Corzine: Experience, defense key to playoffs

Editor’s note: Arlington Heights native Dave Corzine went to the NBA Finals with the Washington Bullets as a rookie in 1979, then wrapped up his five-year Bulls career with a trip to the Eastern Conference finals in 1989. The former DePaul star will provide some insight for Daily Herald readers throughout the Bulls playoff run.

Q: Some people are claiming the Bulls’ relative lack of playoff experience could hurt them. Do you see that being a disadvantage?

A: It’s always going to be a factor, but of course, it depends on what teams they match up against. You look at a series against the Pacers, you have a team without a lot of playoff experience, either. So I don’t think that becomes a factor.

When you start looking at teams like the Celtics, which have guys that have won championships, it may become more of a factor in situations like that.

Q: Based on your days with the Bullets, Spurs and Bulls, did you notice any common characteristics among successful teams that might bode well for a playoff run?

A: Going back to the last topic, I think that experience makes a lot of difference. My last couple years with the Bulls, we weren’t able to get back to the Pistons. They had won championships and there’s a confidence from being there before and going through that experience before and knowing what to expect. I think that’s going to be a major factor for them.

In general, a lot of the clichés are all the same. It’s got to be about defense and the Bulls are one of the better defensive teams in the league. Tom Thibodeau really stresses defense. That’s going to be more of a factor the deeper they go in the playoffs.

You look at teams like the Pacers, obviously everything on paper is in favor of the Bulls. The Pacers are giving up over 100 points a game. Those are the type of things that make it tough to win in the playoffs. You have to make people really work for everything.