Hey everyone back in Cleveland! It's AC - what is happening? 

The Cavaliers started the second half in style - getting a nice win over the Raptors on Wednesday night. We were playing like our old selves. We rebounded the ball well; we did a good job of controlling the game.

I think the only category we lost was fast break points. But it really was an up and down game and we only lost that by four or five points, so that's not too bad. And everything else - the rebounding, the points in the paint, the second-chance points - we were able to get back to controlling those parts of the game, and it played a big factor in winning the game.

You can see the Cavs getting back to playing like they were before the injuries hit. They started by establishing Z down low, which was something they knew they'd have to do against Toronto. They went away from it for a while, and then Coach Brown got them back into focusing down low. And you had Z passing out of double-teams, finding the open man for scores. Once they established that, it opened up the floor and they started working the pick-and-pop with Z.

So basically, everyone played off of Z last night.

It's been said that the Cavs were a team in need of the All-Star Break. If they play like that again tomorrow night, I would say that's true. Because going into Milwaukee is going to be tough. They've won three of their last four. Jefferson's playing well, Villanueva is playing well, Sessions is playing well. If the Cavaliers play well tomorrow, then I would say that they needed the Break - because the energy level is back.

In those last three quarters in Toronto, they looked like the old Cavs - and it was good to see. So maybe they needed that Break to catch their breath and regroup.

Right now, the biggest thing swirling around is the Trade Deadline. As a former player, I can tell you that it can be a distraction. All players will tell you that it's not. But it is.

The Deadline does have an effect on you - especially players who are established, players who have homes in the area. It has an effect on everyone. Even a player like LeBron, who knows he's not going anywhere; he has friendships that he's developed on the team and this team has become very close.

So it does have some effect, but I wouldn't say it has a large one on a team like ours. But teams that aren't doing as well - the Bulls and teams like that - it has a huge effect on. You're like playing on eggshells and you're constantly looking over your shoulder.

One player that has no worries about the Deadline is Delonte West, who the Cavaliers could get back as early as this week. Getting him back is HUGE, because now they are back to themselves.

Delonte brings a certain toughness and consistency to the team that will make Cleveland even more dangerous and harder to deal with. As a team that has been as successful as the Cavs have been, you always want to get back to that situation when you were "whole" - with everyone on the floor together. Now, you have that feeling - not of invincibility - but that feeling that you have the opportunity to win every ballgame you play. And sometimes that knowledge, that confidence is enough to get you over the hump. 

The guys have great respect for each other, and Delonte commands so much love and respect and they know what he brings to the team. And they're looking forward to having their team 100% healthy and back, ready for the run.

It's a perfect time to get Delonte back, too. This is an important part of the year - we're right at the end of the "dog days."

When February is over, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. You get a certain energy boost from that. Sometimes in February, you can't see the beginning or the end of the season. You don't go through the motions, but you also feel like there's no end to it.

You want to get as many road wins as possible right here, because teams are beginning to have trouble and will start falling off the radar. That's where you want to jump them. If they can get through this little stretch here in February, and get into March with a decent situation, then they'll really be able to make a great run to close the season. 

And from there, it's anybody's game!