Artest forecasts quick return

Reggie Theus was sharing his vision, telling the announced crowd of 9,062 at Sunday's open practice at Arco Arena what to look forward to from the coach and his team.

First and foremost, he reminded them, was the continued return of his injured starters after guard Kevin Martin came back Saturday.

"We've got Mike (Bibby) coming back, I believe, on Wednesday, and Ron (Artest) …" he said as he looked around for help with the answer.

While the answer isn't determined quite yet, Artest said it certainly will be on the earlier side of expectations. The small forward originally was said to be out three to four weeks after Jan. 2 right elbow surgery to remove five bone chips, but he indicated his return would be sooner.

"It should be soon," Artest said. "It should be very, very, very soon. We're trying to get to the playoffs. That's all that's important."

Artest has taken a hands-on approach to his own care, choosing to work with a surgeon – Dr. Michelle Carlson in New York – with whom he has a history. He said he has been active in his medical situations since early in his career with Chicago.

"I really pay attention to everything, because my body's like my enterprise," he said. "Ever since I was in Chicago, when I got hurt (and) tore a ligament in my thumb, they didn't want me to play for 12 weeks. I threw a tantrum because I couldn't play."

With the early return, that likely won't happen this time.

"I want me to come back more than anyone – except coach (Theus) and Kevin Martin," Artest said. "Kev likes playing with me."

Catching his breath – It all showed up in the final minute.

Martin had returned from his Dec. 4 groin strain to produce as before, scoring 25 points in 28 minutes in the loss to Indiana on Saturday. But he missed his final two shots while looking every bit like a player who had been out for some time.

With the stakes not as high a day later, nothing had changed. Martin practiced and scrimmaged at full speed, but declined a request to address the fans when his lungs just couldn't catch up.

"There's no way I could've talked," he said. "I was still trying to catch my breath. It's going to be a little process."

Martin said he's been doing intense cardiovascular work for "a good week," but that "it nowhere compares to when you step out on that court."

Martin came off the bench against the Pacers, and Theus said he has no plans to change his starting lineup for today's game against Dallas.

Theus entertains – Theus pulled off a tricky task during the open practice, when the fans who got in for free saw the team break down video on the arena screen and later watched practice and a scrimmage for approximately 90 minutes. Wired with a microphone in both settings, Theus – whose past career as a television actor and sports commentator is well known – talked to fans while running plays and delivering plenty of humor. Afterward, he admitted some censoring was needed.

"Part of the film session that (the fans) didn't see was not real pretty," Theus said. "I like to put a name to what we're talking about (when watching film), and we don't ever want to put our guys in a situation where it was embarrassing to them to people who are looking in."

Theus said he enjoyed himself.

"This could turn out to be something of a tradition," he said. "I think it's great because a lot of times in today's environment, a lot of people who work and have families don't have a chance to watch these guys."

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