Yao Ming expects to be ready for game action in 'early March.'

"You know me," he said. "I'm always faster than (expected)."

He has been running on a treadmill and walking through moves and jump shots.

"They are letting me do some jump shots, some practice but not real moves," Yao said. "I can walk on it, and do a lot more now. I have to (wear the brace) to give me some time to adjust to the brace because I will play the rest of the season with it.

"I've been running on the new treadmill. They control the weight. Now it's still March. I can get back to practice in 10 days to two weeks.

"It's hard to say (when he will play). Hopefully, the beginning of March."