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Cleveland Cavaliers: 2016-17 Season Outlook

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 18, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after being fouled in the first half at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after being fouled in the first half at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Coming off their first ever NBA championship, what can we expect from the Cleveland Cavaliers’ title defense? Here’s their 2016-17 season preview.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Oct 18, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after being fouled in the first half at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

For the first time in 52 years, a sports team in Cleveland will be entering its new season prepared to defend a championship.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers improbably overcame a 3-1 deficit against a 73-win Golden State Warriors team in the 2016 NBA Finals, LeBron James cemented his status as one of the greatest players in league history, and perhaps the greatest sports figure in the history of Cleveland as well.

At this point, there’d be no shame in falling short of a title this season, or every season for the rest of his career. King James more than earned his crown and the eternal love of his subjects, who bore witness to the most memorable Herculean labor of his career. The burden has been lifted.

But when you’re king of the hill, there’s no reason to give it up until someone forcibly removes you, and good luck telling this Cavaliers team that they can take it easy after bringing Cleveland its first championship in a half-century.

With the Golden State Warriors adding Kevin Durant this summer, the defending champs are once again underdogs. “The rich got richer” saying seems appropriate, except it’s more like Warren Buffet winning the Powerball. Somehow, LeBron’s next challenge will be his toughest one yet.

Related Story: Toronto Raptors: 2016-17 Season Outlook

Heading into the 2016-17 NBA season, what can we expect from the defending champs? And did the Cavaliers do enough in the offseason to keep their hopes of repeating alive in the wake of another Warriors juggernaut assembling out West?

Here’s Cleveland’s preview for the upcoming season.

2015-16 Vitals

57-25, 1st in Central Division, 1st in Eastern Conference
104.3 PPG (8th)/98.3 OPP PPG (4th)
110.9 Offensive Rating (3rd)/104.5 Defensive Rating (10th)

Team Leaders
Scoring: LeBron James, 25.3 PPG
Rebounding: Kevin Love, 9.9 RPG
Assists: LeBron James, 6.8 APG
Steals: LeBron James, 1.4 SPG
Blocks: Timofey Mozgov, 0.8 BPG

Honors
First Team All-NBA: LeBron James
NBA Finals MVP: LeBron James

Next: Roster

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