On Wednesday, the Knicks meet LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who could have an .809 winning percentage. On Friday, they take on the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, whose winning percentage could be as high as .824.

All three opponents are guaranteed to have winning percentages over .750, depending on what happens in their other games this week.

It's been 14 years since an NBA team stared down such a gantlet: three consecutive games against teams with records that good this late in the season.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last club to do so was the Celtics during the 1994-95 season. Starting Feb. 21, Boston played at Phoenix (40-11), at home against Orlando (40-12) and then on the road against the Magic.

The Celtics entered the daunting stretch with a 20-30 record - and proceeded to go 2-1.

Maybe that's a good omen for the Knicks, who are 21-25 but have won six of seven. Unlike that Boston team 14 years ago, they get to play all three at home, where they've won five straight, their best streak in two years.

"I think a big part of it is the crowds," forward David Lee said after New York's win Wednesday over Atlanta. "We've had some tremendous crowds. We've got a huge test next week with three teams coming in here that we're going to need to get a couple victories, and I think we've got a chance to do it. But we're going to need those same crowds.

"I'm sure they're going to come - some of them to watch us, some of them to watch Kobe and LeBron."