NA LCS Week 3 Preview
Riot·6/6/2014, 9:15:51 PM·0 votes·3 views
North America is settling in for the long haul, with some surprise teams sitting on top of the league. Some teams, like Dignitas and Cloud9, seem to have figured out exactly what they need to do to remain on top, while others like TSM are hitting some struggles that have fans scratching their heads. Meanwhile, newcomers compLexity and veterans Evil Geniuses are struggling to stay afloat. With Week 3 marking the end of the first quarter of games, it’s time for these teams to really deliver with solid games, or it might spell trouble when relegation looms bigger later this summer.
TSM vs. LMQ
When: Saturday, June 7, 12:00 PM PDT / 21:00 CEST
There’s no better way to start out the week than a matchup between potential titans. TSM and LMQ both hit brick walls last week, and need a crucial win here to get back on their feet. Both teams have the potential to end up champions at the end of the season; TSM’s dominance last season was unbelievable, and LMQ’s debut week made them look unstoppable. So what happened last week?
LMQ, after a glorious 4-0, ran directly into one of the toughest possible weeks they could have drawn. Dignitas and Cloud9 are simply on a roll, and LMQ’s novelty to the league proved their downfall. Expect them to aim their sights squarely at TSM this week. A win against Bjergsen and company would put LMQ back on track for the top of the rankings.
TSM, however, have their own redemption to find. With losses against CLG, Dignitas, and Cloud9, they appear to be struggling. Both teams stand a lot to gain if they can pull out wins. The flip side, of course, is a loss here might spell difficulty even breaching the upper half of the standings ladder in weeks to come. And with TSM star mid laner Bjergsen seemingly off his game after a week where he only managed 2 kills, this is a team that definitely needs a reboot.
Dignitas vs. CLG
When: Saturday, June 7, 2:00 PM PDT / 23:00 CEST
Get ready for a matchup between two powerhouses looking to solidify their lead. Both squads went undefeated last week, and are now going to be looking to extend their streaks even further.
The biggest story, this year, seems to be how Dignitas is back on track. With Scarra now behind them as a coach, the team is firing on all cylinders, and only picking up speed. Shiphtur, after floundering on Team Coast, has come into his own as a mid lane star. His 9/0/11 record last week was phenomenal, and he’ll be the player to watch in this exciting match.
CLG, however, won’t just roll over and die. They’ve got some solid games under their belts too, and with a 4-2 record, are on the hunt to tie things up with Dignitas at the top of the ladder. Their key match last week was against TSM, where Link and Doublelift teamed up to tear through their opponents. The acquisition of Korean top laner Seraph appears to be making a real difference on the team, and this match against Dignitas will be a great litmus test to see how well the team can perform against a world-class squad.
CompLexity vs. Curse
When: Saturday, June 7, 3:00 PM PDT / 00:00 CEST
With only three wins between the pair of them, both compLexity and Curse have some thinking to do. CompLexity, we’ll give some wiggle room to - this is, after all, their debut season. This week, they’re also playing without Brokenshard, another ill omen for the team. This team needs one thing before all else: stability. Until they find it, every week is going to be a struggle.
Curse, however, have no such excuse. They picked up veteran support Xpecial from TSM over the offseason, expecting him to revitalize the team. Instead, he’s been floundering, leaving Curse wanting for some leadership. The team has serious potential, but for now, are stuck until they can find their groove.
Cloud9 vs. CLG
When: Sunday, June 8,12:00 PM PDT / 21:00 CEST
CLG’s second match of the week is going to be another nailbiter, especially with Cloud9 licking their wounds from Week 1. A 2-0 in the second week have Meteos and company back on track, though, and they’ll be looking to take back their place at the head of the table. A win against CLG puts them that much closer. With Hai getting better each and every week, the time for other teams to take advantage of the reigning champs is quickly running out. A fully charged Cloud9 is waiting just on the horizon, and this may very well be the week they break back into their (even more) dominant ways.
North America, watch out! The kings have returned.