CLEVELAND -- Despite being one of the co-favorites to win the Eastern Conference this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers head into their season with two starters -- All-Star point guard Darius Garland and swingman Max Strus -- recovering from offseason left foot surgeries and likely to miss time when the regular season begins on Oct. 22.

However, there was varying levels of optimism from the two players on their respective roads back to the court.

Garland, who had surgery back in June to repair a turf toe injury that hampered him during Cleveland's disappointing second-round exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers , said he's been back on the court working out for a month, though he is still expected to miss time to start the regular season.

"Everything is good," Garland said Monda

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