"Although some media members anticipated it -- and some fans wished for it -- there was no news conference Thursday at the Berto Center to announce another Christmas Eve massacre.

Vinny Del Negro is still the Bulls' coach despite the team's dismal 10-17 record.

But there were two fairly significant news items after practice:

Tyrus Thomas will return to the active roster Saturday against the New Orleans Hornets exactly seven weeks after surgery to repair a fractured radius in his left forearm. Also, Del Negro announced that the lineup changes he made for the second half of the game Tuesday in New York will remain in effect.

''Where we're at warrants, I think, some type of change,'' Del Negro said. ''It's not engraved in stone and probably not a permanent thing, but for right now I feel that's the direction we need to go.''

So Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson will replace John Salmons and Brad Miller in the starting lineup.

''I just think it's another ballhandler out there, another pick-and-roll guy, and Kirk's one of our best defenders, if not our best defender,'' Del Negro said. ''We can play with a little more thrust, a little more pace with Kirk.

''And John's still gonna get his minutes, Brad's still gonna get his minutes. We just have to see how it plays out a little bit.''

Just like he did after the game against the Knicks, Salmons didn't hide his disappointment with the change and said Thursday he felt singled out.

''I'm human,'' he said. ''It's not fun. You never want to be down, but I have to deal with it and I'll deal with it.

''I haven't been playing well, but I've been doing my best. That's all I can do. Things haven't been going well for whatever reason. I just have to keep working and have faith.''"