04-17-2019, 06:39 AM
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. Wholesale College Jerseys China . 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. Cheap Tom Brady College Jersey . The above paragraph could be rewritten, verbatim, with Marcus Stromans name in place of Romeros. After both men had disastrous outings in Tuesdays 18-4 mauling at the hands of the Tigers, its clear that neither is the best option to begin the season in Toronto. NCAA Basketball Jerseys Cheap . Jurrjens signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati in May, and was 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA at Triple-A Louisville. He has a 53-37 record with a 3.63 ERA in seven major league seasons, including five with Atlanta. http://www.ncaacheapjerseys.com/ . - The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on injured reserve, ending his season.PHOENIX -- Troy Tulowitzki had a rough start to Colorados road trip. The way he hits the ball, no chance it was going to last very long. Tulowitzki homered, had two doubles and drove in three runs to lead the big-hitting Colorado Rockies to an 8-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night. "Hes one of the best players in baseball, so you expect that," Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez said. Led by Tulowitzki, baseballs best offence roughed up Wade Miley (2-3) for seven extra-base hits in the first six innings, including a pair of homers. Tulowitzki, who went 1 for 12 in a three-game series against the Dodgers, doubled in each of his first two at-bats and led off sixth with his sixth homer. Justin Morneau added a two-run shot later in the inning to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and Nolan Arenado had one of Colorados six doubles to stretch his hitting streak to a baseball-best 18 games. The Rockies had 12 hits overall, eight of those for extra bases. Franklin Morales (3-1) allowed four runs in five innings and LaTroy Hawkins worked a perfect ninth for his eighth straight save. "We played good offensive baseball tonight," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Tulo had a (great) night and we played well offensively." It made for a rough night for the Diamondbacks. Arizona had the hitting. Gerardo Parra homered, Miguel Montero drove in two runs and Paul Goldschmidt had three of the Diamondbacks 10 hits. They just couldnt overcome Mileys rough start, losing their third straight since a three-game winning streak. "They are a good-hitting ball club," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "They are hard to contain. You have to make good pitches on them." After some early-season struggles, Arizona had gotten four straight quality outings from its starters, who had allowed four earned runs in the previous 26 innings. The Diamondbackks only won two of those, but it was a step in the right direction. Cheap Michigan Wolverines Jerseys. Miley had a hard time keeping it going against the baseball-bashing Rockies. Colorado, which entered with a majors-best .294 team average, knocked around the left-hander from the start, racking up five doubles in the first four innings. Gonzalez had the first one, driving in a run in the first inning before being thrown out trying to stretch to a triple. Tulowitzki had a two-run two-bagger in the third inning and Jordan Pacheco drove in another run with a double in the fourth. After Tulowitzkis lead-off homer in the fifth inning, Morneau made it 7-4 with a two-run shot to the pool deck in right-centre. "It was weird. Feeling-wise I felt really good tonight," Miley said. "Those guys are swinging well right now and I didnt get the job done. It was on me." Miley allowed seven runs on 10 hits for his first lost (7-1) in 10 career games against the Rockies. The Diamondbacks tried to keep up against Morales. Parra hit a solo homer in the second inning, and Arizona added two more runs in the third on Monteros sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single by Aaron Hill. Goldschmidt tied the game at 4-all on a groundout in the fourth. Morales allowed seven hits. Arizona cut the lead to 7-5 on Monteros run-scoring single in the seventh inning, but Charlie Blackmon made it a three-run lead again with a sacrifice fly in the ninth. NOTES: The Diamondbacks have a team-record 239 strikeouts the first two months of the season after striking out seven against Colorado. ... Carlos Gonzalez is 2 for 19 during the Rockies four-game road trip after going 1 for 5 against the Diamondbacks. ... Arizona RHP Mike Bolsinger will start Tuesday against Colorado after earning his first win in the majors against the Cubs on Thursday. He will face Colorado RHP Tyler Chatwood, who is 2-0 with a 3.65 ERA in three games against Arizona. ' ' '