The Detroit Pistons didn't have the best start to their Saturday night contest against the New York Knicks. Julius Randle, on the other hand, more than made himself at home in downtown Detroit.

Not only did the Knicks jump out to a 26-point advantage over their beleaguered Eastern Conference brethren, but Randle outscored the Pistons 20-15 in the first quarter all by himself.

To say that Randle was en fuego would be an understatement–and yes, we did use Google translate to look up what that meant.

With the Knicks mired in a three-game losing streak that has dropped the squad to the seventh-seed in the Eastern Conference and back in position for the play-in tournament at the end of the season, Julius Randle has seemingly taken it upon himself to get New York back on track.

After head coach Tom Thibodeau claimed the Knicks and their star forward were in a “funk” following their lackadaisical performance against the Dallas Mavericks, Randle has responded with an efficient plan of attack that has left the Pistons befuddled.

A first-time All-Star this season, the seven-year veteran has been the offensive focal point for a Knicks' squad that has inserted itself into the postseason conversation. Not only has Randle expanded his shooting range, but the forward has also served as New York's lead ball-handler, a stunning development for a player who entered the NBA known for his interior scoring.

Operating in the 97th percentile of all players in usage rate, the ‘Bockers are also a plus-five when he is on the floor, according to Cleaning the Glass, ensuring the forward is one of the most efficient big men in the league.