LoL eSports Discussion

[Bub Bidderskins]

The NA just got really interesting. I'm crossing my fingers that Complexity can get a miracle or two and end up in the playoffs, but that's fairly unlikely. Regardless, it will be a fun ride. The "bottom 4" teams have really showed up at the end of the season, and no team is safe. The summer season will be an absolute free for all, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the whole bottom 4/top 4 dichotomy completely shattered.

As for this side of the all star break, my money's on TSM. Ever since they picked up Turtle they've looked really strong, and Curse has been stumbling a little. Also, I think there's a very good change that CLG gets knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.

[Bub Bidderskins]

QQ

[Bub Bidderskins]

YAY COMPLEXITY! WE HAVE A CHANCE NOW!

[Bub Bidderskins]

Playoffs are here! My predictions:

EU

SK over AAA 2-0 - SK has proven to be a much better team over the course of the season.
EG over CW 2-1 - I'm a big fan of the Wolves, and I think this set could go either way, but I'm betting on the experience of EG to pull through.

Fnatic over EG 2-0 - EG's struggling, Fnatic isn't.
GMB over SK 2-0 - Even though SK did take a game off them last week, I still think the Russians have their number.

GMB over Fnatic 3-2 - Super close set that could really go either way, but I'm giving the slightest edge to Gambit. Ed Ward too stronk.

NA

DIG over GGU 2-0 - I think DIG will get their act together in time.
VUL over CLG 2-1 - A bit of an upset pick, but CLG has looked downright awful at times, and Vulcun has a ton of potential.

TSM over VUL 2-0 - TSM is on fire right now, and I think they are the only team that Vulcun has never beaten in LCS play.
DIG over CRS 2-1 - Neither team has looked good at all recently, but at least DIG didn't have to undergo a roster change. On the flip side, it seems like most of the roster changes in the LCS turned out really well, so I could be totally off base. Regardless, it'll be a close set.

TSM over DIG 3-0 - The only "top four" team that looked any good in the last week should bring it home. I think this is TSM's to lose.

[Bub Bidderskins]

aAa disqualified due to lack of sub

Really disappointing, but it's really their fault for not having an available sub.

[Bub Bidderskins]

^This

Also, remember at the start of the season when people where saying that a "bottom four" team would never beat a "top four" team? Well, they look pretty silly right now.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Damn, ZionSpartan gave zero fucks that game. MANDAMERE OP!!!

[Bub Bidderskins]

Every single set in the NA Playoffs went to the maximum number of games. If that doesn't tell you how close the Summer Split will be, I don't know what will.

[Bub Bidderskins]

For NA, I think (and hope) that the same four teams make it. The experience that these teams have is completely unmatched by the amateur teams. Having said that, the two matches I'm watching closely are Complexity vs (presumably) Quantic and CLG vs (presumably) Azure Cats. Quantic has shown to be the strongest amateur team NA, and Complexity did have to undergo a roster switch recently. It would be a massive shock if CLG didn't win, but Hotshot stated that "Azure Cats is better than Vulcun." CLG hasn't been playing well all season, and they could slip up. But hell, even if Azure cats suck it'll be worth watching just for the whole Jiji drama.

I don't follow EU as much, but I think MYM will beat DB. MYM has always been a solid team, and DB hasn't won a game in forever.

[Bub Bidderskins]

You'd think that after 11 weeks of internet problems with the EU LCS that they would have addressed the problem by now...

[Bub Bidderskins]

That Orianna ultimate. Oh. My. God.

[Bub Bidderskins]

I'm really glad that the Wolves got back in. They are probably my favorite EU team. And Bjergson is a god.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Wow, there's quite a bit of fresh blood coming into the EU Summer split.

[Bub Bidderskins]

I'm worried for Complexity now. I'm crossing my fingers that they'll make it.

[Bub Bidderskins]

NOOO COMPLEXITY . It's a shame, they were my favorite team. However, Quantic was amazing.

[Bub Bidderskins]

IT'S BAAAAAAAAAACK!

