NA LCS Preview Week 11
The last week of the NA LCS is coming. Finally, the finale of a season that was anything but plain and boring. Two teams in contention for the top spot of the split, Team SoloMid and Cloud 9, with identical records at 20-4. In addition to the top teams, Counter Logic Gaming, at 16-8, emerged as the hottest team in the split after winning six of their last eight games (including a great win over Team SoloMid).
The dramatics only get better with the fight for relegation amongst the rest of the standings. Two teams with identical records (9-15) and Team Dignitas (10-14) in a shaky fourth place. Every team will need to be on their best game to finish strong and push for the playoffs.
For further clarification, the two teams behind the pack, Team Coast and XDG can still make the playoffs with a little luck and a flawless record in the final week.
Teams to watch:
Team Coast:
Last week, Danny 'Shiphtur' Le and Darshan 'ZionSpartan' Upadhyaya showed why they belong in the discussion of best middle and top combinations in the NA LCS. Together, when humming, Team Coast can take down any team. They will need to step up once again to guarantee a spot into the playoffs and ward off Evil Geniuses (EG) and XDG. Their match ups vary from inconsistent teams Team Curse and Team Dignitas to powerhouse Cloud 9. A 2-1 split will go a long way to securing a spot into relevance.
Team Dignitas:
The spotlight shines on Team Dignitas again. After a great beginning of the season, the inconsistencies that plagued this once world-class team sprouted up. Now, with a revised lineup and the added security of fourth place, Team Dignitas needs to prove that this team deserves to play with the best in NA. Like poetry, Team Dignitas must play against the two teams tied for fifth in Team Coast and Team Curse. Given the spotty play throughout the season for this squad, it may be a bumpy week coming.
XDG:
The resurgence of "Vulcun" may be too little too late. The schedule is brutal, both Cloud 9 and Team SoloMid lie as road blocks. In addition, fourth place Team Dignitas rounds up the list. If XDG can continue their aggressive rotations and execute with chaotic clarity, there may be some upsets in the forecast. Unfortunately, their opposition may end up being the last stop for XDG's long-shot playoff odds.
Players to watch:
Joedat 'Voyboy' Esfahani:
Curse's mid laner was the weak link to the team. He was inconsistent in play-calling, laning phase, and team fight execution in the beginning of the split. His recent play should provide a little more confidence entering the last week of the NA LCS. Esfahani's safe play in lane and improved cs game could be the difference between a fifth place finish and a fourth place one for Curse.
Chris 'Zuna' Buechter:
XDG's carry player needs to live up to the name of the role. Buechter will need to play the games of his life if there is hope for an XDG playoff run. Just for urgency alone, and Buechter's impact on his team, is why he's a player to watch. Any falloff or mistake play in lane or a skirmish team fight will be the end of XDG's chances. It falls on you, Buechter.
Greyson 'goldenglue' Gilmer:
Team Dignitas may have found their mid lane answer in Gilmer. Gone is William "Scarra" Li and his iconic impact, but in his stead is initiation-heavy, fearless, and exciting Gilmer. The competition and pressure will be on and it may be the first time Gilmer's faced such an environment. However, he's shown in his play style that odds and nerves do not affect his play in the moment. He could be the new glue in Team Dignitas.
Top game to watch:
Team Coast v. Team Curse
The game that could provide a playoff clincher for either team. Both Team Coast and Team Curse enter the match up with a 9-15 record. Both come into the game with some momentum after an inconsistent season. This will come down to execution and game plan. Will Team Curse stop both Le and Upadhyaya and take a giant step toward a playoff clincher? Or will the superstars of Team Coast do what they do best and dominate?
It should be a climactic finale for an exciting season split. The NA LCS will conclude with plenty of intriguing match ups and storylines. Be sure to catch all the action, April 4 at 12:00 PM PST.
Picture courtesy: lolesports.com
