With the NBA Playoffs down to just two teams (why does it seem like the playoffs started ages ago), it's time to see what the other half of the NBA's Final Four need to do this offseason so they can remain in contention for the crown next season.

Detroit Pistons

Everything that can be said about this group has been said in the last 72 hours.

They imploded.

They're sick of each other after a five-year run.

Flip Saunders is an ####.

I do not think Detroit imploded during the Eastern Conference finals. The Cavaliers just wanted it more. If the Pistons looked close enough, they'd see themselves, circa 2002-03, when they were an up-and-coming group trying to break the wall down.

Detroit played the "no respect" card up until and following their 2004 NBA Title win. A veteran group, made up of cast-offs and a late first-rounder, got it in their head that nobody thought they were good enough or deserved to win a championship. But once they got that title, Detroit continued to claim they got no love.

But it seemed like the more admiration they received, including having four all-stars at the 2006 midseason classic, the Pistons got "full." Hunger subsided, and other teams starved for success took the reins from Detroit.

In the Detroit area, this team will be seen as one that got to five straight ECFs and played in back-to-back Finals. Nationally, it could be seen as a flash in the pan, one that benefitted from playing in a weak conference that caught a team (the Lakers) at the right moment.

Yes, this is the franchise's third title, but the group, despite an impressive run, could only grab one 'ship. It's possible they could have two, had Rasheed Wallace not opted to double Manu Ginobili, leaving the real Mr. Big Shot wide open near the finish of game five of the '05 Finals. It could also be said that Detroit could only have one Finals appearance, had Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O'Neal been 100 percent healthy in that year's ECF.

Changes need to be made in Motown. And although his game six coaching job was deplorable, Flip Saunders is not the problem. People who complain about him resting Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton in favor of Lindsey Hunter and Flip Murray at the start of the fourth quarter of Saturday night's loss in Cleveland are the same people who said the starters were worn out in '05 and '06. If you replace Flip Murray with Mike James, who was with the team during its '04 title run, does that justify the sub pattern?

Doubling LeBron James sooner could have solved the Pistons woes, too. If you double him before he gets the pill, a quick decision has to be made by someone (Daniel Gibson?) who may not be equipped to make that choice.

The changes need to come in the personnel department. Billups, a free agent this offseason, needs to be re-signed. He could still command top dollar on the market, even with his subpar performance against Cleveland, but if you've seen Detroit play at all without Billups the last few seasons, you know decision maker Joe Dumars needs to do everything to retain Billups.

The only other starter who should return is Tayshaun Prince. He's the team's youngest starter and its designated defensive stopper. Make no mistake about it, all the damage James did over the final four games of the series came at Prince's expense. But Prince is much better than his performance (24 percent in FGs) showed.

That leaves the other 60 percent of the Pistons' starting lineup.

I believe Chris Webber will retire after seeing his performance over the team's last 10 playoff games, including going two straight during the semifinals against Chicago without a single point. His knees are shot. It looks like it's a chore whenever he has to jump.

Dumars should take a hard look at replacing Wallace and Hamilton.

Yes, Hamilton made some tweaks in his game--trying to score off the dribble--but I believe he has become a defensive liability. Most of the guys Prince guards night in and night out play Hamilton's position. And when Detroit switched and attempted to sick Hamilton on Lebron, it was an unmitigated disaster. If Dumars could pair Prince with a solid perimeter defender who can give Detroit 15-18 points a night and ahndle the ball a bit, that would be an upgrade over Hamilton. It would also give the Pistons the option of having a ballhandler/scorer/defensive guru on the floor at all times, sort of like how Chicago would keep either Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen on the court for almost the entire game.

The scene of coaches attempting to hold Wallace back after he was thrown out of Detroit's 98-82 loss should be the last of him in a Pistons uniform. Since he arrived in Detroit, it's been said that he is one of the top power forwards in the game. When he wants to be. I've also heard it said that Wallace doesn't think he has to take on the role of "The Man" on any team he's on. That translates into a couple of things to me: not wanting to put in the effort to be great, and not wanting to take the blame when things go awry.

There were a little less than eight minutes to play in the team's final game Saturday night. Detroit was down 12 at the time. Wallace exploded and was tossed from the proceedings. He gave up. The Pistons could have come back and forced a Game 7. Wallace wouldn't have even been around for it since he picked up his sixth and seventh techs of the playoffs that night. His act has worn thin, and I think it's time he and the team parted ways.

As far as its bench goes, Detroit has decisions to make there, as well.

Hunter isn't getting any younger. Murray will probably test the free agent waters after receiving sporadic playing time in Detroit. Free agent Antonio McDyess could return or retire. Detroit will most likely look to dump the bloated salary of Nazr Mohammed. Those changes mean more playing time for the likes of Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson--of NBDL fame, if there is such a thing.

Expect Dumars to make just enough changes to have fans bugeyed this summer.

Utah Jazz

Deron Williams, who should probably skip the World Games this August due to his foot injury, and Carlos Boozer give Utah a solid core for years to come. Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko are solid compliments to those guys, too.

In all honesty, the Jazz are one move away from becming perennial title contenders. The Jazz need a two-guard who can score. Simple as that. You think Gordan Giricek strikes fear in the hearts of opposing teams and coaches? You think Ronnie Brewer is ready for prime time? How many good years does Derek Fisher, a career back-up POINT guard, have left?

If I were Larry Miller, I'd do what I had to to pry 24-year-old Gerald Wallace away from the Bobcats. Wallace, who averaged 18 points, seven boards and two steals a night, could be the missing piece to Utah's championship puzzle.

Check my archives for the first two installments of the Offseason changes series.

1. LeBron James finally has his sidekick.

At one point during Cleveland's series-clinching game six vs. Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James was barking at Daniel Gibson. But it wasn't for a mistake the Texas rookie made. It was because he caught fire in the last quarter and a half of the game on his way to 31 points on nine shots.

Gibson doesn't have to dominate the ball a la Larry Hughes or Lamar Odom. His performance the last three games of the ECF should help keep LeBron in Cleveland for the remainder of his career. Once injured rookie Shannon Brown gets healthy, Cleveland could have the League's scariest perimeter trio.

Either Brown, Gibson or James can handle the ball on a break. Either of the three could spot up anywhere on the floor and drain a shot. And any of the three can finish at the cup.

2. A shakeup is needed in Detroit.

There is a way for the Pistons to rebound from this loss and remain contenders for the next five, six years.

What Detroit needs to do is sign "that guy." That guy is a player who can get a team on the brink over the hump.

The Pistons have been defeated by a "that guy" prototype the past two playoff runs. Dwayne Wade and LeBron James both took over close games vs. Detroit and helped their teams advance to the finals.

Here's what Joe Dumars must do to keep his team on the map and in the title hunt:

Seriously look into a deal that would send Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace to the Lakers for Kobe Bryant. No matter how much ESPN and NBA analysts want to give the League to Wade and James, those in the know recognize Bryant as the League's best player.

Dumars should also draft Texas point guard Acie Law IV and Pitt big man Aaron Gray with the 15th and 27th picks, respectively, in this month's draft. Billups, who did not earn a max deal with his performance in the Cleveland series, could serve as Law's mentor and you can't teach Gray's 7'2" frame.

Pairing Bryant with Tayshaun Prince, a great perimeter defender in his own right, would give Detroit something similar to what the Bulls used to employ with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen: one of the two would be on the floor at all times, to guard the opposing team's best perimeter player, and for the offense to run through either of them. I fully give Prince a pass for shooting under 30 percent during the Cleveland series since he had to put so much of his energy into defending James. But if you could switch Bryant and Prince off of James, and Wade, for example, neither would be so tuckered out on the other end of the floor that they couldn't get their points.

3. Leave Flip alone.

I still don't understand why Jason Maxiell barely saw action in five of the six games this series after scoring 15 points in game two. And I have no idea why Billups and Hamilton were put at the point of the zone Detroit employed. But I do believe that the Pistons' performance this series was not entirely the fault of their head coach.

Saunders could have called for quicker double teams of James at times, where the double could have came before James received the ball, but Saunders wasn't the one on the court looking for foul calls late in games. Neither was he the one pointing the finger at teammates at times.

