MCW impressed his coach even while sidelined

Coach Brett Brown says that he has been impressed how 76ers rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams studied the game while he was injured.

Of course. Brown would much rather see Carter-Williams on the court and it appears as if that will happen for Friday's game at the Wells Fargo Center against the Brooklyn Nets.

Carter-Williams has missed the last seven games with a skin infection and soreness in the front of his right knee, but Thursday he practiced for the second straight day.

And while he is listed as a game-time decision, both Brown and Carter-Williams indicated that barring any setback, he would return to the lineup.

Carter-Williams also missed four earlier games with a left arch bruise. What impressed Brown when his point guard wasn't in the lineup was how attentive he was on the bench.

"I see him in a really positive light when I listen to what he has to say and how he sees the game," Brown said following Thursday's practice.

Brown used the down time to ask Carter-Williams his opinion about different situations during the game and the coach was impressed by his responses.

"He is more than a spectator, an injured player, wannabe point guard, coach type of thing," Brown said. "I see him in a really positive light when I listened to what he has to say and how he sees the game."

Of course, Brown is much happier to solicit his opinion as an active player.

"I am thrilled he is back, I am thrilled he is with me and I am glad he is the Philadelphia 76ers 22-year-old rookie point guard," Brown said.

The record shows how much he was missed. The Sixers were 0-7 in the last seven games Carter-Williams missed and are 1-10 in games he has not played.