Following the Cleveland Cavaliers' 107-94 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night, LeBron James was asked how he'd digest what was now an 0-2 series deficit for his team.
The Cavs megastar answered the question.
And then he told a joke.
"I'm not going to lose sleep over it. You know, you go out and you lay everything on the line, at the end of the day, you can live with that," James said. "The only way I probably won't get no sleep tonight is if [Kevin Love] don't get a question."
James and Love -- who had yet to be asked a question in the postgame press conference -- proceeded to burst into laughter. If they were worried over what some already view as a death sentence for the Cavs' season, it didn't show.
After all, this isn't the first time a James-led team has lost its first two games of a playoff series. And although it hasn't happened to the 4-time MVP in an Eastern Conference series since 2008, history would suggest the Cavs are far from finished.
The first time a LeBron James fell down 0-2, it was understandable. In what was James' first postseason run, Cleveland lost its first two games to the No. 1 seeded Detroit Pistons in the 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Cavs not only won their two ensuing home games, but also Game 5 in Detroit before ultimately losing the series in seven games to the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions. A year later, Cleveland once again fell behind the Pistons 0-2 -- this time in the conference finals -- before reeling off four straight wins to advance to the NBA Finals, where they faced another 0-2 deficit en route to being swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
In 2008, the Cavs lost the first two games of their Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup with the Celtics, but proceeded to win each of their home games before losing Game 7 in Boston. James wouldn't face another 0-2 deficit until the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, which the Cavs memorably came back to win, although they weren't as fortunate a year later when the Warriors turned what was a 2-0 series lead into a five-game Finals victory.
Add it all up and the Cavs' current series with the Celtics marks the seventh time in James' career his team has fallen down 0-2 in the playoffs. Twice, his team has come back to win the series and two other times, it has forced a Game 7.
Doing either, of course, will be easier said than done -- especially with Boston laying claim to homecourt advantage.
But as history has shown, should the Cavs hold serve in Cleveland these next two games, this series will take on a whole different -- and less dire -- tone.
"We have an opportunity to go back home and protect homecourt," James said. "We're gonna see what we're made of on Saturday."