10 thoughts going into Finals

Riot·Aug 30, 2017·4 votes·18,923 views

Here's this week's 10 thoughts from @meanmisterkien!

Time to hit the road again! Boston is upon us as NA's top four teams prepare to duke it out. This will be the final test before Worlds for both IMT and TSM, while CLG and DIG jockey for positioning in the Regional Qualifiers. Who's going to win?

[[{"fid":"24467","view_mode":"centered","fields":{"format":"centered","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"tagName":"IMG","src":"http%3A//admin.prod.lolesports.com/s3/files/styles/centered/public/1f_0.png%3Fitok%3DVNFbM8t2","type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-centered","height":"821","width":"992"}}]]

[[{"fid":"24465","view_mode":"centered","fields":{"format":"centered","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"tagName":"IMG","src":"http%3A//riot-web-cdn.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/lolesports/s3fs-public/styles/centered/public/2f_0.png%3Fu8lstkUV._sLhAMBAmZx4KorNZ85SoQ.%26itok%3DJuLDYNQ7","type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-centered","height":"821","width":"992"}}]]

[[{"fid":"24466","view_mode":"centered","fields":{"format":"centered","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"tagName":"IMG","src":"http%3A//riot-web-cdn.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/lolesports/s3fs-public/styles/centered/public/3f.png%3FA7E.t04vLNg_Xvf.Gr8X5wSVDurfzBp1%26itok%3DUJj5pNXo","type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-centered","height":"821","width":"992"}}]]

Kien Lam is a content producer for Lolesports. You can find more ~~awful~~ great jokes and commentary on his Twitter @meanmisterkien.

69 Comments

xxSushiMousexxAug 30, 201715 votes

This is gonna be a great series!

#IMTWIN

Blind MinionAug 30, 201711 votes

Rivalries aside, this will be the best NA finals to date. I am fully expecting some sort of 3-2, but regardless really want a great performance at worlds.

guest18824Aug 30, 20174 votes

I feel like TSM will win, but in the 3-2, and I still can't believe C9, who many claim is better than TSM, isn't even in the 3rd place game...

TSM MaverickAug 30, 20179 votes

Yes, many idiots claim that.

Miror BAug 30, 20172 votes

Wait, many people are claiming C9 is better than tsm? Are you sure these people are watching league, and not literally every other esport (cs:go being one where c9 has a massive advantage, same with hearthstone)? While I do think that TSM will never be the team to actually do anything good at worlds for NA (mostly due to the fact that their teams are basically hard countered by any competent korean one), C9 has showed this split that they are essentially a weaker version of them where their midlaner (jensen being more deserving this split of MVP over bjerg) has to hard carry more games for them to stand a chance.

SulranaAug 30, 20173 votes

Watching C9 play is often painful lately. I'm one of the few that actually sees Jensen's playstyle as a liability to C9 rather than an asset. He frequently soaks EXP and farm only to do nothing with it until late game. He's like a KSing troll who goes 10-1-2 and throws the game but types "at least i didn't die like you scrubs" in all chat at his team.

It doesn't matter how good jensen is, until he becomes a team player C9 will always fall short.

Miror BAug 30, 20173 votes

See, I heavily disagree with that notion only because I've watched plenty of LCK and LPL videos and know how much of an asset a guy like him can be to a team. When Rookie takes all the farm from each of his sidelaners, takes his jungler's big raptor/krug, and then proceeds to 1v3 the enemy botlane + mid, is he really going to then apologize for doing all of that? When smeb TP roams botlane and kills both of the botlaners while taking the entire wave of CS and solo tower gold, is his team going to then whine about him not being a "Teammate"? While an argument could theoretically be made that C9 getting rid of an unequivocal top-2 mid in NA (myself having him above bjerg and putting him solely in #1), you really have to ask yourself how much better of a team they'd be without him. If anything, replacing him with a guy like pobes/keane would put them into 7-8th as 70% of their wins are decided by him and 85% of their losses are caused by the rest of their team either making massive throws and/or lacking the required skill to compete against everyone else.

