Professional basketball was changing almost weekly during the period right after World War II. And, Why Not???
Players were returning from military service and the law stated 'they had to get their jobs back.' Many of the top stars were returning weekly and owners and coaches were trying their best to latch on to the best players. After the first season of the Basketball Association of America, BAA (later called the NBA) attendence fell short in the opening days of the league's second season, 1947-1948, and the franchises in Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit and Pittsburgh folded leaving only 7-teams.
Maurice Podoloff, the BAA President, quickly got the established Baltimore Bullets of the NBL (National Basketball League) to join the BAA. The Bullets were a well-regarded franchise and had recently signed long-time All-Star guard Buddy Jeannette as player/coach. Podoloff also cut the schedule of each team to 48 games from 60.
When coach Buddy Jeannette took control of the helm of the Bullets his first move was to bring center Clarence 'Keggie' Hermsen, forward Dick Schulz and swift moving guard Joseph 'Chick' Reiser into his squad. In mid-1947 Baltimore acquired centers Connie Simmons and Grady Lewis, and Paul Hoffman, a rookie out of Purdue University.
The Bullets posted a solid 28-20 record, made the BAA playoffs, and rolled through the postseason, before knocking off the Philadelphia Warriors 4-games to 2 in the BAA Championship Finals. Recap: after an opening game loss to the Warriors, Buddy Jeannette and center Connie Simmons showed their poise with the Baltimore Bullets losing 41-20 at half in Game 2. The pair rallied Baltimore to a 66-63 comeback win. From then on in the Finals, Buddy and his Baltimore Bullets were in charge.
