INDEPENDENCE, Ohio _ This week we will find out how serious the Cavaliers are about repeating as NBA champions.
We will see if they realize that sweeps in the first two rounds in 2016 and playing just 14 games before reaching The Finals was the reason they had enough left to rally from a 3-1 deficit against the Warriors and capture the title.
The Toronto Raptors won't be an easy matchup in the Eastern Conference semifinals, which open Monday night at Quicken Loans Arena. The Raptors took the Cavs to six games in the conference finals last May and have improved on defense with the additions of Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker.
If Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan shoot like they're capable out of the gate, the series could go seven games.
But the Cavs are confident about their chances of winning the East. That's likely why coach Tyronn Lue gave up on pursuing the No. 1 seed after back-to-back losses to the Atlanta Hawks in early April. No point burning out his stars when LeBron James is 32 years old and Kyrie Irving has been playing for 16 consecutive months after leading Team USA to a gold medal at last summer's Olympics.
If Cavs have the ultimate goal in mind, they will show they're engaged in the first half Monday night, ready to prove they mean business. They will be fresh, with a week off after a sweep of the Indiana Pacers. The rest should especially benefit Irving, who hit just .219 from 3-point range in the opening round.
"I'm not concerned," Lue said Sunday of the layoff. "First six minutes might be a little whatever, but after that we will be fine."
That was the case last year against the Raptors, when the Cavs were coming off a sweep of the Atlanta Hawks. The Cavs started slowly in Game 1, but outscored the Raptors 33-16 in the second quarter and ran away with a 31-point victory.
That's not to say some of the Cavs aren't anxious to play.
"My wife tells me I'm restless, which is probably true," Kyle Korver said. "But I think we're in a good spot mentally."
Whether that translates into a sense of urgency is another matter. Against the Pacers, the Cavs continued their maddening tendency to play when they feel like it and give up fourth-quarter leads. They rallied from a 25-point halftime deficit in Game 3. Their focus was there only in stretches.
Defending a championship brings challenges enough _ overconfidence, complacency, the target on their backs. Not coming out with a sense of purpose would only give the Raptors more assurance they can beat the Cavs. The Raptors have to be stoked already by 15- and six-point playoff victories last year in Air Canada Centre.
Cavs guard J.R. Smith has known Lowry and DeRozan for years and believes that's how they feel.
"I know growing up and playing with Kyle, I know that's how he thinks for sure," Smith said. "DeRozan, I've known him since he was 14, 15, going to travel to watch him play AAU ball, I know how he wants to win. I really don't know any of the other guys, but for those two to be your leaders, if I was them I would like my chances."
The Cavs have the best player in the world in James, but they also have eight players over 30. The Raptors have three _ Lowry (31), Tucker (32 on Friday) and DeMarre Carroll (30).
The Raptors traded for Ibaka and Tucker in February to give them a better chance to beat the Cavs in the postseason. Ibaka will cover Kevin Love, who averaged 15.2 points and shot 45 percent last year against the Raptors in the playoffs, 51 percent if a 1-for-9 effort in Game 3 is discounted. Tucker and Carroll will attempt to cover James.
A week ago, Smith was concerned the Cavs' performance against the Pacers was not at the level required to win another title. But on Sunday, he said he felt better about where the Cavs are headed.
"Yeah, I actually do," Smith said. "Especially with having so much time off, guys can get a little loopy and start getting a little fidgety and ready to play. But this team is a veteran team and overall, one through 15, this is probably the best team we've had since I've been here. We've got a lot of good vets and guys that understand what this is about.
"I think if anything that helps us the most. No one is doing anything too crazy, going too hard, trying to push themselves, understanding this is still a marathon. We're still early into the playoffs. Yeah, we're in the second round but, for us, we look at it as there's another two places to go."
Presumably Smith was talking about his teammates pushing themselves too hard in between series, not coasting during games.
James is in "Playoff LeBron" mode, averaging 32.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and nine assists against the Pacers, and he will keep the Cavs engaged.
Fans must hope there will be no need for him to remind the veteran Cavs that with more lackadaisical efforts, their two intended destinations may instead reach an abrupt dead end.
