"I knew I was going to get it" - Tayshaun Prince talks in detail about his memorable block on Reggie Miller in the 2004 NBA Playoffs

The 2004 Detroit Pistons were a defensive machine unlike any other. With four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace anchoring the defense with his impressive shot-blocking ability, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton hounding opposing perimeter players from one end to the other, and Rasheed Wallace providing versatility and toughness in the paint, the Pistons were a force to be reckoned with on that end of the court.

But perhaps one of the most memorable defensive plays from that team came from defensive whiz Tayshaun Prince , who, at 6-foot-9, had length and athleticism that made him a nightmare for opposing wings. In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, with only 21 seconds left, Billups had the ball stolen away from him on his way to the basket.

Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley picked the ball up and threw an outlet pass to a streaking Miller, who was a good three steps ahead of the pack. Thinking he was safe from the defense, Reggie slowed down, took a dribble, and casually tried to score the game-tying layup. However, Prince—relentless in his pursuit—swatted the ball away before it could hit the backboard, preserving their slim 69-67 lead.

The Pistons eventually won Game 2, 72-67, and 20 years later, Tayshaun spoke in detail about that unforgettable defensive sequence on the "Knuckleheads Podcast."

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Considered numerous factors

The former Kentucky Wildcat had both athleticism and savvy. He used both to pull off the crucial block that is often compared to LeBron James' chasedown swat of Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. Tayshaun said that as he was pursuing Miller as fast as he could, he knew one thing he had going for him: Reggie wasn't going to dunk the ball.

"It was just a perfect situation for me because it was Reggie Miller. And you know, Reggie Miller didn't like to dunk. That played in my mind the whole entire time as I was chasing him down. I thought, 'One, I know he doesn't like to dunk, so now, by that happening, there's a pretty good chance I'm not going to foul him.' You know what I'm saying?" the four-time All-Defensive Team member recalled .

With that in mind, Prince had all the confidence in the world that he was going to catch up with Reggie and get his hands on the ball. His only concern, though, was whether or not he would commit a goaltending violation.

"I knew I was going to get it. It was just a matter of time—whether I was going to catch it before it became goaltending, before it hit the backboard, you know what I mean? I had done that way before that moment, in other games, in college, in high school. I'd done it all the time, so it was clockwork when that happened, and I was in that moment," Tayshaun said.

The rest, as they say, is history as Prince completed the emphatic block that shocked the raucous crowd at the Conseco Fieldhouse.

Played his role to a T

A crucial component of the Pistons' success that season was how everyone embraced their roles. Chauncey and Rip often took on the scoring chores, while Rasheed and Ben were the anchors of the defense. Tayshaun, meanwhile, tried to fill the gaps wherever he was needed.

For a player who had been the star of his high school and college teams, this may have been an adjustment, but Tayshaun was more than willing to do whatever it took for the team to win.

In fact, this selfless attitude made him such a valuable member of the Pistons. He didn't need to score 30 points a game or make flashy plays to feel fulfilled. Tayshaun simply wanted to contribute in any way possible.

"You know, one of my things that I always did in games, especially as Rip and Chauncey were like our heavy dominant perimeter scorers, was trying to figure out what I could do to balance out the perimeter. So it was always defense, always rebounding, always trying to get extra possessions, and just doing the little things," Prince relayed.

The 2004 Pistons aren't often discussed when fans and experts talk about NBA champions. They weren't flashy, nor did they pull off exciting plays that made SportsCenter highlights. But what they lacked in star power, they made up for in chemistry and selflessness. Prince was a prime example of that.

Related: Ben Wallace believes Tayshaun Prince wouldn't have blossomed if the Pistons drafted Carmelo Anthony: "We won the championship off the back of the best block that I ever seen"