TORONTO -- The playoffs are as far out of reach as theyve ever been. Same goes for a first winning season. But as Toronto FC embarks on the final quarter of the 2013 Major League Soccer campaign, the players and their head coach insist a lot is at stake, from pride to jobs to momentum for next season. "If you think theres only nine games left and you have to pick yourself up and get motivated, then you shouldnt be playing," striker Robert Earnshaw said Thursday after the Reds completed their final training session ahead of Fridays match at BMO Field against the visiting New England Revolution. "Theres always something to play for." Toronto (4-12-9) begins the weekend 15 points adrift of the Revolution (10-9-6), who are tied with the Houston Dynamo for the fifth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. As has so often been the case over their seven years in existence, talk as the Reds head into autumn is about next season. And, after a relatively decent run of form over the past six matches (2-2-2), players believe they are now developing a cohesion following another season of tremendous roster turnover. Performances have improved and become more consistent. Players say more positive results will come over the final nine matches if that trend continues, offering supporters proof better days are ahead. "Weve come a long way since the beginning of the year," said striker Andrew Wiedeman. "All the players, all the coaches, all the staff, we know it, we see it every day out here in training. "But it would be nice to get some wins and show the fans as well, and carry some momentum into next year." Captain Steven Caldwell said despite the fact its all but a mathematical certainty Toronto will miss the post-season for a seventh straight year, theres no shortage of motivation down the stretch. "Maybe we cant make the playoffs but we really want to finish the season on a high," the defender said. "Were trying to build something here, so when youre building anything, you need momentum. "Were working extremely hard on achieving consistency and that (improved) level of performance and these nine games are crucially important to letting everyone know where this team is going." In New England, Toronto faces a team rounding into form at the right time. Back-to-back home victories over Chicago and Philadelphia have put the Revolution into the thick of the playoff race. If they make it three straight wins Friday, they would move, at least temporarily, into a second place tie in the East. Midfielder Kelyn Rowe, who had a pair of goals in last weeks 5-1 thrashing of Philadelphia to earn MLS player of the week honours, and striker Juan Agudelo, who also notched a brace in that match, each have three goals in the last two games. New Englands attack also features Diego Fagundez, the clubs leading scorer with eight goals and six assists. This is the rubber match of the season series between the clubs after they split two games in Foxborough, Mass. Fagundez and Agudelo scored in a 2-0 New England win in May with Toronto avenging that with a 1-0 result earlier this month on an early strike by the now-injured Matias Laba. Toronto head coach Ryan Nelsen said in New England he sees a lot of positive signs for his club. "Theyve had their pains of a couple of years and I think theyre just starting to blossom," Nelsen said of a Revolution side which last made the playoffs in 2009. "The young boys are just starting to mature, theyve got a lot of games under their belt now and youre starting to see the best of them. "Its very similar to where we are. Weve got a good set of young guys and very soon theyll become hardened MLS pros." Among those prospective stars of the future for Toronto is hometown midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who is expected to start Friday despite being substituted out after 34 minutes with a sore ankle in last Saturdays 1-1 draw against D.C. United in Washington. "Were looking to finish strong. Were looking at it as a nine-game season," said Osorio, who has five goals in 22 matches and is in the conversation for MLS rookie of the year. "If we can bring momentum from the end of the season we can start next pre-season knowing we can be really good in this league." Cheap Clippers Jerseys Authentic . Louis Cardinals continued their offensive tear with a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series. Wesley Johnson Jersey . His head snapped back from the impact and hit the floor. The All-Star power forward was all right afterward, a relief for the Minnesota Timberwolves. http://www.cheapclippersjerseys.com/?tag...robinson-jersey. Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Duck Calling With several marquee centres available via trade and expected to be available via free agency, the Anaheim Ducks could be primed to be big players in the coming days. Louis Williams Jersey . In his first game with Boston University, the 17-year-old Eichel picked up five assists as his Boston University Terriers thumped St. Cheap Swingman Clippers Jerseys .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Packers by 3RECORD VS. SPREAD — New England 7-4, Green Bay 5-5-1SERIES RECORD — Tied 5-5.MIAMI - LeBron James scored 36 points, and the Miami Heat moved back atop the Eastern Conference standings by running past the Indiana Pacers 98-86 on Friday night. The Heat scored the first 16 points of the second half and werent in trouble again. Miami (54-25) leads the Pacers (54-26) by a half-game in the East race. Mario Chalmers scored 13, Udonis Haslem added 11 and Chris Bosh and Ray Allen each scored 10 for the Heat. Paul George scored 22 for Indiana, which got 18 from David West, 12 from Luis Scola and 11 from Lance Stephenson. Pacers centre Roy Hibbert had only five points and one rebound, grabbing it with just over 2 minutes left in the game. Miami has games against Atlanta, Washington and Philadelphia left. Win them all, and the Heat would have home-court advantage through at least the East finals — which went seven games against Indiana last season. The Pacers — who sat their starters against Milwaukee on Wednesday in an effort to rest for this one — still play Oklahoma City and Orlando. In the opening minutes of the second half, a predictably tight game turned into a surprise blowout. The Heat were up three at the half, then opened the third on a 16-0 run. Chalmers opened the barrage with a 3-pointer, James hit a pair of free throws after taking a hard foul from West in transition, and a steal and layup from Toney Douglas forced the Pacers to call time down by 10. Miami was just getting started. James got fouled by Stephenson and turned that into a three-point play, and consecutive putbacks by Haslem off misses by James at the rim pushed Miamis lead to 17 with 8:13 left in the third. That led to Indianas second timeout of the quarter. And a couple of minutes later, the Pacers were up to more timeouts taken since halftime (three) than points scored (two). Indianas first field goal of the half came when Bosh was called for goaltending on a shot by Luis SScola with 6 minutes left.dddddddddddd Miamis lead was eventually as much as 23, and it was 76-54 when the Pacers started to make things look plenty interesting, if only for a few moments. Indiana scored 13 straight points, getting within 76-67 early in the fourth. But Evan Turner was whistled for a technical foul after arguing a non-call from two possessions earlier, Ray Allen made a free throw to end the Heat drought, and that started a 9-0 rebuttal run by the Heat. Rashard Lewis ended that spurt with a dunk, good enough to earn him a chest-bump from James moments later, and just like that Miami was up by 18 again. Neither team led by more than five in the opening half, after which Miami held a 45-42 lead. James made four jumpers in the first 5 1/2 minutes, then missed all three of his shots in the remainder of the half, but still went into the break leading all scorers with 17 points. There were two things of note from the opening 24 minutes: Indiana had 10 turnovers to Miamis three, and Pacers centre Roy Hibbert was no factor. Hibbert, the 7-foot-2 centre who has simply toyed with Miami plenty of times in the clubs recent meetings, played 16 first-half minutes with basically nothing to show for his time. He went into the break with no field-goal attempts and no rebounds — the first time hes ever logged that many minutes in a half without at least one shot or board. NOTES: Miami kept Dwyane Wade (hamstring) out for the ninth straight game, and Greg Oden was still sidelined by back spasms. ... Haslem is Miamis all-time leader in offensive rebounds, grabbing the 1,506th of his career in the second quarter. ... From the Department of Go Figure: Miami went 0-4 against Brooklyn, Indiana went 4-0 against Brooklyn, so the Heat and Pacers went 2-2 against each other. ... All Game 1s in the conference-quarterfinal round will be April 19 or 20. ... West fouled out with 3:21 left, and Indiana down 14. ' ' '