Garland believes the Clippers have the chemistry to surprise people after a hard offseason.
Point guard Darius Garland does not sound like a player getting ready for a long and rough year with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The team traded forward Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto, took a $30 million fine and lost five first-round picks in the salary cap case, and it opened training camp in Honolulu on Tuesday while still waiting on a key player to get healthy.
Even with all of that, Garland thinks most people have this group figured out wrong.
Garland Believes in This Group
Garland spoke about the new season in a clip that Joey Linn shared on Tuesday, and he expects a lot from this roster.
His comments were picked up by HoopsHype later that day.
"I think we're gonna shock a lot of people. I think our season is gonna be surprising to a lot of people," Garland said. "We have really good chemistry so far and we haven't even hit the season yet."
He added that everybody on the team has been in the gym for at least two to three months, and he gave credit to head coach Tyronn Lue and his staff, saying he believes they can push this group over the top.
He also said a new season will feel like a nice change for everyone after the way last year went.
Los Angeles went 42-40 last season and finished ninth in the West. Garland came over from Cleveland in a trade in February, and he averaged 19.9 points and 6.4 assists in 19 games with the Clippers.
He has talked before about how the move helped him get his joy back on the court.
His Health Will Decide a Lot
Garland said in August that he had torn ligaments in his left big toe that had to be reconstructed, and he said a full offseason had him back to 100 percent.
At media day on Monday, he told reporters his entire summer had been basketball and that his main focus is to win games, according to the Los Angeles Times.
His health is a big deal because forward Brandon Ingram is recovering from a partially torn Achilles tendon and heel surgery.
Garland is set to make about $42.2 million this season, and until Ingram is back, this offense runs through Garland.
Why He Could Be Right
Every team talks about chemistry in camp, but Garland's words are easier to believe than most.
Nobody expects much from this roster, which gives the young players room to grow.
Guard Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 pick, has also talked about his new role as a fun chance instead of pressure, and that way of thinking fits what Garland described.
Lue said in Hawaii that the main goal is to make the playoffs, and a healthy Garland gives them a real shot at that in the West. The team has already moved past Leonard's short goodbye to the fan base, and this is Garland's team to lead now.
The Clippers play the Golden State Warriors in Hawaii on Sunday, Oct. 4, and they open the regular season on Oct. 21 at home against the Sacramento Kings.
If Garland stays on the floor, a lot more people might end up agreeing with him by the spring.
