There are two days that always feel very strange to me as an employee of the Atlanta Hawks (though I imagine I'd feel the same with any similar sports organization) - the first day of training camp, when the players first arrive, and the last day of the season, when they clean out their lockers. I think it's for the same reason both times. When the guys arrive for camp, I am like, "Man, the summer sure went by fast." And now that they are leaving, I'm like, "Good lord, the season went by quickly." Happens the same way every year.

Today was no different - well, mostly anyway. It is certainly the latest I've ever participated in post-season media day, which is of course a good thing. As Sekou Smith told me the other day, his bday is in mid-May, and usually he has a month or so between the season before it arrives. This year, not so much.

Anyway, we ventured down to the locker room today for one last media session and to wish the guys well for the summer.

Most guys immediate plans were to get some rest - even Joe Johnson, a notorious gym rat, said he was going to take some time to relax (note: from what I know of Joe, he pretty much does nothing other than sleep, eat, and play basketball - so when he says he's going to rest, I like to imagine him hibernating, bear-like, for the next 6 weeks or so). Marvin Williams will do his usual summer routine, which means he'll be starting summer school this week in Chapel Hill.

A couple guys, particularly Zaza, made sure to say goodbye to everyone around the team, because with free-agency beckoning there is no guarantee they'll be back. Having said that, of the free agents that make up the core of the team (Bibby, Zaza, Flip, and Marvin), every single one made a point to say they enjoyed playing here and hoped to return.

Everyone agreed that they were disappointed with the series against Cleveland (the quote of the day came from Al Horford, who when asked how he felt, a day later, about last night, said, "It still sucks."), but that overall it had been a successful year and another step in the right direction.

I couldn't agree more.