Semi plays 31 minutes Giannis gets 16 points = W
Semi plays 22 minutes Giannis gets 31 points = L
We need Semi against the Bucks!
On the other hand, our biggest win of the series (by 14 in game 2) occurred when Semi only played 1 minute. Since this was before Smart returned our rotation was basically 8 guys - Horford, Tatum, Baynes, Rozier, and Brown with Morris, Monroe, and Larkin off the bench.
In 41 Game 2 minutes, Monroe and Baynes combined for 18 pts, 10 reb, 3 blk, on 8 for 13 from the field. That said, I do think Monroe hasn't been used too well this series. We know firsthand that Zeller simply can't cover him, but we've basically let them get away with that matchup by not going inside to Monroe and going right after Zeller. This is a different approach than the Bucks seem to have. For example, as soon as blood is in the water (i.e. Larkin is in the game) they actively look to get his man involved in PNR to have Larkin switch on Middleton. That's resulted in some really easy scores that are crucial in these tightly contested games.
So the simply things, I would love to see how a shortened rotation, one that didn't include Semi, would look considering our offensive deficiencies in the half-court. Say Horford, Tatum, Baynes, Rozier, and Brown with Smart and Morris off the bench.
Larkin - very limited minutes guy to apply full-court pressure on Delly, but only when Middleton is not in the game alongside him.
Monroe - mirror him with minutes against Zeller. Exploit that mismatch and go right after Zeller on every play. That's exactly what the Bucks did to the Raptors during last season's playoffs and it worked regularly. In 23.5 MPG Monroe averaged 13.2 PPG and 7.3 RPG on 52.9% from the field while feasting against Toronto's backup bigs.