The Vulcun vs Curse game was pretty good, but I hated it how the announcers kept on talking like Curse was the best even though they were losing throughout. At on point Curse traded their second-tier turret for a drag and Jatt said "I think that benefits Curse." Really? And then Sycho Sid used the map control gained from taking out that turret to sneak behind Curse and initiate perfectly, winning a huge teamfight for Vulcun. Good call Jatt.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Even crazier, the top four teams in the season standings from last year are a combined 1-4 against teams that weren't in the top four. I know it's just the first day, but it's still wild to look at the bottom of the table and see CLG, DIG, and CRS.

[Bub Bidderskins]

The counter-throws too strong with the NA scene.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Curse is giving them a run for their money, though.

[Bub Bidderskins]

It seems to me that the NA LCS was a lot more exciting than the EU. Still only a couple of EU games played, though.

[Bub Bidderskins]

C9 had Hai and Balls swap once, but I think it was on champions that are usually played both mid and top. Leaguepedia seems to have picked up on it a little bit, though. On their LCS app, it has the team rosters listed with with two "solo laners" instead of top and mid laners.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Correction: The Leaguepedia app just lists the "top" laner as a solo laner. It still lists a mid laner. Regardless, your point still stands.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Wow, NIP going through MAJOR roster changes. Not sure if that's a good idea. I know they haven't been good recently, and they probably needed a change, but swapping out three members seems really drastic.

[Bub Bidderskins]

MLG's here! It'll be great to see Complexity again. I sure wish those guys were still in the LCS.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Dig outplayed TSM so hard. Scarra went insane, Crumbz was everywhere, and Ashe/Janna won straight up versus Draven/Lulu even after QTPie facechecked at level 1.

[Bub Bidderskins]

The little twitter voting thing at the bottom of the screen cracked me up during the Vul vs Dig game. Even when Vulcun was destroying Dig's nexus turrets, they never got above 48%. Dig fans too stronk I guess. Or maybe Vulcun is just a seriously under-rated team.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Vulcun really outplayed CRS that game. When you pick a late-game comp and win the mid game, you are in really good shape.

[Bub Bidderskins]

It's weird how of the former "top four" teams, CLG is the only one doing decent.

[Bub Bidderskins]

With that game it's pretty clear that any team can beat any team on a given day. Gambit crushes the top team, then gets beat by one of the bottom teams. Everybody is so close this split it's insane.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Holy shit those TSM picks.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Is it just me, or does it seem like Ecco's playing better than Vileroze?

[Bub Bidderskins]

The difference between Saint's Lee Sin and Voyboy's Lee Sin is like the difference between Regi's TF and Misaya's TF.

[Bub Bidderskins]

That dragon initiation by Cloud 9. Holy shit.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Also:

Starra knows that TF loves to play Reginald.

[Bub Bidderskins]

VULCUN GO GO!

Woop, so glad to see my favorite team finally start to get some of the respect they deserve. Clinched bye and spot in s4, so happy. Also, Dig looks pretty bad.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Doublelift probably is the best ADC NA. Mechanically he is world class, but his sometimes his decision making is very selfish. For long time he has been the best player on his team, and he feels like he has to carry the game by getting as much farm as possible, even at the cost of objectives. Also, he is so skilled that he can simply outplay virtually every other player 1v1 in North America. However, that often leads to overconfidence in his positioning.

[Bub Bidderskins]

NA PLAYOFF PREDICTION TIME!!!!

Quarter-Finals

(3) TSM vs

(6) CLG

0-2 -- CLG has had TSM's number all season long, and the recent argument between Dyrus and Regi makes me question TSM's team dynamic

(4)CRS

vs (5) DIG 2-1 -- Close one, but DIG has not impressed me at all this season, while CRS has started to gel.

Fifth Place Match

(3) TSM

vs (5) DIG 2-1 -- The games between these two teams have been throw-tacular, and I don't expect anything different from this set. At the end of the day I think TSM is just the better team, but they could completely implode thanks to Regi.

Semi-Finals

(1) C9

vs CRS 2-0 -- C9 is C9, what else is there to say? They have not lost to CRS this season, and I see nothing that would change that.

(2) VUL

vs CLG 2-0 -- While CLG has given VUL some trouble in the past, VUL has proven to be a very strong team with their recent performances.

Third Place Match

(4) CRS vs

(6) CLG

1-2 -- Both these teams have improved over the season, but I have faith that MonteCristo will whip CLG into shape just in time. I guess CRS will be the 4th place team yet again.

