First round: 2016-17 James Harden vs. 2013-14 James Harden

No. 6 seed: 2016-17 James Harden: 29.1 points (44.0% FG, 34.7% 3-pointers), 11.2 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals per game

When offensive mastermind Mike D’Antoni took the job as Houston coach prior to the 2016-17 season, many wondered how his scheme might work with the Rockets — whose roster didn’t have a traditional point guard in the mold of Steve Nash on those 2000s Phoenix teams.

Before the season even began, though, D’Antoni made it clear that he thought Harden was capable of doing that job. While some NBA fans were skeptical due to Harden’s high career usage rates, astute observers knew he was a gifted and willing passer. From there, Harden’s first season with D’Antoni proved it, as his career-high 11.2 assists total led the NBA.

Though the Rockets had lost Dwight Howard in free agency and didn’t have a single career All-Star besides Harden on the roster, the 2016-17 squad went 55-27 and earned the West’s No. 3 seed — representing a massive improvement from the 41-41 No. 8 seed of a year earlier.

Harden finished second in MVP voting to former (and future) teammate Russell Westbrook, but “The Beard” won the most important battle between them. That’s because the Rockets eliminated Westbrook’s Thunder by a convincing 4-1 margin in the first round of the playoffs.

No. 11 seed: 2013-14 James Harden: 25.4 points (45.6% FG, 36.6% 3-pointers), 6.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals per game

The first year of Harden’s partnership with All-Star center Dwight Howard saw Houston make a nine-game improvement, from 45-37 (No. 8 seed) in the 2012-13 season to 54-28 (No. 4) in 2013-14. Likely benefiting from Howard’s presence, Harden’s 45.6% shooting clip is still the best of his eight seasons to date in Houston.

Though Harden’s usage rate went down from 29.0% in his 2012-13 debut season in Houston to 27.8% in 2013-14, his assist percentage climbed from 25.7% to 27.3%. His true shooting percentage, which incorporates free throws, rose from 60.0% to 61.8%. That figure remains Harden’s second-highest over his Houston tenure.

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First round: ’15 Harden vs. ’05 McGrady / ’93 Olajuwon vs. ’01 Francis / ’18 Harden vs. ’89 Olajuwon / ’82 Malone vs. ’74 Tomjanovich / ’19 Harden vs. ’13 Harden / ’17 Harden vs. ’14 Harden / ’94 Olajuwon vs. ’16 Harden / ’79 Malone vs. ’81 Malone