Boston ? It hasn’t happened yet, and Raef LaFrentz doesn’t want to tempt fate with a premature toast to himself.

“So knock on wood,” the Celtics center said of a personal goal that is close to becoming reality over the last two games of the season.

LaFrentz’ career has been quite injury-riddled – with most of the ailments involving his knees and various surgeries on them.

The former Kansas University standout has never played in all 82 games in a season. Thus far he is 80-for-80 in 2005-06.

His KU teammate and Celtics teammate, Paul Pierce, never realized how important the milestone was for LaFrentz until a recent discussion they had about goals.

“That’s really big for him,” the Celtics captain said. “He’s been through so many injuries and surgeries. It makes you feel good to see that he is close to accomplishing something like this.”

An ankle sprain stopped LaFrentz two games short of the goal last season. In his second season with Denver (1999-00), following his first knee surgery, LaFrentz missed only one game. But he wants more.

“It’s a real big deal for me,” said LaFrentz. “I’ve never played every game, and that’s something that I really want.

“It’s an accomplishment I look forward to having.”

LaFrentz credits the Celtics’ two strength and conditioning coaches – Walter Norton and Brian Doo -with making a large difference in his durability through the duo’s approach to endurance and strength training.

It’s not coincidental, then, that LaFrentz has played in all but two games over the last two seasons since having knee surgery in December 2003 following his trade to the Celtics from Dallas. This is not to say that he’s without pain.

“My knee is up and down, and that’s something that I’ll probably always have to deal with,” he said. “But it’s manageable pain.”

Experience has also played a role.

“Getting older definitely affects how you play,” he said. “Back when you’re young enough to just jump all day, it can have a tough result on your body. So you learn to adjust. The way you learn to play is a lesson you take from your body.

“I didn’t know if I’d ever have a year where I’d play every game, and I’m not there yet,” LaFrentz added. “It wasn’t something I used to think about. But for me being healthy has meant playing 70-plus games. It’s definitely different for everyone.”

With that, LaFrentz looked across the locker room at Pierce, who is one of the NBA’s true iron men, with three 82-game seasons to his credit. An elbow injury kept him out of the lineup Sunday, preventing a fourth.

“That guy over there has had a lot of wear and tear on his body,” said LaFrentz. “It’s the cards that you are dealt.”

Boston president Red Auerbach presented Pierce with the team’s first “Red Auerbach Award” over the weekend. The honor will be presented annually to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of the Boston Celtics as selected by the franchise patriarch.

He called Pierce “fabulous. He’s the heart of the team.”