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
