John Lucas called into Waddle & Silvy this afternoon to talk Derrick Rose, the team’s loss, and what he thinks the Bulls can accomplish in the playoffs:

On shaking off Game 2′s loss:

You have to shake it off, you have to get ready for the next game and that’s what we’re going to do.  We just have to make sure when we have them down we keep them down.  We have to gut check each other, gut check yourself and go out there and compete. When I go out there I leave everything I have on the court. I’m not worried about anything, we’re gonna rally back up and go into Philly and get a win.  

On Derrick Rose presenting Game ball:

It was great. That’s our leader, that’s out captain.  For him to be there, and he gave us encouraging words before the game and after the game, for him to do that, it shows how much the fans love him and how much he loves the city of Chicago, and this team. He wasn’t at home sitting around – no – he wanted to be a part of the game, be a part of the atmosphere, be a part of the playoffs.  And he is, because like I said he’s our captain, he’s our leader, and he did exactly what a leader and captain is supposed to do – he was there supporting his teammates.

On Derrick’s main message to team before and after the game:

He was like “Ya’ll know what you need to do, go out there and play our game of basketball, and play exactly how we’re supposed to play.  Leave everything out on the court. And let’s get this win.”   That’s all you really have to say.

Why Derrick was in suite not on bench:

What, would you want him to be on the bench in a suit and tie? Knowing about his ACL and all that, uncomfortable? We want him to be as comfortable as he can. Just him being there, after going through this situation, says a lot about him as a person and a teammate. 

On if he’s talked to Rose, and how is handling the situation:

Yeah I have.  He’s handling it great.  I told him it’s just a minor setback for a major comeback. He’s going to come back bigger, faster, stronger and he’s going to be ready for the upcoming season.  It’s just about him getting healthy now and attacking his rehab like he’s going to do.

On Game 3:

Everybody knows their role, we just got to go out their and do our job like Coach Thibs says.  Like I said, I’m not worried, my team’s not worried, we just got to go out there and get one.

Can the Bulls without Derrick win it all:

Absolutely. Absolutely, not a doubt in my mind. Everybody doubted us from day one.  When Rose went down the first time, everybody saying we wasn’t going to be a playoff team, wasn’t going to be able to do this and that. We stepped up to the plate and we’re the number one team in the NBA – regular season, number one seed in the Eastern Conference.  And, we’re capable of winning it all.

On getting to ECF to set a screen on Lebron and knock him down (joking):

(Laughing) I just want to get there. I feel like we have unfinished business from last year.  Me and that Lebron thing, that’s nothing to me.  I’m more about winning and getting to this championship.  

On Lebron’s screen in last meeting with Heat:

I thought he threw his left shoulder into me a little bit. Then I look up and Tyson Chandler set a clean screen on him and he took it like he just got shot. You got to get back up, all that with you’re neck hurting and stuff, that wasn’t cool.