If this were college, the brunt of the blame would be reserved for Flip. But this is the NBA. "A player's league," where the coach doesn't matter as much. Give Flip "that guy," and a core that doesn't play when it feels up to it, especially in the playoffs, and Saunders already has two finals appearances under his belt.

4. Spurs in five.

'Nuff said.

NBA Commissioner David Stern no longer has to worry about rating for the '07 Finals.

Cleveland's 109-107 win in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals pretty much punches the Cavs' ticket to San Antonio for next week's NBA Finals series.

LeBron James' performance through the fourth quarter and overtime punches his ticket into what some writers call "The Pantheon."

The Pantheon is that level that only great players reach. You know when it happens, too.

Magic's 42, 15 and 7 in game six of the 1980 Finals.

Michael's 69 and 18 boards in Cleveland in March 1989.

Dwyane Wade's 42 and 13 rips in game three of last year's Finals.

Add LeBron's 48 in 51 minutes of Cleveland's doubl-overtime win in game five to that list.

James had everything working Thursday night at the Palace. Deep stepback Js. Fadeaways. Drives to the cup. Everything was everything as the old guys say.

All NBA greats live by the same motto when it comes to the playoffs. "Get me to the fourth quarter and I'll bring it home."

James was Mariano Rivera circa 2001 Thursday. Through the fourth quarter and overtime, LeBron scored 29 of Cleveland's 30 points during that stretch. He went 11 of 14 from the field and hit 25 straight at one point.

But how does that happen? How does a team like the Pistons let one guy beat them?

Isn't Tayshaun Prince's rep based on stopping wing guys like Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady? Wasn't the zone D Flip Saunders employed to stop James from driving to the hoop, which is exactly what James did to get the winning bucket?

Don't get it twisted. Changes need to be made after this series by both teams. Win or lose.

Mike Brown needs to be replaced. He uses timeouts like Herman Edwards. His substitution patterns make no sense.

Phil Jackson's first year as head coach in Chicago came the fall after Jordan hit the winning shot in the first round of the 1989 playoffs against Cleveland. I could hear Brown channeling his inner Doug Collins after Thursday's game at the podium.

"That was get the ball to LeBron and everybody else get the $^&* outta the way." 

Collins, Jordan's coach before Jackson, was gone by Labor Day.

Saunders is not the problem in Detroit. There needs to be some major roster shake-ups with this Pistons group. Chauncey Billups has played valiantly the last two games, but he has cost himself millions during this series. He's a bad match for LeBron, I know, but Rip Hamilton has been exposed as an on-the-ball defender. Rasheed Wallace floats in and out during games, and Chris Webber has given almost nothing.

Neither team stands a chance against the Spurs. I could be wrong, though. Nobody thought Detroit had a shot against L.A. in 2004, either.

San Antonio is businesslike on the court. The Spurs play their game and don't worry about their opponents. Cleveland could get one game, if James has a performance a la Allen Iverson in 2001, and the Pistons could possibly push the series to six games, if their heads are in all six.

But let's focus on the present.

James lived up to all the hype tonight.

Pantheon guys will their teams to victory. James might have just willed his squad to the NBA Finals.

I'm not going to make the obvious Michael Jordan reference after "The Chosen One's" two-point fourth quarter in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.

That would be an insult to the newly-single Mr. Jordan because Jordan's Bulls won his first-ever conference finals game, 94-88 in the Palace of Auburn Hills. You can't make the argument that Jordan's Bulls were better than LeBron's Cavs, either. World-class players like Dave Corzine and Brad Sellers played major minutes on that '89 Bulls squad.

Ok, I know he's only 22 years old. But he's been in the League four years now, and he's in the Final Four of his league. The game was set up perfectly for James to make his seven years of hype (I'm including his final three years of high school) justified.

Cleveland led for the entire first half. The Cavs were down just one on the road. Right before the fourth quarter started, I said to myself, "Ok. This is where it starts. LeBron only has eight points. He's going to end up with at least 20 and Cleveland is going to win this game."

