Tuesday, July 23, 2013

LCS NA Summer W5

Another long week for week 5.

Vulcun vs Team SoloMid
[Vul bans: Karthus, Draven, Twisted Fate][TSM bans: Nunu, Elise, Thresh]
Vul: Vladimir, Zac, Jayce, Caitlyn, Sona
TSM: Shen, Jarvan, Zilean, Xin Zhao, Annie
I love unique team comps (especially after watching only pro matches for so long), but I think XZ is too far outside wildturtle's skillset.  Also, the comp apparently doesn't defend towers?  It's over in 24 minutes.

Cloud 9 vs Counter Logic Gaming
[C9 bans: Karthus, TRistana, Nunu][CLG bans: Zac, Twisted Fate, Elise]
C9: Rumble, Nasus, Jayce, Ashe, Zyra
CLG: Shen, Jarvan, Ahri, Caitlyn, Thresh
I know I hate playing against a Jayce, but it may be time for some overall statistics on how stupid OP he and his jerk poke is.

Velocity Esports vs Team Dignitas
[VES bans: Zac, Diana, Zed][dig bans: Nunu, Evelynn, Elise]
VES: Renekton, Shen, Twisted Fate, Tristana, Thresh
dig: Kennen, Nocturne, Ryze, Graves, Sona
A successful Kennen comp, huhn.  But it was against VES, who seem basically resigned to just losing out the rest of their games, so no conclusions on Kennen/Ryze just yet.

Team Coast vs Curse
[CST bans: Elise, Karthus, Draven][Crs bans: Nunu, Shen, Jayce]
CST: Riven, Jarvan, Twisted Fate, Vayne, Zyra
Crs: Kassadin, Nasus, Lissandra, Ezreal, Thresh
Ouch, roll.  CST had all the map control, forever, and ZionSpartan was a terror on Riven.

Team SoloMid vs Velocity Esports
[TSM bans: Evelynn, Draven, Elise][VES bans: Jayce, Nunu, Twisted Fate]
TSM: Renekton, Nasus, Karthus, Caitlyn, Lulu
VES: Shen, Kha'Zix, Ahri, Twitch, Thresh
Easy roll for TSM

Cloud 9 vs Vulcun
[C9 bans: Sona, Kennen, Elise][Vul bans: Draven, Rumble, Jayce]
C9: Ryze, Nunu, Zed, Ashe, Zyra
Vul: Shen, Evelynn, Twisted Fate, Tristana, Thresh
Nice comeback, C9.  You almost expect it now, but it was nicely done nonetheless.

Curse vs Counter Logic Gaming
[Crs bans: Tristana, Karthus, Twisted Fate][CLG bans: Vladimir, Nunu, Elise]
Crs: Kennen, Lee Sin, Jayce, Draven, Sona
CLG: Shen, Pantheon, Zed, Caitlyn, Thresh
What happened?!  CLG were solidly in control of this game for so long, and then... they just turned their backs for a second, and Crs snuck in and took out their nexus.  Very odd.

Team Dignitas vs Team Coast
[Dig bans: Riven, Evelynn, Jayce][CST bans: Twisted Fate, Zed, Nunu]
Dig: Kennen, Elise, Ryze, Graves, Sona
CST: Shen, Jarvan, Orianna, Draven, Thresh
Ah, the Kennen/Ryze comp works again for Dignitas.  And, they banned Riven and Jayce.

Cloud 9 vs Velocity Esports
[C9 bans: Evelynn, Karthus, Nunu][VES bans: Zac, Rumble, Twisted Fate]
C9: Kennen, Lee Sin, Jayce, Draven, Thresh
VES: Elise, Nasus, Lux, Kog'Maw, Zyra
It may have been the top team in the league vs the bottom, but C9 made it look so awesome that I want to try the "everyone roam" comp now.

