Playoffs part 2 is all in one video, for some reason. Crs has a new support player, not sure what happened to Elementz, the topic is avoided except to say there was "drama".
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command, Game 1 (1:23:00)
[TSM bans: Tristana, Nasus, Thresh][VC bans: Nocturne, Shen, Renekton]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Karthus, Caitlyn, Sona
VC: Malphite, Jarvan, Katarina, Miss Fortune, Zyra
I'm for all things Katarina and Team Redhead over on VC, but I feel like the only success we've seen with Katarina has been on xPeke in the EU. And VC tries to be split pushers too, but I don't know that they are as experienced with it as Fnatic. On a separate note, because TSM wins this one pretty easily, it's good to be optimistic as a caster; at one point, OddOne feasts a minion instead of the Jarvan, and the commentators give him the benefit of the doubt. "He probably meant to do that. Give the kill to Dyrus. Yeah. He just wanted to be like, 'Hey Jarvan, watch this. Nom.' And then let Rumble get the last hit."
My theory on Zuna losing games with tall champs is holding true, but the guest analyst at the desk is MegaZero, and he is one small dude, so it's not always the case, sadly.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command, Game 2 (2:12:00)
[VC bans: Nocturne, Malphite, Shen][TSM bans: Tristana, Nasus, Renekton]
VC: Diana, Lee Sin, Jayce, Kog'Maw, Sona
TSM: Rumble, Jarvan, Karthus, Draven, Thresh
What, they just wrecked you in team fights and you let them have Karthus and Draven, VC? And yet somehow, somehow, they get ahead. And they manage to hold on. See my theories on Zuna and short champs. TSM should just ban Kog, also.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command, Game 3 (3:10:00)
[TSM bans: Tristana, Nasus, Thresh][VC bans: Nocturne, Shen, Karthus]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Diana, Caitlyn, Sona
VC: Malphite, Jarvan, Jayce, Kog'Maw, Lulu
This one was pretty quick, and though it goes against my Zuna theory, you knew that TSM would make a statement, right? They interview with Dyrus and Xpecial afterwards, and I've been pleased lately with how well-spoken Xpecial is. Almost as much as I hate listening to Dyrus. I'm not alone in that, right? Dyrus is the worst conversation partner/caster ever?
Curse vs Good Game University, Game 1 (4:15:00)
[Crs bans: Elise, Thresh, Caitlyn][GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Renekton, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Jayce, Jarvan, Orianna, Varus, Sona
GGU: Tryndamere, Nasus, Karthus, Ezreal, Blitzcrank
GGU fielding a throwback team of "used to be OP" champs. You remember those days where you had to ban Trynd? This game may spur a resurrection of Trynd, because WOW. I hadn't given ZionSpartan enough credit for his other sweet plays because, well, Jayce is a jerk with that damn poke. But there's no getting around it here, he's a beast on AD Trynd. Also, Daydreaming's Blitzcrank is something to be feared.
Curse vs Good Game University, Game 2 (5:04:00)
[GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Renekton, Twisted Fate][Crs bans: Jayce, Elise, Thresh]
GGU: Vladimir, Nasus, Karthus, Caitlyn, Lulu
Crs: Shen, Nocturne, Evelynn, Varus, Sona
Wow, this was quite a game. I recommend it, but be warned, it is a full 60 minutes long. Maybe skip ahead to the 30 minute mark: you'll see that GGU is seriously losing, over 10k gold behind, lost the baron, and about to get base-pushed. At this point, the problems seem to abound; Nocturne and Evelynn get into the middle of your team instantly, shielded and followed immediately by that bastard split pushing Shen. Varus contributes his poke, and by that time, you're all already dead. No one on GGU even has a counter-cc, let alone an engage-cc, so there's no way to stop them from split-pushing or diving for DontMashMe. Furthermore, no one has the teleport or mobility to move from lane to lane so all their lanes always seem to be pushing against them courtesy of Nocturne and Shen. Even though GGU ultimately loses this game, they mount the most amazing comeback ever.
Curse vs Good Game University, Game 3 (6:20:00)
[Crs bans: Caitlyn, Karthus, Jayce][GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Renekton, Shen]
Crs: Kennen, Zac, Malphite, Varus, Thresh
GGU: Vlad, Nocturne, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Blitzcrank
Voyboy went mid on Kennen against Jintae, I'm not sure why they thought that would be better. It didn't seem to me that the lane-phase was where they were lacking - if it ain't broke, Crs, don't make your APC suddenly play a huge pile of rocks? GGU learned their lesson and made some reactive picks (Crs made some reactive bans). Now GGU has the globals and the stuns they were missing last game. With two supports with hooks, the end-game becomes almost exclusively about wards. And when you watch replays of the last fight, you'll see GGU has wards in the right places.