It didn't happen. Two points in the fourth on his way to a career playoff low of 10 points. A lay up. That's it. Yes, LeBron's facilitation skills (nine assists) helped keep his squad close. They had a wide open look with 12 seconds lef that would've given them a one-point lead. But when LeBron went into the lane on Cleveland's last possession, he should have said, "F%ck this play. I'm dunking it and we're gonna win in OT." He had a dunk. James went right around Tayshaun Prince. Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace showed help, but neither got to the spot in time to stop what should have been a thunderous slam.

It's been said several times over the past two seasons. LeBron needs to become a selfish player at times in order to become a great player. Dwayne Wade wouldn't have gone 5-15. Neither would Kobe. Great players' teams live and die with them. Not with guys like Donyell Marshall and Anderson Varejao.

But it's not all on LeBron.

If Cavs brass could, I would suggest them firing Mike Brown before the Tuesday shootaround.

Cleveland went 1-10 from three-point range. Damon Jones has stayed in the NBA based on his three-point shooting. Daniel Gibson led the team, shooting 42 percent from three during the regular season. Those two played a combined five minutes.

Detroit double-teamed LeBron throughout the contest. Brown did nothing to get James in a position to get easy looks. Whatever he got, it would have had to be the result of LeBron going coast to coast or getting the ball as the point crossed half court.

Yes, the game was close. Yes, all the games in the series could be close. But if Brown doesn't put his team, and LeBron in particular, in a better position to win, this series will be over quick.

So will Mike Brown's tenure in Cleveland.

A couple weeks ago, I broke down the needs of the playoff teams that were bounced in the first round. Now we’ll get into the issues of the squads that were steps away from the NBA’s version of the Final Four

Chicago Bulls — Everyone knows and beats to the death the fact that the Bulls need a post scorer. But more pressing is the need for a legit two-guard so Ben Gordon can reprise his role as Microwave 2000. Gordon is a helluva scorer, but he’s not someone you can count on for 40-plus minutes a night. I also think it’s a stretch to call on him to check a 6’5” or taller two. Talk of dealing Gordon is bogus. People in Chi-town have already dubbed him “Air Gordon.” You can’t deal a young guy who can fill it up.

The rumored deals for Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol make sense for some reasons. But the cons heavily outweigh the pros. In three playoff appearances, Gasol is 0-12. Yes, the West is tough, but Memphis never finished higher than the eight spot in the playoffs. And who says he’s so awesome in the post. Have you seen him play? Yea, he has post moves, but he’s about as fleet of foot as Sean Casey. And I think his arms are longer than his legs. Take that as you will.

Garnett is intriguing. He’s been a top-5 player for the last half decade. He has an MVP on his mantle. He’s a fiery competitor. But before 2004, Garnett was 0-fer the playoffs. Since 2004, Big Ticket hasn’t seen the postseason. Of all the great players in the League, I honestly believe Garnett plays with the most passion. But he should not be missing the playoffs at this stage of his career. Do you realize the 2007-08 season will be Garnett’s 13th?

Yea, he’d be a massive upgrade over P.J. Brown, but I don’t see him being the guy who gets Chicago over the hump. Even with Ben Wallace and Luol Deng on the roster, Garnett would still be The Man. He hasn’t fared so well with that title when it comes to on-the-court. Missing the playoffs three straight seasons is evidence enough of that.

If I were Bulls GM John Paxson, I would build up my roster through free agency and the draft. Bobcats swingman Gerald Wallace is a free agent this summer. He’d fill the need for a legit shooting guard, paving the way for Gordon’s return to the sixth man role. The Bulls could parlay the lottery pick they received from the Knicks by way of the Eddy Curry deal into 7’2” Roy Hibbert. If Hibbert can start right away and give Scott Skiles 14 and 8, the Bulls should be favored in the East. Chicago’s 2007-08 rotation would then be: Hinrich, Gerald Wallace, Deng, Ben Wallace, Hibbert (starters); Gordon, Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas, Chris Duhon and Thabo Sefolosha.

Yes, it’s a young group. But the core has been in the playoffs each of the last three seasons and should have the confidence going into next season that it can hang with anybody and (maybe) make it to the Finals.

