Pros predict the 2015 NA LCS Summer Split Playoffs
It's Playoffs time! All six teams that have made their way into the 2015 NA LCS Summer Split postseason have shown the potential to be the best at some point during the Split, and predicting a winner is anyone's guess -- so we reached out to each team to find out who they think will hoist the NA LCS Summer Split trophy above their heads and reign supreme at Madison Square Garden.
Team Liquid's Quas
Sure Team Liquid have secured their ticket to the Big Apple and a spot in the Semifinals, but the advantage of facing the weaker side of the bracket is basically nonexistent. They'll either face Team SoloMid, a squad with heaps of experience in the Playoffs' Best of 5 format, or Gravity, the only team they've failed to beat this Split.
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Liquid's top lane powerhouse Diego "Quas" Ruiz is well aware of the threat TSM pose in particular. "I think even though TSM's had a very shaky season, they always manage to get their stuff together," says Quas. "They're a very competitive team, and they always strive to be the best, so I don't expect anything less from them in this Playoffs."
Dangerous as TSM may be, Quas has no qualms with his Playoff prediction. "We'll get 1st," he states confidently.
Team SoloMid's Dyrus
If Quas is right about TSM's knack for winning when it counts, then Marcus "Dyrus" Hill will be the man he faces in top lane during the Semis. For the only remaining member of the original TSM roster, his predictions revolve around one of the League most longstanding rivalries.
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"My biggest worry is CLG. They've been doing well against us in scrims, so they're definitely looking forward to finally beating us and getting their revenge," explains Dyrus. "It's been years since they've actually beaten us. We even 4-0'd them this year which is something we usually don't do, so I hope we don't pick up their curse and choke at Playoffs."
"If we do play CLG," he continues, "then we'll just have to take them down and be 1st. I think we'll beat everyone else," says Dyrus.
Counter Logic Gaming's Aphromoo
Counter Logic Gaming have fully recovered from their mid-season slump and have emerged as the undisputed kings of the early game heading into Playoffs.
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Zaqueri "Aphromoo" Black, CLG's shotcaller and support superstar, has been at the helm for his team's late-season surge. For Aphromoo, there's no question who will come out on top. "Playoff predictions! CLG wins the Split, number one!" he says.
As for the rest of the competition, Aphromoo thinks Liquid, Impulse, and Gravity are the teams to look out for. "All the other teams, they definitely fall when it comes to teamwork, synergy, bonding. They don't do a lot of things together." With three weeks between their last match and the Semifinals, CLG will be aiming to keep their own synergy humming throughout their prep time, as they will face either Team Impulse or Team Dignitas.
Team Dignitas' Shiphtur
Of the six Playoff teams, the wheels on the Team Dignitas bus look the most shaky and mid laner Danny "Shiphtur" Le is candid about the challenge they'll be facing, "I think going into Playoffs we're the underdogs. Everyone expects us to be the weakest team out of all six and rightfully so, we're not playing that well right now," he admits.
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Nevertheless, Shiphtur is hopeful that his team will be able to regain some of traction they held several weeks ago. "Just recently, we're starting to get back together. Hopefully during this off time we'll become a really strong team for Playoffs," he says.
As for his power picks, Shiphtur also predicts Liquid and Gravity will be strong Playoff contenders. "The third could be anyone, but if I had to pick I'd say CLG or maybe us. Hopefully us!" he exclaims. The ball is in Team Dignitas' court in this regard, as they'll face off against CLG should they make it through their Quarterfinals matchup against Team Impulse.
Team Impulse's Gate
Despite the severe turbulence they've encountered with the suspension of their mid laner Xian "XiaoWeiXiao" Yu, Team Impulse had an impressive finish to the Regular Season.
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They found victory in four out of their final five matches, with their only loss coming at the hands of Team Liquid in a game that nearly saw them pull off a massive comeback victory.
For Impulse's new mid laner Austin "Gate" Yu, the Playoffs standings are tough to predict. He believes they'll ultimately come down to team's preparation. "I think if we just play well and practice well in the next coming weeks we'll do fine," he says, "Any of the teams going into Playoffs can do well...there's not going to be just one team that's going to roll all the other teams."
Gravity's Bunny FuFuu
Though their fuel tanks seemed to be running on fumes at the end, Gravity support Michael "Bunny FuFuu" Kurylo also says that it's anyone's title to win.
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"Any team can get really good with this much time to practice, and with more time, you can change more about your team. Playstyle, champs, everything. By making sure your practice is efficient and working on real problems, it can make a big difference when you're trying to fix things," explains Bunny FuFuu.
With enough time to refuel, Gravity hopes to make themselves the team to beat as they look to take down the defending champions TSM in the Quarterfinals and blast off to NYC.
Who do you think will come out on top of the NA LCS? Be sure to let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to Lolesports for all the Playoff action, starting on Saturday, August 8th. To catch up on any of this splits regular season matches, check out our spoiler free VODs page!
