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DETROIT (AP) -In some ways, Tayshaun Prince seems like the same player he was when he suddenly went from the bench to playing for the Detroit Pistons during the 2003 playoffs.
Prince slows down opponents with his lanky 6-foot-9, 215-pound frame and basketball IQ.
He scores on an array of runners and spin moves around the lane, and from the outside with an awkward stroke.
In subtle ways, Prince has evolved as more than just a sidekick in the shadow of Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace.
Prince has become more aggressive offensively instead of deferring to his veteran teammates.
"Tayshaun is taking the initiative now and that's made the biggest difference in his game," Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Friday.
After Thursday's practice, Prince bristled at that notion.
"I'm making shots. Stop the deferring and everything," Prince said. "When you're getting shots and high-percentage shots, you're going to get opportunities. When you do that, your teammates look for you more."
Prince is averaging 16 points in the playoffs - trailing only Hamilton in scoring on the team - and is making a personal-high 56 percent of his shots.
He is still getting it done at the other end of the court, following up his famed block against Reggie Miller by turning away Hedo Turkoglu's dunk attempt to help Detroit eliminate the Orlando Magic earlier this week.
Prince and the Pistons earned a spot in the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth straight year, becoming the first team to be that consistent in the playoffs since the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s.
"I can't enjoy it right now," Prince said. "This is the sixth time, but we only got to the finals twice.
"It's nothing to get excited about right now."
Ranga88 
