First round: 1978-79 Moses Malone vs. 1980-81 Moses Malone

No. 8 seed: 1978-79 Moses Malone: 24.8 points (54.0% FG), 17.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks per game

Malone earned his first of three MVP awards in 1978-79, and his 17.6 rebounds per game average was the best of his Hall of Fame career.

Most importantly, the Rockets had a major breakthrough as a team — going from 28-54 in the prior season to 47-35 and fourth place in the Eastern Conference. (The Rockets moved back to the West before the 1980-81 season, where they’ve remained since.) That total of 47 wins in 1978-79 was the second-most in the first 17 years of the franchise.

No. 9 seed: 1980-81 Moses Malone: 27.8 points (52.2% FG), 14.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks per game

Though Malone led the league in rebounding in 1980-81 and was again among its top scorers as well, the team appeared to stagnate. At 40-42, it was Houston’s first losing season in three years.

In the playoffs, however, it all changed. Led by Malone and Calvin Murphy, the sixth-seeded Rockets stunningly won the Western Conference and made the NBA Finals for the first time in team history.

[crowdsignal poll=10541772]

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

First-round voting continues until Wednesday night. Keep checking back with Rockets Wire for results and future rounds!