GIFT OF LOVEAug 31, 20171 votes

Spoiler: C9 is going to get Third seeds at worlds. TSM wins Summer Split! IMT goes to worlds as second seed. No one can beat TSM in NA in playoffs other than C9 or CLG. IMT I doubt would even be near (unless I'm wrong).

Unfortunately for DIG and CLG fans <- these two are not going to worlds. Don't be mad about it.

Can NA get to Semi-Finals? Idk.

ArchäenAug 31, 20172 votes

@Mya They should complain. Watch teams that employ that strategy... they end up just like C9... in the top 1/3 but never the top. Team-centric games require just that. Until Jensen can use his skills/lead to boost his team and not just himself C9 will be stuck. Unfortunately, because he's good enough to get them 3rd/4th they don't see how much it hurts their team.

8 ImmortalsSep 1, 20171 votes

@Mye I wholeheartedly agree with your response and analysis. Very well worded and concise.

RiotMean Mister KienAug 30, 201714 votes

I actually expect TSM to win this one 3-1. (riot tsm bias smh)

I hope I'm wrong and we do get a 5 game series, though!

ReaxetionSep 1, 20171 votes

Is it really a good series if we don't get to listen to Silver Scrapes? Is it?

Morgan ArcAug 30, 20178 votes

I think this may be one of the most even finals we have ever had. Both teams technically are both 1st place and have no easily exploitable weaknesses. I love TSM but I think its time for a new NA winner IMT win!

TrollFan01Aug 30, 20178 votes

This year were gonna send the 3 teams to Worlds we wanted to send last year. TSM, IMT, and C9 I can feel it!

TSM will win their 6th NA LCS Championship too.

TheOneTrueMurphAug 31, 20174 votes

C9 isn't going to make it. They were over-hyped from the beginning, and it's showing now that it matters.

TrollFan01Aug 31, 20173 votes

They have the best chance in the gauntlet. They're going on last and have a proven track record at it.

GIFT OF LOVEAug 31, 20171 votes

He said C9 isn't going to make it, doesn't mean Cloud 9 won't make it. C9 and Cloud 9 are different. Only if you know what I mean. (Even though they are the same)

How about this, if C9 doesn't make it, FLY, CLG, DIG, doesn't make it either. How about no third seed XD. Those CLG and DIG fans. I like TSM, still better than all.

TrollFan01Aug 31, 20172 votes

That's not possible. C9 will make it. They're better than the other 3 teams.

GhadenAug 31, 20171 votes

I predict also that C9 won't make it and that will be a very sad day for NA indeed. Of course, I also predict that NA goes nowhere at worlds again. As much as this season is hype for NA, there really isn't anything shown that indicates NA has made any strides at all toward rising to the challenge presented by international teams. They might best EU, but that's about as good as it gets atm. Of course, just an opinion

To qualify "sad day" regarding C9 not making worlds: as a region which lacks any substantial capacity for developing game-winning strategies on the international stage, legacies are the only thing NA really has. Though C9 might be bested by better teams purely in terms of competition, NA loses big time while one of its organizations with an established legacy fades away.

GIFT OF LOVEAug 31, 20171 votes

C9 will make it. Guess what? Those who say C9 doesn't make it are the ones who actually think C9 can make it, its a good sign :)

TrollFan01Aug 31, 20171 votes

They're trying to jinx the JINX. Bold strategy lol

GIFT OF LOVESep 2, 20171 votes

You're hilarious.

TamuutAug 30, 20174 votes

We need TSM to win so that we can be heartbroken again at worlds... dammit...

Virgin RayAug 30, 20175 votes

both teams are going to worlds, in fact 3 teams are going to worlds. On that note, NA as a whole hasn't won any international tournament except for TSM at IEM Season IX

TrollFan01Aug 31, 20173 votes

Did you forget Rift Rivals already?

