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 idiot.

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.