Back in training camp nobody who followed the Raptors – fans or media – could have predicted the kind of seasons Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems would have. Weems spent more time last year improving his game in the D-League or rocking a suit on Denver’s sideline than on the court while Johnson constantly found himself in foul trouble and only averaged 14.7 minutes per game despite getting 24 starts.

However, in Toronto this season both players have managed to find their groove and are enjoying career years. Johnson is averaging career highs in rebounds and minutes while Weems is shattering any stats he accumulated last season in Denver.

This evening Johnson picked up his first start of the season and provided Toronto with a huge spark in the first quarter with eight points and three boards. He finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Weems, meanwhile, scored a career-high 20 points while saving most of his scoring for the fourth quarter where he scored 10 of his points.

After the game Weems was grinning while he joked with the media about how he was able to exploit Tracy McGrady, who “is getting kind of old” and couldn’t keep up with him.

“I had Tracy (McGrady) on me most of the fourth quarter and I just tried to attack them every time I got the chance,” Weems boasted to Hoops Addict while smirking. “Jarrett (Jack) and Jose (Calderon) did a great job of penetrating and kicking to me and I tried to attack the paint and get some easy buckets. I think with Tracy getting a little bit older I just tried to exploit that.”

A couple of lockers down Johnson was searching for some cough medicine to help with the cold he is fighting through. Tonight he battled through some cold symptoms but “coughed it out” during the game.

While talking with the media Johnson was sitting in a chair at his locker and his voice was strained as he attempted to talk through his cold but he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face while talking about how big this win was for Toronto.

“It feels great knowing we were down a couple of sick players,” Johnson told Hoops Addict. “It was just a team effort. It feels great to have a win and know I was able to bring energy in a game where key guys were out due to feeling sick.”

A typical modest answer for a player who battles on a nightly basis for Toronto. Some night he’s the first big man off the bench while other nights he leads the team in rebounds.

Still, both Johnson and Weems realize how big this season has been for their careers. For players like Johnson and Weems remember far too well what it was like to be on the fringe of the NBA and when given a chance to shine they won’t step down.

It’s because of what Johnson’s battled through and endured during his career that there was no chance something as small a pesky sore throat would keep him off the court tonight.

And, for Weems, there was no chance he wouldn’t gloat over taking McGrady to school in a pivotal fourth quarter.