The rotation may look like an act of musical chairs for the Dallas Mavericks of late. But the team hasn't let injuries, health and safety protocols and anything in-between get in the way of collecting wins.

With a 103-89 win over the Denver Nuggets, Dallas put on full display the type of basketball that has led to its current three-game win streak. That type of basketball is making defense the first, second, third, fourth and fifth priority.

"We are feeling comfortable with the schemes and are active defensively," Jason Kidd said. "We are in the right spots and covering for each other, so our defense has been pretty good.

"The communication, the deflections, the steals, we are getting our hands all over the ball. We talk about holding the opponent under 100 [points], and these guys believe in that."

Defense comes first

Against Denver, Dallas forced 26 turnovers (12 were steals), which led to 28 points. It got so bad for Denver that the Nuggets finished the game with a 0.81 assist to turnover ratio. For comparison, Dallas finished the game with a 2.09 assist to turnover ratio and just 11 missed possessions.

Through hanging the figurative hat on defense, it doesn't matter who suits up for the Mavericks. They are a threat to beat anyone on any given night. And the good news is, Dallas' biggest star noticed the change in effort after just two games back from injury and protocols.

"Our communication and effort is the key," Luka Doncic, who scored 21 points and dished out 15 assists while collecting four steals, said.

On Monday, the latest loss was Kristaps Porzingis, who went into health and safety protocols just hours before the opening tip. Yet, Kidd didn't want pity for Dallas' plight. He didn't even want to call it a storm or any other descriptor. Through inspiring effort, he believes that his team will continue to find ways to win, and specifically on the defensive end.

"These guys, they compete to win," Kidd said. "There is no storm. There is a lot of character in that locker room. The guys play hard and they play for each other. We find ways to win. It's just basketball. There is no storm."

Defensive context 

An interesting note about Dallas' defense is that when the Mavericks can hold an opponent under 100 points, the team is 10-3 on the season.

And in the last 12 games, the Mavericks are 7-5 while possessing the third-best defensive rating in the league (105.3). What is even more impressive is, in those same 12 games, Dallas is holding opponents' points in the paint to an average of 39.5. That is good enough for second in the league.

As a result of the improved defensive effort, Dallas' offensive rating has improved to tenth in the league in the last 12 games. In that same stretch, the Mavericks sit behind teams like the Chicago Bulls (seventh) and the Phoenix Suns (ninth). It appears that Dallas is finally in the company it aimed to be in at the start of the season.

All the doomsday-ers and naysayers appear to have quieted down. So have the players on Dallas' roster. They appear focused on stopping the opponent and finding easy baskets in transition.

Dallas is winning the only way it knows how — with defense. And for now, that's good enough, regardless of who's in the lineup.

"It's next man up," Kidd said. "It's just what it is and we have to continue to keep pushing forward, keeping that next man up mentality."

Related Dallas Mavericks reading

"Column: in Luka's return, the spotlight belonged to someone else." 

Feature image via  Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports.