NA LCS Week 2 Predictions

We learned a lot from week 1: most ADCs had difficulty playing “nonstandard” champions, “standard” champions still work, and the words “nonstandard” and “standard” are getting used a lot. A good rule of thumb to separate those terms is to just associate “standard” with playing an AD marksman and anything else being “nonstandard”. Not the perfect definition because there are other outliers like Huni breaking the game by playing Taliyah in the jungle. Beyond trying to group and define what champions we are seeing, the current game state is volatile and snowballing. We saw matches spiral out of control, leading to some short games and nice surprises. While teams are prepping for another weekend of games, I am here to spout off my predictions.

Day 1

Game 1: Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) v. Team Liquid

6/23, 5:00pm EST

After last week’s games, I think CLG was the best operating team on the rift. They outpaced their opponents in map movements and made a great deal of proactive plays. A tally against them though, is their fall to TSM who stripped CLG of a victory after getting the better end of a teamfight. It feels like CLG are the smart kid in class with bad social skills. They ace every test in the classroom, but when it comes to having a conversation they fall apart. CLG was able to show some teamfight prowess against 100 Thieves, but when faced against the strength of Team Liquid’s roster I pause. I find it difficult to arbitrarily place any member of CLG much higher than Team Liquid’s, and in the event of a necessary outplay I lean towards Team Liquid’s squad to do it. CLG may have beaten 100 Thieves 16 seconds faster than Team Liquid did, but I am going to stick with the reigning champions.

Prediction: Team Liquid

Game 2: Team SoloMid (TSM) v. Clutch Gaming

6/23, 6:00pm EST.

Clutch holds the crown for the first team to ever spoil a TSM playoff run. Like many thought then, I think it was just a bit of a flook. Whatever TSM was drinking that day is out of their system and has made them far more stern in their process. While I believe TSM is going to have to adapt their playstyle eventually, sticking to what they know and playing by the book is working. TSM is also fortunate to have dependable playmakers to help them pick up wins like they did against CLG. This newer more stable looking TSM makes me think of them as a better Clutch Gaming. Last year I associated Clutch gaming as the gatekeeper’s to the top of the standings because of their consistency. Clutch could always beat the lower seeded squads, but could rarely rally against their upper threshold.I think these consistencies are going to hold and we will see TSM getting some revenge.

Prediction: Team SoloMid

Game 3: OpTic Gaming v. Echo Fox

6/23, 7:00pm EST

Echo Fox is horrifying right now, I sort of picture them as a strange hydra fox. I know you are thinking of something more akin to Ahri, but this monster has multiple heads instead of tails. Whatever you picture, I must say I envy no team going against them. OpTic Gaming did not have a lot of things going for them in week one and even if they somehow magically become the second best team in the league, I don’t see a win. I can confidently say Echo Fox is willing to put Huni anywhere after having him play in both the jungle and adc position. Until the meta settles down into something legible and more predictable, I don’t see anyone taking down Echo Fox.

Prediction: Echo Fox

Game 4: 100 Thieves v. FlyQuest

6/23, 8:00pm EST

The only teams in the league without a win and I don’t actually have much to say on the topic of who is going to come out the victor. Making an informed decision about FlyQuest after losing two matches and having the shortest average game time makes things easy. While in time FlyQuest might improve their synergy and draft, 100 Thieves have more experience as a roster.

Prediction: 100 Thieves

Game 5: Golden Guardians v. Cloud9

6/23, 9:00pm EST

So the Golden Guardians pleasantly surprised many with a victory against Team Liquid, but I recommend not getting too excited. The ingredients for Golden Guardian’s victory were there, three former Team Liquid members holding a grudge, a meta that snowballs out of control, and Team Liquid falling asleep at the helm of “nonstandard” champions. While Golden Guardians did well toppling Team Liquid with their advantages, I do not see another victory like that coming their way. Whether or not Cloud9 continue on with their newest iteration I think they are going to take Golden Guardian’s down. Goldenglue is doing everything in his power to remove, “scrim god” from his moniker and hold on to his starting position. This in mind Goldenglue is going to be motivated to make the Golden Guardian’s question their decision of bringing on Mickey to the midlane. To be fair this is a question I have as well, because he really hasn’t done much.

Prediction: Cloud9

Day 2

Game 1: FlyQuest v. OpTic Gaming

6/16, 3:00pm EST

FlyQuest didn’t get to play much last weekend with the shortest average game time and accumulating two losses. This is probably going to be the easiest match they have had to date, but they could still get outwitted. Both FlyQuest and OpTic Gaming’s mid laners, Keane and PowerOfEvil respectively, are known for having strange champion picks. In a meta where strange champion picks are plentiful maybe one of them can bring out something way off the beaten path. Other than interesting things to look at in the midlane, I think the most important lane will be top. In a meta where snowballing can turn into an avalanche, Flame will be looking to “flame horizon” Dhokla.

Prediction: FlyQuest

Game 2: Cloud9 v. 100 Thieves

6/16, 4:00pm EST

I think this will be Cloud9’s toughest challenge because it will test them on one of their biggest issues: getting caught out. This issue was apparent against Clutch Gaming when one or two members of Cloud9 were not on the same page. Uncoordinated moves are an expected side effect of a new roster that can be preyed upon by more experienced players, 100 Thieves conveniently thrive on this. I am basing 100 Thieves ability to engage and catch out their opponent on their success last split but that is a side effect of having Meteos and Aphromoo on your team. Unless Cloud9 opt to swap things up in their roster or can vastly improve on their communication, they are going to get caught out.

Prediction: 100 Thieves

Game 3: Team Liquid v. Team SoloMid (TSM)

6/16, 5:00pm EST

So far we have only seen TSM play “standard” and have a close call against CLG. Team Liquid on the other hand played “standard” and then suffered a brutal loss to Golden Guardians when they played “nonstandard”. The complications faced by both of these teams should act as great points to improve from, but I think Team Liquid’s loss to Golden Guardians gives them the edge. If Team Liquid can fix their issues playing a “nonstandard” composition, they could end up with the bigger playbook. This isn’t a clean call though because TSM showed how well they can play to their strengths and with their new jungler, Grig, that is echoed even louder. Grig might not win any awards or accolades for his play style, but he is going to make the rest of TSM look top tier. Ugh, even while writing this I am bouncing back and forth on the the victor, but I have to go with my gut.

Prediction: Team Liquid

Game 4: Clutch Gaming v. Counter Logic Gaming (CLG)

6/16, 6:00pm EST

I will now justify my babbling about Counter Logic Gaming’s top tier macro and assign them the victory. I just hope I am not walking into some kind of trap where I start believing in them too much to only result in them losing, as is the curse of Counter Logic Gaming. If Clutch Gaming can hold out for a victory, I could see it stemming from Apollo playing Vladimir, but that is putting way too much speculation into one champion.

Prediction: Counter Logic Gaming

Game 5: Echo Fox v. Golden Guardians

6/16, 7:00pm EST

I don’t know what else I can say if I haven’t already sold you on the reasons why Echo Fox will dominate the early parts of this split. Who knows, maybe at this point Echo Fox will go off the deep end and put themselves into a losing situation in champion select. Maybe Lourlo and Matt can transcend power from a sudo rivalry against their former teammates Dardoch and Fenix. I am going to reserve those flights of fancy and just call it in favor of Echo Fox.

Prediction: Echo Fox