The Portland Trail Blazers entered this season with serious questions about which players would take over the scoring responsibilities once assumed by departed mainstays like LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, and Nicolas Batum. One of the players tabbed for a larger role was scoring guard C.J. McCollum, who last season averaged just 6.8 points in 15.7 minutes per game (but did manage 15.7 points per 36 minutes). Irrespective of stats, though, McCollum has the talent to emerge as a capable second option next to All-Star Damian Lillard. [ Yahoo Fantasy Basketball: Sign up for a league today ] Wednesday's season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans figures to raise expectations for McCollum in 2015-16. The 24-year-old McCollum put up 22 first-quarter points on his way to 37 for the game, finishing at 14-of-22 from the field and 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. That total shatters his previous regular-season career high of 27 (from the final week of last season) and his overall high of 33 (from Game 5 of the 2015 first round, or his last competitive game). McCollum also added six rebounds, an assist, one steal, and zero turnovers in a team-high 37 minutes. Lillard added 21 points...