Q. How many games are played in the first round of the NBA playoffs -- the conference quarterfinals?

A. The first round of the playoffs is a best-of-seven series.

Q. How is home-court advantage determined?

A. In all series, except the Finals, Games 1, 2, 5 (if necessary) and 7 (if necessary) will be played at the higher-seeded team’s home arena. Games 3, 4 and 6 (if necessary) will be played at the lower-seeded team’s arena.

Q. I love it when Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn broadcast the Celtics games. Will all the Celtics’ playoff games be on Comcast SportsNet New England?

A. It depends on how far the Green go in the playoffs. Comcast has the rights to the entire first round and can continue carrying other playoff games (other than the Finals) that are carried on ESPN. The TNT and ABC games, however, are off-limits.

Q. What network is carrying the NBA Finals this year?

A. ABC will have exclusive rights to the best-of-seven series, which is tentatively expected to begin June 5.

Q. Have the Boston Celtics ever played the Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs?

A. Yes. The Celtics and the Hawks faced each other in the postseason four times (1972, 1976, 1986 and 1988) since the Hawks moved from St. Louis to Atlanta. The Celts won all four series.

Q. Celtics coach Doc Rivers played most of his career with the Atlanta Hawks. Did he play for them in any of those playoff series with the Celtics?

A. Yes. Rivers was the starting point guard for the Hawks in the 1986 and 1988 playoff series with the Green.

Q. How many times did the Celtics play the Hawks this season and what was their record against them?

A. The Celtics and Hawks met three times, with the Celts winning all three. In fact, the Celtics were undefeated against 17 teams this season.

Q. What is Celtics coach Doc Rivers' coaching record in the playoffs?

A. In his seven years as an NBA coach (not including this year and the strike year in 2003), Rivers has taken the Orlando Magic to the playoffs three times (2000, 2001 and 2002) and the Celtics once (2004). Each of those teams were eliminated in the first round.

Q. When we talk about the success of this year’s Celtics team and the “Big Three’’ (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen), frequently it is compared to the 1985-86 Celtics, a team that also boasted a “Big Three’’ (Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale). What was the final regular season record of both teams?

A. The 1985-86 Celtics, under coach KC Jones, finished the regular season at 67-15. Doc Rivers’ 2007-08 version of the Celtics finished at 66-16.

Q. How many NBA Championships have the Celtics won, and what team is the closest to matching their record?

A. The Celtics have won 16 NBA titles, with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers close behind with 14. The next closest team is the Chicago Bulls, with 6.