Optimus Analysis: Posed for NA Academy Playoffs

These Academy teams were destined for glory long before stepping on the Rift when they stepped in front of the camera. Find out who is destined for Spring Playoffs success when a former art history major breaks down the Playoffs picture, literally.

Team Liquid Academy

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Top of the table in Academy, bottom of the pile in photography. While there’s nothing wrong with the poses chosen by Team Liquid Academy - there’s nothing that excites me about them either. Viper isn’t really selling the fact that his glasses are upside down when he executes his clean Riven play in the Top Lane - just like Shoryu isn’t selling me that he thinks he’s as swole as someone like Akaadian. Mickey and Joey have a wholesome factor to their photos that wants me to give them a “Like” just as I do to cute dog photos on my Facebook feed - and Hard seems to have gone to the Mikeyeung school of jungling as he too, looks like a battle ward. But where is the passion? Where is the suffering?? Where is the struggle!? Oh...well they finished 1st Place, so maybe there wasn’t enough challenging them... :thinking_emoji:

• Academy Rank: 1 out of 10
• Creativity: 3 out of 10
• Execution: 5 out of 10
• Paid by Steve to give this score: 10 out of 10
• FINAL SCORE: 27

Cloud9 Academy

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Much like their LCS Roster, Cloud 9 Academy takes their poses seriously...or lack of serious. The well-executed balance between serious-and-silly mimics that of their well-memed LCS squad. Shiro matches the glasses factor, almost creating the illusion of “do I really need these to play, or is this just a handicap I’m giving you?” Wiggly and Goldenglue may up the ante on the “don’t know what you’re doing” level that Jensen portrayed, but the benefit of the doubt is given in the context of the Academy setting. Keith fully embraces his role with an Ezreal pose, while the brains behind the operation Zeyzal strokes his mighty beard in contemplation. Actually, the rest could go out the window and I’d be just as sold on C9A - Zeyzal’s beard gets them just as many points by itself.

• Academy Rank: 2 out of 10
• Creativity: 5 out of 7
• Execution: 5 out of 7
• LCS Synergy: 5 out of 7
• FINAL SCORE: 33

FlyQuest Academy

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The only Academy team to make Playoffs when their LCS counterparts did not - FLYA leads to some mixed results when it comes to their photos. Capturing the true meaning of expressionism, the emotion portrayed in their poses is reflective of the individuals on a photo-by-photo basis with disregard for how other teams might pose. It’s a strong message to be sent by rookies Ngo, Erry, and JayJ - who showcase the bond they forged on the UoT collegiate team prior to playing in Academy. But where most teams find stability in their veteran players, Keane brings down the entire motif. I’m sorry Keane, you’ve got the cold-hearted stare of killer ready to demolish all that cross him in the Playoffs - but I just cannot get past the finger hearts. The entire team has tapped in to a well of emotion and you have to go and try to revive a vintage 2017 Worlds Rekkles? It’s like they were focusing on winning their games instead of worrying how cool they looked.

• Academy Rank: 3 out of 10
• Creativity: -1 out of 10
• Execution: 4 out of 5
• A for effort: A out of 10
• FINAL SCORE: *Finger Heart* 2

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Confidence. Attitude. Smolder. Cell phone. FOXA came in with a solid photo shoot that really ups the bar for future team photos. Allorim echoes (heh) the attitude we got from their LCS Roster with his nonchalant “give me a second, I’ll crush your lane after this call” shot. Oddorange and Damonte showcase their Jungle-Mid synergy in poses that look like they could be on a park bench or taxi cab in NYC - while not historic art pieces, they’re marketable. Lost takes the edginess factor to a full 10, making you really wonder who this import from down under really is. Is he really that strong that he can ADC with two finger guns? Is he capable of turning left? Juxtapose those questions with his bot lane buddy Papachau, bringing it home with a wholesome look that reminds us of another classic work - Wolf's (definitely not Bang) SKT Alistar without the vendetta against folding chairs.

• Academy Rank: 4 out of 10
• Creativity: 9 out of 10
• Execution: 9 out of 10
• Rick Fox Factor: 10 out of 10
• FINAL SCORE: 34

Final Rankings

1- Echo Fox Academy

2- Cloud9 Academy

3- Team Liquid Academy (3rd place - paid for by Steve)

4- FlyQuest Academy

Learn more about the 2018 NA Academy Playoffs with our primer including dates, bracket, schedule, and more.

Did Academy outperform the NA LCS teams? Find out in NA LCS Posed for Playoffs edition.

“Optimus” Tom Searfoss is a part of the LCS Stats Team and former shoutcaster for the NA Challenger Series. Never MIA for too long, you can find him @OptimusTom on Twitter, or hand-selecting the perfect pose for the pros on @LolEsportsStats. He also hates Poppy.