The Cavs' defensive efficiency is below the league average. Is that the death knell to their chances of repeating as champions?
Stories of how championships -- won or lost -- change franchises and players are quite numerous in professional sports.
Either the drive to be the best is temporarily satisfied or players inflate their worth and role. Some franchises blow it up and try to cash in on the increased demand for their players. Some even struggle to get back to the playoffs again the following year.
Though the Cleveland Cavaliers defied odds by overcoming a 3-1 deficit during last year's NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, their core stayed mostly intact.