While those looking back on the 2017-2018 NBA season may not eventually remember (or care), the Houston Rockets had a real chance to upset the Golden State Warriors and move on to the NBA Finals.

They were up 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals, but couldn’t get the job done.

That has apparently haunted league MVP James Harden ever since.

"That (winning the MVP) was a good feeling, but that feeling that I had in that Western Conference Finals, with basically one half to go, I need that feeling back," Harden told reporters, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "So I will try to work my butt off, and try to do as much as I can to get back to that feeling.”

He added, ”That feeling, like, you are a half away (from going to the Finals) and then there is a road block, and you have to find a way to get past that road block and we couldn't get past it. It was too tough. We got to get back there.”

It might be difficult to return to that point, though.

Not only did the Rockets lose starter Trevor Ariza and key wing defender Luc Mbah a Moute, but the Warriors also added All-NBA center DeMarcus Cousins. Therefore, the series may not go seven games if the two squads match up again.

LeBron James is also now in the Western Conference. That doesn’t help Houston’s odds one bit, nor does the fact that the conference is extremely deep, as indicated last season.

But, Harden doesn’t see an issue.

Not worried one bit

"Nothing changes," he said. "The West is already a beast. The Lakers got better, but they are still in that conference with the Warriors, still in that division. No matter how you look at it, you still have to go through some beasts.”

"We all know what the Warriors bring,” he added. “Obviously, DeMarcus Cousins is very skilled and talented. But they are still the Warriors – they have won three out of four championships. We are right there. Clearly, last year showed we are right there, and we will be right there this year as well."

To the MVP, it’s not about x’s and o’s, but instead it's all about heart. And he believes that Houston’s current roster has what it takes to win it all.

"Go back to articles and conversations where people said me and Chris can't play together," Harden said. "We had the No. 1 record in the NBA. Obviously, you can look at our roster or you can look at different players, but you have to be on the court, you have to be in the trenches, be in the war. Eventually, we will figure it out. We have enough leadership in that locker room and a great coaching staff to figure it out. … What we have right now is, for sure, good enough... Nothing changes for us.”

That may be true, but accruing top-level talent also goes a long way in determining championship contenders. Based on all of the moves that have happened in the Western Conference this offseason as well as the maturation of some of last year’s younger teams, it’s safe to say that the road will be tougher than it was last season for the Rockets, whether Harden believes it or not.