Before consecutive wins over New York City and Houston, Crew SC spent much of the first six weeks of this season looking up at every other team in the Eastern Conference. Never before in the tenure of coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter had the Crew occupied last place in the East standings, but that's where it was earlier this month.

Before consecutive wins over New York City and Houston, Crew SC spent much of the first six weeks of this season looking up at every other team in the Eastern Conference.

Never before in the tenure of coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter had the Crew occupied last place in the East standings, but that�s where it was earlier this month.

The MLS Cup finalist was uncomfortably out of place, but its visit to the basement wasn�t without value.

�I think the experience of going through that and having to stay calm and positive and stay focused on improvement, I think that is valuable,� Berhalter said. �In the backs of our minds, we know we can handle something like that.�

It was all new to the Crew (2-3-2), now tied for sixth in the East and above the early playoff bar heading into a game at Seattle (2-4-1) on Saturday.

The Crew never fell below seventh place in the East last season and never fell out of the top four after early July. Two seasons ago, the Crew never dropped below seventh despite a 1-7-8 run that lasted from April to July.

In both years, the Crew earned a bye into the conference semifinals, finishing second last season and third in 2014.

�With the amount of teams that make the playoffs and the end goal being to win the MLS Cup, you have to stay even-keeled,� Berhalter said. �That�s something I�ve had to learn. As much as you�re competitive and you want to win every game, you have to stay focused on the process.�

Berhalter said that was one of the strongest messages he took from a meeting with Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and some of his staff last month.

Though NHL seasons are 82-game marathons, Berhalter said it applies to a 34-game MLS season, as well.

�This is a forgiving league, by and large,� he said.

In general, crunch time doesn�t hit until late summer.

�I think that as teams form their identity and get results consistently that�s when they become who they (are),� Berhalter said. �I don�t think we�re at that stage yet.�

Lima, Kamara disciplined

Houston midfielder Alex Lima was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount for throwing an elbow to the head of Crew midfielder Mohammed Saied during the Crew�s 1-0 win on Saturday.

Lima was guilty of �serious foul play that endangered the safety of an opponent in the 71st minute,� according the MLS disciplinary committee, though referee Kevin Stott did not call a foul.

Saeid left the field and was subbed out of the game after suffering what Berhalter called a neck injury. He is questionable for a game at Seattle on Saturday.

Crew forward Kei Kamara was issued an undisclosed fine for approaching Lima after the hit and � instigating a mass confrontation.�

�No regrets at all,� Kamara said. �I�m surprised I got fined. I went to ask somebody why he has to hit somebody in the head. We talk about (concussions) and how to protect players, and then if I step in and try to stop something I get fined for it.

�I would do it again 900 times. I�m sticking up for my teammate.�

smitchell@dispatch.com

@smitchcd