The relationship between Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle and point guard Rajon Rondo, as best we can tell, is just fine.
Carlisle's much-discussed benching of Rondo -- he sat the final 5:31 in a loss to Chicago last week -- doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore, which is a good thing.
During the final 30 minutes of the Mavs' practice Monday afternoon, Carlisle worked one-on-one with Rondo while he worked on his free throw shooting, which definitely needs improvement since he's made only 5 of 19 this season and 34 of 110 (30.9 percent) the past three seasons.
Rondo would attempt a free throw and Carlisle would provide feedback. Sometimes, he'd offer a few words. Other times, Carlisle would take the ball and demonstrate the preferred release point.
When it was over, the duo spoke for a few minutes before heading their separate ways.
The Mavs acquired Rondo last month to help them win another title, which is this organization's only goal these days.
He's a four-time All-Star at one of the game's most important positions. He's a cerebral offensive player whose unique perspective of the game allows him to make passes others have a hard time even conceiving.
In addition to his passing and rebounding skills, Rondo also arrived with a reputation as a quirky dude who could grate on the nerves of teammates and coaches like few others.
Well, he's been the epitome of the consummate professional since arriving. It showed most of all when he declined to pout after Carlisle benched him against the Bulls.
There will always be cynics who claim Rondo is merely putting up a good front to make sure he has several attractive offers to choose from when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. The reality is, having injuries limit him to just 68 games the past two seasons probably helped him remember just how much he loved playing basketball.
And all that recent losing in Boston reminded him just how much he enjoyed winning and competing for a championship instead of playing for a franchise more interested in the draft's top pick.
Still, it was fair to wonder how Rondo would react the first time he dealt with Carlisle's penchant for the power of unfiltered truth.
"I like his honesty. He's pretty straightforward. He's always talking about communication; that's what you need from a coach, especially me being the point guard on the floor," Rondo said. "You always have to be on the same page. Rick and I have been talking nonstop daily -- text messages -- and it's helped speed up the process."
Upon further review, it's not the relationship between Carlisle and Rondo that will determine just how deep the Mavs' playoff run is this season.
It's the relationship between Rondo and his jump shot that will determine how far the Mavs go.
Rondo, who scored just 7 points, shot just 3-of-8 Tuesday night as the Mavs lost their third consecutive game.
Rondo is shooting just 41 percent from the field this season, which shouldn't surprise anyone. He's never had a good jumper, and when he scores it's usually off drives to the basket or short jumpers in the lane.
Then again, the Mavs knew he wasn't a good shooter when they acquired him. Heck, the whole world knew it.
But the Mavs needed a point guard in the worst way since Jameer Nelson was getting torched defensively every night, while providing virtually no offense, in a Western Conference filled with terrific point guards.
So the Mavs acquired Rondo, hoping Carlisle's coaching and their lengthy list of assistant coaches could help make Rondo's jumper good enough to make a title run this season.
If you talk to enough folks with the Mavs, the prevailing thought is it'll take an entire offseason to overhaul Rondo's mechanics and make him an adequate shooter. This is the time you're supposed to remember that Rondo is a free agent at the end of this season.
In Carlisle's offense, it's imperative for the point to be a solid shooter because he's going to get a lot of open jump shots on the weak side when the Mavs have good ball movement.
A lot of Monta Ellis' game is based on attacking the basket and passing to open shooters when the defense collapses on him. Finally, when Rondo is involved in the pick-and-roll, it handicaps the Mavs' offense if defenses don't respect his ability to hit the jumper because they'll sag off him.
"I really like Rondo for our team," Carlisle said. "He's pushing the ball better and better each game. Some of the dynamics have changed. Our guys are learning that if Rondo has the ball and he's attacking they need to get to open spots and cut because he's going to find them.
While all of that is true, it has nothing to do with his jumper. Until it improves, none of us should be shocked when Rondo sits at the end of close games.