Team SoloMid vs Counter Logic Gaming
[TSM bans: Elise, Shen, Kennen][CLG bans: Karhtus, Jayce, Nunu]
TSM: Renekton, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Lulu
CLG: Irelia, Nocturne, Orianna, Ezreal, Thresh
I know it's ridiculous to always expect this matchup to be a 'classic' game, since they're not even the same teams anymore, but it totally turned into a good game!  Also, when was the last time you saw both Renekton and Nasus in the same game?

Vulcun vs Team Coast
[Vul bans: Riven, Rengar, Evelynn][CST bans: Twisted Fate, Shen, Nunu]
Vul: Jayce, Zac, Ryze, Caitlyn, Thresh
CST: Elise, Jarvan, Orianna, Draven, Blitzcrank
That Jayce!

Team Dignitas vs Curse
[Dig bans: Shen, Karthus, Jayce][Crs bans: Nunu, Ryze, Elise]
Dig: Twisted Fate, Nocturne, Zed, Graves, Janna
Crs: Lee Sin, Jarvan, Ahri, Draven, Thresh
Having had a little success this week with Kennen/Ryze, Dig pulls out the TF/Zed again, and once again, they get rolled under.

Standings
C9 13-2
Vul 10-5
CLG 8-7
CST 7-8
Dig 7-8
TSM 7-8
Crs 6-9
VES 2-13

Monday, July 22, 2013

LCS NA Summer W4

New in Week 4 is a set of delightful technical difficulties that force one team to play in a green room.  Like that positive spin I put on that?

Curse vs Vulcun
[Crs bans: Kennen, Lissandra, Thresh][Vul bans: Draven, Nunu, Jayce]
Crs: Vladimir, Nautilus, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Sona
Vul: Shen, Elise, Orianna, Tristana, Zyra
The actual game got extra delayed because of the new room, and once the game is restarted, there is a stupid crazy level 1 fight in the jungle.  It's so long, Voyboy and Nyjacky respawn and get back in the fight.  But why would you fight, Vul?  Elise is obviously good, but Orianna is kind of hopeless at level 1.  Nonetheless, Vul counters all TF ults with Shen ult, and consistently outnumbers Crs in fights.

Velocity Esports vs Team SoloMid
[VES bans: Twisted Fate, Lissandra, Karthus][TSM bans: Kayle, Nunu, Kennen]
VES: Elise, Evelynn, Ryze, Draven, Sona
TSM: Jayce, Nasus, Zed, Caitlyn, Thresh
This whole season for some reason, Reginald has been listed at the top of TSM's lineup, as if he told them he was playing top and Dyrus would be playing mid.  If you haven't noticed, I've been rearranging them back to their original positions in my champ listing, because that is a lie.  Jatt makes the very good point that by banning Kayle, TSM has denied VES one of their favorite comps: the no-tank line up.  That one ban affects several people, not just Vileroze.  Sorry, VES, this is not the start of your comeback, even though you were solidly up for most of that game.

Cloud 9 vs Team Dignitas
[C9 bans: Master Yi, Diana, Evelynn][Dig bans: Nunu, Rumble, Thresh]
C9: Elise, Zac, Jayce, Draven, Lulu
Dig: Twisted Fate, Xin Zhao, Zed, Graves, Sona
Somehow, despite being a new team to the league, C9 is really awesome at late game close outs and comebacks, which is contrary to everything we've known previously. Or maybe C9 is just way better at team fights than we've seen in NA before, and that closes out the games for them.

Counter Logic Gaming vs Team Coast
[CLG bans: Blitzcrank, Rengar, Lissandra][CST bans: Twisted Fate, Elise, Nunu]
CLG: Jayce, Nasus, Orianna, Tristana, Sona
CST: Shen, Evelynn, Zed, Draven, Thresh
I like CLG, and I generally like scrappy underdogs, but even though they're both now, it's not coming together for CLG.  Someone put these guys in an 80's style training montage, stat. As for CST, they spent time before and after the game talking about how the addition of Elementz as coach has been a huge boon for them.

Curse vs Cloud 9
[Crs bans: Zac, Nasus, Jayce][C9 bans: Karthus, Nunu, Elise]
Crs: Kennen, Nocturne, Ahri, Draven, Leona
C9: Rumble, Jarvan, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Thresh
Kennen, Nocturne, and Ahri are some of my favorite champs, but I feel like they've had several bad games at the pro level lately.  It's time to take a detailed look at C9 and find out what champs work against their high-level team play.  Master Yi?  They did ban it against dig, and he is a team-ruiner.

Team SoloMid vs Team Coast
[TSM bans: Rengar, Thresh, Evelynn][CST bans: Twisted Fate, Nunu, Shen]
TSM: Jayce, Zac, Karthus, Draven, Sona
CST: Elise, Jarvan, Ryze, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
TSM roll, despite Daydreamin on Blitz!

Velocity Esports vs Counter Logic Gaming
[VES bans: Twisted Fate, Jayce, Nidalee][CLG bans: Kayle, Evelynn, Nunu]
VES: Elise, Lee Sin, Rumble, Varus, Janna
CLG: Shen, Jarvan, Xerath, Draven, Thresh
This game's somewhat about Doublelift.  First, the pre-game vid is about how Doublelift got his name, from his original hobby: card sleight of hand.  Phreak made a pun about how he makes minions disappear, and Kobe may have injured himself with resultant face-palm.  Doublelift also surprises the casters by choosing Draven, a champ he has previously been disgusted with.  He got no less than 7000 shield when dived on at the end - that's what Protect the Doublelift is all about!

Team Dignitas vs Vulcun
[Dig bans: Thresh, Jayce, Lissandra][Vul bans: Nunu, Zed, Draven]
Dig: Twisted Fate, Xin Zhao, Diana, Graves, Sona
Vul: Shen, Elise, Ryze, Tristana, Lulu
Dig's second attempt at this comp did not go any better than the first. I get how you want to try it again, because it could have just been the fact that you were up against C9 the first time, but nope, still not working here.

Standings
C9 10-2
Vul 8-4
CLG 7-5
CST 6-6
TSM 6-6
Dig 5-7
Crs 4-8
VES 2-10

Friday, July 12, 2013

LCS NA Summer W3 pt2

MLG doesn't have cameras on the players as they play, which I somehow miss a little bit, even though they never actually do anything interesting while they play (and Zuna is actually kinda alarmingly creepy while he plays).  Instead, they put a small square ad, and a square where they can keep live track of tweets in favor of each team.  What we may take away from this is that easily twice the number of people will watch the TSM game online as the other teams, which I did not know previously, thanks to my dedicated avoidance of the forums.

Vulcun vs Team Dignitas
[Vul bans: Kennen, Draven, Zed][Dig bans: Nunu, Twisted Fate, Elise]
Vul: Jayce, Jarvan, Lissandra, Caitlyn, Sona
Dig: Ryze, Lee Sin, Master Yi, Varus, Thresh
The real hype was for more Master Yi, of course, but it just didn't see the same success.  And may I compliment Kobe and Riv for their sweet coordination shirts, and Kobe's birthday.

Counter Logic Gaming vs Cloud 9
[CLG bans: Zac, Thresh, Rumble][C9 bans: Jayce, Nunu, Tristana]
CLG: Kennen, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Vayne, Sona
C9: Ryze, Elise, Lissandra, Ezreal, Janna
Cloud 9 is NA's new Gambit?  Angered by their one loss suffered at the hands of CLG, they took it to them with no mercy.  CLG actually made a good game of it, but C9 finally closed the door.

Curse vs Team SoloMid
[Crs bans: Lissandra, Karthus, Kennen][TSM bans: Nunu, Twisted Fate, Orianna]
Crs: Elise, Jarvan, Jayce, Draven, Sona
TSM: Rumble, Nasus, Ryze, Caitlyn, Thresh
Interesting match, impressive come-back for Crs.

