Iconic playoff chasedown block? Say that term and most fans immediately think of LeBron James knocking Andre Iguodala 's shot away in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals, right? Well, believe it or not, that play had a predecessor.
Way back in 2004, during the Eastern Conference Finals, another chase, another block, made its own mark — this one courtesy of Tayshaun Prince .
Sprinting nearly the length of the floor, timing his leap perfectly, and pinning the ball before it could even touch the glass, Prince stunned everyone — including Reggie Miller , who admitted he thought he had "a few steps" on his opponent before realizing just how wrong that calculation actually was.
At the time, the Detroit Pistons were facing off against the Indiana Pacers , with the former team soon cementing themselves as one of the most formidable defensive squads the league had ever seen.
Ben Wallace patrolled the rim. Rasheed Wallace held down the paint. Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton pestered every ball handler.
As for Prince — a 6'9" lefty forward drafted a few years earlier out of Kentucky — he was quietly establishing himself as one of the league's premier perimeter defenders.
Tay, in a way, was the kind of versatile 3-and-D player the league would kill for today. This rings true because, whether on offense or defense, he stepped up wherever he was needed most. The California native surely proved it during that unforgettable clutch moment against Miller.
Only 30 seconds remained in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pistons , who had lost the opener against the Pacers, clung to a narrow 69–67 lead.
For a brief moment, however, it looked like it could slip away. Detroit's point guard, Billups, had just lost the ball to Jamaal Tinsley , who quickly pushed it ahead to Miller . The future Hall of Famer — having just crossed half court — was headed for what looked like a fast-break layup. Easy as it can get.
Easy? Not with Prince in pursuit. From far behind, the former four-time All-Defensive Second Team member later said he was "chasing him down."
As Miller slowed slightly, glancing over his shoulder to check for trailing defenders, Prince closed the gap in a blur.
"I saw him (Prince) in my rear-view mirror," Miller recalled.
Still, confident he had enough space to finish the possession, the Pacers legend went up for the layup.
What a costly misstep that turned out to be, as Prince sprang off his left foot and swatted the ball away. But there's more to it than just a highlight-reel block: the former Pistons player didn't merely stop the basket — he redirected the ball perfectly to then-teammate Hamilton, who grabbed it and drew the foul with the clock ticking down.
We all know how it ended — the team from Motor City went on to win a ring that year.
We often say that defense wins championships, right? Well, Tay, who retired in 2016, delivered a textbook example right then and there.
Without him blocking Uncle Reg, the Pistons might have lost the game — and having to come back from a 0-2 deficit, their path to the promised land would have looked a whole lot bleaker.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
