INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James is gone. The Cleveland Cavaliers' confidence is not.

When Tristan Thompson, one of the holdovers from the 2016 championship team, was asked whether this new group has enough "winning muscle memory," Thompson repeated the question before pointing to the Eastern Conference championship banners displayed on the wall inside Cleveland Clinic Courts. Then he started counting.

"We're still four-time Eastern Conference champions, so until you take us down from that, teams ain't got much to say," Thompson said. "Boston, Philly, they ain't got much to say. Boston had homecourt Game 7 and lost. Philly, you guys almost got swept. Toronto -- we already know that story. Until someone takes us down there's not much they can really say."

It's tough to quibble given last season's results.

The Cavs have plowed through Eastern Conference foes the last four years, only going the distance in a series twice. They've eliminated the Celtics three times in the last four postseasons, most recently rallying from a 3-2 deficit and winning Game 7 on the road in the conference finals.

The Raptors have been no match, getting swept in back-to-back conference semifinals. Thompson's view of Toronto was actually shared by many inside Cleveland's locker room, with players essentially chuckling whenever a reporter talked about Toronto as a threat.

Of course, that was in the past, when Cleveland still had James, who led the Cavaliers in every statistical category except rebounds (Kevin Love edged him out) during the 2018 postseason. Fair to say, the view of the Cavaliers has changed.

Weeks before the regular season, Boston is labeled the favorite to rep the conference in the NBA Finals. The 76ers are predicted second while the new-look Raptors, with star Kawhi Leonard in the mix, are tabbed third, according to VegasInsider.com. The Cavs, meanwhile, are listed at 100-1 to win the conference, tied for the second-worst mark with Orlando, Charlotte and Atlanta.

Even with an abundance of doubters, the Cavs believe they will make the playoffs. Some players are even predicting as much.

"My plan is to use the regular season to play for the playoffs," JR Smith said recently. "Just because people are coming in and out doesn't mean goals change. Goal still stays the same -- try to win the championship, that's every year no matter who's in this jersey and who's not. It's going to be tougher, we're going to have to work harder, but there's more opportunities."

A similar message is coming from head coach Tyronn Lue.

During Media Day on Monday, when asked about Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto being the teams to beat now that James is with the Los Angeles Lakers -- Lue smiled before giving his response.

"We haven't lost yet, have we?" Lue asked.

The boastful comments coming from Cleveland have triggered responses from conference rivals. Boston's Marcus Morris, who scored 14 points on 5-of-14 from the field in the Celtics' Game 7 loss against the Cavaliers, responded to Thompson's boast on Twitter with five laughing emojis.

"Cut it out," Morris wrote. "Get that vacation ready early early this year fam! Ain't s--- going through the Cavs this year."

😂😂😂😂😂 @RealTristan13 Cut it out. Get that vacation ready early this year fam! Ain’t shit going through the Cavs this year! #facts — Marcus Morris (@MookMorris2) September 27, 2018

Philadelphia youngster Ben Simmons, who shares an agent with Thompson, had his own response.

"Ha yeh OK buddy," Simmons wrote on Instagram in response to a post by houseofhighlights that used Thompson's quote in one of its posts. "See you soon."

Here is Ben Simmons' response to Tristan Thompson: pic.twitter.com/t6vc1BKRNl — Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) September 27, 2018

The Cavs' preseason opener against Boston on Tuesday is now even spicier.

As for Toronto, the Cavs won't have to wait very long, as the two teams get together on Oct. 17 to tip off the season. As for Philadelphia, the Cavs head there on Nov. 23 for the first of three meetings.