Jerardi: Passing grade, and then some, for Simmons' passing

Passing is a lost art at too many levels of the sport, but the Spurs and the Warriors have once again showed its value at the game's highest level. I knew Simmons was a great passer, but watching it even in a summer-league setting was a joy.

He set up the three with his eyes and his relaxed manner, lulling the defense into thinking he was doing nothing while waiting for his shooter to clear the lane and get behind the arc. The pass hit Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot in stride, right in his shooting pocket. The three was always good.

There are passers, and then there are shooters' passers. The best passers put the ball where shooters don't have to reach. They lead the player right into his shot. Simmons throws shooters' passes.

Sixers coach Brett Brown wants Simmons to get rebounds and go, head up, eyes ahead, seeking an easy hoop. When he took that board and headed up the court, he knew where he was going with the ball long before he let it go. Simmons took his time, let Luwawu-Cabarrot clear the defense, and then threw a perfect bounce pass, skipping it right into his hands, sending him to the basket.

I have always loved bounce passes for layups because, done correctly, finishers should be getting the ball as it is rising slightly, leading them right into their shots. That was precisely the pass Simmons threw, except it was from halfcourt on the run. That is a rare skill, and he has it.

The touch pass from the foul line to Richaun Holmes for that dunk was something only players with a real understanding of space, time and angles could execute. Again, Simmons knew where he was going with the ball before the previous pass had even headed his way because he knew the situation, understood where the other nine players were, and was patient enough not to give it away by looking.

I liked the pace of Simmons's game. He forced nothing. He was relaxed. He was confident. He was talking to his teammates, directing them even in his first game since March.

Simmons also looked very much like a player who had not been in competition for almost four months. The cramps obviously did not help, but, even before that, his timing around the rim was off. That should come in time, but his immediate value will be as an elite passer. Even his entry passes were textbook.

Great passers are typically great teammates because who doesn't like to play with somebody who gets them the ball where they can score? Ben Simmons can already do that. Going to be fun to watch as the whole package emerges.