Finals

(1) C9

vs (2) VUL 3-2 -- Some may think that C9 will run away with the title, but if you look at the history between VUL and C9, you'll see that VUL has given C9 more trouble than any other team. In fact, VUL would have a winning record against C9 if they had closed out that one game they should have won. Having said that, I think C9 is the more consistent team and will pull it out in the clutch, but I think it will be a closer series than many would project.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Those match my predictions except that I have C9 beating Vulcan 3-1 in the final.

Well, I am a lil' bit of a Vulcun fanboy.

[Bub Bidderskins]

vulcun will probably beat c9

I hope they will, but C9 looks really good.

[Bub Bidderskins]

CLG played like shit.

[Bub Bidderskins]

C9 won that game with authority. At that moment they proved that they deserve to represent NA at worlds. Also, fuck TSM for screwing up my prediction, but whatever, they came together when they needed (like usual). I'm betting that Vulcun beats Dig in the 3rd place game and makes it, although I'm worse than 50/50 so far at predicting the NA playoffs, so I'm not sure if that means much.

[Bub Bidderskins]

vulcun vs dig will be closer than people expect, theyre actually quite similar teams

Maybe, but Vulcun has destroyed Dig every time they've met this season.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Cloud 9 absolutely dominated. No question who the best team NA is. The only question is if they can translate that to the world stage. Korea is so damn good, but I think C9 has a better chance than people think.

[Bub Bidderskins]

EG curse anybody?

[Bub Bidderskins]

GROUPS ANNOUNCED!!!!

Group A:

Gaming Gear EU
TSM
Lemondogs
Korea Seed 3 (SK T1/KTB)
China Seed 2

Group B:

Fnatic
Gambit
Vulcun
Samsung Galaxy Ozone (formerly MVP Ozone)
Mineski

[Bub Bidderskins]

Official predictions:

Group A

Korea
China
Lemondogs
TSM
GG.eu

Not sure about the China pick. Depending on how good China actually is TSM or LD could sneak in. I could definitely see TSM beating out LD, but LD's just been so good.

Group B

Korea
Fnatic
Gambit
Vulcun
Mineski

If Vulcun turns it on they can beat Fnatic and Gambit. People are over-rating both of those teams based off what they did in S1 and S2 respectively, and seem to forget how inconsistent they were during the season. However, Fnatic turned it on when they needed to and Gambit has always been a clutch team. Mineski is a wildcard that could turn out either like TPA or SAJ. I'm betting on them being closer to SAJ.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Vulcan can either shit the bed or go to the semis, I see no middle groound for them.

I agree. They're a real wildcard with a ton of potential. I'm really crossing my fingers for a good showing from NA.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Also, Najin got a free pass thanks to the bullshit circuit point system in Korea that valued their win in the winter season greater than KTB's fantastic performance in the summer.

[Bub Bidderskins]

EU is just the weakest region right now. Both EU and NA have a lot to learn from how the Koreans train, but I think C9 might be able to keep pace with the Korean teams right now. It's actually a little scary how quickly C9 has improved over the past year.

They are easily the equal of NJBS. I've watched enough OGN to know that.

SKT1 and Ozone? I don't think so. C9 has a huge disadvantage in that there's no team that forces them to lose games. It makes it very hard to refine their strategies, because they haven't had the experience of playing 100%, their best, and getting beat.

I think they're easily #3 or #4 in worlds though.

Wow, I wish I had the confidence in NA that you have. I mean, I'll be rooting really hard for all the American teams, but I honestly think the Chinese and Korean teams are stronger. I think we can be competitive with EU and SEA, however, so you never know. I just hope my Vulcun boys don't disappoint me.

[Bub Bidderskins]

holy fuck

[Bub Bidderskins]

I'm so glad that Quantic got absolutely stomped in the little GGLA tournament. I don't know about you, but I really hope they don't make it into LCS.

[Bub Bidderskins]

I'm so glad that Quantic got absolutely stomped in the little GGLA tournament. I don't know about you, but I really hope they don't make it into LCS.

I'm so glad they were using level 20 accounts with no rune pages.

I doubt that made much of a difference. Their teamfight mechanics and decision making were simply subpar.

[Bub Bidderskins]

A foreign team potentially representing NA at Worlds is ridiculous. I have no problems with foreign teams competing against NA teams, but I have a serious problem with them being considered NA teams in terms of regional representation. I truly hope they get destroyed in the promotion matches and the NA LCS is actually full of NA teams.