Team Coast vs Velocity Esports
[CST bans: Janna, Evelynn, Elise][VES bans: Nunu, Lissandra, Jayce]
CST: Riven, Jarvan, Ahri, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
VES: Kennen, Lee Sin, Kayle, Draven, Zyra
Oh man, Daydreamin, that Blitzcrank is so good, I am forced to empathize with Evaniskus, who just got blown up every moment because of those amazing grabs. VES made a valiant comeback effort, but guys, you shouldn't have wasted that ban on Lissandra, who has never been as big of a threat as Blitz.

Vulcun vs Cloud 9
[Picks and bans not shown]
Vul: Jayce, Jarvan, Lissandra, Kog'Maw, Sona
C9: Kennen, Elise, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Janna
Vulcun managed to win.  Almost managed to throw it away at the last second, but then managed to win.

Team Dignitas vs Velocity Esports
[Dig bans: Evelynn, Shen, Elise][VES bans: Zac, Jayce, Diana]
Dig: Twisted Fate, Nunu, Zed, Ezreal, Janna
VES: Kennen, Maokai, Kayle, Draven, Thresh
You know a champ needs nerfs when you ask scarra afterwards when he knew they'd win and he says "when they let us get Nunu".

Counter Logic Gaming vs Team SoloMid
[CLG bans: Thresh, Caitlyn, Lissandra][TSM bans: Nunu, Twisted Fate, Jayce]
CLG: Elise, Nocturne, Zed, Urgot, Janna
TSM: Kennen, Cho'Gath, Karthus, Varus, Sona
They signed off in the previous vid, but this one's at the end, so.  This is NA's classic matchup, the best we've got, even though CLG is basically a new team.  And it did not disappoint in that regard.  It went nearly 60 minutes, and you know that's good because no one can just stomp the other.

Standings
C9 8-2
CLG 6-4
Vul 6-4
CST 5-5
Dig 5-5
TSM 4-6
Crs 4-6
VES 2-8

Thursday, July 11, 2013

LCS NA Summer W3 pt1

I found the VOD's over on MLG's page, because they were at MLG Anaheim for Week 3.  And once again at MLG, the picks and ban numbers are pre-crunched and displayed before each match.

Team SoloMid
Most picked: Caitlyn (46.6%), Cho'Gath (40%), Rumble (40%), Sona (46.6%), Diana (26.6%)
Most banned: Jayce (53.5%), Elise (40%), Nasus (40%)
Most banned against: Shen (66.6%), Karthus (60%), Kha'Zix (26.6%)

Team Dignitas
Most picked: Zac (42.8%), Ezreal (35.7%), Diana (28.5%), Jayce (28.5%), Sona (28.5%)
Most banned: Twisted Fate (64.2%), Thresh (50%), Caitlyn (28.5%)
Most banned against: Diana (64.2%), Gragas (50%), Evelynn (42.8%)

Velocity Esports
Most picked: Nasus (40%), Elise (33.3%), Varus (33.3%), Zyra (33.3%), Draven (26.6%)
Most banned: Malphite (60%), Twisted Fate (60%), Jayce (26.6%)
Most banned against: Elise (60%), Draven (46.6%), Evelynn (26.6%)

Curse
Most picked: Jarvan (30.7%), Sona (30.7%), Varus (30.7%), Elise (23.1%), Ezreal (23.1%)
Most banned: Jayce (41.7%), Elise (41.7%), Diana (33.3%)
Most banned against: Twisted Fate (53.8%), Miss Fortune (53.8%), Blitzcrank (23.1%)

Counter Logic Gaming
Most picked: Orianna (46.1%), Elise (30.7%), Malphite (30.7%), Thresh (30.7%), Ezreal (23.1%)
Most banned: Jayce (38.4%), Kha'Zix (38.4%), Zac (38.4%)
Most banned against: Twisted Fate (84.6%), Elise (23.1%), Lux (23.1%)

