Scalabrine embraces role

The question is whether that jubilation is bothersome to Scalabrine following a series of concussions. He said absolutely not. The Celtics’ fan-favorite, 3-point specialist, and workhorse said he is almost back to normal after doctors instructed him to stay away from contact this summer. He was able to shoot basketballs but not play five-on-five.

In Friday’s 96-82 win, he finished with 9 points on 3-for-4 shooting from the 3-point line, and the raucous crowd eagerly anticipated every release (in between “Let’s Go Red Sox’’ chants). The burly redhead has turned himself into a long-distance threat, and his role will expand this season to part-time play at small forward.

Having to learn the nuances of a new position and recover from the damage of concussions made it a busy summer for Scalabrine.

Asked the difference between small forward and power forward, he said, “Besides everything? The situation is what it is. There are guys better than me in the rotation. My responsibility is to remain ready, because a guy could go down with a sprained ankle and I may need to play seven minutes at [small forward] or 10 minutes at [power forward].

“I’m not playing for playing time. I’m playing to do my job.’’

Scalabrine’s job is to stretch the floor, open up the middle for dribble penetration and dump-in passes, and can open shots.

In 2004-05, he averaged 6.3 points in 54 games with the New Jersey Nets - today’s preseason opponent - and that earned him a five-year, $15 million contract with Boston. He enters the final year of that deal hoping to win another championship and further establish himself as a consistent contributor off the bench.

Scalabrine has come to grips with something that many NBA players never do: He is a reserve, not a starter, and he’d rather be a part-time player on a winning team than a minutes-gobbler on a losing one.

Where else could Scalabrine be treated like royalty for averaging 3 points a game over four seasons? And where else would a team work with him so meticulously on his game.

“A lot of the transformation of the last two years, I think, has been a tribute to Doc [Rivers] and me buying into my role,’’ he said. “He’s always been saying, ‘If you get open shots, knock them down, knock them down. If not, move and go set a pick.’

“It took me a while to get accustomed to that, but I think, now, I’m a much better player - especially on a team like this - than I ever would have been somewhere else.’’

While most of his teammates have hit the showers or the treadmill, Scalabrine and Ray Allen are running suicides - full-speed sprints to each end of the court. While Scalabrine is not going to wow observers with his granite abdominal muscles, he has earned the respect of his teammates for his work ethic.

“Scal came into camp in good shape and he is an extremely hard worker,’’ Rivers said. “I am happy with his approach.’’

Scalabrine was a stellar player at Southern Cal, but the odds were against him having the longest NBA career of his fellow starters in college: Sam Clancy, Brandon Granville, David Bluthenthal, and Jeff Trepagnier. He has remained in the league for eight seasons.

His career was in question last season when he missed two months because of post-concussion syndrome. But he returned for the playoffs and scored 8 points in the series-clinching win over the Chicago Bulls and 10 in the opener against the Orlando Magic.

So it was a setback when doctors advised him to refrain from contact. And the concussion symptoms recur when he reacts adversely to loud noises and bright lights. He understands that is part of the recovery, and says it won’t affect his production.

“I want to trust my training staff and I want to trust my doctor and I don’t want too many outside opinions,’’ he said. “I’ve got to run my life the same way.

“On the court, around the house, I am back to normal. There is nothing that affects my day-to-day life. I always thought I would be ready to come back and play in the playoffs.’’