The top-seeded Celtics will begin their first-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. If you’re a casual fan who wants to jump on the bandwagon now, there are some things you should know before you embarrass yourself at your buddy’s watch party, because no one likes the person who asks why Paul Pierce isn’t in the game.

But fear not, because we’ve gathered here today to provide real answers to fictional questions. We’ll start in the back, with the gentleman wearing the “I roll with Ainge’’ hoodie.

Q. Aren’t the Cavaliers just going to flip a switch once the playoffs start and pulverize the rest of the Eastern Conference anyway?

A. It’s certainly possible, but there’s no denying that Cleveland has been a flawed team recently. The Cavaliers went just 12-15 after the All-Star break with a net rating of minus-0.5 that ranked 17th in the league, behind the Pelicans. I think the Cavs remain a bad matchup for the Celtics, but it wouldn’t stun me if the Raptors challenged Cleveland in the conference semifinals.

Q. Does being the No. 1 seed even matter? The Cavaliers rested LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in their last two games, so obviously they weren’t too worried about it.

A. For the Celtics, securing the top spot in the conference is an achievement on its own. Remember, just two years ago, Boston started the season 16-30. Sixteen and 30! So to become a 53-win team so soon is commendable.

Also, this team went 30-11 at home, including 17-3 in its last 20 games, so the home-court advantage that comes from being the top dog is significant.

But no, no one is raising a banner for being the No. 1 seed.

Q. I raised a banner for it at my house, actually.

A. You might want to tone it down a bit.

Q. The Celtics need Isaiah Thomas to score a million points or they have no chance, right?

A. Well, a million probably would be enough to take out the Warriors. Some of Thomas’s scoring performances have been otherworldly, like his 52-point game against the Heat.

Interestingly, though, his stats hardly change regardless of a game’s outcome. This year, he shot 44.7 percent from the field and averaged 28.2 points and 6.1 assists in losses and shot 47.1 percent and averaged 29.1 points and 5.8 assists in wins.

Q. Well, what goes wrong when they lose then?

A. If you’ve listened to Brad Stevens much this season, he makes it clear that when his team stops playing defense, it loses. The numbers prove his point. In losses, Boston actually had the fourth-ranked offense in the NBA when compared with other losing teams. But its defense among other losing teams was ranked just 22nd. The Celtics cannot afford to let up at that end of the floor.

Q. So I’m still just a little confused by one thing. Didn’t Kevin Durant sign with the Warriors?

A. Yes.

Q. But didn’t Tom Brady help try to recruit him to Boston last summer?

A. He did.

Q. That’s why I still think there was some mistake. Tom is from the Bay area, you know? Maybe Tom said, “Come home,’’ and Durant thought he meant San Francisco.

A. It’s time to move on, man.

Q. OK, well, I’m still a little frustrated that Al Horford got a max contract. The guy wasn’t even an All-Star this year.

A. Horford averaged 14 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. Only nine other players in NBA history have equaled or exceeded all of those marks in a single season. If you add in the fact that Horford was an 80 percent free throw shooter, the list gets whittled to two: Horford and Kevin Garnett. And if that max money didn’t go to Horford, to whom would it have gone?

Q. How can the Celtics beat the Bulls if they can’t even get a rebound against them?

A. It’s true that rebounding has been one of Chicago’s greatest strengths and Boston’s greatest weaknesses. But a look at the past two months should give the Celtics reason for optimism.

The Bulls were the league’s third-ranked rebounding team prior to the All-Star break but just 12th afterward, and the Celtics were 27th before the break and 14th afterward. The gap has narrowed considerably.

In Chicago’s case, the trade that sent leading rebounder Taj Gibson to the Thunder was a big loss on the boards.

Q. The Celtics were just 2-2 against the Bulls this year? Did they get unlucky?

A. The Celtics shot just 72.3 percent from the foul line vs. Chicago, their worst mark against any opponent and 8.4 percent below their season average. Unless they’re opening doors at the United Center when Boston’s players step to the line, this is probably a fluky stat that cost the Celtics some points in the regular season.

Q. Do you know why they still play Ozzy Osbourne and Guns N’ Roses before tipoff at every TD Garden game? It’s 2017.

A. I am prepared to make this my sole focus next season. It’s time for a playlist change.

Q. The only player I’ve heard about more than Isaiah Thomas this year is some guy named Nets Pick. Is he European? Can you update me on his progress?

A. Nets pick is not a person. Well, not yet, but it will be.

The Celtics will swap first-round picks with the Nets this year. Brooklyn finished the season with the worst record in the NBA, meaning that at next month’s draft lottery the pick has a 25 percent chance of turning into the No. 1 overall choice, and a 64.3 percent chance of falling in the top three. At worst, it will be No. 4.

Q. I honestly just came to this thing for some food and a prediction for the Bulls series.

A. There’s no food, but the Celtics will win in five games.

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach