Celtics vs. Knicks: Carmelo Anthony's Triple-Double Outshines Paul Pierce's 43

Paul Pierce did everything in his power to lift the Boston Celtics over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, but Carmelo Anthony's triple-double, combined with the Knicks' deadly three-point shooting, proved to be too much.

Pierce ended up dropping 43 points at Madison Square Garden, going 11-of-19 from the field and 17-of-18 from the free-throw line. But it was Anthony who had the last laugh, posting a staggering triple-double of 35 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists en route to a 118-110 victory.

It's been said over and over again that Anthony is not a team player, but perhaps, it's just that he has trouble meshing with other stars on the court. The fact of the matter is, he was a team player on Tuesday night, evidenced by his 10 assists, and he's been a big part of the Knicks' success without the injured Amar'e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin.

While Stoudemire and Lin have played vital roles in the Knicks getting to where they are, it's hard to imagine where the Knicks would be without Anthony. Anthony has posted at least 18 points in his last 11 games and been generally efficient while doing so.

Stoudemire, coming off a back injury, is eying a Friday return. The question is, will his return affect Anthony's sterling performance over the last month?

It's a legitimate concern because the two have had their fair share of troubles meshing together. Remember, before Lin lit a fire under the Knicks, they were struggling with Anthony and Stoudemire. 

What's so ironic about the Knicks' latest run with Anthony taking charge is that they've actually played well as a team, too. Steve Novak and J.R. Smith combined for 50 points and 15 three-pointers off the bench on Tuesday, and Tyson Chandler posted 20 points and seven boards, so it wasn't all Anthony.

So, you essentially have the Knicks playing well together, with Anthony as the leading scorer, and Anthony was the scapegoat less than a month ago.

Anthony isn't necessarily a selfish or disruptive player by himself. The problem is that he has a hard time getting into rhythm alongside other stars.

What does it all mean for the Knicks?

It means that they have more questions under the surface than you would think. They are the definition of a wild card, despite their rousing performance against the Celtics.

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