to defend, he's going to talk.
He just does all the things that might not be on the box score. It might not reveal all the time his impact on winning.
Obviously, he can make the catch-and-shoot three, but he plays his role. He doesn't go outside of himself.
If there's a loose ball, if there's a rebound, if there's a chance to win the margins, he's going to help you on that."
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