Virgin RayAug 31, 20172 votes

I didn't forget about it, but so much people called it off as an All Star sort of event, where it's international but it's supposed to be fun. It's also only vsing EU and nothing else. The term international, for me, means the whole world. Like an international airport doesn't only go to one different country, but most if not all of them. The whole point of RR was to prove NA or EU, and it was NA with TSM winning finals. There's no denying that until EU beats NA in another RR. I however, don't think it was an "All Star" event, and NA won fair and square and proves NA > EU. I included IEM only because it was an international tournament in the sense that it was vsing other regions not just EU. TSM beating top teams like Flash Wolves, Team WE, ROX Tigers (GE Tigers was their name at that time) is far more impressive and proves that TSM has the potential to get out of groups, maybe reach semi idk.

DEN15 512Aug 31, 20171 votes

The "international airport" in my city (Edmonton) pretty much only goes to Canada and the USA lol

TrollFan01Aug 31, 20171 votes

I see your point but Riot calls RR a interntaional event so it counts in the most technical sense.

IEM Season 9 Worlds TSM didn't play GE Tigers. They beat CJ Entus but that was the only Korean team they beat. TSM beat Team WE, CJ Entus, FW, and then Team WE again.

DecimBladeAug 31, 20171 votes

Wait what about rift rivals :P (sorry if this is wrong haha Im new to this) :P

PC DaveAug 31, 20171 votes

It does count as an international event from a technical standpoint. From a competitive standpoint, not so much, because it was only NA and EU. TSM has to face much bigger beasts than G2, UOL, and Fnatic at Worlds

SenjuhiroAug 30, 20174 votes

I thought Dignitas was going to actually make it tough for TSM but they didn't show up. I don't know man not sure if IMT can win this one but it should be a hell of a series.

ChompyWulfAug 30, 20173 votes

TSM vs IMT OK...the way I see it... For TSM to win they need Hauntzer to play a tanky and damaging top, such as Kled or Gnar. Flame would beat a Jarvan in lane, and would farm like mad against a pure tank like Mao. Svenskeren must dedicate his attention to top and mid. There be monsters bot, and he will have more success if he coordinates with the solo lanes. DLift and Bjerg both need to bring a lot of damage if Xmithie and Olleh play tanky play makers. Galio or Tali mid won't cut it. DLift must push hard and pressure any time Olleh is gone from vision to draw him back to his ADC and keep the rest if their team safe from plays. Bio must babysit Dlift all match and keep him alive. He's not a good play maker, so he MUST keep the backline safe or it's over. If TSM loses vision and Olleh has room to roam and help Pobelter or Xmithie, GG.

For IMT to win, it's almost the opposite. Flame should take a decent champ top and just farm his heart away. Don't extend, keep that TP ready, and don't fall prey to a gank. Pobelter needs to keep his head on a swivel. Watch for Sven, Xmithie, Olleh, and keep Bjerg occupied without dying. Xmithie should endeavor to track Sven as much as possible, and look for opportunities to coordinate with Olleh and Cody. Bio will be tanky and DLift is dangerous, but early pressure can give them room to dive and take a lead. Cody needs to simply stay near his team, let them protect him like they have been, and fire away. Olleh must take any opportunity to roam and make TSM fear him. He's almost like a second jungler if he's out of vision, And just by roaming can force everyone to freeze in a safe position until he is spotted.

The last time they played, Hauntzer was a big factor with Kled, the ults setting up teamfights and disrupting IMTs backline, but with the shift in the tank meta, I suspect this will be more difficult.

I pick IMT to win, as they can be more flexible with who can set up plays around the map. Either way, this match-up is interesting.

ArchäenAug 30, 201711 votes

It's hard to take your analysis seriously when you say this: "Bio ...He's not a good play maker..."

ChompyWulfAug 30, 20174 votes

I don't follow Biofrost religiously or watch every TSM game, but I can say with confidence that Bio is a reactionary support. He isn't like Olleh or Aphromoo where they make plays that force a fight and get picks. Sven and Hauntzer do that mostly for TSM. That doesn't mean he is a bad support. I have seen he is good at making quick reactions to foil aggression by other teams, or bail out DLift when he goes too hard, but that isn't what people refer to when they call someone a playmaker.

TheOneTrueMurphAug 31, 20175 votes

He used to be. When he first joined TSM, I couldn't believe a rookie support was playing as aggressively as he was. It was crazy. He doesn't play big play-makers now because Parth doesn't let him. It's not that he can't, it's just that TSM has decided that it's not what they need from him. They value peeling for DL over it.

