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Dallas, 1/30/10 Maybe his locker room time pre-game was spent listening to Matthew Wilder’s inspirational classic. (see it & change your life!) How else can to explain a career-high, 52-point pasting of the Mavericks? I for one can vouch for it’s energizing qualities more potent than a box of Wheaties or a case of Redbull.

”I just wanted to stay aggressive,” Miller said. ”I didn’t look at it as scoring the ball, but just going out and making plays and being the point guard. The shots came and since they were going in, I kept shooting.”

Humbly put, but for a guy who suited up averaging 16.8 points/game on the season, it was definitely not business as usual. Despite the phenomenal effort though, Dallas hung in there, losing only in the game’s last minute, falling to the Blazers 114-112. For Portland, struggling in a season seemingly cursed by injuries, the victory broke a three game skid. For their part the Mavs, who suffered a 62 point explosion by Kobe Bryant in the ’05-’06 campaign, are probably wondering why everyone has huge nights on their dime.

Miller’s sparkling night was built on shooting 70% (22-31) from the field & 87% (7-8) from the free throw line. Nearly as astonishing as his beaucoup points total was the fact that he achieved it with only one three point attempt which he made, by the way. Dre also managed to snatch 5 boards, 2 steals and two assists too by the end of the game, probably near a career low for a player signed by Portland for his play-making abilities.  He received able supporting play from forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who put in 21 points, & guard Jerryd Bayless, who chipped in 17. Nevertheless, it was Miller time especially in a 25 point fourth period, all the way until nearly old-as-the-hills Juwan Howard won the game for the Blazers with a 2-pointer, well timed for 44.8 seconds on the clock.

For Dallas, the loss was tough, but shouldn’t be unexpected. After a dark-horse guy like Miller runs amok on you for 50+ and you’re still in it with hope for the win, it had to have felt too good to be true. Dirk Nowitzki did his usual, scoring 28 points (a little better than his usual actually, he averages about 26 per game) but when Howard was teeing up for his shot, perhaps the planets aligned & Fate itself turned against them. That is, if Fate is anything like Hotch & has found the Mavs relatively contemptible for years. They tried to lowball Steve Nash, one of this era’s greatest. Call them the Allas Mavericks, because they play zero to no Defense. Heck, they even won 67 games in the ’06-’07 season, only to entertain fans across the nation when they lost to the upstart & underdog Golden State Warriors in an all-time great upset. They’re like a Corvette pretty & superficially impressive, but only a fool thinks it’s built to last.

Not saying the Blazers are a team of destiny. They can barely tie their shoes without another one of their squad checking into sickbay for injuries. Just saying that it was good to see a guy like Miller whose acquisition by Portland has been questioned do it way big for a night, & to see Dallas take it on the chin.