Dallas, Texas — Heading into the final stretch of the regular season, one thing is clear for the Dallas Mavericks.

It's time to step on the gas.

And as a team, Dallas can do so. However, lately — and moving forward — the burden of competing at a high level stops and starts with Luka Doncic. After him, it's on the defense and the new editions of Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans to step up down the stretch.

Doncic's MVP stretch

In the last six games, Doncic is averaging 36 points, 11.1 rebounds and 8.3 assists. He's shooting the ball at an efficient 46 percent from the field and 46 percent from three. And for someone who was not named an All-Star starter, he has looked like a league MVP.

It's without question, Doncic is playing the best basketball of his career. A stark difference from the version of him seen at the start of the year, where he was a step slow on offense and defense. And part of Doncic's ascension was him getting into great game shape, something team owner Mark Cuban noted that Doncic took personally.

"I think he was humbled a little bit," Cuban said on 96.7 The Ticket. "I think he didn’t like being called out for his weight and other things, and it finally clicked that there’s a level of discipline that’s required."

Doncic appears to have heard the criticism loud and clear. He's taken it on himself to play his best basketball as the games matter more. And out of the All-Star break, every game counts towards playoff position and conference standings.

Defense has to come first 

Playing great defense is the expectation under Jason Kidd in Dallas. And out of the All-Star break, looking ahead to playoff positioning, continued defensive commitment is a must.

Dallas is in rare are when it comes to shutting down top offenses around the league. What is shocking is the Mavericks have few gifted defensive talents on the team. Dorian Finney-Smith is good, not great. Maxi Kleber has his moments. Still, unproductive games tend to be more common.

Luka Doncic is big, but not a gifted stopper. Jalen Brunson gives effort but lacks length on the perimeter. When you start to break it down, player-by-player, it's easy to see how miraculous of a job Kidd has done with this specific group. They overachieve on the ugly side of the ball.

If Dallas can keep up that level of overachievement, the post-All-Star break stretch is the Mavericks' to own.

Davis Bertans and Spencer Dinwiddie's contributions 

The most obvious key to great post-All-Star break play is Bertans and Dinwiddie feeling integrated and incorporated within the offense, with clearly delineated roles.

With Bertans, that will come relatively easy as a jump shooter. Regardless of the uniform, his goal is always to take and make open shots.

For Dinwiddie, reaching that point will be far more complicated. He is a ball-dominant guard, who has struggled for long stretches this season. The best version of himself is when he has the opportunity to create shots for himself around the basket. With both Brunson and Doncic, those opportunities may be few and far between.

But if Dinwiddie gets an opportunity to man the second unit as a true backup point guard, the sky's the limit for Dallas in the home stretch of the season.

Related Dallas Mavericks reading 

"Two ways Maxi Kleber can build off of his season-high performance." 

"Mavericks: Post Bertans and Dinwiddie trade, production will take time." 

Feature image via Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports.