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.

Ok, we got the lottery teams out of the way, along with a few teams who have shots to make the playoffs, but won't for whatever reason.

Next, we delve into a group of teams that should play past mid-April unless their star suffers a career-ending injury or shoots up a strip club or gets a knee broken from owing his online poker lone shark.

15. Denver Nuggets: The Mile High crew won the Northwest division last season with 44 wins. I see a similar amount being enough to take that divison this year, too. But I don't see the Nuggets taking home back-to-back division titles. Carmelo Anthony will continue to blossom, and finally earn his first All-Star appearance come February. His performances in the World Championships showed me that he's ready to take The Leap and be mentioned in the same breath as Kobe, LeBron and D-Wade. Yes, i see a playoff berth for Denver, but what have they done to get past the first round? Kiki Vandewedge traded for high-schooler J.R. Smith, who couldn't get burn on a young New Orleans team. Now he's being asked to put out effort on a playoff squad. Kenyon Martin-12.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg in 56 games-is a malcontent and is injury prone. So is Marcus Camby-one of the better shot-blockers in the game. Camby has averaged 50 games over the last five seasons. They have toughness up front with Reggie Evans and Eduardo Najera, but not much else. I still don't know what the big deal is about Nene.

14. Indiana Pacers: Three seasons ago, the Pacers had the best record in the league-61-21-and were the only team that won 60-plus games. Two seasons ago, they started out 7-2 and Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal looked like the best combo in the League. Then "The Palace Brawl" happened. Indy went 35-36 the rest of the way and finished at .500 last season, putting them sixth in the East both times. Yes, I know Jermaine O'Neal missed 31 games due to injury last year. Yes, I know they brought in Al Harrington to presumably "revitalize" the franchise. But I also know Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird brought in 10 new players, none of whom piqued my interest. The door's closed for the Pacers title chances. It's sad that the ugliest event in basketball history locked it.

13. Utah Jazz: Jerry Sloan will retire before his squad misses the postseason for a fourth straight year. Utah is my pick to take the Northwest division and lock up the three seed out west. Not because they have eye-popping talent, but because I think they're the best of a bad bunch. The Jazz do have talent, though, and have gotten younger since Stockton to Malone left. Andrei Kirilenko is becoming a quadruple-double threat every night. Mehmet Okur is relishing his starting role after his days in Detroit-15.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg in two seasons with the Jazz. Newly acquired Derek Fisher won't start-second-year guard Deron Williams has the point spot on lock in Salt Lake City-but he'll provide stability and a championship pedigree to a relatively youthful group. Veteran Matt Harpring--13 ppg, 5.9 rpg over his eight-year career-provides scoring puch and toughness off the bench. Look for rookie Ronnie Brewer (Arkansas) to crack the starting lineup by the New Year.

12. Los Angeles Lakers: Hate their point guard situation. There, that's out of the way. But I know how Phil Jackson drools over big guards, so I guess I've have to live with a guy named Smush starting in the League. Jackson is putting his stamp on this group in the second year of his second stint in La La land. They have a number of guys who can play multiple positions (Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, Maurice Evans, Vladimir Radmanovic and Brian Cook). The 6'10" Radmanovic gives L.A. the ability to stretch the floor with his range-41 percent from three in 05-06. Kwame Brown was serviceable in the playoffs last year (12.9 ppg, 6.6 boards in seven games against Phoenix). If this young group limits mistakes and keeps its head in games, L.A. could make some noise next spring. I know they lost in the first round, but I honestly think they can build on having a 3-1 lead on one of the best team's in the league. Oh, and they have that Kobe guy, too. Hopefully he's not rusty after the long layoff due to knee surgery. From what happened for most of the Phoenix series last May, I see Kobe becoming more of a team player and leader. No he won't average 35.4 again, but that will mean he doesn't have to. That could translate into increased confidence in teammates, an increased number of wins, an increase in playoff TV appearances and an MVP award.

11. Washington Wizards: Losing Jared Jeffries won't hurt as much if Washington has a healthy Jarvis Hayes (21 games in 05-06). Hayes can provide scoring off the bench from both wing positions, which could take some pressure off Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas. I've been perplexed by Brendan Haywood since his days on Chapel Hill. The guy's huge. A "space eater" if you will. But he averages 7 points and 5 boards a night for his career. I think he's missing a set, if you know what I mean. If healthy, Darius Songalia could be a nice pick up, since I have no faith in Antawn Jamison starting at power forward. Gilbert Arenas is a beast. I shouldn't have to say anything else about him. The biggest question is can Eddie Jordan get this bunch to play on both ends of the floor. Washington gave up nearly 100 points a game last season. Not good. They're not Phoenix. I don't think the Wizards can outscore teams like that. Play some zone. Have Calvin Booth be your "goon." Do somethin.'

Top ten teams coming Monday