By JessicaCamerato
CSNNE.com
Carmelo Anthony was a one-man scoring machine in Game 2 against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. He looked he like he could do anything he wanted with the ball -- drive, fade away, pull up for an improbable jumper -- scoring 42 points along the way.
There was one thing he couldnt do, though -- get a win for the New York Knicks.
Over the last four years, the success of the Boston Celtics has been rooted in team basketball, fueled by unselfish ball movement and the contributions of every player on the court. The more players involved in the offense, the more shot options that open up, and the harder it is to defend against them.
One player isnt always enough. Anthony's offensive showcase is not the first individual performance that has been trumped by a balanced team effort in the postseason.
Take a look at remarkable individual feats in the New Big Three era that have fallen short to a team collaboration.
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Game 2, First Round of 2011 Eastern Conference PlayoffsCeltics 96 - Knicks 93
Boston Celtics
Standout Performance
Carmelo Anthony: 42 points (14-30 FG, 4-8 3PG, 10-11 FT)
Total Team Points: 45.2
Next Up for Knicks
Toney Douglas: 14 points
Jared Jeffries: 10 points
Celtics Leading Scorers
Rajon Rondo: 30 points
Paul Pierce: 20 points
Ray Allen: 18 points
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Game 5, 2008 NBA FinalsLakers 103 - Celtics 98
Standout Performance
Paul Pierce: 38 points (10-22 FG, 2-6 3PG, 16-19 FT)
Total Team Points: 38.8
Next Up for Celtics
Ray Allen: 16 points
Kevin Garnett: 13 points
Lakers Leading Scorers
Kobe Bryant: 25 points
Lamar Odom: 20 points
Pau Gasol: 19 points
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Game 5, 2010 NBA FinalsCeltics 92 - Lakers 86
Standout Performance
Kobe Bryant: 38 points (13-27 FG, 4-10 3PG, 8-9 FT)
Total Team Points: 44.2
Next Up for Lakers
Pau Gasol: 12 points
Derek Fisher: 9 points
Celtics Leading Scorers
Paul Pierce: 27 points
Kevin Garnett: 18 points
Rajon Rondo: 18 points
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Game 6, First Round of 2009 Eastern Conference PlayoffsBulls 128 - Celtics 127 (3OT)
Standout Performance
Ray Allen: 51 points (18-32 FG, 9-18 3PG, 6-7 FT)
Total Team Points: 40.2
Next Up for Celtics
Glen Davis: 23 points
Paul Pierce: 22 points
Bulls Leading Scorers
John Salmons: 35 points
Derrick Rose: 28 points
Brad Miller: 23 points
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Game 2, First Round of 2009 Eastern Conference PlayoffsCeltics 118 - Bulls 115
Standout Performance
Ben Gordon: 42 points (14-24 FG, 6-11 3PG, 8-9 FT)
Total Team Points: 36.5
Next Up for Bulls
John Salmons: 17 points
Brad Miller: 16 points
Celtics Leading Scorers
Ray Allen: 30 points
Glen Davis: 26 points
Rajon Rondo: 19 points
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Game 7, 2008 Eastern Conference SemifinalsCeltics 97 - Cavaliers 92
This heated battle is an exception as LeBron James and Paul Pierce battled to advance their teams to the next round. There could only be one winner in this one-on-one duel.
Standout Performances
LeBron James: 45 points (14-29 FG, 3-11 3PG, 14-19 FT)
Total Team Points: 48.9
Paul Pierce: 41 points (13-23 FG, 4-6 3PG, 11-12 FT)
Total Team Points: 42.3
Next Up for Cavs
Delonte West: 15 points
Zydrunas Ilgauskas: 8 points
Next Up for Celtics
Kevin Garnett: 13 points
P.J. Brown: 10 points
Jessica Camerato is on Twitter athttp:twitter.comjcameratoNBA.She can bereached at jessicacamerato@gmail.com.