C9 Top Lane Turbulence

After watching Reapered's short-throated explanation of his feelings on Impact and how he is managing the top lane situation, it was incredibly evident that Reapered is avoiding making a choice, and that avoidance is costing this team matches. He intimated in the interview that he has emotional ties to Impact, that it's been tough on him to see Impact struggle, and that this is the lowest point in Impact's career. However, he stressed that there's only "upward to go."

Except that's a false premise. Impact can continue to struggle. Or just keep playing worse. The assumption that things will just "improve because they have to" is hurting this team.

They have a top-laner in Ray, who needs the opportunity to fully develop and own the role of C9 top-laner. He needs to be getting all the repetitions, and this team needs to commit to its roster for multiple splits so it can develop the type of synergy that is forming on CLG. Ray is in fact a good top-laner, but you cannot expect consistent performance from him when he has to look over his shoulder game in and game out, where losing one game may cost him his seat for two. They are WAY WAY WAY more talented than their record shows, but the inconsistency and lack of execution and discipline comes straight from the top - coaching. Contractz hovering top lane right now is a complete waste - he should be more focused on building advantages in mid so Sneaky/Smoothie can do their job, not babysitting an inconsistent lane that, even when its winning, costs more to achieve that than it gains for team positioning.

Let's put it this way - either C9 commits to Ray, rallies around him, builds him up, and stops flirting with Impact, or Reapered may face a sickle of his own at the end of this split.