I actually think the Cave should be favored in the East now. But may still get blown out by Houston or Golden State in the finals.
It will come down to defense. Last year the Warriors had players, mainly Durant, waltzing down main street for endless uncontested dunks and layups. Do the Cave now have the personnel to stop that? Can Jeff Green plug last year's gaping hole to the rim? If there were a mean borderline violent backup center who gets bought out...that would help.