Carter Bryant's rotation spot hinges on his confidence, not the defense he already has

The San Antonio Spurs may need Carter Bryant to step up if they have to wait for Tobias Harris to become available after suffering a left calf strain. While the second-year forward can't fully replicate Harris' offensive impact, his confidence and decisiveness on that end will help the Spurs early on.

Sure, the Spurs have enough talent to survive a stretch of games without Harris if they have to. Any team led by Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle won't have trouble finding ways to win, but it's still important for them to get good production from their other forwards.

For Bryant, this is a perfect opportunity to make a strong statement at the beginning of the regular season. We already know what he brings to the table defensively, but his sharpness on the other side of the floor will be key to the Spurs getting off to a hot start.

Carter Bryant's hesitancy must be a thing of the past

Bryant's rookie season was filled with some intriguing moments on both sides of the floor. He was amazing defensively, hounding opponents on the perimeter and protecting the paint as a small-ball center.

While he also showed solid offensive flashes, he did tend to be hesitant. The young forward would second-guess himself at times when the ball was in his hands, but that was to be expected from a rookie. Worrying about missing shots or turning the ball over can make young players overly cautious.

But that can't be the case this season, especially as they wait for Harris' return. The Spurs need players who can capitalize on the gravity of Wembanyama, Harper, and Castle, so he needs to act on the fly. When the ball swings his way, he must be quick and decisive, knowing when to fire up long-range shots, cut to the basket, or put it on the floor to drive past defenders.

Bryant won't provide the shot creation Harris does, but that's okay. If he can establish himself as a reliable off-ball scorer early this season, it'll help the Spurs get off to a strong offensive start.

This is will set the tone for the rest of Bryant's season

Developing these habits in the first weeks will be perfect for Bryant, even when Harris returns to the lineup. Playing with decisiveness will keep him in the rotation once everyone on the Spurs' roster is healthy and available.

Of course, Harris' unexpected calf problem is inconvenient, but when things like this happen, others must take advantage of those extra reps. For Bryant, there's no better opportunity to set a strong tone for his sophomore season than this.

Not only does this help him grow his game individually, but it raises the Spurs' ceiling. Having a fully confident, decisive version of Bryant on the offensive end will make them even more dangerous throughout the regular season and the playoffs.

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