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Here's a quick lesson about this country's DEFCON system: the lower the number, the more serious the threat. DEFCON 5 means peacetime. DEFCON 1 is very, very bad.

And, for point guards in the NBA, that scale goes all the way down to 0.

That's the number on the back of Russell Westbrook's jersey.

So with Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder coming to town Monday night, the Utah Jazz's point guards have been put on high alert.

"He's virtually impossible to defend," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.

It was Westbrook who, with former MVP Kevin Durant sidelined by a foot injury, nearly carried the wounded Thunder into the playoffs last season on his own, recording 11 triple-doubles after Jan. 1. And the Oklahoma City point guard is back at it this season, averaging 28.5 points, 10.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds.

That's how the Thunder are again surviving without Durant, who is working his way back from a hamstring injury this time. In his absence, Westbrook notched triple-doubles earlier this month against the Wizards and 76ers. He leads the league in assists and is the NBA's second-leading scorer, behind reigning MVP Stephen Curry of Golden State.

"It sure seems like he just does everything better," Snyder said assessing the guard's growth as a player. "I think he's always had a complete game. He's just gotten better and better."

So, what's an opposing guard to do?

"Just compete," Jazz point guard Trey Burke said. "There's nothing else you can do. We all know he's a great player, but you've got to compete against him. You can't go out there and just lay down."

Defense has been the Jazz's calling card since the middle of last season, but they have given up some big games to opposing point guards this year. Portland's Damian Lillard dropped 35 on them. Former Jazzman Mo Williams could hardly miss, scoring 29 points on 8-of-9 shooting, when the Jazz visited Cleveland. And Dallas point guard Deron Williams "looked like an All-Star," Snyder said, when he went for 23 points, eight assists and three rebounds in a win over his old team on Friday.

And Westbrook poses the biggest threat yet.

"We've got to play against those guys like almost every day," Jazz point guard Raul Neto said. "I think I've just got to be used to that. Find the right distance with [Westbrook]. Fight through the screens. … I've got to go there and fight with him."

Neto, a rookie, got his first up-close look at Westbrook in the preseason. The four-time All-Star turned on the burners and blew past Neto twice within seconds of him checking in. Westbrook finished with a triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists).

"It was by far the fastest and [most] explosive player I've played against," Neto said.

The young Jazzman said he never faced off against an athlete like that during four years in Spain's top league. But, then again, there aren't many like Westbrook anywhere.

There are others in a similar mold, Burke said, pointing to Chicago's Derrick Rose and Washington's John Wall — "big guards who attack a lot, always keeping guards on their heels."

But Westbrook?

"He's unique," Snyder said. "I've heard people asking the question lately, 'Has there ever been anyone like him?' If there has been, you have to think for a while. So that's probably an answer in and of itself."

Twitter: @tribjazz —

Thunder at Jazz

P Monday, 7 p.m.

TV • ROOT

Thunder at Jazz

P At Vivint Arena

Tipoff • Monday, 7 p.m.

TV • ROOT Sports

Radio • 1280 AM, 97.5 FM

About the Jazz • Own a record of 6-6 after a poor second quarter doomed and a big game from former Jazzman Deron Williams doomed them Friday in Dallas. … Gordon Hayward averaged 20.3 points in four games against OKC last year. The Jazz split the season series 2-2. … The Jazz rank sixth in the NBA in defense but only 21st in offense.

About the Thunder • Point guard Russell Westbrook has averaged better than 22 points on 52 percent shooting in 22 career games against the Jazz. … Star forward Kevin Durant is nearing his return from a hamstring injury, though his status against Utah is still in question. … Former Jazzman Enes Kanter is averaging 13.2 points and 8.8 rebounds in 21 minutes a game for OKC.