Halfway through the MLS regular season seems as good a time as any to assess the chances of the Crew SC.



Despite dealing with the saga of a potential Austin, Texas, move, the team has shown flashes of being a real contender in the Eastern Conference, and it still has potential to add pieces and to improve as the season comes to a close.



But off-field distractions aside, a positive start to the season — even better than last year, when the team was one goal away from an MLS Cup Final berth — means one question still looms large for Columbus faithful: how good is this team?



What the numbers say



In the first half of 2018, Columbus opened its season better than any Gregg Berhalter team so far.



The team began with a stunning 3-0-1 record and put together a nine-game unbeaten run later in the spring. They have the best defense in the league, allowing fewer than a goal per game — the only MLS team that can boast that stat —...