Oct. 15, 1963 - The new-look NBA, sporting two franchise shifts, several coaching changes, and a new commissioner, opens its 18th season tomorrow night, and the battle cry, as usual, will be, “Stop the Celtics!” The talent-laden Bostonians, who will be seeking their sixth straight title, invade Baltimore to take on the Bullets, who return to the NBA after dropping out in 1954. The Bullets will be new in name only, however, as the franchise was shifted from Chicago last spring. In the other games tomorrow night, the relocated Philadelphia 76ers, formerly the Syracuse Nats, face the Pistons in Detroit, while the St. Louis Hawks host the Cincinnati Royals. Bob Leonard, who played in Chicago and Los Angeles, is the new Bullets coach, while veteran Nats’ star Dolph Schayes will direct the 76ers. The other coaching changes have ex-Nats’ mentor Alex Hannum taking over in San Francisco and Jack McMahon, ex-Chicago coach, handling the Royals in place of Charley Wolf, who took over in Detroit. Commissioner J. Walter Kennedy, who succeeded Maurice Podoloff as NBA czar, has already shown a firm hand in handling Celtics’ coach Red Auerbach. The fiery Auerbach pulled his team off the floor in an exhibition game, and Kennedy promptly slapped him with a $500 fine. Still, for all of Auerbach’s temperamental shortcomings, the Celtics are favored in the Eastern division, even without Bob Cousy, who retired to coach Boston College. In New York, the Knicks open Thursday night against the Bullets, while the Celtics help the Royals inaugurate their season in Cincinnati.
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