East Notes: Nets, Jordi Fernandez, Raptors, Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

Nets

The Nets are still winless, and while some in the organization might quietly welcome a high draft pick, coach Jordi Fernandez isn’t accepting the lack of effort.

After Monday’s blowout loss in Houston, Fernandez told reporters the team’s compete level wasn’t close to where it needs to be.

“I need consistency and urgency,” Fernandez said, via Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “That’s got to be something we don’t decide on game to game. Giving up 42 first-quarter points is unacceptable.

“You can’t take an NBA game for granted. Our guys are trying, but they don’t know how much harder and more focused they can be.”

Brooklyn is relying heavily on youth, with seven of the 12 players who saw action under 25 years old.

Several of their recent draft picks — Egor Demin, Drake Powell, and Danny Wolf — were unavailable, either injured or in the G League.

As Lewis noted, the Nets face a tricky balance between player development and preserving a competitive culture.

“A lot of these teams that try to bottom out by tanking like Brooklyn is doing think there’s no consequences,” one player agent told Lewis. “You risk eroding the environment you’re trying to create.”

Raptors

The Raptors became the latest team to get “Wembied.” That’s how SportsNet’s Michael Grange described what happens when Victor Wembanyama completely takes over a game.

Toronto dropped its third straight, falling 121-103 to San Antonio, one night after being routed by Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks. The Spurs have started 4-0 behind Wembanyama, who continues to look like an MVP candidate just three weeks into the season.

The 22-year-old star posted 24 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists in 31 minutes, shooting 7-of-8 from the field and 10-of-10 from the line.

“He’s huge. He definitely discourages you from trying to go to the rim,” said RJ Barrett, who led Toronto with 25 points.

Wembanyama’s impact went beyond stats, Grange wrote. Raptors center Jakob Poeltl was forced to guard him on the perimeter early, and by the time the first quarter ended, San Antonio had sprinted to a 41-29 lead.

Along with that, the Spurs’ interior defense, anchored by Wembanyama’s length and timing, forced the Raptors into rushed shots and turnovers.

“He’s been efficient in terms of taking care of the basketball and making decisions,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.

Toronto briefly showed life in the second half, forcing turnovers and tightening defensively, but Wembanyama closed things with a block on Barrett and back-to-back buckets that sealed the win.

Knicks

The Knicks will remain without center Mitchell Robinson for at least one more game, according to Ian Begley of SNY. Robinson has missed the first four contests of the season while managing a left ankle injury.

There has been no indication of a new setback, but the team continues to take a cautious approach with his recovery.