MCW: Recovery timetable longer than Sixers said

THIS MIGHT not come as a real surprise, but recent history has shown the 76ers are not very good at giving information on players' injuries - such as those to Andrew Bynum and Nerlens Noel. Now there appears to be a little confusion over the shoulder surgery that has sidelined NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams.

Just after MCW received his award in May, the team said that he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and that the recovery period would be 2 to 4 months. It wasn't really a surprise that Carter-Williams was a limited participant in training camp and that he might miss the preseason and maybe a few games to begin the regular season. But after practice yesterday at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic medicine, the 6-6 guard kind of clouded his return a bit.

Throughout training camp, coach Brett Brown has said that MCW is doing drills but cannot play with contact. Although he said he feels great and wants to play, Carter-Williams seemed to have a different calendar on his recovery than the team.

"Everything but play contact," Williams reiterated on his participation. "I wish I was [playing], but that's doctors' orders. I have to listen to what they say and come back 100 percent. I feel great.

"I am getting a little itchy to play. The surgery diagnosis was, I was supposed to be out from 6 to 9 months, but I'm plenty ahead of schedule. I feel great. I wish I was playing."

Six to 9 months means he could be months away, which is a lot more time than originally expected. Asked about the timetable of 2 to 4 months, Carter-Williams said: "That not true at all. [The 6 to 9 months], that's from when I first got the surgery. But it's doing great.

"There is no specific set date. We have to plan a doctor's appointment and go in, do all that stuff. Like I said, I feel great. If it was up to me, I'd be out there playing right now. I want to be out there. I feel unbelievable. I feel 100 percent."

Stay tuned.

Brett Brown wasn't recruited by Syracuse out of high school, but remembers playing in the Carrier Dome as a sophomore guard for coach Rick Pitino at Boston University. Brown's Sixers will play the New York Knicks in Syracuse tonight.

He remembers he was on the court milking the clock down the stretch against Princeton in a close game. His backcourt mate, Johnny Ray Wall, was standing across court from him as Brown had the ball. Pitino, Brown says, called Wall to give instructions. Wall looked over to the coach. Problem was, Brown was in the midst of throwing the ball to his unsuspecting teammate. The ball went off Ray's face, Princeton scored, Boston University lost.

"The Princeton guard just picked it off and went in and scored and we lose the game," Brown recalled. "It was a big play. That is my history with Syracuse, 1982. I thought it was coach Pitino's fault for distracting my other guard's attention, and I hit him right in the face."

To start practice yesterday, Brett Brown showed a video of veteran Jason Richardson and all that he has done during his 12-year career. As he relies more and more on Richardson as a mentoring voice for his young players, he wanted them to know exactly who the "old" guy was.

Richardson is trying to come back from major knee surgery, which has cost him a year and a half. Whether the 33-year-old ever can play again is very much in question. For now, he teaches.

"Soon, we're going to know about what is going to happen with his playing days," Brett Brown said. "I use him all the time to help us. I had a video guy make a tape of Jason Richardson to show our guys. A 4-minute tape. I hope they understand who is in this room, because here he is. This is a two-time dunk competition champion; all-rookie team; most threes in an NBA game. What he did in college, career earnings - have a look at this and see who you are sitting with. I'm proud of Jason. I get flashbacks of what he was and how hard a guard he was, from his athleticism to his jump shot. He's just a tremendous voice for our young guys."

Delaware 87ers coach Rod Baker was promoted to the Sixers' front office as a scout. The Roman Catholic High product has more than 35 years of experience as a coach.

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