Golden State Warriors — Golden State was a great story and seeing the look on Mark Cuban’s face when Dallas lost that series was classic. But anyone in the know knows the Warriors had no shot against any other team in the playoffs.

That helter skelter style makes for good TV, but it doesn’t get you any jewelry. Golden State is a team that has to build a big lead and hold it or blow a team out. When it comes to making decisions in tight situations, that’s where the Warriors struggle. Whether it be missing three free throws in the last 20 seconds o####ame, or passing up easy mid-range shots in another, Golden State doesn’t have the personnel to pull out close games.

Jason Richardson wants out. Monta Ellis doesn’t want to be a career back up. And Stephen Jackson is psycho. That playoff run was the epitome of one of those “lightning in a bottle moments.” Remember, the Warriors had to win 10 of their last 11 just to get into the eight spot.

Like Chicago, Golden State is too perimeter oriented. For that reason alone, if it’s true Phoenix is shopping Amare Stoudemire, Chris Mullin should do everything in his power to get him to the Bay Area. The Warriors’ style isn’t hat far removed from what the Suns run. Baron Davis is a capable point guard, and Amare would be their first option — exactly what he wants. Amare is slated to make $15 million per for the next few years. A deal of Stoudemire for Richardson, Sarunas Jasikevicius and an expiring deal would get it done.

If Golden State doesn’t find a guy who they can dump the ball to on a consistent basis, the second round is as far as they’ll get.

New Jersey Nets — The return of Nenad Krstic will help the Nets immensely. In the 26 games he appeared in this season, Krstic netted 16.4 points and pulled down 6.8 boards a night.

But Kristic’s return is the least of Jersey’s worries. Vince Carter is a free agent. And Jason Kidd isn’t getting any younger.

Kidd turned in one of the greatest playoff performances ever for two rounds, averaging a triple-double (14.6, 10.9, 10.9). And in one moment, Carter showed that after nine years in the League, he still isn’t ready for prime time as he let 68-year-old Eric Snow body him enough to where he couldn’t get a shot off in game 5 of the Nets/Cavs second round series. He also shot 6-23 in an elimination game.

If this team stays together, it has the pieces to make a run next spring. Jersey needs bench help. Bostjan Nachbar put in 9.9 in 23 minutes of work each night, but the rest of the Nets’ bench did nothing.

This year’s underwhelming free agent class consists of guys who would be solid contributors off the bench. Matt Barnes could give Jersey toughness and some energy off the bench, as could guys like Earl Boykins, Devean George and Andres Nocioni.

Phoenix Suns — If it wasn’t for that bogus suspension, the Suns would still be playing. But they’re not, so I have to address their needs now.

Phoenix doesn’t need much. Kurt Thomas playing solid against Tim Duncan showed that. But Steve Nash’s back isn’t getting any better. He’s approaching Larry Bird territory with that thing.

A couple of things could set the Suns up for years to come. If they play the Amare Stoudemire/Shawn Marion trade rumors right, they should get a starter and a first-round pick in either deal. Phoenix also has a potential top-five pick by way of the Joe Johnson trade. That pick could turn into Al Horford or Joakim Noah, making Stoudemire a little more expendable than Marion due to the positions they play. Marion’s defensive performance against San Antonio, where he guarded both Tony Parker and Tim Duncan for stretches, increases his worth, too.

Steve Nash needs an understudy. If Stoudemire is retained, Phoenix should say “f$ck it” and draft Mike Conley Jr. with that pick and hope Boris Diaw regains his motivation. If Marion is retained, Phoenix should draft Horford or Noah, hope Milwaukee’s Mo Williams, who averaged 17, 5 and 5 last year, doesn’t want a “huge” deal and roll with a core of Nash, Marion, Leandro Barbosa, Diaw, Raja Bell, Horford/Noah, Williams and whatever piece they get in the Amare deal.

Remember, Phoenix got to the Western Conference Finals last season minus Stoudemire. He’s no slouch, but trading Amare wouldn’t set Phoenix back as much as trading Marion would.

More team needs coming after the conference finals.