Rose says he played season opener with left eye shut

Derrick Rose suited up and played 32 big minutes in the Chicago Bulls' season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, despite a swollen left eye that still isn't functioning properly.

After the Bulls pulled out a 97-95 win, Rose admitted he's still dealing with vision problems as a result of the fractured left orbital bone he suffered in practice on Sept. 29, and was playing with just his right eye Tuesday.

"When I'm out there playing I'm only using one of my eyes," Rose said. "I close my left eye whenever I'm out there. So I just got used to it from practice."

Rose hasn't been able to blink things back into focus, either. Whenever his left eye is open, the double vision persists.

"I wish it was a blink. But it's all the time," Rose said. "Like right now I see two of you."

Somehow, he still managed to put up 18 points and five assists, and though his jumper was a bit off-kilter and he missed some makeable looks from in close, he did more than enough to help the Bulls keep their noses ahead down the stretch. Shooting 8-for-22 from the field isn't a line he'd like to get used to, but it's mighty impressive for a guy with no depth perception.

"I think he sees three baskets right now," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "I told him aim for the middle one. That's part of it right now, the depth perception. It's probably still a little bit off. He's still out there working on (threes), shooting them, but we want him to be aggressive getting to the basket and making plays for his teammates."

Asked how he'd managed to play at all - let alone as effectively as he did - given the circumstances, Rose was blunt.

"I'm a pro," he said. "Not to be cocky or anything, but seriously, I've been playing this game for a long time, so while I'm out there I think I'm good enough to still be able to go out there and do positive things to help my teammates win."