1.   An hour after the buzzer, Lavin still had tears in his eyes.

2.   After five weeks of practice, two exhibitions and two lopsided Shootout games, Lavin finally has substantive material to evaluate, lessons to teach and problems to correct.

3.   But Lavin has his critics.

4.   Despite a three-game winning streak, Lavin had a plethora of problems to address.

5.   Either way, Lavin had myriad reasons to be encouraged.

6.   In three months, Lavin has impressed boosters with his energy, enthusiasm and commitment to discipline.

7.   Lavin had a reasonable argument.

8.   Lavin had every reason to be grim, to be glum, to come to practice every day and castigate his players to make himself feel better.

9.   Lavin could have had someone like, say, Don Johnson.

10.   Lavin had no complaints Tuesday.