Is Knicks' current record a telltale sign of team's title chances?

The Knicks enter All-Star weekend with a 36-18 record. The last time they had that many wins entering the NBA's midseason break was the 1972-73 season, which ended with a championship.

Could the eerie similarity be a sign of history repeating itself? Will the Knicks finally end their 52-year drought for an NBA championship?

As impressive as Tom Thibodeau's men have been, it could be premature to place them in the same tier as the Cavaliers, Celtics or Thunder — the three teams with the best records in the league. The Knicks are 0-5 against those powerhouses and have a losing record against the top-eight seeds in the East. Furthermore, they are 11-12 against teams with a .500 or better record, giving up 115.9 points per game against winning clubs. In comparison, they have dominated lesser opponents with a 25-6 record. 

The contrasting records have led some to suggest that the Knicks are not legitimate title threats. 

If these Knicks are for real, we'll know soon enough. Jalen Brunson and Co. visit the Cavaliers on Feb. 21 and the Celtics on Feb. 23 in back-to-back away games against the conference juggernauts. The Knicks lost handily to the Celtics in both previous encounters, including a 27-point drubbing last Sunday. They collapsed against the Cavs in an early-season matchup, surrendering a 13-point lead in the second half.

Josh Hart, the heart and soul of the Knicks, has urged his teammates to put those losses on the back burner. In a chat with ESPN's "NBA Today" on Thursday, Hart acknowledged that the Knicks have to go through the Celtics or Cavaliers to end the 52-year title drought.

"We're not too worried about those past games," Hart said of the losses to Celtics and Cavaliers. "There's nothing we can do to get them back. We just have to make sure we lock in on the scouting report and execute."

Hart added there's "belief" within New York that it has all the requisite tools to make a run at an NBA title. The Knicks are set to get some post-All-Star break reinforcements in Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby, two players who will help their defense exponentially. 

The Knicks have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 1999-2000 when they lost to the Pacers in the Conference Finals.