The problem with Hai stepping down is that he's the shotcaller, and shotcalling is C9's biggest strength. Hai is probably their weakest individual player, but his teamplay is absolutely ridiculous.
In post 1949, xRECKONERx wrote:Yeah. Plus, he tilts way harder than anyone else. Lemon/Sneaky/Meteos seem able to bounce back from defeat without taking it too hard, but Hai (and Balls, to a lesser extent) both tilt.
In any case, it seems like C9 had better be looking at the upcoming expansion tournament to watch for promising mid laners from the amateur and challenger scenes and track them up until Hai has to step down.
PEDIT: Well, yeah, but how does your shotcalling matter when you can barely play because of your health?
I'd imagine that Hai could've played till, like, 2016 before, but after that collapsed lung it's very unlikely he'll be able to play beyond (or even at) the 2015 World Championships.
2011 scummies winner (BTS help) and participant;
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In post 1952, quadz08 wrote:I mean, yeah, I know that he'll have to step down eventually. I just think that when C9 loses Hai, they take a
huge
hit. I think they probably go to the relegation tournament their first split without him.
Nah. They're not going to pull a Vulcun. They're too good for that (plus they're not going to be stupid and try to roleswap through the split). You're probably right that they won't get anywhere near 1st place in the split or the playoffs, but they'll stay.
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Keep in mind that barring some sort of negative fallout, Hai would be pretty likely to pass on a lot of his knowledge to whomever succeeds him as shot caller, be it Lemon, Meteos, or another mid. C9 might struggle for some weeks, and may not place top 2, but there's little chance they'd see relegation simply because the cohesion is so natural among the other four, and they'd have months to grow into their new 5th.
In post 1957, zoraster wrote:i don't think shotcalling is some secret passed down from father to son.
But either is it something that you can just click on and do like last-hitting. You can't just plop down in the game and be a good shot-caller without learning how to be one (yes, I'm aware there are naturals and the like, but I'm talking about being great and/or "followable" (for lack of a better word) shotcallers like Hai is, Regi was, and Bjergsen's leaning into being.
Honestly, it'll pretty much be like what's going on in TSM as Bjergsen's learning to be the primary shotcaller for them.
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(1:55:11 AM) ahallucinogenic: it's ok drench
(1:55:21 AM) ahallucinogenic: it's perfectly normal for young children to walk in on their parents making love
(1:55:31 AM) Drench394: i can't wait
(1:55:11 AM) ahallucinogenic: it's ok drench
(1:55:21 AM) ahallucinogenic: it's perfectly normal for young children to walk in on their parents making love
(1:55:31 AM) Drench394: i can't wait
TSM took a fluke win over c9 after the season had been good. I don't think they ditch Hai just because they lost in the quarterfinals on worlds. Odds that they find someone significantly better are actually not that great, and this team is consistently improving enough to play for the NA championship once more. I feel it would be really silly to throw away a team that's more or less a guarantee for a top finish in NA for what? A doubtful semi spot at next worlds? Don't even know if that's fair to expect from any midlaner.
Also, GO EDG
Surrender, imagine and of course wear something nice.
(1:55:11 AM) ahallucinogenic: it's ok drench
(1:55:21 AM) ahallucinogenic: it's perfectly normal for young children to walk in on their parents making love
(1:55:31 AM) Drench394: i can't wait
