Matt Rivers has a free pick winner Monday is on the Atlanta Hawks -3 to Boston.

The Celtics are a very experienced and good team this season that has a great shot once again to go pretty far. Boston opened the season playing quality basketball jumping out to the 9-2 start flexing their muscles more times than not. Yesterday was not one of those times as they lost up North in Toronto and now the C’s have to travel to a place they lose a lot in and possibly will be without Rajon Rondo once again.

Last season the Hawks swept all four games from the Celtics and are a confident bunch when playing against Doc Rivers’ squad. This Atlanta team grew up a few seasons ago in the postseason when they won all three games at Philips Arena against the heavily favored Celtics led by a confused group of players in Garnett, Pierce and Allen. Back in Beantown was a different story as the Hawks were continually blown out but at home Joe Johnson and the fellas were great stifling the favorites.

Boston will limp into Hotlanta today possibly missing their floor general again in Rondo and is in danger of a third straight loss in what is a very difficult situation facing a well-rested Hawks squad. The C’s had a poor home effort and loss against an Oklahoma City team that was without their superstar in Kevin Durant, then fell yesterday up in Canada and now play for a second straight day and third time in the last four days.

Larry Drew’s team just fell themselves to Dallas on Saturday night in a rather poor effort but that was their only game in the last six days so there is no real fatigue factor here and there should be a commitment and focus today going on as the Hawks play the team they love to hate the most in these Celtics.

With or without Rondo this is a difficult situation for the suddenly struggling Celtics and therefore I will expect a focused Hawks to take care of business going away.

The pick: Atlanta -3 at 5 Dimes

For more information: A poor weekend from Matt Rivers for sure as very little went right. It happens and nothing at all that I will ever run from. I win a lot more times than I lose but there will be some days strung together that are subpar. The best get back on the horse and get after it and that is exactly what will happen today. Three winners including a 300,000* from the NFL along with a pair of 200,000* on the college hardwoods involving Oklahoma-Kentucky and San Diego State-Miami, Ohio. Click now to purchase Matt Rivers picks