CLEVELAND _ March could determine whether the Cavaliers are capable of repeating as NBA champions.
New players _ backup point guard Deron Williams and perhaps Andrew Bogut or another big man _ will have to be integrated into the system.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving must be rested.
Injured starters J.R. Smith and Kevin Love should return from injury, but might have to be brought along slowly.
And the Cavs must put it all together with a schedule that includes 12 of 17 games on the road and three extended trips.
Ex-Dallas Maverick Williams said after signing Monday night that he didn't know much about Cavs coach Tyronn Lue "other than he won a championship in his first year of coaching. Pretty much enough said."
Williams will know a lot more about Lue by April Fools' Day.
During last year's playoff run to Cleveland's first title in 52 years, Lue showed his inventiveness on out-of-bounds plays, his calm in the face of mounting pressure and his ability to command respect from big stars with big egos.
But March might test him, along with the team's leaders. Health is the priority, but so is developing cohesiveness on the court.
The Cavs have great internal chemistry, so welcoming Williams, once considered one of the league's top two point guards with Chris Paul, won't be an issue. (His acquisition is almost unfathomable considering the Cavs' wealth of riches.) Kyle Korver and Derrick Williams have also joined the team since Jan. 7, and Korver, Deron Williams' close friend from their days together with the Utah Jazz, told him how quickly he fit in.
But Deron Williams will run the Cavs' superb second unit that was already clicking with James, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, Derrick Williams and Korver. That group's collective size created mismatches, so Lue must figure out how to maintain that edge as Deron Williams plays alongside James.
James didn't consider adding new weapons to the offense that tough a task. James sounded Monday night as if defense was his bigger concern.
"We have a simple game plan offensively," James said. "We push the pace and share the ball. Kyle figured that out quick. Derrick figured that out quick. I don't think it will be hard for D-Will to figure that out, and then at the end of the day Kev and Swish know the system.
"Defensively we have to use our practices, when we don't practice, use our film sessions and shootarounds to help fasttrack the feel for D-Will. We'll do a good job of that. We have a veteran ballclub, so we'll all help."
Irving felt the same way about Deron Williams' arrival.
"We understand integrating new pieces into a team, anybody into the locker room is going to take a little bit, but I feel like the experience he has as well as us of bringing new guys in, we have a good thing going," Irving said. "We welcome him to our culture and bring him along as fast as we can until he feels comfortable."
Lue's agenda will also include coaxing Smith out of what was a miserable start to the season before he fractured his right thumb on Dec. 21. Smith's challenge upon his return could be more mental than physical as he strives to forget about November and December. With Love, it will be the other way around. Love was selected to his fourth All-Star Game before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Valentine's Day. His six-week projected rehab would put him back on March 28, but will that date be a return to practice, or to games?
The month of March will also be a matter of survival for the Cavs. Their first trip features three teams _ the Boston Celtics (second behind the Cavs going into Tuesday night), Atlanta Hawks (fifth) and Miami Heat (tied for ninth) _ with a shot to make the Eastern Conference playoffs. Then comes the Detroit Pistons (eighth), Orlando Magic (14th) and Houston Rockets (third in the West). Next up on the road are the Los Angeles Clippers (fifth in the West), L.A. Lakers (14th), Denver Nuggets (eighth) and Charlotte Hornets (11th in the East). There are single games at the San Antonio Spurs (second in the West) and Chicago Bulls (seventh in the East).
James knows what's at stake, knows how March could impact the Cavs in May and June.
"The main thing I've said from the beginning is our process and our health," James said. "If we can get healthy at the right time, get some games under our belt, it's going to help us in the postseason. Right now we're in a good rhythm and we just want to continue that."
It's no wonder James was reluctant to bid farewell to February, when the Cavs rebounded from a 7-8 January to go an NBA-best 9-2 by "getting back to Cavalier basketball."
"It's over? February is over, huh? Yeah, that sucks," James said. "It's been a great month for our team."
