Rose said Saturday night was 'for the love of the game'

Derrick Rose made a triumphant return to the playoffs Saturday night, after almost three years away. And he was playing for a lot more than the Chicago Bulls. 

Rose scored 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, adding seven assists, two steals and a block, teaming up with Jimmy Butler to propel the Bulls to a Game 1 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. 

"I feel good," Rose said after the game. "I feel normal. I'm grateful to be playing with my teammates I have; they allow me to play the way I normally play."

He looked the part.

He added that he's in "grind mode," saying he "had three goals (Saturday): have fun, no expectations, and to compete." 

Rose certainly looked like he was having a good time, exceeded expectations, and did more than simply compete, showing flashes of the form that earned him the 2011 MVP award at only 22 years old.