Group D Prediction

NeroUS·Sep 22, 2014·2 votes·1,030 views

NWS - 6-0 Alliance - 3-3 Cloud 9 - 3-3 KBM - 0-6

I'm not sure about the Alliance versus Cloud9 games. There are a fair number of people that believe that Alliance has the best chance out of all the NA teams to defeat the Korean and Chinese teams. I tend to think, however, that the top tiers of NA and EU are relatively equal right now, with TSM maybe a little ahead due to Lustboy.

I predict a 6-0 for NWS simply because I cannot see top tier Korean teams losing in the current state of the game, except against other top korean teams. I really think it would have been good for NA if SKT1 or SGB had gone to America rather than LMQ; the region could have improved so much more.

8 Comments

Neo CyrusSep 23, 20142 votes

NWS isn't going to get away from both Alliance and C9 without a loss. NA especially is a lot stronger than last year. I wouldn't even be surprised if NWS get beaten.

12talesSep 23, 20141 votes

People say that as if the other regions haven't improved. Remember SK Telecom, the team that dominated the season 3 world champions and won OGN Winter without dropping a single game? Najin White Shield smashed them in the regional qualifiers, right after Samsung White smashed them in the 2nd place tiebreaker. Korea's a lot stronger than it was last year, and I'll be surprised if Alliance and C9 walk away from Shield with a single win between them.

KSHarrisonSep 23, 20141 votes

two 3-3 means a tiebreaker. You have to pick who would win it :)

I think C9.

NeroUSSep 24, 20141 votes

I would predict Alliance but I'm not sure. I think it might depend on whether Hai can perform consistently. When he plays well, he can equal almost any mid laner but when he has trouble, it feels like all of C9 goes on tilt.

LstrikeSep 23, 20141 votes

Out of all NA/EU teams my ranking is

Alliance
LMQ
F'natic
C9
TSM
SK

This is only on paper.. F'natic is really inconsistent right now so they can place anywhere in the rankings

12talesSep 23, 20142 votes

Because LMQ looked so much better than TSM in the NA regionals?

LstrikeSep 23, 20141 votes

Overall record between TSM and LMQ is 6-3 in favor of LMQ... I also think LMQ teamfight and decision maing is better than TSM and C9.

Also LMQ and C9 are way more consistent than TSM (Only 2 teams to never have <50% winrate every week whole split)..

Mechanically, TSM might edge ahead only because of Lustboy and Bjergsen but take them out of the picture, TSM has nothing (which was evident from SHRC vs TSM Game 1)

Having said that, its a pity that LMQ might not come out of the group because of the group draw even though they are the best team in NA right now..

12talesSep 23, 20141 votes

I'd argue that TSM's current roster with Lustboy has not only performed more consistently than LMQ, but at a higher level. TSM's statistics when they had Gleeb are hardly relevant to power rankings for Worlds.

LMQ came into the split playing their game at the highest level they could, so they dominated. But then other teams with more talented players looked at them, and learned from them, and improved themselves. Now, LMQ is still playing the same game, but against teams with much higher skill ceilings that have had months to rise to their level, and they're solidly the third best team in NA.

I expect LMQ to take fourth in their group.