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

Tests on Yao's fractured right leg show him to be progressing on schedule. He has been running on a treadmill, in which Rockets trainers can limit the weight he puts on the leg, 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."