H2k: A shot in the dark
Riot·3/19/2015, 9:13:16 PM·0 votes·10,644 views
Whenever an LCS team needs to get stronger in a hurry, their first instinct is usually to make some sort of personnel change. Recently, most teams have looked to the East--towards the incredible talent of Korea, to solve their problems. This season, H2k has had their share of struggles and, like nearly every team before them, sought to fix their issues through personnel changes. However, rather than snatching the newest solo queue hero or up-and-coming coach from Korea, H2k made two bold moves that no one saw coming. They hired a former NA LCS pro as their coach, and brought in a former EU LCS player to revamp their bottom lane.
Once again, H2k was faced with a problem, and made a personnel change to solve the issue. With plenty of big name mid laners, AD carries, and junglers currently out of the LCS spotlight, H2k had plenty of opportunity to bring in a big name to spice things up. Instead of swapping one of their rookie players for a star, the team took another shot in the dark, and brought in a veteran that had not even qualified for the spring Challenger Series. Former Supa Hot Crew support, Raymond “kaSing” Tsang was not a name that anyone was touting as the solution for a struggling organization, and with only a few days from signing to game day, kaSing would have a great deal of pressure on his return to the LCS stage.
KaSing went on to add that his past run with the Supa Hot Crew had given him a new perspective on the importance of mental stability in critical moments. “I learned the importance of controlling the pace of the game when on stage, most of the time everyone is usually nervous so they are afraid of making plays or talking in general. I think learning to just keep calm and know the next call is what makes me better this time compared to the last time I was in LCS.”
While H2k has been an unstoppable force since kaSing came on board, the team’s new support refuses to buy into any hype about winning the Spring Split. “To be honest, I think the main goal is just to stay top three for now, we don’t have too big of an aim since I’m still fairly new to the team. We are improving at a fast rate though, so maybe we could be a top tier team soon.”
H2k’s personnel decisions have been questionable when looked at on paper. Turning an unorthodox North American mid laner into a head coach, and bringing in a former LCS pro who didn’t even qualify for the Challenger Series to lead your team can certainly be described as shots in the dark. However, as PR0LLY described, they’ve worked out so far.
Coach From Across The Pond
Neil “PR0LLY” Hammad has been in and out of the NA LCS since its inception, playing for two different Complexity rosters. While both teams were eventually relegated, PR0LLY retained his personal fanbase due to his unique champion pool and sense of humor. According to him, it was this blend of innovation and style that made the former mid laner attractive to H2k. “I was approached in November by Jed, the manager of H2k,” said PR0LLY. “I think a few of the players had seen my interviews and thought I was funny and just maybe I knew something about the game.” He described the decision by H2k as “a shot in the dark that worked out, which is actually a common theme on H2k so far.” While his style of play may not have translated to the coaching position, his sense of humor certainly has. When asked about the cultural challenges of working with players from another part of the world, PR0LLY said that the challenges were minimal. “These guys are gamers just like me, but the only difference is they have really funny accents.” All jokes aside, he went on to describe the players’ dedication as his biggest motivating factor. “The players’ inner fire for improvement is the only reason that coaching was right for me. These guys really let me do my job, and they’re all respectful and humble so coaching is a lot more rewarding than I thought.Lots of Hunger, Few Results
Despite the players’ passion, the first few weeks were a struggle for H2k. The team went 2-4 in its first three weeks, only beating the two teams currently at the bottom of the standings, Meet Your Makers and GIANTS Gaming. Though the team faced early setbacks, PR0LLY remained impressed by the team’s resiliency. “They have much thicker skin [than my former teams] so if criticism was brought up, it was always easier to handle.”
Once again, H2k was faced with a problem, and made a personnel change to solve the issue. With plenty of big name mid laners, AD carries, and junglers currently out of the LCS spotlight, H2k had plenty of opportunity to bring in a big name to spice things up. Instead of swapping one of their rookie players for a star, the team took another shot in the dark, and brought in a veteran that had not even qualified for the spring Challenger Series. Former Supa Hot Crew support, Raymond “kaSing” Tsang was not a name that anyone was touting as the solution for a struggling organization, and with only a few days from signing to game day, kaSing would have a great deal of pressure on his return to the LCS stage.
The Hero of H2k, The Man They Call KaSing
The move was an instant success. KaSing’s experience and upbeat personality helped the team win eight straight games since he joined the roster. Despite being the catalyst for H2k’s recent success, kaSing refuses to hog the glory. “I think everyone has a great deal of contribution as to why we have won,” he said. “Everyone tries really hard when on stage and majority of the time everyone listens to each other so there’s no doubt when someone engages or calls a rotation.” H2k’s new support also made certain to mention the man behind the team, and his fellow “shot in the dark.” “I think pr0lly is a great coach who has brought a lot to the table and makes the team look really good with his drafting and in game knowledge.” While his humble attitude and personal drive have helped refocus the team, it is his previous LCS experience that makes kaSing such a valuable asset. “I felt that their roster had solid players but lacked some coordination as I looked at their past matches,” he noted.
KaSing went on to add that his past run with the Supa Hot Crew had given him a new perspective on the importance of mental stability in critical moments. “I learned the importance of controlling the pace of the game when on stage, most of the time everyone is usually nervous so they are afraid of making plays or talking in general. I think learning to just keep calm and know the next call is what makes me better this time compared to the last time I was in LCS.”
While H2k has been an unstoppable force since kaSing came on board, the team’s new support refuses to buy into any hype about winning the Spring Split. “To be honest, I think the main goal is just to stay top three for now, we don’t have too big of an aim since I’m still fairly new to the team. We are improving at a fast rate though, so maybe we could be a top tier team soon.”
H2k’s personnel decisions have been questionable when looked at on paper. Turning an unorthodox North American mid laner into a head coach, and bringing in a former LCS pro who didn’t even qualify for the Challenger Series to lead your team can certainly be described as shots in the dark. However, as PR0LLY described, they’ve worked out so far.
