Fact or fiction: What's really going on with the struggling Cavs?

It's pretty easy to mistake the sky for falling when you're at the top looking down like the Cleveland Cavaliers.

There's nothing pretty about losing grip of the first seed, or going 19-16 after a blistering 28-8 start, but don't count out the reigning champs just yet. The Cavs have gone through their fair share of struggles in each of the last two seasons, only to end up in the Finals both times.

Let's separate the facts from the fiction in their recent slide.

Fact: Cleveland's issues stem from defense

The Cavaliers rank 28th in defensive efficiency since starting off the season 28-8. Over that stretch, they have held their opponent to under 100 points just five times as compared to eight games allowing 120 or more.

An inability to defend left the Cavaliers powerless against top-tier competition, despite boasting enough firepower to keep pace with anybody. Allowing 127 and 135 points in two games against Washington isn't good enough. Giving up 118 and 103 to San Antonio is death. The same trend played out in losses to Miami (120), Houston (117), Los Angeles (108), Oklahoma City (118), and Chicago (117).

Fiction: Everything is solved with effort

Much of defense comes down to trying harder, and the Cavaliers will definitely put forth a better effort. The prevailing belief is that they'll turn it on for the playoffs.

But the Cavaliers had more defensive-minded players in recent years. Say what you will about Timofey Mozgov and Matthew Dellavedova, but they were willing defenders that gave full effort and did the dirty work. Cleveland never replaced either one.

The only two defense-first players that remain on the roster are the hobbled Iman Shumpert and an overburdened Tristan Thompson. That's not nearly enough to cover for the defensive deficiencies of Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, or their AARP supporting cast that includes statues like Kyle Korver and Channing Frye.

Cleveland's porous defense is a problem of roster construction as much as anything else.

Fact: But they could try a lot harder

That being said, there are some obvious areas in which the Cavaliers can improve with just a smidgen more effort.

Since Jan. 8, Cleveland ranks 28th in deflections per game and 29th in loose balls recovered. They're also 28th in defensive rebound percentage despite starting three excellent rebounders in Love, Thompson, and James. It all speaks to a general lack of effort.

Chalk it up to a prolonged championship hangover, an uneven travel schedule, or a general apathy toward regular-season games, but Cleveland should at least approach respectability by simply trying harder. There are some simple gains to be had around the margins.

Fiction: Tyronn Lue's secret plans are the answer

Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is concerned, but don't expect him to tip his hand.

Lue hinted Monday at unveiling new defensive schemes for the playoffs. Those changes will likely address their abysmal pick-and-roll defense. They allow the most points per play to ball-handlers in the pick-and-roll, and they're in the bottom five when the roller shoots.

As it currently stands, the Cavs mostly try to lazily switch their way out of trouble. Their guards happily die on screens, which forces Thompson, Love, and Frye into awkward scenarios where they're guarding the perimeter. Mismatches lead to penetration, which bleeds layups and open kickouts for threes. Having a scrambled defense also hurts them on the defensive glass.

But this circles back to personnel. No scheme can hide Irving's and Love's defensive deficiencies. Even if Lue breaks out a more conservative setup, or if he switches to an aggressive trapping strategy, none of that changes the bottom line.

Fact: Injuries, additions breed unfamiliarity

Not to be overlooked, the Cavaliers have struggled to mesh, given a rash of injuries and an ever-changing supporting cast.

Veteran-laden teams like Cleveland rarely practice, but Lue is squeezing every every minute of shootaround to build cohesion with his unfamiliar roster. Korver struggled for a few weeks before finding his stride after joining the team in December. Derrick Williams resorted to making hustle plays because he hardly knew the playbook during his 10-day contract. Deron Williams barely has a month under his belt.

Meanwhile, the starting five that snapped Cleveland's title drought last summer have played just 23 games together. Compare that to 65 games for Washington's starters, or 43 for Golden State.

That tracks back to injuries. Thumb surgery cost J.R. Smith three months, and he hasn't been himself on either end all season. Love missed five weeks after getting his knee scoped. Andrew Bogut broke his foot in 58 seconds. Shumpert is in and out. James and Irving have sat games for rest.

There's no denying their talent - especially on offense - but the Cavaliers need time to gel.

Fiction: Larry Sanders is the answer

Comparisons were drawn to Chris "Birdman" Andersen when Larry Sanders was picked off the scrap heap. Birdman gave the Miami Heat a huge boost, and it was thought that Sanders could do the same for yet another LeBron-led side.

But Birdman is an exception, not the rule. Sanders hasn't played NBA basketball in two years. The Cavs are desperately working on his conditioning since signing him two weeks ago, but expecting Sanders to magically transform overnight back into a shot-blocking menace who can help their playoff run is unrealistic.

Cleveland could use a miracle, though. If Sanders did manage to get back into game shape, Thompson wouldn't need to serve as the team's lone center.

Fact: The East is dangerous

Boston, Washington, and Toronto smell blood as Cleveland continues to stumble.

The Celtics were the first to pounce, and they now find themselves atop the East. They've been lights out since Al Horford found his stride, going 28-12 since the calendar flipped. Boston boasts a deep, motivated roster with a clever head coach in Brad Stevens leading the way and has already downed Cleveland once this year.

Washington is hot on Boston's tail. John Wall and Bradley Beal have put injury and trust issues behind them, while the team's key supporting pieces are enjoying career years. They're four wins back of the Warriors for the league's top record since November, and the Wizards have also claimed a win over the Cavs.

Finally, there are the Raptors, who pushed Cleveland to six games in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. Kyle Lowry's health is still a massive question mark, but deadline additions P.J. Tucker and Serge Ibaka have transformed the Raptors into a top-three defense since the All-Star break. Add Lowry to the mix, and they'll easily be top 10 on both sides of the ball.

Fiction: Cleveland is no longer the team to beat

Give the Cavaliers their proper due: they're still the champions until someone else snatches the crown.

The East is tougher than ever, but we're still dealing with a player in James who has made six straight Finals appearances. James has lugged lesser rosters than this to the promised land, and until proven otherwise, the King stays the King.

This is especially true in the East. This Celtics team hasn't even won a single playoff series yet. The Raptors' postseason history is just as murky. The Wizards are dangerous, but their wafer-thin rotation is just one untimely injury away from going under.

As for whoever emerges from the West, they'll still come out battered and bruised. A team like the Spurs might need to survive Memphis, Houston, then Golden State, whereas Cleveland might encounter one stiff challenge before settling into the Finals.

(Photos Courtesy: Action Images)