Vulcun
Most picked: Sona (50%), Tristana (37.5%), Kog'Maw (31.2%), Jarvan (25%), Jayce (25%)
Most banned: Twisted Fate (50%), Shen (31.2%), Nocturne (31.2%)
Most banned against: Jayce (50%), Nasus (37.5%), Tristana (37.5%)

Team Coast
Most picked: Blitzcrank (44.4%), Ezreal (33.3%), Orianna (33.3%), Riven (27.7%), Thresh (27.7%)
Most banned: Shen (50%), Karthus (33.3%), Twisted Fate (33.3%)
Most banned against: Jayce (66.6%), Caitlyn (38.8%), Elise (38.8%)

Cloud 9
Most picked: Sona (58.3%), Zac (58.3%), Ezreal (50%), Rumble (41.6%), Jayce (33.3%)
Most banned: Karthus (41.6%), Kayle (33.3%), Thresh (33.3%)
Most banned against: Kennen (33.3%), Kha'Zix (33.3%), Twisted Fate (33.3%)

Team SoloMid vs Team Dignitas
[TSM bans: Lee Sin, Thresh, Lissandra][Dig bans: Shen, Nunu, Karthus]
TSM: Rumble, Elise, Twisted Fate, Draven, Lulu
Dig: Kennen, Nocturne, Master Yi, Ashe, Janna
Haha, when they show the picture lineup of the teams, both teams are super serious except for the ADC, which is giving a goofy grin in both cases.  There was a pretty solid cheer from the crowd when Yi was picked up, and scarra did not disappoint, taking on Reggie mid with some quality Yi aggression.  There's also a ton of kills, so this is a fine game to watch.

Velocity Esports vs Curse
[VES bans: Jayce, Twisted Fate, Zac][Crs bans: Draen, Elise, Nunu]
VES: Kennen, Evelynn, Kayle, Twitch, Zyra
Crs: Shen, Nasus, Karthus, Vayne, Thresh
This one goes back and forth and is pretty exciting, so it's somewhat recommended.  I'm not into it, personally, because the fights are crazytown with giant flashy circles all over the place, coupled with two of the most subtle and dangerous ADCs - did both these teams plan it that way?

Counter Logic Gaming vs Vulcun
[CLG bans: Caitlyn, Thresh, Jayce][Vul bans: Twisted fate, Nunu, Shen]
CLG: Jarvan, Zac, Xerath, Tristana, Lulu
Vul: Kennen, Elise, Zed, Varus, Sona
I was worried about the Xerath, because "success" and "Xerath" just are words that never seemed to go together.  But things worked out - and if you were worried about Bigfatlp jungling on Zac, he'd leap into the fray with abandon way ahead of the rest of his team, so maybe the role of jungler isn't so far off the mark for him.

Team Coast vs Cloud 9
[CST bans: Zac, Rumble, Elise][C9 bans: Riven, Nami, Nunu]
CST: Kennen, Jarvan, Lissandra, Twitch, Fiddlesticks
C9: Jayce, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Draven, Thresh
As Phreak said late in the game: "Goodbye, Coast"

LCS NA Summer W2

Week 2 in the NA LCS Summer Split.  I didn't say last week, but the changes to CLG has made the entire team look like the same medium-small asian dude from a distance, aside from Nientonsoh.  I'd also like to reiterate here my idea for exhibition matches every week.  Maybe team captain can draw a paper out of a hat with a silly restriction: all ninjas, all champs that begin with the letter S, all yordles, all Demacian.  Some Dominion, maybe.

Cloud 9 vs Counter Logic Gaming
[C9 bans: Karthus, Nunu, Twisted Fate][CLG bans: Zac, Thresh, Rumble]
C9: Kennen, Lee Sin, Zed, Ezreal, Lulu
CLG: Jayce, Elise, Orianna, Tristana, Janna
CLG, as we've said before, is just the best players, shoved into whatever roles were available.  Occasionally this is total chaos, and in other situations, they are just fine despite that.  There were several obvious mistakes (they sat around in the baron pit waiting for it to respawn a minute early due to miscalculation) but they managed a win.  It makes you wonder, though.  Why force bigfatlp to jungle?  Kobe is sitting right there.

