Untimely aberration. That’s what the Nuggets are hoping Andre Miller’s performances in the previous three big games were. Yeah, it happened in Games 79, 80 and 81 (leading up to the NBA playoffs), but the optimist says it’s just a blip — instead of a harbinger.

Miller has played pretty well this season as the Nuggets’ reliable backup point guard, averaging 9.7 points and 5.9 assists. But in the aforementioned three games, heading into Wednesday night’s blowout of Phoenix at the Pepsi Center, he was only 5-for-27 from the field and had 10 assists and six turnovers.

Miller is 37 and is heading into perhaps the most important postseason of his career. Miller, incredibly, has never won a playoff series. But he has a great opportunity to do so with the West’s third-seeded Nuggets.

“I can’t deny the last couple games he’s looked a little tired, a little slower. But in general this season, he didn’t get to that zone of fatigue as much as he did last year,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “I thought he was crisper and healthier for most of this season, even in back-to-back situations. I remember the Oklahoma City game. It might have been his best game, and that was a back-to-back where you thought he might not have the edge.”

Across the league, Miller’s “point guardness” is praised. The guy just gets it. He understands the nuances of the position, getting scorers in position.

“He brings a change of pace and also gets everybody easy shots,” said Ty Lawson, Denver’s starting point guard. “Times when we’re struggling, not hitting 3s or getting to the basket, he sets someone up for an easy dunk. So he’s huge coming up in this series.”

But the Miller critics (and they’re out there), point to his pace. They say sometimes he slows the team too much. NBA writer Matt Moore of CBSsports.com pointed out this stat: During the nine games when Lawson was out, the Nuggets averaged a minus-2.3 per game with Miller on the court and a plus-22 with him off.

Still, it’s pretty simple. Miller is vital to Denver’s second unit … and Denver’s second unit is vital to this deep, starless team.

“I’ve monitored my body, how I approach the games and bring stability to the bench,” Miller said. “I think I’ve done my job well. And the young guys have matured.”

Faried update. As expected, Kenneth Faried didn’t play Wednesday because of an ankle injury and is day to day.

“The feedback that I’ve gotten,” Karl said, “is he’s been in here for three or four hours every day, and he’s doing that part of his job at a high level. I don’t think we’ll know until the weekend (about his availability). I don’t think he’ll be practicing. If he goes, we’ll know probably at the shootaround before the first (playoff) game.”

Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294, bhochman@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nuggetsnews