CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose's play didn't do all of his talking in Saturday night's Game 1 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

The joy he showed while dropping 23 points in 27 minutes did the rest.

Playing in his first playoff game in almost three years, the former NBA MVP was noticeably more active on and off the floor with teammates and fans. After a particularly good stretch in the second quarter in which he went 5-for-5 from the field, Rose came to bench while waving his arms up and down to get the United Center fans more pumped.

Rose appeared to be having fun in his playoff return, something that hasn't always been the case this season as he made his way back from his third knee injury in three years. The happiness he created wasn't lost on his teammates.

"He just told me tonight it's for the love of the game," Bulls center Joakim Noah said of Rose's pregame message.

"That means a lot because I know he's gone through so much," Noah said. "It's hard to play basketball when you're not feeling well. I think that sometimes fans and people take that for granted so just to see him out there competing the way he competed during the most important time of the year.

"This is fun, competing at this level -- competing like that is what it's all about."

Rose said he had only three goals as he faced the pressure cooker of the playoffs again in Game 1.

1. Have fun

2. Have no expectations

3. Compete

He appeared to reach his goals with flying colors, but it was the first that was most noticeable. He attacked the rim with a better consistency than he had all season and he took even more time to high five his teammates and impart some words of wisdom near the bench. The Bulls have always taken their emotional cues from Noah, but they have always fed just as much off Rose's play. When he is rolling, so are they. Rose's ability to take over the game and create space for his teammates gives the rest of the group a confidence that has been lacking in recent years.

"It was the same," Rose said of his emotions. "But when you miss a long period of time of playing a sport that you love playing, or dedicating your life to your craft, or your art, it comes out in a weird way. I didn't mean to do it on purpose, it just came out."

The Bulls would love to see even more of that emotion from their offensive leader. They know what it is has taken for him to get back to this level and they understand the boost that everyone else gets while seeing him enjoy the game again.

"Last night he was having fun," Bulls big man Pau Gasol said after Sunday's practice. "Obviously, when you play well you have more fun. When you win you have fun. Now it's about continuity. Playoffs are fun, playoffs are exciting for everyone, and playing well and being successful in the playoffs is what you want to accomplish. It's a great first game, but now we have to build on it, we have to continue. We really haven't done anything out of the ordinary, so we just got to keep at it and grow as a team."

It's much easier for the Bulls to continue that growth with Rose at the center of the foundation. His presence on the floor affects every aspect of the organization, as well as the city itself. The belief his play creates within his hometown of Chicago should never be underestimated. After the ups and downs that he has endured, the Bulls are just hoping to see that joyful play continue to come together over the next few weeks.

Saturday's performance was another small step in a season full of them.

"Derrick doesn't get too high or too low," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Just get ready for the next one. Concentrate on running the team. That’s the main thing. He has the ability to make everyone around him so much better. When he does that, that gives us our best chance of winning."