Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum is rising faster than any player in recent memory. He's basically a star, and one of the league's most productive scorers after averaging fewer than seven points per game just a year ago.

Stars need swagger and confidence, and McCollum clearly has all that. Just look at what happens when a lesser player tries to get tough:

McCollum can't be messed with. The Trail Blazers might've lost in Utah, but they're also outscored by 7.6 points per 100 possessions when McCollum's not on the court. (For reference, Portland is only outscored by 3.0 points per 100 possessions when Damian Lillard is not on the floor.)

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Portland needs their starting shooting guard to continue to play this well if it wants to make the playoffs.