Koby Altman: Cavaliers not shaken by missing out on LeBron James

Cleveland president Koby Altman said the club's confidence has not been shaken by the failure to sign LeBron James in the offseason.

"I would be more worried if I had questions about our level of talent, our work process or some everyday things. It seems to me that many teams have strengthened in order to catch up with us. When you get into the top four, the rest have to progress to reach that level. And we are already at it. And we want more," Altman said.

Last season was the first since 1992 in which the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference final without James. They lost it 0-4 to the New York Knicks, who went on to win the title.

If Altman's reading of the East is right, the Cavaliers will start the new campaign as a side the others are chasing, and a sweep in the conference final will be the mark they are measured against.