Power Rankings - Week 11
Riot·3/26/2014, 10:37:37 PM·0 votes·5,589 views
Welcome to Week 11 of Lolesports Power Rankings.
We use a system similar to the Associated Press power rankings for College Football or Basketball - a panel of writers vote on who they think should be listed, and an aggregate is produced from combining their rankings.
Our panel votes on these criteria, in this order:
- Recent results
- Predicted future performance
- Historical trends (as they pertain to future results and present form)
- The "eye" test (How good does a team look, relative to the rest of the world)
- ( - ) SK Telecom T1 K - [14] - SKT Masters - (5-0) | OGN Champions (3-1)
The victors of OGN Champions Winter 2013-14 still reign supreme in Korea, but for the first time in a year, their number one status is being called into dispute. For any other team, a breakdown in communication and in-game discipline would surely spell multiple losses, but T1 K have managed to force their way through weaker teams by virtue of their raw ability. It remains unclear if T1 K have fallen victim to their own hubris, but whatever it is that ails them, they must recover from it before their throne is usurped by a hungrier team.
Written by Alex Manisier - ( - ) Samsung Galaxy Ozone - SKT Masters - (4-1) | OGN Champions (4-0)
Samsung must be feeling good with themselves, as the switch of PawN and Dade has continued to benefit both Samsung teams. Ozone in particular has benefited from PawN's more balanced and consistent playstyle, which has paid dividends both in Champions and Masters. Undefeated for two weeks, Ozone is also reaping the benefits of a revitalized bottom lane, where Imp and Mata have shown much more confidence in being the aggressors, even with a theoretical disadvantage.
Written by Alex Manisier - ( - ) CJ Entus Blaze - SKT Masters - (3-2) | OGN Champions (2-0)
- ( - ) OMG - LPL - (13-1)
OMG experienced their first loss to Invictus Gaming this week, but with five draws so far in LPL so far, one can't argue that often plays brilliant first games. More importantly, OMG were able to adapt and bring an impressive Game Two, avoiding the tilt factor that often plagues Chinese teams. In fact, exceptional second games are becoming more and more of a calling card for OMG in LPL, and they're ability to change up strategies and destroy the competition after a loss should prove an asset on the international stage.
Written by Kelsey Moser - ( - ) Najin White Shield - SKT Masters - (2-2) | OGN Champions (2-0)
- ( - ) SK Telecom T1 S - SKT Masters - (2-2) | OGN Champions (3-1)
SKT T1 S's OGN Champions Spring prospect continues to improve. After breaking even with their sister team two weeks ago, T1 S faced off against KaKAO and KT Arrows last night. Despite KaKAO's best efforts with Lee Sin in back to back games, T1 S showed a renewed mental fortitude and team cohesiveness to come away with two wins against their biggest competitors in Group A. With their last group stage Champions match against an already knocked out Prime Optimus, the future bodes very well for T1 S as they swiftly approach their first OGN quarterfinals ever.
Written by Jack "NeoIllusions" Ho - ( - ) Najin Black Sword - SKT Masters - (2-1) | OGN Champions (2-0)
- ( - ) KT Rolster Bullets - SKT Masters - (0-5) | OGN Champions (1-1) | IEM World Champions (7-0)
The Bullets continue their up-and-down play in Korea. After entering OGN Champions Spring 2014 with a healthy dollop of confidence from their IEM World Championship, they dominated Samsung Galaxy Blue in one game, but then split the series behind a hyper-scaling Blue composition. The Bullets followed up the Champions series by dropping an additional game to Blue in the SK Telecom LTE-A LoL Masters Tournament. They have a chance to instill some much need consistency in their team against NaJin Black Sword in Champions Spring this week.
Written by Thomas Watts - (+2) Samsung Galaxy Blue - SKT Masters - (3-1) | OGN Champions (3-1)
Samsung Blue was always underrated because of Samsung Ozone, but Samsung Blue proved themselves against KT Bullets. Dade showed how good he is with AD champions, and ‘Heart’ initiated amazingly. Even though they lost Game 1 in OGN, they overwhelmed the KT Bullets in Game 2. Some people might think that KT Bullets are a weak team now, but they are still the recent champion of IEM Katowice. Samsung Blue's recent success foreshadow an extraordinary season.
Written by Team Inven - (-1) Team SoloMid - NA LCS - (19-3)
With only one week left in the regular season, TSM has a real shot to tie Cloud 9's win record from last season. TSM's greatest strength has always been their ability to close out games, and no team knows how to play with a lead than last year's spring split champions. Every member of the roster is a playmaker, and their communication continues to evolve. While they may have to wait several more months to test their strength against the world's best, it is clear that the boys of TSM are setting themselves up for a fourth consecutive shot at the Summoner's Cup.
