HOUSTON — When Montrezl Harrell was new to the Rockets last season, he found that there was a learning curve. But rather than merely adjusting to life in the N.B.A., which can be difficult enough on its own, Harrell struggled with something that seemed much more fundamental: catching James Harden’s passes.

“Oh, man,” Harrell, a reserve forward, said. “I was getting hit in the chest. I got hit in the legs. I got hit in the head. That’s the way it goes.”

Harden, who emerged this season as a top candidate for the N.B.A.’s Most Valuable Player Award, has long been known for his scoring. He flicks effortless jumpers from the 3-point line. He contorts his 6-foot-5 frame past defenders and extends to the rim for layups. And he draws fouls — so many fouls. He is the Michelangelo of creating contact.

But in leading the Rockets to a two-games-to-none lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder in their first-round N.B.A. playoff series, Harden has again displayed an undervalued part of his game: his creativity as a passer. He is capable of producing open looks for teammates in nanoseconds. In this series, his faith in them to make good on his generosity has stood in stark contrast to the way in which the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook has tried to shoot his team into the second round. Only one approach has worked so far.