T R Y P Aug 30, 20172 votes

or.... tsm could play sven on sejauni.. carry top assassin mid and thresh for bio would be lovely.. dlift.. who cares he's pretty solid on all marksmans so whatever he feels like.

everyone forgets that sven's lee sin is something to fear... if the game goes 2 and 2 he may even bring it out to shut down xsmithie and take full control of map. there is no telling... they have about a dozen soild comps to choose from.

ChompyWulfAug 30, 20171 votes

Is any assassin but Kassadin used in pro play this split? I know some call LB an assassin, but she is more of a mage in enough ways that count. The risk of playing assassin is how comfortable and good Xmithie and Olleh have looked on tanky champs that could punish dives into the backline. It might be worth one attempt though. Playing a carry top against Flame is a risky chance. The Flame Horizon happens when you survive exchanges against his Jarvan or Renekton, you limp away while he freely feasts....if you get away. Again, it MAY be worth trying because he hasn't looked as dominant lately as he did early in the split. If Lee finally returns to Lee Sin, that would be a dangerous wild card.

Still, champ select aside, I think the best way TSM will find success is to force plays in top and mid and not risk forcing plays against IMTs bot duo. So...naturally as an IMT fan I hope they throw themselves into reckless dives in bot.

DEN15 512Aug 31, 20171 votes

faker played fizz a few weeks ago (don't remember the game)

AhjistairAug 31, 20171 votes

Wait why are you acting like you are better than these guys when you are literally bronze 4 lol

ChompyWulfAug 31, 20171 votes

Never claimed I was better. I understand macro play and some of my preferred champs to play fairly well. My strengths as a player are teamwork and pushing objectives. I am not skilled at greed and going kill crazy, nor the champs that scale hard from it and can solo carry games. Also, I had little time before to grind, and even less now with a new job. So yes, I am mired in Bronze hell, but does that mean any of my observations were wrong?

PC DaveAug 31, 20171 votes

They might be. But I get your point. You're putting out your own analysis, which is quite fair and mostly correct.

BuddsAug 30, 20171 votes

[deleted]

RotonAug 30, 201718 votes

you do realise NA is literally built on immigrants seriously today's people seem to have forgotten that, also should be a good series.

VolksAug 31, 20173 votes

EXACTLY I hate people that don't realize this, one of my only pet peeves with NA

Sasu OwOAug 31, 20171 votes

SAME. also I hate it when people point out teams like IMT and DIG are all Asian players, like, you know Asian people can be from North America too right y'nasty? Teams are only allowed 2 import slots.

Queen ThiccSep 1, 20171 votes

Idc, it's international game, not an American sport. NA is the place to prove no matter from where you are that you got what it takes on better players. It gives people a chance that they prove that they are good, maybe not internationally, but in NA. I like seeing a diverse of players and have them come around the world makes it even more interesting. Thats just my opinion. You prob some band wagoner that just roots on the best team. [zombie-brand-mindblown]

Lt CurseAug 30, 201723 votes

I will cheer for NA no matter what. I dont care that people like you give up on NA. All people like you want to do is band wagon the team that wins worlds, therefore just keep rude comments to yourself and we will see who is good at worlds.

PrangerAug 30, 20174 votes

I hate comments like these, when they pay attention to nothing. Of IMT and TSM there is 1 Korean native on both teams, and 1 EU player (Flame and Sven respectively). Every other player on these two teams is at this point considered a NA player.

Shadow220Aug 31, 20172 votes

umm.... TSM does not have a Korean lmao. Doublelift is chinese and raised in america and biofrost is chinese canadian. Sven and Bjerg are from EU and Hauntzer is American. And immortals have 2 koreans Flame and Olleh..... I am guessing you are trolling XD since your said "when they pay attention to nothing".

DEN15 512Aug 31, 20173 votes

He meant (albeit in a really poorly worded and confusing manner) that IMT has a Korean (Flame) and TSM has an European (Sven), not that each team has one of both.