Written by Trent Murray - (+2) Cloud 9 - NA LCS - (18-4)
Cloud 9 continues to keep up with TSM as one of the teams to beat. But on top of that, they hold a 2-1 in their head-to-head with TSM. If they widen the gap to 3-1 in the last weeks of the season, they should get the #1 spot, but either way, they're one of the top 2 teams in North America. And while Balls and Meteos have always been the superstars of Cloud 9, Hai has stepped up his game in recent weeks. If Hai can go toe-to-toe with mids the likes of Bjergsen, Cloud 9 is a team to beat.
Written by Mattias "Gentleman Gustaf" Lehman - (-2) Gambit Gaming - EU LCS - (13-9)
The race in Europe is as tight as ever, and Gambit Gaming had the chance to come out with a strong showing. They're still the top team in Europe, but they looked entirely out of their element vs Alliance, an echo of their poor performance in their first game at IEM Katowice. At IEM Katowice, Gambit was able to come back from their early loss and storm through the group stages, and Gambit has always performed well under pressure. And the pressure is on, with a 2-way tie for first place and a 3-way tie for third place 1 game behind.
Written by Mattias "Gentleman Gustaf" Lehman - ( - ) Edward Gaming - LPL - (11-3)
Edward Gaming had a perfect week in LPL, 2-0ing both Royal Club and a World Elite team that can only be described as out for blood after their return from IEM. Edward Gaming are looking dominant, yes, but also sloppy with back-and-forth late games that put their initial debut to shame. EDG continues to climb the LPL ranks, sitting prettily at second place, but for now we're leaving them at number thirteen.
Written by Kelsey Moser - (-2) KT Rolster Arrows - SKT Masters - (3-2) | OGN Champions (2-2)
The KT Rolster Arrows have had a disappointing week. They dropped a game against Samsung Galaxy Ozone in Masters, and then endured an excruciating sweep at the hands of SK Telecom T1 S in the group stage for Champions Spring. It doesn't get any easier for the Arrows either. They get to close this week of Champions Spring out with a series against SK Telecom T1 K. While they have looked strong in all of these games, mistakes at critical times doomed them. All of the losses amount to a two spot drop in this week's power rankings.
Written by Thomas Watts - ( - ) Taipei Assassins - GPL - (10-0)
- ( - ) AHQ Esports Club - GPL - (12-1)
- ( - ) CJ Entus Frost - SKT Masters (2-2) | OGN Champions - (2-2)
What hopes the CJ organization had for Frost going into the spring season has become progressively dismal. Battling against a red hot Samsung Galaxy Ozone yesterday, CJ Frost perpetually looked behind in rotations and faltered during team fights. Although the new roster was expected to be a breath of new life for the team, Frost's predicament is coming down to the wire. Currently tied with IM#1 in points, CJ Frost's final Group B match against them will determine whether or not the team advances into the quarterfinals. A loss to IM#1 on Saturday would be devastating, as it would marked the first time CJ Entus Frost failed to advance to the bracket stage.
Written by Jack "NeoIllusions" Ho - ( - ) Fnatic - EU LCS - (12-10)
Fnatic came out strong last week, going 2-0, and have seemingly solved the problems that plagued them over their prior losing spreak. Much like with Gambit Gaming, it's hard to imagine an EU LCS where Fnatic doesn't come out strong for the playoffs, so look for a top 4 showing in the playoffs even if they can't hold a top 4 season spot.
Written by Mattias "Gentleman Gustaf" Lehman - (+1) LGD Gaming - LPL - (9-5)
If any team can pose a threat to OMG and Edward Gaming in LPL this season, it's LGD, sitting just one 2-0 behind EDG. Like EDG, LGD also had a perfect week, but they only played one series. Either way, they gave Positive Energy a crushing defeat. This week, they face Energy Pacemaker again with a chance to redeem themselves after giving the Hong Kong team their only 2-0 victory. They also go up against EDG and have a chance to snipe their second place seat if they play their cards right. To win, they'll have to clean up their late game warding and continue to steamroll the early game. Next week, LGD might rise, or they might not be on the list at all.
Written by Kelsey Moser - (NEW) ROCCAT - EU LCS - (12-10)
ROCCAT managed to take down SK Gaming, and finally appears to have halted their slide, just like Fnatic. However, they now have to hang on throughout the end of the season vs the veterans of Fnatic and Alliance. The teams of Europe appear to have acclimated to their aggressive and unique playstyle, so it's going to be on them to keep playing strong through to the finish. Their recent loss to Fnatic doesn't bode well, but at least that's one top-tier team they don't have to face in their last 6 games.
Written by Mattias "Gentleman Gustaf" Lehman
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