[Bub Bidderskins]

actually, a better question: do you feel edward should be forced to return to the EU scene?

No. An NA team getting a foreign player is one thing. A foreign team representing NA is completely different. David Beckham moving to LA Galaxy is fine. David Beckham bringing his entire Real Madrid squad with him to play in the MLS is not fine. That's why soccer leagues have rules limiting the number of foreign players on a team.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Come on Vulcun, I believe.

[Bub Bidderskins]

HOLY SHIT VULCUN GO GO

[Bub Bidderskins]

Tri-force Ez and Corki no less.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Vulcun did some very impressive stuff that game, but they got caught out too many times. Mancloud looked so good by straight-up out playing Dade in lane a couple of times, but the nerves may have got to him as he missed quite a few charms. That game was really about Imp and Mata putting on their carry pants. There's a reason they are considered one of the best botlanes in the world.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Despite that, the game was not a blowout by any means. I think C9 actually has a decent shot at beating a Korean team. We just need to pray to based meteos a little for deliverance.

[Bub Bidderskins]

you don't fucking pick ezreal into caitlyn and then not 2v1 at this level.


seriously.

Especially against a Ozone's crazy good botlane. Imp was insane.

[Bub Bidderskins]

I really hope this kills the Korean hype train. The Korean teams looked good, but they certainly weren't dominating. In fact, a Korean team has not won the early game yet. I think they've been extremely over-rated while the other regions have been under rated.

[Bub Bidderskins]

I'm not sure if we both saw the same hype. From what I heard, Korea would dominated everybody and NA and EU both sucked (especially NA). Korea has not dominated a single game. In fact, Gambit and OMG dominated

them

, and the biggest stomp so far has probably been Vulcun beating Fnatic.

[Bub Bidderskins]

I'm not sure if we both saw the same hype. From what I heard, Korea would dominated everybody and NA and EU both sucked (especially NA). Korea has not dominated a single game. In fact, Gambit and OMG dominated

them

, and the biggest stomp so far has probably been Vulcun beating Fnatic.

I'm not even sure we watched the same games, considering what happened in both Mineski games and both GG.EU games.

I will grant you that GG got stomped harder than Fnatic did, but Vulcun beat Fnatic a lot harder than Gambit beat Mineski. Mineski even had an earlier lead (albeit a very small one). At no point was Fnatic ever ahead in the game against Vulcun.

[Bub Bidderskins]

I didn't see that game, but I heard that Fnatic was fucking around. Point rescinded.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Gambit so good, although Vulcun got waaaaaayyy too greedy that game. They only had to go even early and win, but they took too many risks earlier when their comp didn't even need to.

[Bub Bidderskins]

That may just be Gambit reading Vulcan. They are aggressive as fuck, a smart team can use that.

That, too. Gambit could win this thing, they really could.

And also, Korea so over-rated. Watching this makes me really think C9 might just be the best team in the world. I know it's too early, but I couldn't help but think that C9 could have closed out against Ozone and wouldn't have made the early mistakes against Gambit. Could they be this year's TPA? As a red-blooded American, I sure hope so.

[Bub Bidderskins]

A seeded team won't be this year's TPA.

Teams that could have the TPA story are, what? GG.EU and Mineski, and they are not real deals.

But again, we're seeing the WEAKEST qualifiers from the Asian regions vs the BEST qualifiers from EU. If all regions were equal (big if) Fnatic should stomp the round robin.


Kobe's eye contact is so far off the camera (and on the prompter) its bad.

I think most would argue that Najin is actually the weakest qualifier from Asia. Based off their performance in OGN summer, Ozone is probably the second best Korean team in the tournament (and definitely top 4 if not 2 or 3 in all of Korea) The 1st and 3rd EU seed have beaten them, while the 3rd NA seed gave them problems. So the worst EU team to make beat the middle Korean team to make it (whether you go by seeds or recent OGN performance).

