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LOS ANGELES -- Just as he has to wait to come into games, Jamal Crawford had to be patient about receiving the NBA Sixth Man Award. The 34-year-old guard was honoured on Thursday, a week later than usual. The delay was caused by the controversy involving team owner Donald Sterling, who was banned for life by the NBA after a recording surfaced in which he made racist comments. "Weve known it for a while, but obviously with all the stuff going on we decided to try to let it die down before we gave him the award or he would never be able to talk about the award," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "Im glad were finally able to do this." Crawford became the oldest recipient and the first to win with different teams. He also was honoured as the leagues best player off the bench while with the Atlanta Hawks in 2009-10. "Its pretty cool," he said during a presentation at the teams practice facility, with teammates including Chris Paul and Blake Griffin cheering him and poking fun of his suit and tie. "I didnt know what a family was on the court until I got with these guys," an emotional Crawford said. "Ive been on a lot of teams and usually guys, they go their own way. But with us, everybody is included, everybody is a part. They make everybody feel like family." Crawford led the leagues reserve players in scoring this season, averaging 18.6 points. He came off the bench in 45 of 69 games he played in, helping the Clippers to a 57-25 record, their best regular-season mark in franchise history. Crawford went so far as to say he hopes to spend the rest of his career with the Clippers, an organization roiled by Sterling telling his friend V. Stiviano that he didnt want her to bring black people to Clippers games. "As long as Im with this group of guys and with Doc leading us, everything else will work itself out," Crawford said. The Clippers had a 31-14 record when Crawford came off the bench this season. Crawford set the single-season franchise record for 3-pointers made with 161. That surpassed his record from last season, his first in Los Angeles, when he was runner-up for the Sixth Man award. "He can score in his sleep," Rivers said. "Ive never seen a guy that can sit for 15 minutes and literally be on the floor for a half-second and they swing him the ball and hes ready to shoot and make some shots." Rivers even made an exception to his policy of not running a play for someone when they first enter the game. "Hes a lethal scorer, but he adds more value when he does other things," the coach said. Rivers was among those in the NBA who knew Crawford by reputation, a player who only wanted to score and not defend. But Crawford put that to rest this season, especially when Paul was injured. "This year hes ran the point guard position, hes been my best passer at times when C.P. was out," Rivers said. "Hes been our defender, hes in the right spots. Hes been a complete team guy, so Im really happy for him." Crawford received 57 first-place votes and 421 total points from a panel of 125 sports writers and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada. He joined Kevin McHale, Ricky Pierce and Detlef Schrempf as two-time winners. Taj Gibson of Chicago finished second with 395 points and San Antonios Manu Ginobili was third with 138. Crawford had his best month in January, scoring in double figures in 15 of 16 games and helping the Clippers go 12-4 that month. On Jan. 25, he had 37 points and 11 assists in a win over Toronto -- the most points he scored off the bench in his career and his most with the Clippers. It was the second time this season he had that many points and assists; he totalled those numbers against Sacramento on Nov. 29. Crawford missed 13 games in March and April because of a sore Achilles tendon, but rallied to return in time for the playoffs. The Clippers and Thunder are tied 1-1 in their Western Conference semifinals series. The award sponsor Kia will donate a 2015 vehicle to a charity of Crawfords choice. Dino Ciccarelli Jersey . Wawrinka, who is seeded fourth, is in the top half of the draw with Serbian Novak Djokovic. The Swiss star outlasted Djokovic in a five-set quarterfinal thriller last year and stunned Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the final to capture his first-ever Grand Slam title. Jamie Benn Jersey . Costa injured his right thigh muscle against Barcelona last Saturday and had sought treatment in Belgrade from a doctor specializing in using fluid derived from horse placenta to repair damaged cells. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/brian-bellows-hockey-jersey/ . He says he will have the operation Wednesday and be ready in time for training camp in September. Bernier missed five games in March due to the injury. Bobby Smith Jersey . But when it was all over they had wasted another lead, seen another pitcher flame out on the mound and lost their fourth straight at home. Neal Broten Jersey . Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers were left fretting over an MRI on the stars left knee. Paul George scored 21 points, Roy Hibbert added 19 and the Pacers used a dominant fourth quarter to blow out the Cavaliers 91-76 on Tuesday The Pacers (25-5) have won eight in a row over Cleveland, their longest active streak against any opponent.VANCOUVER -- Perspective is always important. Maybe thats why midfielder Russell Teibert managed to sound enthusiastic about a schedule that sees the Vancouver Whitecaps play their third Major League Soccer game in eight days. Watch the Whitecaps vs. Real Salt Lake live Saturday on TSN at 10pm et/7pm pt. The Whitecaps match against Real Salt Lake Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium comes on the heels of a 1-1 draw Wednesday in Toronto against Toronto FC and a 3-1 loss to Chivas USA Saturday at home in BC Place Stadium. The Whitecaps will have travelled over 7,300 kilometres by the time they return to Vancouver. The stretch can be physically exhausting but Teiberts rational is more games in a short time period means increased playing minutes for everyone on the team. "I think its the most exciting stretch to be going through, especially with the squad we have this year," said the 21-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ont., who played 82 minutes against Toronto after not getting on the field against Chivas. "You never know when you are going to have the chance to be on the field. Now that we have more games theres a better chance you have in playing. Its exciting and it keeps all the guys on their toes." A win would help Vancouver gain ground in MLSs competitive Western Conference. Heading into the weekend the Whitecaps are sixth in the West with 26 points from a 6-4-8 record. That leaves them just two points back of Salt Lake, which has a 7-4-7 record. "Each point, each win is vital," said Teibert. "Hopefully we get a good result and can jump back up there." Perspective can also be applied in analyzing the Whitecaps recent fortunes. For three months Vancouver rode a franchise-record eight game unbeaten streak (3-0-5). During that stretch the team scored 18 goals but allowed 14. Over their last four games the Whitecaps are 1-2-1. The team has managed just three goals and allowed six. "You are always going to have ups and downs in a season, thats professional sport," said Teibert. "Its how you handle those up and downs. "We have got a couple of draws and we did lose an unfortunate game last weekend. Its all about moving forward." Defender Steven Beitashour cant explain why the ball suddenly isnt going into the net for the Whitecaps. "I dont know what the reason is for that," said Beitashour, a member of Irans team at the recent World Cup in Brazil. "Any time we play we try to put up as many goals as possible and give up zero goals.dddddddddddd" Teams often improve defensively as the season progresses, said Beitashour, who is playing in his fifth MLS season. The Whitecaps are also still adapting to new coach Carl Robinson. "The coaching staff has more time with the team," he said. "Guys are getting used to each others tendencies and things like that. "With Carl being new here we are all trying to understand exactly what he wants defensively and we are starting to jell together." Real Salt Lake has struggled of late and is winless in their last five games (0-3-2). One problem is goal scoring. In the first five games of the season Salt Lake scored 23 goals. In their next seven the team managed just four, with two of those coming on penalty kicks in one match. In the first 11 games Salt Lake was shutout once. In the last seven games they have been shut out four times. Defender Tony Beltran said no one is panicking. "I feel like we talk about that every year at a certain point," he told the Real Salt Lake website. "We trust our forwards. We trust our midfielders. "We know theyre capable of finishing chances when they get them. For whatever reasons theyre not going in right now." Coach Jeff Cassar wants more production from his forwards, but said scoring is a team effort. "Scoring chances dont just come from the forwards," he said. "It comes from the build up. Getting numbers forward. "We need that final pass to not be close, but to be perfect, so that they (forwards) are then able to do their thing." The last time the two teams met Real Salt Lake took an early 2-0 lead only to see the Whitecaps battle back for a 2-2 draw. Teibert said the Whitecaps will be playing with fire if they let Salt Lake take an early lead in the rematch. "They are a very possession-based side," he said. "They play their style of game very well. "They know what they are good at. They can pass through teams. Its important for us to really key in on that. It will be a great match." The Whitecaps recent struggles havent dented the teams confidence. "Were not trying to change for anybody," said Teibert. "We are always going to stick to our game plan. Some days it works, some days it doesnt. "We always want to be an exciting team to watch. We have a never-say-die attitude. We have a sense of togetherness. We believe we can go out and win games." 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