Team SoloMid vs Velocity Esports
[TSM bans: Draven, Thresh, Kennen][VES bans: Elise, Jayce, Kha'Zix]
TSM: Shen, Zac, Karthus, Caitlyn, Sona
VES: Vladimir, Master Yi, Orianna, Varus, Lissandra
Everyone was excited for AP jungle Yi, but no, TSM zz-roll from level 1. The only excitement was a pause from TSM because apparently a spider landed on Reggie.  Not Elise, a real spider.  And they chased it around for a while, while Phreak made a million crazy jokes about champ abilities like "Smite it!" etc.  Afterwards, Jatt interviews Theoddone and his brother maplestreet form VES (the interview cam has been total fail this summer) and if you thought theoddone was the smallest, most rag-doll-looking asian kid ever, then maplestreet will prove there's always an even smaller asian out there somewhere.

Vulcun vs Curse
[Vul bans: Tryndamere, Blitzcrank, Nunu][Crs ban: Ryze, Thresh, Twisted Fate]
Vul: Kennen, Lee Sin, Jayce, Tristana, Sona
Crs: Elise, Jarvan, Malphite, Draven, Leona
Reginald's earlier interview where he flat out said that Crs is full of not-good players is starting to have the dire ring of truth. Vulcun just rolls over them like a truck.

Team Coast vs Team Dignitas
[CST bans: Zac, Diana, Karthus][Dig bans: Nunu, Riven, Caitlyn]
CST: Rumble, Elise, Jayce, Ezreal, Blitzcrank
Dig: Twisted Fate, Lee Sin, Zed, Draven, Thresh
Kiwikid is playing TF mid, while scarra is taking Zed top.  Not sure why.  OMG! Is it specifically illegal to _switch seats_ in a LAN tournament?!  Amazing idea, guys.

Cloud 9 vs Vulcun
[C9 bans: Karthus, Caitlyn, Tristana][Vul bans: Zac, Zed, Jayce]
C9: Rumble, Nasus, Kennen, Draven, Thresh
Vul: Elise, Lee Sin, Twisted Fate, Kog'Maw, Janna
Well, that's one of the rare times we've seen the TF lose.  If I had to say why, I'd say it was because C9's play style is exactly what counters Vulcun's lineup - they aggressively dive all the time, going for Mancloud and Zuna before any disengage or counter can happen.

Team SoloMid vs Counter Logic Gaming
[TSM bans: Nunu, Elise, Shen][CLG bans: Draven, Zac, Ryze]
TSM: Jayce, Cho'Gath, Karthus, Ezreal, Thresh
CLG: Malphite, Nocturne, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Lulu
It was probably more in favor of TSM than it should have been, since at one point, CLG was up in kills 19-9, yet on their back foot inside their own base.  The game is good, though, especially the end is worth watching.  It always looks like CLG has to scrap for every win, even when they have more gold and kills.  Way to go, Link.  Impressive game.

Velocity Esports vs Team Coast
[VES bans: Fiddlesticks, Jayce, Nunu][CST bans: Janna, Kennen, Elise]
VES: Zed, Nasus, Xerath, Varus, Thresh
CST: Riven, Jarven, Lissandra, Draven, Nami
Boom, goes VES when they gather up in baron pit and CST lands on them hard.

Curse vs Team Dignitas
[Crs bans: Diana, Zac, Kennen][Dig bans: Nunu, Thresh, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Shen, Nocturne, Karthus, Ezreal, Leona
Dig: Jayce, Lee Sin, Evelynn, Draven, Blitzcrank
Woah, dig.  What's going on with you.

Standings
C9 6-1
CLG 4-3
CST 4-3
TSM 4-3
Vul 4-3
Dig 3-4
Crs 2-5
VES 1-6