What will motivate LeBron James and the Cavaliers now?
The Cavaliers got their title. They should coast in the East. So how do they keep their antennas up until June?
The defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers have a unique problem on their hands. They have their title already and they should coast to the Finals in a weak East. So, what motivates them this year? How do they manage the regular season and stay as fresh for the playoffs as they were last year?
To help answer that question and many more, we dialed up Chris Manning, an editor at SB Nation’s Fear the Sword and the host of the Locked On Cavaliers podcast. Among the topics discussed:
- When did it feel like the Cavaliers really had a chance to win that Finals series?
- What were the keys to rallying from that 3-1 deficit?
- Will the Cavaliers miss Matthew Dellavedova, or no big deal? Does it matter that J.R. Smith’s contract negotiations dragged on so long?
- How will Kevin Love fit in this year? Does a title buy him and the team some goodwill?
- What can LeBron James possibly do for an encore? Will he go full throttle in the regular season or ease off the gas pedal?
Just one more team left: the Golden State Warriors. You might recall that they blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals.
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