And the TPA story is not the story of a massive underdog winning. Its the story of a team that dominated their region but was not given the respect they deserved because of a perceived weakness in their region. That is exactly the case with Cloud 9, and I think they have a real shot at pulling a TPA. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Meteos will outplay Dandy and Hai will outplay Dade in a hypothetical matchup between C9 and Ozone. As for SKT1, Hai can't deal with Faker, but the rest of the team can, and SKT looks more like a team of Faker + 4 than a world champion. OMG is a total wild card, but C9 has dealt with earlier aggression before and come back. Gambit looked fucking good, but Meteos would not have made the same mistakes Smithie did against them, and Vulcun crushed Fnatic but C9 is a better team than Vulcun.

I'm not predicting that it

will

happen. I don't even think C9 is the most likely winner. I'm just throwing it out there.

[Bub Bidderskins]

On another note, I don't like how group-stage teams get to play at least 8 games while teams with byes could flame out in 2. TSM going out so quick was really disappointing last year, even if they deserved it. Next year I hope that they expand the tournament to 16 teams with 4 groups of 4 and play double round robin. That way every team is guaranteed 6 games, and we'll get to know every team better.

That's really just a minor gripe, though. Other than that, Worlds has been absolutely amazing.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Was EU secretly the best region all along?

[Bub Bidderskins]

TSM was actually doing pretty well, but Dyrus getting behind and dem facechecks were too much. Also, Oddbro did great, but he could have gotten two extra kills if he used his flash better. In a close game like that, it might have been enough to turn it around.

But I still have to give credit to SKT1. Their vision control was some of the best I've ever seen, and while TSM did facecheck, SKT put them in a position where they almost had to facecheck to avoid giving up objectives.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Having said that, I betcha Balls wouldn't have gotten behind like that on Rumble, C9 would have controlled dragon better, and Meteos would have gotten those two kills. Just sayin.

[Bub Bidderskins]

I have no feelings towards TSM and I think Regi is a cocky asshole. Nevertheless, I am a red-blooded (north) American and I will shamelessly root for any team from my region.

[Bub Bidderskins]

TSM still controls their destiny if they win out, but some help from other teams would be greatly appreciated.

[Bub Bidderskins]

If Fnatic wins just one more game they clinch a spot in the quarterfinals, and they play Mineski tomorrow.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Vulcun still controls their destiny, though. If they win those two games they will be either tied with or ahead of Gambit and ahead of Ozone.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Cloud 9 deliver us, you're our only hope...

And yeah, I agree with Jdodge that it's annoying to see TSM fucking around, but I'm honestly not sure how else Riot could have done it.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Cloud 9 deliver us, you're our only hope...

And yeah, I agree with Jdodge that it's annoying to see TSM fucking around, but I'm honestly not sure how else Riot could have done it.

i never said anything like that? just that its annoying to cast

i dont particularly find it annoying that they were fucking around, i find the format for group stages to be very pointlessly drawn out

Sorry, I misinterpreted what you were saying. You were talking about the format for the group stages, but how else would you do it?

[Bub Bidderskins]

I think your predictions may be sliiiiiightly swayed by "I haven't seen these other 4 teams play yet!" I would be very surprised if the semis were populated entirely by group stage teams.

The four teams that got byes are, as a whole, weaker than the four teams that made it out of groups. Gama bears doesn't seem very strong, NJBS is the weakest of the three Korean teams, and they only made it because of OGN's bullshit points system. Royal did beat OMG fair and square, but Royal is a lot more volatile than OMG. C9 dominated NA, but that might mean only as much as it did for TSM last year. Of the four, I think the best team is Royal, but the most consistent is C9. Royal can fuck up early and get snowballed on. NJBS is straight up worse than Ozone, and we saw how they did. Gama is in a region at least as weak as NA, and they didn't dominate it like C9 did.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Semis aren't Bo5

http://lol.gamepedia.com/Season_3_World_Championship

Semi-finals and Grand Finals will be Best of Five

[Bub Bidderskins]

C9 played extremely well though. They should have definitely banned Kass, though, and that facecheck lvl 1 was just unlucky, but I think they proved they are a world class team.

[Bub Bidderskins]

It was extremely close. Who out-rotated who was up in the air throughout and C9 played extremely well.

[Bub Bidderskins]

Eh C9 didn't play their best I think. Lemon got caught a couple times uncharacteristically and their rotations in game 1 were below their normal level.

Fnatic plays in a way that really fucks with a team's rotations, though. C9 played well, but there is still room for improvement. If other NA teams bring themselves up to C9's level then NA will be a much better region.