0-2 Cavaliers have been down before

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been hardened by the nonstop drama around them. So it’s not a surprise they’re calm despite trailing the Boston Celtics 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals.

“We know what it takes,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “We’re down 0-2. No need to panic.”

“We know what we’ve got to do,” added All-Star forward Kevin Love on the eve of Saturday’s Game 3 in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers have been in dire straits before in the postseason.

Just two years ago, Cleveland trailed 2-0 and then 3-1 in the NBA Finals to Golden State before coming back to win in seven games and end the city’s 52-year title drought. And back in the 2007 playoffs, LeBron James rallied the Cavaliers from a 2-0 deficit against Detroit, scoring Cleveland’s final 25 points during a Game 5 road win.

But while Cleveland has comeback history on its side, Boston has momentum and the Celtics intend to keep it.

“We’re just gonna try to use it,” said forward Marcus Morris, “and ride it.”

As expected, James responded from a sub-par performance in Game 1 by scoring 42 points with 12 assists and 10 rebounds in Game 2. Still, the Cavaliers lost, with a lack of production from several teammates, most notably guards J.R. Smith and George Hill. They have been totally outplayed by Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier so far, and that could be deflating.

“That’s a game-changer in itself,” said Morris, one of the many defenders Celtics coach Brad Stevens is using on James. “LeBron came out and did everything he could. To his guys, they see that and they still came up short. That’s a feeling going back up, it kind of puts you in a mood you don’t want to be in.”

To the Cavaliers, this is just another bump in the road. They’ve already staved off elimination against Indiana.

“We played a Game 7,” Lue said. “The danger’s not like we come out and don’t play well tomorrow and lose, it’s over. We still have games to play. It’s not like it’s a Game 7. They did a good job taking care of their home court. They played well. Now we’re back at home.”

Etc.

Chicago Bulls forward Paul Zipser had surgery in his native Germany to repair a broken left foot. Zipser averaged 4.0 points before sitting out the final nine games last season.